The U.S. Embassy in Mexico has posted Ambassador Pascual's remarks before the AmCham National Convention in which he suggested "extending" the U.S.-Mexico border to transit hubs throughout Mexico and the U.S., moving security and customs operations to these decentralized points, and creating multiple customs points in certain cities using pre-clearance, automation resources and GPS technology. (Remarks, posted 03/10/10, available at http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/Ambassador/A100310AmCham.html)
On March 10, 2010, the Commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission voted to approve, with several changes from the staff version, a final rule to replace its September 1, 2009 interim final rule on CPSC's interpretation of the statutory factors it considers in determining civil penalty amounts for "knowing" violations of the prohibited acts in the CPSA, FFA, and FHSA. (Webcast of 03/10/10 meeting available at http://www.cpsc.gov/webcast/previous.html)
On April 1, 2010, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is scheduled to implement Phase IV of its enforcement phase-in schedule for the Lacey Act declaration requirement for imported plants and plant products.
As part of its fiscal year 2011 budget justification document, the Department of Homeland Security listed numerous FY 2011 goals for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Highlights of those goals for specified activities include:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a final rule, which adopts, with changes, its August 2006 interim final rule that removed the exemptions from agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) user fees for commercial vessels, commercial trucks, commercial railroad cars, commercial aircraft, and international air passengers, which enter the U.S. from Canada.
The Commerce Department is releasing findings of an analytic report on the differences between the official trade statistics produced by the United States and China. This report was prepared cooperatively by analysts in the United States and China as part of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade Statistics Working Group (JCCT SWG). (Report, posted 03/5/10, available at http://www.esa.doc.gov/SWG03042010.cfm)
During the February 25, 2010 Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC) meeting, a CBP official and COAC's Agriculture Subcommittee provided an update on agricultural issues. Highlights of this update include:
The International Trade Administration's U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service is organizing a Trade Mission to Bogot and Cartagena, Colombia and Panama City, Panama, September 20-24, 2010, which will focus on helping U.S. companies launch or increase their export business in these markets. (FR Pub 03/03/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-4350.pdf)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has updated its Lacey Act Amendment postings by issuing a February 2010 version of its Lacey Act Primer.
At the February 25, 2010 meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions, a Department of Homeland Security official stated that the White House is coordinating a supply chain security assessment. This assessment, which will meet the requirements of the Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act, is expected to be completed in summer 2010.