Note that Daily Update on Capitol Hill Trade Actions does not appear in today's issue of International Trade Today. Publication of this feature will resume as new information becomes available.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is rescinding, effective September 14, 2009, its 2004 order and subsequent amendments that prohibited the importation of birds and unprocessed bird products from certain countries, due to concerns about the risk of introducing highly pathogenic avian influenza into the U.S.
Note that Daily Update on Capitol Hill Trade Actions does not appear in today's issue of International Trade Today. Publication of this feature will resume as new information becomes available.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is expected to publish a Federal Register notice containing revised enforcement requirements for the Lacey Act Declaration for plants and plant products before October 1, 2009, the date the next phase of implementation is scheduled to begin1.
The WCO in conjunction with the Trusted Trade Alliance and host trade organization, the American Association of Exporters and Importers, will hold a two-day event on October 5-6, 2009 in Seattle focusing on the critical role of continued facilitation of legitimate cross-border trade, and surveying the global implementation of regulatory initiatives flowing from the WCO SAFE Framework and other multilateral standards. (Notice, available at http://www.trusted-trade.net/en/world-customs-forum/)
The White House has posted a statement by the President on the House passage of the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009. In his statement, the President commends the House of Representatives for its passage and states that he looks forward to working with the Senate to enact food safety legislation. (Statement, dated 07/30/09, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Statement-by-the-President-on-House-Passage-of-the-Food-Safety-Enhancement-Act-of-2009/.)
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.