Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. USTR Requests Comments on Environmental Review of Trans-Pacific Agreement

2. WTO Market Access Committee Circulates Recommended HS Changes for Jan 1, 2012

The World Trade Organization's Committee on Market Access has circulated to WTO Members the amendments to the Harmonized System which were accepted pursuant to the Recommendation of June 26, 2009 of the Customs Cooperation Council. These WCO-recommended changes to the Harmonized System are set to take effect on January 1, 2012. (Amendments, dated 03/24/10, available at http://docsonline.wto.org/DDFDocuments/t/g/ma/W100.doc)

3. WTO Panel Report on U.S.-China Poultry Dispute Delayed to July 2010

The World Trade Organization has circulated a Communication from the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Panel examining the dispute, "U.S.-Certain Measures Affecting Imports of Poultry from China" (DS392) stating that the panel will only be able to issue its final report in July 2010 due to the technical complexity of the matter and requests by the parties to postpone a number of deadlines. (Communication, dated 03/24/10, available at http://docsonline.wto.org/DDFDocuments/t/wt/ds/392-4.doc)

4. WTO Council for Trade in Goods Elects New Chair, Discusses FTA Notifications

The World Trade Organization has posted a summary of the Council for Trade in Goods' March 23, 2010 meeting in which it elected a new chairperson, agreed on chairpersons for its subsidiary bodies, and discussed the recent notification of new regional trade agreements such as the Peru-China FTA, Panama-Honduras FTA, ASEAN-Japan FTA, etc. (Summary, posted 03/23/10, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news10_e/good_23mar10_e.htm)

5. FWS Reports That CITES Parties Rejected Shark Proposals

The Fish and Wildlife Service leadership expressed disappointment that the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) did not grant protection to four species of sharks (3 species of hammerhead, and the oceanic whitetip). As a result of these decisions these species will continue to be overexploited in international trade. (News release, dated 03/23/10, available at http://www.fws.gov/news/newsreleases/showNews.cfm?newsId=8B296D5A-AC68-6BE3-4C487EB841E454DE)

6. OFAC Designates 54 Mexican Individuals Pursuant to Kingpin Act

On Wednesday, March 24, 2010, the Office of Foreign Assets Control designated 54 Mexican principal lieutenants and enforcers for Mexico's Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. (Press release, dated 03/24/10, available at http://www.treasury.gov/press/releases/tg605.htm)

7. CPSC Submits Registration Form Info Collection for OMB Review

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has submitted its proposed collection of information regarding its Consumer Product Conformity Assessment Body Registration Form to the Office of Management and Budget for review. Comments on the information collection are due by April 26, 2010. (D/N CPSC-2009-0088, FR Pub 03/25/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-6551.pdf)

8. USDA, FDA Announce April 7 Meeting on Codex Food Labeling

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration are sponsoring a public meeting on April 7, 2010 to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the May 2010 session of the Codex Committee on Food Labeling of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. (D/N FSIS-2010-0009, FR Pub 03/25/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-6559.pdf)

9. BIS Announces April 13 Regulations and Procedures TAC Meeting

The Bureau of Industry and Security's Regulations and Procedures Technical Advisory Committee will hold a partially open meeting on April 13, 2010 in Washington, DC. The agenda for the open session includes an export enforcement update and an Automated Export System (AES) update. (FR Pub 03/25/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-6604.pdf)

10. BIS Announces April 8 Materials Processing Equipment TAC Meeting

The Bureau of Industry and Security's Materials Processing Equipment Technical Advisory Committee will hold a partially open meeting on April 8, 2010 in Washington, DC. The agenda for the open session includes discussion on 2010 proposals for Wassenaar Expert's meeting. (FR Pub 03/25/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-6605.pdf)

11. BIS Announces April 27 Sensors and Instrumentation TAC Meeting

The Bureau of Industry and Security's Sensors and Instrumentation Technical Advisory Committee will hold a partially open meeting on April 27, 2010 in Washington, DC. The agenda for the open session includes industry presentations on sensors and instrumentation equipment and technology. (FR Pub 03/25/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-6602.pdf)

