On May 20, 2004, the House of Representatives appointed its conferees for H.R. 1047, the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2003. As the House and Senate have passed different versions of H.R. 1047, a House-Senate conference would normally be needed to resolve the differences between the two versions of the bill. However, a conference on H.R. 1047 has not yet been held because there has been a 'hold' placed on the bill in the Senate which has prevented the Senate from requesting a conference and appointing its conferees. (See ITT's Online Archives or 05/03/04 news, 04050315, for final part of BP summary of Senate's version of H.R. 1047, with links to other parts.)(House Ways and Means Committee press release, dated 05/20/04, available at http://waysandmeans.house.gov/news.asp?formmode=release&id=215.)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued an interim rule, effective February 4, 2004, which amends its regulations to prohibit or restrict the importation of certain birds, poultry, and bird and poultry products from regions that have reported the presence of the H5N1 subtype of highly pathogenic avian influenza (avian flu).
On May 11, 2004, the Senate passed S. 1637, the Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act by a vote of 92 yeas to 5 nays. According to Congressional sources, S. 1637 would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to comply with the World Trade Organization (WTO) rulings on the Foreign Sales Corporation/Extraterritorial Income Tax (FSC/ETI) benefit. (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/01/04 news, 04030105, for BP summary on the EU's imposition of additional duties on selected U.S. products due to its dispute with the U.S. over the FSC/ETI tax regime.)(Congressional Record dated 05/11/04, http://thomas.loc.gov/r108/r108d11my4.html.
American Shipper has reported that the European Union was poised to implement the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) solid wood packing material (SWPM) standard in the spring of 2004. However, it has now dropped this initiative due to the admittance of 10 new member countries from Eastern Europe. American Shipper states that a new implementation date has yet to be set. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has also posted an update to its Web site stating that Australia has proposed draft requirements for imported SWPM that are to become effective July 1, 2004. See APHIS' SWPM Web page for more information http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/swp/industry/index.html. (American Shipper Pub May 2004 www.americanshipper.com)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule, effective June 4, 2004, which amends 7 CFR Part 319.37-8(e) in order to add orchids of the genus Phalaenopsis from Taiwan only to the list of plants that may be imported in an approved growing medium subject to specified growing, inspection, and certification requirements.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a notice announcing that it has issued the second edition of its Questions and Answers (Q&A) on the prior notice requirement for imported food. This revised guidance is entitled "Questions and Answers Regarding the Interim Final Rule on Prior Notice of Imported Food (Edition 2)" and is dated May 2004.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a notice announcing that it has issued the second edition of its Questions and Answers (Q&A) on the prior notice requirement for imported food. This revised guidance is entitled "Questions and Answers Regarding the Interim Final Rule on Prior Notice of Imported Food (Edition 2)" and is dated May 2004.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a proposed rule which would amend its nursery stock regulations at 7 CFR Part 319 to allow the importation of small lots of seed under an import permit with specific conditions, as an alternative to the current phytosanitary certificate requirement.
The Journal of Commerce reports that the U.S. may have to drop 27% duties on Canadian lumber shipments after a NAFTA binational panel ruled that the U.S. International Trade Commission's finding that tariffs are needed because Canadian imports push down prices "is not supported by substantial evidence." According to the article, the U.S. has 21 days to redo its figures or end the duties. (JoC dated 04/30/04, www.joc.com.)
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has released a statement on U.S. China trade relations which announces, among other things, that the administration has rejected a section 301 unfair trade practices petition filed by the AFL-CIO with regard to China's worker's rights policies. The USTR explains while there are serious concerns about labor rights and working conditions in China, the administration believes that trade and economic growth, among other things, will move China faster and further toward achieving results. (USTR Statement, dated 04/28/04, available at http://www.ustr.gov/releases/2004/04/2004-04-28-statement-china.pdf)