On October 21, 2010, the Office of Textiles and Apparel will host a free webinar on the profile of OTEXA and its available resources. The webinar will be geared toward providing university students with background on OTEXA and current textile and apparel programs; the implementation of U.S. textile trade agreements; a discussion of textile and apparel resources; and a question and answer session for webinar participants with Deputy Assistant Secretary Glas and other senior OTEXA staff. Registration closes on October 20, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. EST.
The Environmental Protection Agency is requesting comments on its status report on the chemicals under review and the premanufacture notices (PMNs) and applications for test marketing exemption (TME) to manufacture those chemicals covering the period from July 30, 2010 to August 31, 2010. Comments are due by October 22, 2010.
On September 20, 2010, APHIS updated its Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Canadian Border Agricultural Clearance Manual. This Manual serves as a guide for authorized Federal officers at ports of entry along the Canadian Border.
On September 17, 2010, APHIS updated its Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Treatment Manual. This Manual serves as an operational guide for selecting and conducting quarantine treatments. The procedures and treatment schedules in this manual are administratively authorized for use by APHIS to prevent the movement of agricultural pests into or within the United States. Listed treatments include chemical treatments such as fumigation with methyl bromide, and nonchemical treatments with heat, cold, or irradiation.
On November 16, 2010, the Office of Textiles and Apparel, will host a free webinar on trade preferences for apparel wholly manufactured or knittoshape in Haiti. The webinar will feature background on the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act of 2006 (HOPE), the Food Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (HOPE II), and the Haiti Economic Lift Program of 2010 (HELP), as well as a question and answer session for webinar participants. Registration for this webinar closes on November 15, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. EST.
On September 17, 2010, APHIS updated its Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Import PPQ Manual. The manual lists by country fruits and vegetables that are admissible into the United States. It includes a description of methods for sampling and inspecting selected fruits and vegetables. It also contains pictorial identification guides, and a glossary for common and scientific names of fruits and vegetables.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative announces a partially open meeting of the Committee of Chairs of the Industry Trade Advisory Committees (ITACs) on October 12, 2010. The agenda for the open portion will be on the draft report on the appropriate scope of viewpoints to be represented on the ITACs. The agenda for the closed portion of the meeting will be the trade policy agenda, including discussion of ongoing negotiations and trade strategies.
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):
On September 20, 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.
In recent remarks before the Cuyahoga Community College West Campus in Parma, Ohio, President Obama stated that for years, the U.S. tax code has given billions of dollars in tax breaks that encourage companies to create jobs and profits in other countries.