Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. DHS Secretary Announces Grants for Border States

2. AMS Proposes Rule on Cotton Tax Referendum Procedures

AMS has issued a proposed rule to establish procedures for the conduct of a referendum among cotton producers and cotton importers to consider amendments to the Cotton Research and Promotion Order. The referendum is needed as the '2008 Farm Bill' provides for an amendment to the definition of "cotton producing state," so that Kansas is added and Florida and Virginia are separated from their current partner states. (D/N AMS-CN-09-0027; CN-08-003, FR Pub 06/04/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-12931.pdf)

3. DoD Sends Rule to OMB on Waiver of Buy America Act for Costa Rica and Peru TPA

The Department of Defense has sent an interim final rule to the Office of Management and Budget for approval that would amend the Defense FAR Supplement to implement the Dominican Republic-Central America-U.S. Free Trade Agreement with respect to Costa Rica, and the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement. The trade agreements waive the applicability of the Buy American Act for some foreign supplies and construction materials and specify procurement procedures designed to ensure fairness. (Notice, available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoReviewSearch;jsessionid=0a65171430d6179d3cca6e864695b964e8d97fd8ba9d.e38Nch4NbhuNa40Lc3eKchqMaN4Qe6fznA5Pp7ftolbGmkTy)

4. APHIS Meetings on New Import Permit Requirement for FSIS-Exempt Products Containing Small Amounts of Meat/Poultry

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is holding educational outreach meetings on its June 22, 2009 import permit requirement for FSIS-exempt products containing small amounts of meat or poultry ingredients. Meetings will occur on June 5 (Wash D.C.) June 9 (Berkeley, CA), and June 16 (Elizabeth, NJ). (Notice, dated 05/22/09, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Const_Update_052209/index.asp)

5. FSIS Updates Directive on Refused Entry of Meat, Poultry, and Eggs

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued revised Directive 9020.1, Rev. 1 (May 18, 2009) titled: "Meat, Poultry, Egg Products, and Shell Eggs Refused Entry Into the United States." (Directive, dated 05/18/09, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/9020.1Rev1.pdf)

6. Illinois Business Owner Sentenced for Illegal Exports to South Korea

For illegally exporting 7 thermal imaging cameras to South Korea without the proper licenses, David Lee, 41, of Park Ridge, Ill., owner of Lucena Technology Inc., was sentenced June 3rd to 2 years probation, with 6 months home confinement, and fined $3,000 plus $4,375 in restitution. (Press Release, dated 06/03/09, available at http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0906/090603chicago.htm)

7. DDTC Posts License Processing Times for March 2009

DDTC has updated its table of license processing times to include May 2009, giving the number of cases received, cases closed, and cases open at the end of the month. (Table, dated 06/02/09, available at http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/metrics/index.html)

8. China Removes 79 Commodity Codes from Processing Trade Catalogue

China's Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs released Announcement No. 37, 2009 on Processing Trade Prohibited in 2009. MOFCOM states that readjustments were made based on the previous catalogue, with 79 commodity codes of ten-digits removed, so as to maintain the steady growth of foreign trade. Commodity codes removed cover such products as plants, light industrial products, metallic compound, petroleum products, steel and non-ferrous metal products. The readjusted Catalogue of Processing Trade Prohibited covers 1759 commodity codes of ten-digits. (Notice, dated 06/04/09, available at http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/newsrelease/commonnews/200906/20090606305283.html)

9. EU Signs Interim EPAs with Botswana/Lesotho/Swaziland, Other EPAs Pending

The European Union has signed an interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. Mozambique has signaled its intention to sign this agreement in the near future. This interim agreement secures EU market access for these countries while negotiations for a full EPA with the seven country Southern African Development Community (SADC) EPA group are ongoing. The other members of the SADC EPA group are South Africa, Namibia and Angola. (Press Release, dated 06/04/09, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/873&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)

10. Japan Makes First Animal Plant Health Standards Gift to Developing Countries

The World Trade Organization reports that Japan is giving $278,368 for projects to help developing countries analyze and implement international standards on food safety and animal and plant health - or sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures. Japan joins 12 other current donors: Canada, Denmark, the European Commission, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the U.S. (Press Release, dated 06/04/09, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres09_e/pr557_e.htm)

11. FMC Lists OTI Applications

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a notice that lists those applying for OTI licenses as a non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC), ocean freight forwarder (FF) or NVOCC/FF OTI, as follows:

FMC notice (FR Pub 06/03/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-12960.pdf