The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports that the World Bank has urged China and Malaysia to let their currencies appreciate, warning that their fixed exchange-rate systems are attracting the kind of currency speculation that ignited the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s. (WSJ Pub 04/28/05, www.wallstreetjournal.com)
The Journal of Commerce reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has unveiled Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) Plus, which will provide participants with a "green lane" (i.e., no inspections upon arrival and immediate release of cargo). However, the article notes that even if importers obtain immediate release from CBP, other government agencies, including the FDA and USDA, can hold up cargo for hours, days, weeks, or months with little evidence of a violation. (JoC, dated 04/11/05, www.joc.com)
The Washington File reports that Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Market Access and Compliance William Lash has stated that stronger punishments and more vigorous enforcement are necessary to stem a growing epidemic of infringement of intellectual property rights (IPR) in China. According to Lash, the U.S. has damages of $20 to 24 billion a year from piracy in China, with the situation getting worse. (Washington File Pub 04/14/05, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/eap/Archive/2005/Apr/14-581627.html)
A Wall Street Journal News Roundup article states that a surge in textile exports helped widen China's trade surplus again last month, likely leading the U.S. to increase political pressure on China to let its currency appreciate. The article states that in the first quarter, China's exports surged 34.9% to $155.89 billion from a year earlier. (WSJ, dated 04/12/05, www.wsj.com )
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a proposed rule which would amend 9 CFR Parts 93, 94, and 98 on the importation of swine and swine products from the European Union (EU).
The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has posted to its Web site the Report of the North American Chief Veterinary Officers on Harmonization of a BSE Strategy.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a proposed rule to amend its regulations at 7 CFR Part 319 regarding the importation of fruits and vegetables. Comments on the proposed rule are due by May 31, 2005.
The Journal of Commerce reports that customs brokers are often caught in an awkward position between shippers and carriers when storage fees are charged, but brokers are convinced that technical issues related to demurrage and detention fees can be worked out or at least clarified if carriers and brokers discuss their operational methods. (JoC, dated 03/28/05, www.joc.com)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is scheduled to begin suspending the importation of craft items from China that contain wooden logs, limbs, branches, or twigs greater than 1 centimeter in diameter and have intact bark which arrive in the U.S. after April 1, 2005.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS') Web site has updated its tables which list information on trade bans imposed by foreign countries on U.S. exports due to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and avian influenza (avian flu).