The Federal Aviation Administration initiated an administrative proceeding, known as a notice of investigation, to determine whether the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will violate federal regulations if it follows through with its proposal to bar airlines from using takeoff and landing slots at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International Airports if the slots are acquired by auction. (DOT press release 122-08, dated 08/26/08, available at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot12208.htm.)
The International Plant Protection Convention has posted a draft International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures, Categorization of Commodities According to Their Phytosanitary Risk, for comment by September 30, 2008.
U.S. Trade Representative Schwab and Commerce Secretary Gutierrez announced that the 19th session of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) will be held the week of Sept. 15, 2008, in Yorba Linda, California. The JCCT, a high-level government-to-government dialogue, identifies and works to resolve bilateral trade issues to expand trade opportunities. (USTR, dated 08/15/08, available at http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2008/August/asset_upload_file860_15069.pdf)
The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are seeking applications for the 2008 Goods Movement Emissions Reduction Program. Under this Proposition 1B program, port truckers who own qualifying trucks are eligible to receive up to $50,000 in state funds to partially fund the replacement of their older trucks. (Announcement SPBP-PA001, dated 08/01/08, available at http://www.polb.com/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=5449)
CBP has issued a notice stating that as the country of Ukraine became a World Trade Organization (WTO) member on May 16, 2008, wool apparel imports are no longer subject to quota monitoring. In addition, the filing of a quota-type entry for consumption or warehouse withdrawal is no longer required. (See ITT's Online Archives or 01/04/07 news, 07010425, for BP summary of CBP message requiring monitoring and the filing of a quota entry for certain wool apparel from Ukraine.) (QBT-08-102, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/trade_programs/textiles_and_quotas/qbts/qbt2008/qbt_08_102.ctt/qbt_08_102.pdf.)
On July 31, 2008, the Senate passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (H.R. 4040) conference report, clearing it for the President. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/31/08 news, 08073110, for BP summary of the H.R. 4040 conference report.) (Congressional Record, dated 07/31/08 news, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r110:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20080731))
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.