Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis have announced that total January 2010 exports of $142.7 billion and imports of $180.0 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $37.3 billion, down from $39.9 billion in December 2009, revised. January exports were $0.5 billion less than December exports and January imports were $3.1 billion less than December imports. (Fact sheet, dated 03/11/10, available at http://www.commerce.gov/s/groups/public/@doc/@os/@opa/documents/content/prod01_008993.pdf)
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1. International Trade in Goods and Services Report Released
2. Census Bureau Releases February 2010 Retail Sales Data
The Census Bureau has released retail sales data for February 2010. Retail sales were $355.5 billion in February (an increase of 0.3%) and were 3.9% higher than in February 2009. (Data, dated 03/12/10, available at http://www.census.gov/retail/marts/www/retail.html)
3. EPA Press Release on NY and NJ Port Clean Truck Agreement
EPA and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey have announced an agreement to implement a $28 million program to replace old trucks with vehicles that meet stricter pollution standards. (Press release, dated 03/10/10, available at http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/204894BAB3CD703C852576E20058A3AF)
4. FAS Issues Report on Latest U.S. Agricultural Trade Data
The USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service issued a Commodity and Market Intelligence Report on the "Latest U.S. Agricultural Trade Data" on March 11, 2010. (Report, dated 03/11/10, available at http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/FATUS/MonthlySummary.htm)
5. CITES Considers Global Trade in Wild Plants, Timber, Bluefin Tuna
Scientists attending the ongoing triennial Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) are considering how best to regulate trade in wild plants andproducts protected by CITES (includingcosmetics, perfumes, and cancer medicines). Scientists are also discussing new measures to trace the legal origin of mahogany and other precious timbers. Press release on other goals of this two-week conference(Bluefin tuna, elephants,corals,etc.) available here. (Press release, dated 03/15/10, available at http://www.cites.org/eng/news/press_release.shtml)
6. APHIS Requests Comments on Draft Pest Risk Assessment on Honey Bees from Australia
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is requesting comments on a draft pest risk assessment, which considers potential pest risks involved in the importation of honey bees into the U.S. from Australia, after concerns that exotic honey bee pathogens or parasites may have been introduced into Australia. Comments are due by May 14, 2010. (D/N APHIS-2010-0001, FR Pub 03/15/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-5573.pdf)
7. USDA Announces 2-Year Prison Sentence for Fraudulent Sale of Organic Produce
USDA has announced the successful prosecution of a Texas man for misrepresenting non-organic products as organic. The producer was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and $523,692 in restitution. (News release, dated 03/12/10, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateU&navID=&page=Newsroom&resultType=Details&dDocName=STELPRDC5083316&dID=128571&wf=false&description=ProducerSentencedtoTwoYearsinFederalPrisonforMisrepresentingNon-organi)
8. CPSC Investigating Infant Slings, Working Toward Mandatory Safety Standard
In a notice to parents advising caution when using infant slings for babies younger than four months, the Consumer Product Safety Commission noted that it is actively investigating these products to determine what additional action may be appropriate, is working with ASTM International to quickly complete an effective voluntary standard, and is working to develop a mandatory standard. (Notice, dated 03/12/10, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10165.html)
9. CPSC Posts Slides from Webinar on Product Testing & Certification
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has posted slides from a recent, closed webinar regarding testing and certification for CPSC-regulated products. Among other things, the slides discuss the different testing and certification requirements that apply to children's and non-children's product, describe elements of reasonable testing programs, etc. (Slides, posted 03/15/10, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/prodtest.pdf)
10. CPSC Proposes Pool and Spa Safety Act Interpretative Rule
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is issuing a proposed rule to interpret the term "public accommodation" for compliance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, regarding unblockable drains. Comments are due by April 14, 2010. (FR Pub 03/15/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-5130.pdf)
11. Patent Office and UK Announce Plan to Reduce Global Patent Backlogs
The Patent and Trademark Office and the UK Intellectual Property Office have agreed to develop an action plan for reducing patent processing backlogs in both offices. According to one study, the cost to the global economy of the delay in processing patent applications may be as much as $11.4 billion each year. (Press release 10-09, dated 03/10/10, available at http://www.uspto.gov/news/pr/2010/10_09.jsp)
12. Brazil Informs WTO of Add'l Duties on U.S. Products due to Cotton Dispute
The World Trade Organization has posted a communication from Brazil officially informing WTO Members that due to U.S. noncompliance in the upland cotton dispute, starting April 7, 2010, Brazil will suspend WTO concessions to the U.S. in the form of increased import duties on certain products. (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/03/10 news, 10030910, for BP summary.) (Communication, dated 03/12/10, available by clicking to open twice at http://docsonline.wto.org/DDFDocuments/t/WT/DS/267-43.doc)
13. WTO, UNECA Sign Agreement on Technical Trade Assistance to Africa
The World Trade Organization has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the WTO and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) on implementation of trade-related technical assistance activities in Africa. (Notice, dated 03/09/10, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news10_e/igo_09mar10_e.htm)
14. FAS Commodity and Market Intelligence Reports
The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following Commodity and Market Intelligence Reports:
U.S. Corn Exports Lose Ground To Argentina
Cotton:Global Stocks Forecast to Fall from Recent Levels
South Africa Expects Bumper Corn Harvest during El Nio Drought Year
Growing Vegetable Oil Imports Reduces Soybean Crush in India
15. 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:
99-23: Raw Fresh Fruits And Vegetables Due To The Presence Of Pathogenic Contamination
45-02: Foods Containing Illegal and/or Undeclared Colors
33-10: Candy Due to Lead
16-81: Seafood Products Due to the Presence of Salmonella
16. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports
The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:
Korea - Food Processing Ingredients: Bi-Annual 2010
Korea - Food Service - Hotel Restaurant Institutional: Biennial Sector Brief 2010
Venezuela - Controlled price revised for several products: Ag Situation
Netherland - Exporter Guide: Annual report for the Benelux countries
Ukraine - Sugar Annual
Ukraine - Oilseeds and Products Annual
India - FSSAI Food Safety Regulations - 2009: FAIRS Subject Report
Thailand - Rice Price - Weekly: Weekly Rice Price Update
Italy - Food Processing Ingredients
Vietnam - Rice Price - Weekly: 2010
Croatia - Farmers and Ministry Reach an Agreement to End Protests: Agricultural Situation
South Africa - Wine Annual
China - Feed Additive Catalog: FAIRS Subject Report