Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. DOT Reports Nov 2009 Surface Trade with Canada and Mexico Fell 2.9%

2. U.S. and Canadian Officials Discuss Strengthening Aviation Security

On January 28, 2010, Department of Homeland Security and Canadian officials met to discuss efforts to bolster cooperation and coordination between the U.S. and Canada on aviation security measures and standards - specifically addressing challenges that have come to light following the attempted bombing on Dec 25th and ways forward to enhance global aviation security to protect passengers around the world. (DHS press release, dated 01/28/10, available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1264728108866.shtm.)

3. President Sets GHG Emissions Reduction Target for Federal Govt

On January 29, 2010, the President announced that the Federal Government will reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution by 28% by 2020. According to the White House, reducing and reporting GHG pollution will ensure that the Federal Government leads by example in building the clean energy economy. (Press release, dated 01/29/10, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-sets-greenhouse-gas-emissions-reduction-target-federal-operations)

4. Commerce Secretary to Lead May 2010 Clean Energy Business Trip to Asia

Commerce Secretary Gary Locke will lead clean energy business development missions to China and Indonesia, May 15-25, 2010. The missions will promote exports of leading U.S. technologies related to clean energy, energy efficiency, and electric energy storage, transmission, and distribution. The missions will make stops in Hong Kong; Shanghai and Beijing, China; and Jakarta, Indonesia. (Notice, posted 01/28/10, available at http://www.trade.gov/cleanenergymission/)

5. Commerce Secretary Criticizes New Chinese IPR Initiative

The U.S.-China Business Council posted the remarks of Commerce Secretary Locke at a recent Council event. Among other things, Secretary Locke criticized China's recently announced Innovation Accreditation system, which would provide Chinese firms using Chinese intellectual property a leg up in bidding on government procurement projects. (Remarks, posted 01/28/10, available at http://www.uschina.org/public/documents/2010/01/forecast_locke_speech.pdf)

6. ITC Federal Register Notice on Impact of Removing Certain Sleeping Bags from GSP

The International Trade Commission has issued a Federal Register notice announcing its initiation of the investigation, Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 2010 Special Review, Certain Sleeping Bags. As requested by the U.S. Trade Representative, the ITC will provide advice by April 12, 2010 as to the probable economic effect of the removal of sleeping bags provided for in HTS 9404.30.80 (sleeping bags, not containing 20 percent or more by weight of feathers and/or down) from eligibility for duty-free treatment under the GSP program with respect to all beneficiary countries. Comments are due by March 1, 2010. (FR Pub 01/29/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-1812.pdf)

7. MCC Publishes Millennium Challenge Compact with Moldova

The Millennium Challenge Corporation is publishing a summary and the complete text of the Millennium Challenge Compact between the U.S. and the Republic of Moldova. The Compact is intended to improve agricultural productivity and to expand access to markets and services through investments in critical infrastructure in the irrigation and road sectors, and through capacity-building in the high value agriculture sector. (FR Pub 01/29/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-1944.pdf)

8. Canada's DFAIT Posts Participants in "Import for Re-Export" Program

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada has posted a list of participants in its "2008 Import for Re-Export" program. (List, posted 01/27/10, available at http://www.international.gc.ca/controls-controles/prod/agri/IREP2008-PIR2008.aspxtphp)

9. EC Announces Counterfeit Seizures in Joint EU-Asia Operation

The European Commission has announced the results of a joint customs operation conducted with the framework of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) that lead to the seizure of more than 65 million counterfeit cigarettes and 369,000 other counterfeit items (shoes, toys, cameras, headphones, hats, caps, gloves, handbags, etc.), representing over 20 different trademarks. The operation took place in September-October 2009. (Press release, dated 01/29/10, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/99&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)

10. EC Ended Quotas for Certain Developing Countries as of Jan. 1st

The European Commission issued a press release stating that on January 1, 2010, the European Union ended its last remaining quotas on imports from sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) - which were on rice. The move comes as part of new trade and development deals between the EU and groups of ACP countries. With these new accords, known as Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), ACP countries which sign up can export whatever they wish to the EU, in unlimited quantities - no import quotas or duties. (Press release, dated 01/27/10, available at http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2010/january/tradoc_145752.pdf)

11. WTO Launches Discussion Forum for World Trade Report 2010

The WTO has launched a discussion forum in the run-up to publishing its 2010 World Trade Report in July. The theme of this year's report is "Trade in Natural Resources: Challenges in Global Governance". To stimulate debate, the WTO has created a specific web page where individuals can express their views on the challenges of global trade in natural resources and on the role the WTO could play. (Notice, dated 01/28/10, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news10_e/wtr_28jan10_e.htm)

12. WTO Updates Its 2010 Official Program of Meetings

The World Trade Organization has updated its official program of meetings for 2010. (Program, updated 01/29/10, available at http://www.wto.org/meets_public/meets_e.pdf)

13. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recall

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has published notice of the following voluntary recall:

(CPSC recalls available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prereljan10.html)

14. APHIS Animal Product PPQ Manual Updated

On January 27, 2010, APHIS updated its Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Animal Product Manual. This Manual provides the background, procedures, and regulatory actions to enforce the regulations governing the import and export of animals, animal products, and animal by-products. (Manual, updated 01/27/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/apm.shtml)

15. Miscellaneous and Processed Products PPQ Manual Updated

On January 27, 2010, APHIS updated its Miscellaneous and Processed Products PPQ Manual. The manual is used for regulating imported items that are processed and are not intended for propagation. (Manual, updated 01/27/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/miscellaneous.pdf)

16. 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 (Revised January 27, 2010)

European Union (Revised January 27, 2010)

17. FSIS Issues Notice for its Inspection Personnel and Public

FSIS has issued the following notice:

Notice 08-10 (January 27, 2010): Nationwide Raw Chicken Parts Microbiological Baseline Data Collection Program

18. Revised FDA Import Alerts

The Food and Drug Administration has posted revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:

99-04: Manufacturers of Low Acid Canned Foods and Acidified Foods

89-08: Class III Devices Without Approved PMA's or IDE's and Other Devices Not Equivalent or No 510K

16-120: Fish/Fishery Products from Foreign Processors (Mfrs.) Not in Compliance with Seafood HACCP

19. 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

(Information collection notices are hyperlinked to agency name.)

20. FMC Lists OTI Applications

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

FMC notice (FR Pub 01/28/10) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-1639.pdf)