The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a document entitled, Taking Emergency Action for Suspect Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM) Ships (AGM Emergency Action), which outlines APHIS' plan to prevent the artificial spread of AGM (Lymantria dispar) from high-risk areas including Far East Russian and Japanese ports. According to APHIS sources, the guidelines and requirements detailed in the AGM Emergency Action have been in place since the early 1990s.
PierPASS Inc. has issued a press release stating that effective April 24, 2006, it will adjust the current Traffic Mitigation Fee (TMF) assessed on container traffic using marine terminal day gates under the OffPeak program to $50 per TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) or $100 per FEU (forty-foot equivalent unit or larger), an amendment from the program's original $40 per TEU rate. (Note that PierPASS had originally issued a press release setting the effective date for this increase as April 3, 2006.) (PierPass, dated 03/24/06, available at http://www.pierpass.org/press_room/releases/?id=26 )
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued notices which, effective on various dates, add Albania, Azerbaijan, Cameroon, Egypt, India, Myanmar, Niger, and Nigeria to the list of countries from which the importation of certain birds and bird products are temporarily banned in order to protect poultry and humans in the U.S. from the possible spread of avian influenza (Influenza A, H5N1).
The Washington File reports that U.S. Treasury Secretary John W. Snow, speaking to a group of community bankers on March 14th, criticized congressional interest in an automatic 45-day security investigation of any foreign investment that could affect "economic security." According to the article, the investigation would be in addition to the usual, 30-day review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS). (Washington File Pub 03/14/06, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=March&x=20060314180240berehellek0.9729883&t=xarchives/xarchitem.html)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule, effective March 14, 2006, in order to amend its January 2005 final rule which established bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) minimal risk regions and added Canada to this category of regions.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release announcing that Malaysia has decided to reopen its market to U.S. boneless beef and beef products from animals under 30 months of age. The USTR states that the initial agreement will allow U.S. plants currently approved by Malaysia to resume such exports and notes that the U.S. and Malaysia are currently finalizing the import documentation statements and details so that trade can begin. (USTR Pub 03/07/06, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2006/March/Portman_Welcomes_Step_by_Malaysia_to_Open_Market_to_US_Beef_Beef_Products.html)
According to washingtonpost.com, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) company, Dubai Ports World, that was attempting to take over the management operations [of certain terminals] at six U.S. ports, has announced that it will divest itself of all American interests. According to the article, it was not immediately clear how the divesture would be handled or what U.S. company would take over the operation. (03/09/06, www.washingtonpost.com )
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a notice announcing that it has reopened its comment period until March 10, 2006, for a proposed rule that would amend 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.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a report for the trade regarding the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)/International Trade Data System (ITDS) Standard Data Set (SDS), which is updated through February 20, 2006 and is based on SDS version 4.4.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a notice announcing that it has reopened its comment period until March 31, 2006, for a proposed rule to amend its regulations regarding the importation of nursery stock.