On July 29, 2008, WTO Director-General Lamy announced that ministers have failed in their effort to agree on blueprint Doha agreements in agriculture and industrial products. Out of 20 topics, convergence was reached on18 but the gaps could not narrow on the 19th - the special safeguard mechanism in farm products for developing countries. Nevertheless, the results represent twice or three times more than has been achieved in any previous multilateral negotiation, and this collapse does not mean the end of the Doha Round. (WTO release, dated 07/29/08, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/meet08_summary_29july_e.htm)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted an updated version of its "ACE on the Road" event schedule, which includes the following event:
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative posted USTR Schwab's July 22nd remarks at the Doha Ministerial in Geneva. Schwab's remarks include a new proposal to limit U.S. agricultural subsidies to $15 billion per year. Senator Grassley, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee and senior member of the Agriculture Committee, commented on the USTR's $15 billion proposal, and the reaction from leading developing countries that it was not enough. (USTR remarks, dated 07/22/08, available at http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2008/July/asset_upload_file409_15037.pdf; Grassley statement, dated 07/22/08, available at http://finance.senate.gov/press/Gpress/2008/prg072208a.pdf.)
The International Plant Protection Convention has posted a draft revised International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15), Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade, for comment.
On June 26, 2008, the Senate passed its version of H.R. 802, the Maritime Pollution Prevention Act, which would require the Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency to prescribe regulations to implement vessel air emission standards and requirements that are outlined under Annex VI to the MARPOL Convention. The House passed its version of H.R. 802 on March 26, 2007. (Senate Commerce Committee press release, dated 06/27/08, available at http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=82f3560a-d664-42ec-82af-87a9d0ab0fec&Month=6&Year=2008.)
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission will hold an open public hearing on July 16, 2008 in Washington, D.C. to address "Research and Development and Technological Advances in Key Industries in China. (Notice, FR 06/26/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-14533.pdf.)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is reopening the comment period on its proposed rule to amend its domestic quarantine regulations to provide for the interstate movement of certain quarantined Hass avocados under certain conditions; and to amend its foreign quarantine regulations to remove certain trapping and bait spray treatment requirements. Comments are now due on or before June 26, 2008.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a proposed rule to incrementally increase user fees for import- and export-related services that APHIS provides for animals, animal products, birds, germ plasm, organisms, and vectors in fiscal years 2009 through 2013.
The Department of Health and Human Services has issued a news release announcing that the Bush Administration is amending its budget request for fiscal year 2009 to include an additional $275 million for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. HHS also posted a fact sheet on investing in FDA's transformation. (HHS press release, dated 06/09/08, available at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2008pres/06/20080609a.html; HHS fact sheet, dated 06/09/08, available at http://www.hhs.gov/news/facts/fdatransformation.html.)
The Federal Maritime Commission has issued an Order to Show Cause for Central Agency of Florida, Inc., operating as an ocean transportation intermediary, for failure to designate and maintain a qualifying individual (QI). If Central Agency does not show cause, the FMC will order it to cease and desist from operating as an OTI. (FMC Order, D/N 08-02, dated 06/06/08, available at http://www.fmc.gov/UserFiles/pages/File/Dkt_08-02_Order_to_Show_Cause.pdf)