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)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site an updated list of fresh fruit and vegetable commodities from specific countries that meet the requirements for inclusion in the National Agriculture Release Program (NARP).
The European Union (EU) has issued a press release announcing that it has proposed to remove all remaining quota and tariff limitations on access to the EU market for all African, Caribbean and Pacific regions as part of the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations. The offer will apply immediately following the signing of an agreement - with a phase-in period for rice and sugar. The EU states that the only exception will be South Africa where a number of products will continue to pay import duties. (EU press release, dated 04/04/07, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/476&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)
The Journal of Commerce reports that the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) and the Airforwarders Association recently announced a "Strategic Alliance for Freight Forwarder Endeavors," a joint lobbying effort to work on issues facing forwarders, such as inspection of all air cargo on passenger planes, etc. (JoC dated 04/11/07, www.joc.com.)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule, effective May 3, 2007, which amends 7 CFR Part 319 in order to establish 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, and to amend the nursery stock regulations to update lists of countries where CWR is known to occur.
The Commerce Department has issued a press release stating that on March 23, 2007, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez and National Economic Council Director Allan Hubbard announced the establishment of a U.S-Brazil CEO Forum, which will bring together American and Brazilian business leaders to identify ways to strengthen economic ties between the two countries. (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/30/07 news, 07033099 1, for BP summary announcing membership opportunities for this Forum (applications due by April 20, 2007).) (Commerce Dept. press release, dated 03/23/07, available at http://www.commerce.gov/opa/press/Secretary_Gutierrez/2007_Releases/March/23_Gutierrez_US_Brazil_CEO_Forum_rls.html)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a table regarding the user fees that are collected by CBP.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a notice which describes its policy for responding to low-levels of regulated genetically engineered (GE) plant materials which may occur in commercial seeds or grain.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a notice providing the guidelines for liquidated damages and penalties on wood packing material (WPM) which went into effect on March 9, 20071.