The Justice Department reports the conviction of two New York importers in one of the largest counterfeit luxury goods prosecutions in U.S. history, with the infringing goods valued at more than $100 million. Chong Lam and Siu Yung Chan, aka Joyce Chan had imported counterfeit handbags, wallets, purses and carry-on bags from China. Lam and Chan each face a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy count, 10 years in prison and a $2 million fine for each trafficking count, and 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each smuggling count.

The Coast Guard has issued a proposed rule to require that all vessels subject to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), and carrying bulk solid cargoes other than grain, comply with the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code, among other things. Comments are due by July 19, 2010.

Representing the U.S. Department of Commerce, General Counsel Cameron Kerry emphasized the importance of strengthening commercial ties between the United States and Spain at New America Alliance's June 9, 2010 Spain-U.S. Latino Business Forum. The goal of the forum was to connect U.S. Latino and Spanish firms to stimulate U.S.-Spanish commercial growth.

The Commerce Department states that senior Commerce officials and more than 400 companies from the U.S, Haiti and the Dominican Republic attended the “Building a New Haiti: Commerce, Business, Investment” conference in Montrouis on June 10, 2010 -- the first meeting to bring companies from all three countries together since the January 12 earthquake.

On March 16, 2010, the Congressional Research Service issued a report entitled “the Haitian Economy and the HOPE Act.” The CRS report discussed the impact that Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Acts of 2006 and 2008 (i.e., HOPE I and HOPE II) has had on the Haitian economy. Many of the legislative improvements discussed in the CRS report were included in the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Act, which was signed into law on May 24, 2010.

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued two notices that either reissue or revoke an ocean transportation intermediary (OTI) license, as follows:

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing and Services Lamb-Hale attended the IPC -- Association Connecting Electronics Industries executive market and technology conference, stating that the Obama Administration has committed to a next-generation manufacturing agenda by partnering with the private sector to spur innovation.

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 Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has posted highlights of Deputy USTR Marantis' June 9-10, 2010 meetings in Vietnam. Issues discussed included continued implementation of Vietnam’s WTO commitments, protection of intellectual property rights, agricultural biotechnology, market access for U.S. potatoes, fruits and beef, and other topics.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a closed meeting on June 16, 2010, in which the staff will brief the Commission on various compliance matters.