The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service recently issued a news release announcing that, in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, it will enforce inspection and agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) user fee requirements for all commercial trucks and loaded railroad cars entering the U.S. from Canada beginning June 1, 2007.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued an interim rule, effective June 1, 2007, which amends 7 CFR 319.40-3(b) regarding the U.S. methyl bromide treatment requirements for wood packaging materials (WPM) in order to conform to the International Plant Protection Convention standards.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a news release announcing that, in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, it will enforce inspection and agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) user fee requirements for all commercial trucks and loaded railroad cars entering the U.S. from Canada beginning June 1, 2007.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a reminder that certain Hass avocados from Mexico can now be imported into all 50 U.S. states.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has updated certain posted information on Japan's implementation and the European Union's enforcement of ISPM 15 treatment and marking requirements for wood packaging material (WPM).
The Journal of Commerce Online reports that Target Corporation and its affiliate, Associated Merchandising Corp., have filed suit in the Court of International Trade accusing the U.S. of gender discrimination in tariffs imposed on similar items of apparel, footwear, and gloves. The article notes that in some cases, duties are higher on items for women and girls, but in other cases, the duties are higher on items for men and boys. (JoC Online dated 05/14/07, www.joc.com.)
American Shipper reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Census Bureau have "gone back to the meeting table" in an effort to finalize the mandatory Automated Export System filing rules. Once changes are agreed to, CBP and Census will have to reissue a new proposed rule for mandatory AES with all new deadlines for comments and final implementation. (American Shipper, February 2007, www.americanshipper.com)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a notice extending the effective date of a portion of its final rule which established specific requirements for the importation of cut flowers that are hosts of chrysanthemum white rust (CWR)1 from countries where the disease is known to occur.
The April 30, 2007 Federal Register contains the semi-annual regulatory agendas for numerous federal government agencies.
According to the statement of a representative of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the U.S. and Malaysia have made significant progress toward conclusion of a U.S.-Malaysia free trade agreement (FTA), but a number of important issues remain outstanding. The Malaysian team will come to the U.S. in mid-April for consultations. (USTR statement, dated 03/23/07, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2007/March/Statement_by_Stephen_Norton_on_US-Malaysia_FTA_Negotiations.html)