The Journal of Commerce quotes an industry leader as stating that the recently enacted 9/11 legislation's 100% scanning requirement for ocean containers prior to loading at foreign ports assumes that the necessary technology will be available, however, such a magic bullet cannot be legislated. (JoC, dated 07/30/07, www.joc.com )
The Government Accountability Office has issued testimony to a subcommittee of the House Committee on the Judiciary, which states that, among other things, the Department of Homeland Security Privacy Office has made significant progress in carrying out its statutory responsibilities under the Privacy Act of 1974 and E-Government Act of 2002 (E-Gov Act), but limited Privacy Act progress has been made in updating notices for systems of records that were in existence prior to the creation of DHS. (GAO-07-1024T, released 07/24/07, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d071024t.pdf)
According to The Parliament, the European Commission is concerned about the U.S. Congress' action to drastically boost security by x-raying all container ships coming from the European Union to the U.S. FT Deutschland says the move would have massive consequences on European businesses, potentially leading to serious delays, high bureaucratic costs and a whole range of practical and legal problems. (theparliament.com, dated 07/25/07, available at http://www.theparliament.com/EN/Bulletins/PressReview/Items/200707/1b960fda-4c09-4e8a-9213-4a46ea8b8294.htm )
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a final rule, effective August 17, 2007, that amends 7 CFR Parts 305, 319, and 352 by revising, reorganizing, and making substantive changes to the regulations pertaining to the prevention of pests in imported fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a final rule, effective August 17, 2007, that amends 7 CFR Parts 305, 319, and 352 by revising, reorganizing, and making substantive changes to the regulations pertaining to the prevention of pests in imported fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a final rule, effective August 17, 2007, that amends 7 CFR Parts 305, 319, and 352 by revising, reorganizing, and making substantive changes to the regulations pertaining to the prevention of pests in imported fresh fruits and vegetables.
On July 20, 2007, the House Agriculture Committee ordered to be reported H.R. 2419, the new Farm Bill. According to a committee press release, the committee's version of the Farm Bill includes language that will allow for full implementation of mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) for meat. The press release also states that the House is expected to vote on the Farm Bill before the end of July 2007. (House Agriculture Committee press release, dated 07/20/07, available at http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/agriculture_dem/pr_072007_FarmBill_Passage.html.)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a final rule, effective August 17, 2007, that amends 7 CFR Parts 305, 319, and 352 by revising, reorganizing, and making substantive changes to the regulations pertaining to the prevention of pests in imported fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Journal of Commerce reports that China's announcement last month that it was eliminating rebates of value-added taxes on 553 categories of Chinese merchandise exports may have been intended to create the impression of making a serious effort to curb its exports to the U.S. Critics say that the real goal of Chinese policymakers is to discourage any punitive measures that some members of the U.S. Congress may want to impose on Chinese imports, but that China would have to be much more aggressive about revaluing its currency to satisfy them. (JoC, dated 07/02/07, www.joc.com)
Reuters reports that Canada started trade talks with Colombia on July 16, 2007 to present Canada as a steadier ally to Colombia than U.S. congressional Democrats, who oppose a free trade deal with Colombia until the country's human rights record improves. (Reuters, dated 07/16/07, available at http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN16363307)