The Foreign Trade Zones Board has issued a final rule, effective April 30, 20121, to comprehensively revise and update the Foreign Trade Zone regulations in 15 CFR Part 400. Key revisions in the final rule pertain to activities in and procedures for zones in which an imported component is combined with one or more other components to create a different finished product, and expedited access to FTZ benefits for U.S. manufacturers.
Brian Feito
Brian Feito is Managing Editor of International Trade Today, Export Compliance Daily and Trade Law Daily. A licensed customs broker who spent time at the Department of Commerce calculating antidumping and countervailing duties, Brian covers a wide range of subjects including customs and trade-facing product regulation, the courts, antidumping and countervailing duties and Mexico and the European Union. Brian is a graduate of the University of Florida and George Mason University. He joined the staff of Warren Communications News in 2012.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service reported that the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization’s Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JEFCA) has issued a correction clarifying that the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for Apramycin are temporary. FSIS also announced a WHO call for comments on guidelines on sodium and potassium consumption.
The International Trade Administration is announcing the opportunity to request administrative reviews by April 2, 2012 for producers and exporters subject to 17 antidumping orders and 5 countervailing duty orders with March anniversary dates. Affected products include orange juice, stainless steel bar, polyvinyl alcohol, etc.
On March 1, 2012 the following trade-related bills and resolutions were introduced:
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced a set of public hearings relating to its February 24, 2012 proposed driver distraction guidelines. The hearings will provide opportunities for the public to present oral testimony regarding the proposal. NHTSA will hold three public hearings on the following dates: March 12, 2012 in Washington, D.C.; March 15, 2012 in Chicago; and March 16, 2012 in Los Angeles. Each hearing will start at 9 a.m. and continue until 12 noon, local time.
The Foreign Trade Zones Board has issued a final rule, effective April 30, 20121, to comprehensively revise and update the Foreign Trade Zone regulations in 15 CFR Part 400. Key revisions in the final rule pertain to activities in and procedures for zones in which an imported component is combined with one or more other components to create a different finished product, and expedited access to FTZ benefits for U.S. manufacturers.
During the February 29, 2012 House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the President’s trade agenda, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk testified that the U.S. is working with the governments of Columbia and Panama to fulfill their commitments so their free trade agreements can take effect soon. He stated that the administration wants to conclude the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks this year with an agreement that will address cross-cutting issues such as promoting regulatory coherence among countries, enhancing the participation of small businesses in Asia-Pacific trade, and building regional supply chains that promote U.S. jobs.
On February 28, 2012 Commerce Secretary Bryson held a joint meeting of the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee and the Export Promotion Cabinet to discuss strategic priorities for promoting trade and U.S. exports and receive input on new initiatives. He highlighted the progress with the National Export Initiative and the need to strengthen efforts to continue to increase U.S. exports. The groups discussed the President’s Executive Order establishing the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center, which will be the primary forum for the federal government to coordinate enforcement of international and domestic trade rules.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service reports that two Codex electronic working groups (eWG) will be meeting to discuss control of zoonotic parasites and Nutrient Reference Values for labeling purposes.
On February 29, 2012 the following trade-related bills and resolutions were introduced: