The U.S., Canada, and Mexico are proposing to expand the scope of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer to phase down hydrofluorocarbons. As part of the proposal, the Environmental Protection Agency is proposing four refrigerants as possible substitutes in U.S. household and commercial refrigerators and freezers. (News release, dated 05/06/10, available at http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/4e4cae87f0d732078525771b0068ee2d!OpenDocument)
The Port of Long Beach has announced that a joint application for statewide Proposition 1B grants to reduce air pollution from goods transport is being submitted by the Port of Long Beach, the Port of Los Angeles and the South Coast Air Quality Management District. A recent meeting was held at the Port of Long Beach to allow the public to comment on the plan to apply for the funds. (Notice, posted 05/06/10, available at http://www.polb.com/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=692&targetid=1)
In the May 6, 2010 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union, the following trade-related notices were posted:
The World Trade Organization has posted Bahrain's responses to U.S. questions regarding its customs valuation legislation. Among other things, Bahrain explains how importers can appeal decisions made by the committee that reviews the customs officials' valuation decisions. (WTO document - may have to attempt to open twice for proper viewing - posted 05/05/10, available at http://docsonline.wto.org:80/DDFDocuments/t/g/val/W191.doc)
The World Trade Organization has circulated a notice from Brazil informing WTO members that the U.S. and Brazil are currently engaged in a dialogue with a view to reaching a mutually satisfactory solution to U.S.- Subsidies on Upland Cotton (DS267). Accordingly, Brazil's authorized countermeasures will not enter into force before June 21, 2010. (WTO document - may have to attempt to open twice for proper viewing, posted 05/05/10, available at http://docsonline.wto.org:80/DDFDocuments/t/wt/ds/267-44.doc)
Brazil has announced various measures to increase the competitiveness of its exports, including creation of a national export-import bank, expediting the return of export credits against PIS and COFINS taxes, broadening incentives on drawback exports, etc. (Press release, in Portuguese, dated 05/05/10, available at http://www.mdic.gov.br/sitio/interna/noticia.php?area=5¬icia=9798)
World Trade Organization Director-General Pascal Lamy, in his report to the General Council, cited the following “ingredients” in the Doha Round process: meetings organized by the chairs of the different negotiating groups; preliminary contacts between trade ministers; and his own consultations with delegations on general issues. Members must start shaking the ingredients “before the ice melts,” he quipped. (Notice, dated 05/04/10, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news10_e/tnc_chair_report_04may10_e.htm)
In the May 4 and May 5, 2010 editions of the Official Journal of the European Union, the following trade-related Commission Regulation notices were posted:
World Customs Organization Secretary General Mikuriya has announced the accession of the Republic of Mali to the WCO International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures. (release dated 05/04/10, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/press/?v=1&lid=1&cid=7&id=210)
The World Trade Organization has announced that the panel report in the disputes brought by the U.S. (DS375), Japan (DS376), and Taiwan (DS377) on the EC’s tariff treatment of certain IT products, including flat panel computer monitors, printers, copiers, faxes, etc. will again be delayed. The panel now expects to issue its report by July 2010.(WTO document - may have to attempt to open twice for proper viewing - available at http://docsonline.wto.org:80/DDFDocuments/t/WT/DS/377-10.doc)