12. GSA Applies to Establish Mariposa as Pedestrian Border Crossing

The State Department announces that it recently received an application from the General Services Administration to amend the Presidential permit issued in 2005 to the Arizona Department of Transportation for the Nogales-Mariposa port of entry, as GSA intends to widen the piercing of the border and formally establish Mariposa as a border crossing for pedestrians. (Public Notice 6930, FR Pub 03/25/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-6638.pdf)

13. DOE Announces Meeting on Energy Standards for Central ACs/Heat Pumps

The Department of Energy will hold a public meeting on May 5, 2010 in Washington, DC to discuss and receive comments on the product classes that DOE plans to analyze for purposes of establishing energy conservation standards for residential central air conditioners and heat pumps, etc. Comments are due by May 10, 2010. (D/N EERE-BT-STD-0006, FR Pub 03/25/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-6595.pdf)

14. CBSA Amends D-Memorandum on White Phosphorous Matches

The Canada Border Services Agency has amended its Memorandum D9-1-13 on White Phosphorous Matches, in order to make non-substantive changes to reference new CBSA terminology and the Customs Tariff and Customs Act. (Memorandum, dated 03/19/10, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d9/d9-1-13-eng.pdf)

15. CITT Announces Expiration of AD/CV Order on China Waterproof Footwear

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal states that the antidumping and/or countervailing duty orders on Waterproof Footwear and Bottoms originating in or exported from China will expire on December 6, 2010, as the CITT did not receive any submissions in support of an expiry review. (Notice, dated 03/24/10, available at http://www.citt-tcce.gc.ca/Dumping/expiries/orders/le2j004_e.asp)

16. EC and Argentina Circulate Their Agreement in WTO Biotech Dispute

The European Communities and Argentina have circulated to World Trade Organization Members their mutually agreed solution reached on March 18, 2010 regarding "EC-Measures Affecting the Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products" (DS293). Among other things, the two sides have agreed to a bilateral dialogue on the application of biotechnology to agriculture. (Agreement, dated 03/23/10, available at http://docsonline.wto.org/DDFDocuments/t/g/tbt/D30A1.doc)

17. U.S. Again Requests WTO Review of India's Textile/Apparel Export Competitiveness

The World Trade Organization has posted another request by the U.S. that the WTO Secretariat undertake a computation of the export competitiveness of textile and apparel exports from India as the U.S. believes India has met the definition of "export competitiveness" as defined in Article 27.6 of the Subsidies and Countervailing Measures Agreement for certain products. (Request, posted 03/23/10, available at http://docsonline.wto.org/DDFDocuments/t/g/scm/132A1.doc)

18. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recalls

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

(CPSC recalls available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerelmar10.html)

19. 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:

99-21: Food Products Containing Sulfites

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

12-10: Cheese Due to Microbiological Contamination

20. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports

The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:

Kenya - EAC Rice Import Tariffs and Food Security: Grain and Feed

Brazil - Grain and Feed Annual: Report 2010

Israel - 2010 Quota Utilization - Israeli Ministry of Agriculture: Trade Policy Monitoring

Iraq - Current News in Agriculture and USDA in Iraq: Agriculture in the News, Grain and Feed

Hong Kong - Hong Kong Imports of U.S. Wine Set New Record 2010: Market Development Reports

Russian Federation - Government Allowed Fuel Price Discount for Farmers: Agricultural Situation

Thailand - Dry Conditions Having Slight Impact on Off-season Rice: Grain and Feed

Kenya - Sugar Annual: Kenya Sugar Annual Report

Russian Federation - Forestry Trade and Production Update: Solid Wood Products

Syria - Grain and Feed Annual: Improving Grain Situation

Israel - Grain and Feed Annual: Annual Report

Indonesia - Oilseeds and Products Annual: Oilseeds and Products 2010

India - Weekly Highlights and Hot Bites No. 11: Agriculture in the News

Turkey - Text of New Biosafety Law in English: Biotechnology