The Chinese Government's Official Web Portal reports that China's State Council, the country's Cabinet, recently issued an implementation regulation for the Labor Contract Law in an effort to clarify confusion surrounding the law. (Chinese Government press release, dated 09/18/08, available at http://english.gov.cn/2008-09/18/content_1099209.htm)
The International Trade Data System has issued a press release stating that the power of partnership is becoming more obvious, particularly with respect to the seizure of unsafe products, as the implementation of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Automated Commercial Environment extends to other government agencies.
On Monday, September 15, 2008, the President signed into law H.R. 6532, which transfers $8.017 billion to the Highway Trust Fund from the Treasury General Fund. (White House statement, dated 09/15/08, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/09/20080915-11.html.)
The Government Accountability Office issued its report entitled "Electronic Waste: EPA Needs to Better Control Harmful U.S. Exports through Stronger Enforcement and More Comprehensive Regulation." (GAO-08-1044, dated August 2008, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d081044.pdf)
Senators Snowe and Collins announced that CBP has agreed to their requests to replace the existing Port of Entry in Van Buren that was damaged during severe flooding in early May 2008. CBP will work with the U.S. General Services Administration to develop a plan to build a new permanent facility that will meet the economic needs of the region as well as the security needs of CBP. (Press release, dated 09/12/08, available at http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuseaction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=8cec5872-7156-4db8-9b57-d47083ecaa70&Month=9&Year=2008&Affiliation=R)
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) is seeking immediate review of a U.S. District judge's denial of its request for a preliminary injunction against the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to halt implementation of their Clean Truck Program concession agreements. (ATA press release, dated 09/10/08, available at http://www.truckline.com/NR/exeres/127155D6-18F2-40BB-B1F3-7B673E316089.htm)
The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a final rule, effective October 9, 2008, amending its regulations to reference the most recent version of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Handbook 133, which contains standards for determining the reasonable variations allowed for the declared net weight on labels of immediate containers of meat and poultry products; the procedures to be used to determine the net weight and net weight compliance of meat and poultry products; and related definitions. FSIS is also consolidating the separate net weight regulations for meat and poultry products in a new CFR part, applicable to both meat and poultry products. (D/N FSIS-2008-0015, FR Pub 09/09/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-20559.pdf)
1. LB/LA Ports Notice on Intermodal Container Facility Board Meeting
On August 22, 2008, the Clean Trucks Center on Terminal Island was officially dedicated, The Center, at New Dock Street and Pier S Avenue, was created to be a "one-stop-shop" to assist truck owners who need to comply with the ports' new emission reduction requirements. (Press release available at http://www.polb.com/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=435&targetid=1.)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted to its Unified Business Resumption Messaging Web site messages providing a port status update in the wake of Hurricane Gustav. The most recent message (dated September 2, 2008 at 9:00 a,m. EST) provides details on the situation for the affected ports/terminals. CBP also posted an alert stating that Gustav may affect CBP operations and employees along the Gulf of Mexico. (UBRM update, dated 09/02/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_outreach/bus_resumption/maritime/marine_gustav_3_4.xml; CBP alert, dated 08/29/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/highlights/hurricane_gustav.xml.)