Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. U.S. and Mexico Sign Declaration on Cooperation to Secure Border, Etc.

2. EU Report Says U.S.' 100% Scanning Mandate Will be Costly & Ineffective, Risk Management Better

In a report on the impact of the U.S. requirement for 100% scanning of U.S.-bound maritime containers at foreign ports, the European Commission states it will be costly and severely disrupt transport and trade, without proven security benefits. The EU advocates an alternative approach based on multilayered risk management. (Report, posted 02/17/10, available at http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/resources/documents/common/whats_new/sec_2010_131_en.pdf)

3. State Dept Official Provides Update on U.S. Gov't Anti-Piracy Efforts

The State Department has posted a briefing in which the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs provided an update on the U.S. government's anti-piracy efforts. (Briefing, dated 02/18/10) available at http://www.state.gov/t/pm/rls/rm/136909.htm.)

4. Long Beach Port Trade Increases for 2nd Consecutive Month

After closing 2009 with the first increases in monthly container cargo numbers in two years, the Port of Long Beach reported a continued uptrend in trade for January. Imported cargo increased by nearly 9 percent in the first month of 2010 compared to the same period last year. Exports were up by 28 percent. In December, the Port saw the end of a downtrend in trade numbers that began in 2007. (News details, posted 02/16/10, available at http://www.polb.com/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=672&targetid=1)

5. U.S., Peru Hold First Meeting on Environmental Affairs Council

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a news release announcing that representatives of the U.S. and Peru convened the first meeting of the Environmental Affairs Council (EAC) of the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement. (Press release, dated 02/17/10, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2010/february/united-states-and-peru-hold-first-meeting-environ)

6. USTR Kirk Announces Serafini as Congressional Affairs DAUSTR

USTR Kirk has announced that Ted Serafini will be named as the new Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Congressional Affairs. (Press release, dated 02/16/10, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2010/february/ustr-ron-kirk-announces-serafini-congressional-af)

7. DOJ Announces Guilty Plea for Italian Subsidiary of US Firm for Price Fixing

The Justice Department has announced that Parker ITR S.r.l., an Italian subsidiary of a U.S.-based company, has agreed to plead guilty and pay a $2.29 million criminal fine for participating in an international price-fixing conspiracy involving the marine hose it manufactures. (Press release, dated 02/16/10, available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/February/10-at-144.html)

8. ITC Reschedules Sunshine Act Meeting on Drill Pipe from China to Feb 19th

The International Trade Commission has rescheduled its Sunshine Act meeting regarding its upcoming preliminary injury determination on drill pipe from China to February 19, 2010 (from February 12th). (FR Pub 02/18/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-3247.pdf)

9. OPIC Announces Special Initiatives to Support Haiti

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation has announced its launch of new initiatives to support Haiti, including an immediate line of credit of up to $50 million to access OPIC financing and political risk insurance for investment in the country. (Press release, dated 02/17/10, available at http://www.opic.gov/www.opic.gov/news/press-releases/2010/pr021710)

10. USDA Names Members to Mushroom Council

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack has appointed three members to serve on the Mushroom Council for three-year terms. The council - composed of fresh market producers or importers who average more than 500,000 pounds of mushrooms annually - administers a national promotion, research and consumer information program for mushrooms. (News release, dated 02/17/10, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateU&navID=&page=Newsroom&resultType=Details&dDocName=STELPRDC5082709&dID=127097&wf=false&description=USDANamesMemberstotheMushroomCouncil&topNav=Newsroom&leftNav=&rightNav1=&r)

11. USDA Names Members to the National Watermelon Promotion Board

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack has announced the appointment of six producer and six handler members to serve on the National Watermelon Promotion Board for three-year terms. The board administers a national research and promotion program for watermelon. Assessments are paid by watermelon producers, handlers and importers. (News release, dated 02/17/10, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateU&navID=&page=Newsroom&resultType=Details&dDocName=STELPRDC5082708&dID=127096&wf=false&description=USDANamesMemberstotheNationalWatermelonPromotionBoard&topNav=Newsroom&le)

12. FAS Reports on Agricultural Trade Multipliers

The USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service has issued a Commodity and Market Intelligence Report on Agricultural Trade Multipliers, which provide estimates of employment and/or output effects of trade in farm and food products on the U.S. economy, and reflect the amount of economic activity and/or jobs generated by agricultural exports. (Report, updated 02/08/10, available at http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/TradeMultiplier/)

13. DDTC Announces Commodity Jurisdiction Requests Must Be Mailed Until Further Notice

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has announced that effective February 17, 2010 and until further notice, all commodity jurisdiction (CJ) requests must be mailed (FedEx, DRL, UPS, USPS, etc.) to DDTC. Requests must include eight complete copies of a fully executed DS-4076 CJ Form and all supporting documentation. (Notice, posted 02/17/10, available at http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/)

14. Canada Initiates AD/CV Expiry Reviews of Certain Refined Sugar from U.S., Germany, EU, Etc

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal has initiated expiry reviews of its November 2005 orders concerning the dumping of certain refined sugar from the U.S., Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom and the subsidizing of certain refined sugar from the European Union. (Notice, dated 02/18/10, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/sima-lmsi/er-rre/rr2009-003/rr2009-003-e09-ni-eng.html)

15. EC Initiates AD Investigation of Coated Fine Paper from China

The European Commission has initiated an antidumping duty investigation regarding imports of coated fine paper from China. (Notice, dated 02/18/10, available at http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2010/february/tradoc_145802.init.en.C41-2010.pdf)

16. EU Initiates AD Cases on Melamine from China, Zeolite A Powder from Bosnia & Herzegovina

The European Union has announced its initiation oftwo antidumping proceedings. One concerns imports of melamine from China, and the other imports of zeolite A powder from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

17. Revised FDA Import Alert

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

99-19: Food Products Due to the Presence of Salmonella

18. Long Beach Posts Revised Port Drayage Truck Registry Tutorials

The Port of Long Beach has posted the following revised Port Drayage Truck Registry Tutorials:

PDTR Fee Substitution Tutorial

PDTR Payment Tutorial

19. DHS OIG Posts Reports on Firearms, TSA Security Information, Etc.

The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General has posted the following reports:

OIG-10-42 - Department of Homeland Security's Acquisition Data Management Systems - http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_10-42_Jan10.pdf

OIG-10-41 - DHS Controls Over Firearms - http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_10-41_Jan10.pdf.

OIG-10-40 - Resource and Security Issues Hinder DHS' Implementation of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 - http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_10-40_Jan10.pdf.

OIG-10-37 - TSA's Breach of Sensitive Security Information (Redacted) - http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_10-37_Jan10.pdf.

OIG-10-38 - Management and Oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of International Affairs Internal Controls for Acquisitions and Employee Integrity Processes - http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_10-38_Jan10.pdf.

20. 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.)