Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

December 3, 2009 |Top News

The Port of Long Beach has issued a press release stating that 8,000 dirty trucks will be banned from port shipping facilities as of January 1, 2010, marking a major milestone in the continuing transformation of the harbor trucking fleet to improve air quality. Most of the aging big-rigs are already gone, replaced by 5,600 newer, safer and cleaner models thanks to the Port of Long Beach's Clean Trucks Program. An additional 2,400 new trucks are on order and will soon be put into service. The program successfully began phasing out old trucks on Oct. 1, 2008. By January, nearly 90 percent of all trucks calling at the Port of Long Beach will meet tough 2007 federal emission standards. (Press release, posted 12/01/09, available at http://www.polb.com/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=643&targetid=1)

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1. LB Clean Trucks Program to Ban 8,000 Dirty Trucks on January 1st

2. Global Congress Calls for Coordinated Response to Counterfeit Threat

The World Customs Organization reports that officials from governments, law enforcement, Customs and the private sector are in Cancun, Mexico over December 1-3, 2009 for the Fifth Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy. The Congress seeks to identify solutions to the worldwide trade in fake products and is supported by the WCO and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), with the cooperation of the world's business community. (Press release, dated 12/01/09, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/press/default.aspx?lid=1&id=200)

3. FDA's PREDICT Outreach Schedule Updated

The Food and Drug Administration has updated its Import Trade Community Outreach events schedule for PREDICT. This new risk-based screening system for imports is coming soon, and will replace the admissibility screening function of OASIS, FDA's legacy system. (Schedule, updated 11/24/09, available at http://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/ImportProgram/ucm177275.htm)

4. Census Video Transcript on SSN Prohibition in AES

The Census Bureau has posted a transcript of a video regarding the prohibition, as of December 3, 2009, of reporting a Social Security number in the Automated Export System for identification purposes. (See ITT's Online Archives or 11/23/09 news, 09112315, for most recent BP reminder on the December 3, 2009 enforcement of this prohibition.) (Video and transcript available at http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/adverts/irs/index_transcript.html.)

5. Sept 2009 Shows U.S. Surface Trade with Canada/Mexico Fell 20.2%

The DOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that trade using surface transportation between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico was 20.2 percent lower in September 2009 than in September 2008, dropping to $57.3 billion. (Press release, dated 12/01/09, available at http://www.bts.gov/press_releases/2009/bts055_09/html/bts055_09.html)

6. PHMSA Sends Final Rule on Hazmat Security Plans to OMB

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has sent a final rule for approval to the Office of Management and Budget that would refine the list of hazardous materials for which security plans are required. Petitioners had asked PHMSA to distinguish hazmats that have significant security risks while in transportation from those that pose no risk. (Rule, received 11/27/09, available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=200904&RIN=2137-AE22)

7. OMB Approves EPA Final Rule on Allowances for HCFC Imports, Exports, Etc.

OMB has approved the Environmental Protection Agency's final rule to adjust the allowance system for controlling HCFC production, imports and exports. (Rule, completed 11/30/09, available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=200904&RIN=2060-AO76)

8. USDA Reports on Kenya's Grain Production

The Department of Agriculture has issued a report titled: "Kenya's Grain Basket Experiences Drought and Lowers "Long Rains" Corn Output." (Report, dated 12/01/09, available at http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/highlights/2009/12/kenya/)

9. Transition to U.S. Immigration Laws Has Begun in the Mariana Islands

The Department of Homeland Security states that U.S. immigration laws began to apply to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on November 28, 2009, which will provide new privileges and ease restrictions to CNMI residents. Changes include a Guam-CNMI visa waiver program and transitional worker visa classification. (News release, dated 11/27/09, available at http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0911/091127washingtondc.htm)

10. Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Import PPQ Manual Updated

On November 25, 2009, APHIS updated its Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Import PPQ Manual. The manual lists by country fruits and vegetables that are admissible into the United States. It includes a description of methods for sampling and inspecting selected fruits and vegetables. It also contains pictorial identification guides, and a glossary for common and scientific names of fruits and vegetables. (Manual, updated 11/25/09, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/fv.pdf)

11. Agency Seeks Comments on Information Collections

Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):

Agency Information Collection Comments Due

CPSC

Proposed Extension of Approval; Comment Request-Follow-Up Activities for Product-Related Injuries

02/01/10

(Information collection notices are hyperlinked to agency name.)

12. FMC Lists OTI Revocations

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a notice that revokes an ocean transportation intermediary (OTI) license, as follows:

License	Company	Effective Date
Revocations
020208F	Ghanem Forwarding, LLC (MD)	10/28/09
004044NF	Intermar International Inc. (FL)	09/23/09 (NVOCC), 10/26/09 (FF)
003081F	SMS Express Company, Inc. dba Dyna Freight Inc. (CA)	10/29/09