The port of Los Angeles reports that for the period of June 1, 2009 through June 30, 2009, 58.64% of the 177,920 cargo moves at its terminals were made by clean trucks that meet or exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2007 emissions standards. (Notice, available at http://www.portoflosangeles.org/)
The State Department has posted remarks from the July 28, 2009 signing ceremony for the U.S.-China Memorandum of Understanding to Enhance Cooperation in Climate Change, Energy, and the Environment. (Remarks, dated 07/28/09, available at http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/july/126575.htm.)
The European Commission has published its annual report on barriers to trade and investment in the U.S. The report focuses on some key trade barriers and measures that prevent European Union exporters from tapping into the full potential of the U.S. market. It notes some continuing concerns and highlights a number of new barriers introduced in 2008. (Press Release, dated 07/27/09, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1193&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a proposed rule that would amend 7 CFR 319 by establishing a new category of regulated articles in the imported nursery stock (plants for planting) regulations, whose importation is not authorized until a pest risk analysis occurs. Written comments are due by October 21, 2009.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has posted the statement from USTR spokeswoman Carol Guthrie on the recent conclusion of the 5th round of negotiations for the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) that was held in Rabat on July 16 and 17, 2009. Participants in this meeting agreed that the next round will be hosted by the Republic of Korea in November 2009. With regard to the progress of negotiations, participants confirmed their intention to conclude the agreement as soon as possible in 2010. (Press Release, dated 07/20/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2009/july/statement-ustr-spokeswoman-carol-guthrie-anti-counte-0)
Trade associations such as the National Association of Manufacturers and U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and non-governmental organizations such as the Sierra Club and Rainforest Action Network (47 groups in all) have issued a consensus statement recommending a number of changes to the way the Lacey Act Declaration is implemented and administered.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued an updated version of its 2006 Frequently Asked Questions regarding the enforcement of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's wood packaging material (WPM) regulations.
The World Customs Organization has announced that the State of Qatar deposited its instrument of accession to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (revised Kyoto Convention. Qatar is the first member state of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to accede to the revised convention. (Press Release, dated 07/14/09, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/press/default.aspx?lid=1&id=189)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a final rule to increase the user fees charged for export certification of plants and plant products, to add a new user fee for Federal export certificates obtained from a State or county cooperator, and to make several non-substantive changes to APHIS' user fee regulations for clarity.
The Census Bureau has issued an Automated Export System broadcast announcing that effective August 3, 2009, AESDirect will deploy modifications to security measures and user authentication practices. All of these changes fall under the Department of Commerce's security guidelines and address the U.S. Census Bureau's IT Security Program Requirements. The upgrade to the AESDirect system will provide AESDirect users with the utmost in account security. (See broadcast for list of changes.) (AES Broadcast 2009027 available by emailing documents@brokerpower.com.)