According to a column in The Journal of Commerce, professionals predict that the Los Angeles/Long Beach ports will be virtually gridlocked by the end of 2010, as local voters and politicians have decided that the environment and infrastructure are all but maxed out. (JoC, dated 01/15/07, www.joc.com )
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a proposed rule that would amend 9 CFR Parts 93, 94, 95 and 96 on the importation into the U.S. of live bovines and products from bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) minimal risk regions (BSE-risk) (currently only Canada).
The State Department's Washington File reports that President Bush has asked Congress to renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA, also known as "fast track"), which expires on July 1, 2007. According to the article, TPA allows the President to negotiate trade agreements and then send them to Congress for an up-or-down vote without amendment and on a strict timetable. The article notes that the Administration would have to submit any agreement covered by the existing TPA by April 2, 2007. (Washington File dated 01/31/07, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=January&x=20070131160754FJreffahcS0.9970667.)
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sources, if Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) members did not update their account information in the mandatory C-TPAT Internet Application and Communications Portal (referred to as the C-TPAT Security Link Portal) by the October 1, 2006 deadline, their application was considered withdrawn and all C-TPAT benefits were removed. (See ITT's Online Archives or 09/29/06 news, 06092905, for BP reminder of the deadline, which includes program information.)
According to an article in American Shipper, it is more likely that a terrorist will strike a U.S. port than a weapon of mass destruction will be smuggled into the U.S. in an international container. The author proposes a stepping up of surveillance to deter such an attack. (American Shipper Pub January 2007, www.americanshipper.com)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a document announcing that the National Agriculture Release Program (NARP), a nationwide expedited agriculture cargo release program, is scheduled for implementation in January 2007.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule, effective December 18, 2006, which amends 7 CFR Part 319 in order to list a number of fruits and vegetables from certain parts of the world as eligible, under specified conditions, for importation into the U.S.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule, effective December 18, 2006, which amends 7 CFR Part 319 in order to list a number of fruits and vegetables from certain parts of the world as eligible, under specified conditions, for importation into the U.S.
Washington Trade Daily reports that a Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) source states that although there may be a bit of a delay, BIS will not back off from its proposed rule regarding high-technology exports to China, despite spreading business opposition. The BIS official stated that under the proposed rule, companies would have to perform less scrutiny of their customers than under the current Enhanced Proliferation Control Initiative's (EPCI) knowledge rule. The report states that the proposed rule relies on a new "trusted customer" concept, which would allow exports without license to buyers that are viewed as reliable and not likely to convert the end-product to a militarily useful good. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/18/06 news, 06071820, for the final part of BP's multi-part series of summaries on the proposed rule, with links to previous summaries.) (WTD, dated 12/15/06, www.washingtontradedaily.com)
The Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a notice requesting information on the efforts of certain countries to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. DOL explains that this information will be used in the preparation of the sixth annual report on certain trade beneficiary countries' implementation of international commitments to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. Information should be submitted by 5 p.m. on December 22, 2006 (FR Pub 12/05/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-20561.pdf.)