Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Department of Homeland Security has granted a limited nationwide waiver of the Buy American provision contained in Section 1605 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, provided that at least 95 percent of the costs of each Transportation Security Administration Electronic Baggage Screening Program project will comply with Section 1605(a). (FR Pub 10/13/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-24608.pdf)
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
1. TSA Limited Waiver of "Buy American" Provision for Electronic Baggage Screening Program
2. WCO-UN Joint Container Control Program for Illicit Trade
The World Customs Organization has issued a release stating that it has been funded since 2005 by the United Nations to train Customs and other law enforcement officials at maritime ports situated in Ecuador, Senegal, Ghana, Pakistan, and more recently Cape Verde, Turkmenistan, Panama, and Costa Rica, to minimize the risk of maritime containers being exploited and used for illicit drug trafficking, transnational organized crime and other forms of black market activity. (Press release, dated 10/08/09, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/press/?v=1&lid=1&cid=6&id=193)
3. Commerce Reports on August 2009 Trade Statistics
The Commerce Department reports that August data shows that U.S. exports increased by 0.2 percent to $128.2 billion since July 2009, the fourth consecutive monthly increase. Imports declined 0.6 percent to $158.9 billion. (Press release, dated 10/09/09, available at http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/PROD01_008507)
4. FDA Reopens Comment Period on Smoking Prevention Information Collection, Announces Nov 1 Electronic Portal
The Food and Drug Administration is reopening until October 26, 2009, the comment period on its proposed collection of information concerning the submission of tobacco product establishment registration and submission of certain health information, including ingredient listing and health related documents, as required by The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (FSPTCA). The information will be collected either through an electronic portal that FDA plans to launch on November 1, 2009 or by paper-based form. (D/N FDA-2009-N-0406, FR Pub 10/13/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-24543.pdf)
5. CIT Rules on Dutiability of Vessel Repairs
The Court of International Trade has ruled on Horizon Lines, LLC's challenge to the assessment of three categories of duties for work to its vessel in 2002 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. At trial, CBP conceded that one category of duties (diesel generator support structure expenses) was incorrectly assessed and was granted a directed verdict as to another category of contested duties. One the lone remaining issue, the CIT agreed with Horizon that work performed on cell entry guides in three vessel holds are non-dutiable modifications as opposed to dutiable repairs, entitling Horizon to a refund. (Horizon Lines, LLC v. U.S., dated 10/07/09, available at http://www.cit.uscourts.gov/slip_op/Slip_op09/Slip%20Op%2009-111.pdf)
6. Commerce Announces 8 Public-Private Partnerships for Boosting Small and Medium Size Business Exports
U.S. Commerce Secretary Locke has announced that eight firms have joined the the department's Corporate Partnership Program, aimed at boosting exports, and solidifying U.S. jobs, for small- and medium-sized U.S. businesses. The new partners - Aon Consulting; Federation of International Trade Associations; Gartner, Inc; Lufthansa; Reed Exhibitions; TV Rheinland; Think Global; and Trade Center Management Associates join the existing 11 commercial service partners, including Baker & McKenzie, City National Bank, Comerica Bank, FEDEX, Google, M&T Bank, PNC Bank, TD Bank, the U.S. Postal Service, UPS, and Zions Bank. (Press release, dated 10/05/09, available at http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/PROD01_008489)
7. FSIS Educational Meetings on Enhanced Enforcement of Imported Products
The Food Safety and Inspection Service will hold meetings in Miami (October 21) and Seattle (Oct 28) to explain its enhanced enforcement program for imported products containing small amounts of meat or poultry ingredients. Import Permit Guide available here. Import Permit Policies Presentation available here. (Notice, posted 10/09/09, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Meetings_&_Events/index.asp)
8. EPA Begins New Scientific Evaluation of Atrazine
The Environmental Protection Agency is launching a comprehensive new evaluation of the pesticide atrazine to determine its effects on humans. One of the most widely used agricultural pesticides in the U.S., atrazine can be applied before and after planting to control broadleaf and grassy weeds. (News release, dated 10/07/09, available at http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/554b6abea9d0672f85257648004a88c1!OpenDocument)
9. EPA Requests OMB Approval for Final Rule to Ban Imports of HCFC Charged Products
The Environmental Protection Agency is requesting OMB approval of a final rule to ban the import of HCFC pre-charged products once the domestic phaseout of the import and production of their bulk substances occurs. (Rule, received 10/06/09, available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=200904&RIN=2060-AN58)
10. EPA Requests OMB Approval for Final Rule on Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste
The EPA has asked OMB to approve a final rule to change the existing regulation regarding the transboundary movement of hazardous waste among countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Proposed regulatory changes under consideration include, but are not limited to, exempting qualifying shipments sent for laboratory analysis from certain paperwork requirements. (Rule, received 10/02/09, available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=200904&RIN=2050-AE93)
11. Export.Gov Conference on Selling to Middle East & North Africa
Export.gov is announcing a conference on Selling to the Middle East and North Africa, which will be held on October 22, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Experts from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S.-Saudi Arabia Business Council, and the Export-Import Bank of the United States will be in attendance. (Notice, posted 10/09/09, available at http://www.export.gov/eac/show_detail_trade_events.asp?EventID=16195)
12. CPSC to Hold Closed Compliance Meeting
On October 15, 2009, in Bethesda, Maryland, the Consumer Product Safety Commission will hold a closed meeting where the staff will brief the Commission on various compliance matters. (FR Pub 10/13/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-24532.pdf)
13. WTO Issues Trade Policy Review for Chile
The World Trade Organization has issued its trade policy review for Chile. According to the WTO, since Chile's last review in 2003, it has adopted measures to modernize customs and facilitate trade, maintained a single MFN tariff rate of 6% with a few exceptions, abolished some import taxes and export subsidies, and introduced significant reforms to its competition policy, government procurement and intellectual property systems. (Press release, dated 10/07/09, available at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp320_e.htm)
14. Codex Committee Meeting on Food Hygiene
The FSIS is announcing that its Codex Committee on Food Hygiene will meet on October 28, 2009 in College Park, Maryland. (Notice, posted 10/02/09, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Codex_Alimentarius/Public_Meetings/index.asp)
15. Updated List of Instructions and U.S. Plants for Exporting Meat and Poultry to Foreign Countries
FSIS has provided updated information for the export of U.S. meat and poultry to the following countries:
Mexico Plant List (October 8, 2009)
16. FAS Reports Acceptance of DEIP Bids for Butter and Cheddar Cheese
The Foreign Agricultural Service reports that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation has accepted bids under the Dairy Export Incentive Program from exporters Burt Lewis International Corp (butter), Challenge Dairy Products Inc. (butter), and Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (cheddar cheese) to Africa and the Middle East.
17. Agricultural Clearance PPQ Manual Updated
On October 09, 2009, APHIS updated the Plant Protection and Quarantine Manual (PPQ) for Agricultural Clearance. The manual provides CBP personnel working at airport and maritime locations with the guidelines, directions, and policy for clearing carriers and passengers/crew and controlling garbage and cargo. (Manual, updated 10/09/09, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/mac.shtml)
18. FAS Issues Commodity and Market Intelligence Reports
Policies Contribute to Uncertainty in Global Rice Market
Russia Wheat and Barley: Outstanding Yields in Siberia Compensate for Volga Drought
Soybean Oil Prices Diverge on Different Supply Situations
19. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports
The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:
Malaysia Exporter Guide Annual: Annual
Argentina Canned Deciduous Fruit Annual: Canned Peaches
Bosnia and Herzegovina Exporter Guide Annual: 2009
France Exporter Guide Annual: 2009 - Annual Report