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 Federal Highway Administration has posted the fiscal year 2009 Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program (STEP) Annual Report. STEP is a federally administered research effort to help improve the understanding of the relationship between surface transportation, planning, and the environment. Highlights of the report are available here.
The Foreign Trade Zone Board has issued the following notices:
The Bureau of Industry and Security has posted the following updated schedule for its export control and compliance training outreach efforts:
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 Department of Health and Human Services' Center for the Evaluation of Risk to Human Reproduction requests information about ongoing studies or upcoming publications on the health effects of low-level lead exposure, such as in paint pigments, ceramics, caulk, plastics, and electronic devices, among other things. Information is due by October 7, 2010.
The President has issued Executive Order 13549, which establishes a Classified National Security Information Program designed to safeguard and govern access to classified national security information shared by the Federal Government with State, local, tribal, and private sector entities.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control is publishing the names of 3 newly-designated entities in Malta whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13382, “Blocking Property of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators and Their Supporters,” effective August 13, 2010.
Export.Gov has posted the presentation from the first National Export Initiative (NEI) webinar, co-hosted by the International Trade Administration and the Small Business Administration. In addition, Export.Gov has information on the Export-Import Bank and their export programs, seminars and trade events. SBA also provides video, podcasts, and free courses that give viewers a "walk you" the export process.
On August 17, 2010, the Foreign Agricultural Service posted a Global Agricultural Information Network report stating that on July 13, 2010 the Thailand Cabinet agreed to terminate the import quota regime for breeding layers in an attempt to ease escalating domestic egg prices. The policy change should increase breeding layer imports sharply in 2010. U.S. breeding layer companies should benefit from this change.