The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a proposed rule that would change the disease status of the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina to allow importation into the U.S. of certain animals and animal products by adding Santa Catarina to the list of regions recognized by USDA as being free of various animal diseases. Because Santa Catarina borders a region where animal diseases exist, however, APHIS is proposing that imports of meat and other animal products from Santa Catarina be subject to certain restrictions.
1. Indonesia Requests WTO Consultations with U.S. on Clove Cigarette Ban
1. CPSC to Start Issuing Its Own Import Detention Notices in May 2010
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a March 2010 version of its Lacey Act Primer. Also, at a recent brokers meeting, APHIS officials commented on current developments concerning the Lacey Act declaration for imported plants and plant products.
Xinhuanet.com reports that China and Costa Rica signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on April 8, 2010 to remove trade barriers and enhance bilateral ties. The agreement is the first free-trade pact signed between China and a Central American country, and would help both sides tap into each others market, as well as other markets in Asia and Central America. (Notice, posted 04/08/10, available at http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-04/08/c_13242298.htm)
Effective April 9, 2010, the Department of Agriculture is canceling all unutilized balances of the GSM-102 Export Credit Program announcements issued for FY 2010. Applications under these announcements must be received by 11:59 p.m. on April 8, 2010, to be considered for guarantee coverage under current terms. If any unused allocations remain under these announcements, USDA will issue new program announcements making the allocations available under new guarantee fee rates. (News release, dated 04/06/10, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/PressRelease/pressrel_dout.asp?Entry=valid&PrNum=0074-10)
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has submitted a proposed collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review regarding follow-up activities for product-related injuries. Comments on the information collection are due by May 6, 2010. (FR Pub 04/06/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-7670.pdf)
The Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency have jointly established new federal rules that set the first-ever national greenhouse gas emissions standards and will significantly increase the fuel economy of all new passenger cars and light trucks sold in the United States. (NHTSA press release DOT 56-10, dated 04/01/10, available at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.f2217bee37fb302f6d7c121046108a0c/?javax.portlet.tpst=1e51531b2220b0f8ea14201046108a0c_ws_MX&javax.portlet.prp_1e51531b2220b0f8ea14201046108a0c_viewID=detail_view&itemID=3941edcf677b7210VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRD&pressReleaseYearSelect=2010.)
The Commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously at their March 31, 2010 meeting to issue in the Federal Register a proposed rule, with changes from the previously posted draft version, on CPSC's interpretation of the term "children's product" as used in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and additional guidance on the factors that must be considered when evaluating what is a children's product. (Webcast available at http://www.cpsc.gov/webcast/previous.html)
According to the World Trade Organization, global trade is set to rebound in 2010 by growing at 9.5%. Exports from developed economies are expected to increase by 7.5%, while shipments from the rest of the world should rise by around 11%. This strong expansion will help recover some but not all of the ground lost in 2009 when global trade contracted 12.2%. (Press release, dated 03/26/10, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres10_e/pr598_e.htm)