The National Institute of Standards and Technology announces that it intends to terminate, effective September 30, 2010, the Commercial Products Testing Laboratory Accreditation Program offered by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP), which includes the following areas of testing: paints and related coatings, paper and related products, building seals and sealants, plastics, plumbing, roofing, and mattresses.
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):
The Foreign Trade Zone Board has issued the following notices:
The State Department, World Health Organization, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recently issued the following travel warnings, travel alerts, country specific information sheets, and disease outbreak-related information:
The National Marine Fisheries Service has granted a request for an affirmative finding, effective from April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2015, to the Government of Spain under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which will allow yellowfin tuna harvested in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean in compliance with the International Dolphin Conservation Program by Spanish flag purse seine vessels or purse seine vessels operating under Spanish jurisdiction to be imported into the U.S.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology posts drafts and changes to foreign technical regulations for manufactured products which may be considered technical barriers to trade and are therefore required to be reported to the World Trade Organization, which distributes the information to WTO Member countries.
The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:
On the final day of the National Minority Enterprise Development Week Conference, Commerce Secretary Locke stated that minority businesses already export twice as much as the average business, as they often have existing cultural, family or business ties to foreign countries. The National Export Initiative (NEI) seeks to build on that, with a goal of increasing the number of small-, medium- and minority-owned businesses exporting to more than one market by 50 percent over the next five years. Full remarks here.
In its statement on adjusting the estimated Gross Domestic Product to 1.6 percent for the second quarter of 2010, the Commerce Department noted that the downward revision reflected a wider trade deficit and lower inventories, as well as surprisingly large swings in net exports late in the quarter. Commerce also stated that American consumers disposable net income increased at more than a 4 percent annual rate, while business investments in equipment and software grew at more than a 20 percent annual rate for the second straight quarter.
The International Trade Administration announces that the President’s Export Council will hold a meeting on September 16, 2010 to discuss topics related to the National Export Initiative, and advice from the President’s Export Council as to how to promote U.S. exports, jobs, and growth.