USTR Kirk recently commented on President Obama's intent to enter into negotiations of a regional, Asia-Pacific trade agreement, known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. Kirk said that the U.S. will have to confront big challenges, from rationalizing rules of origin amongst current FTA partners to addressing agricultural, developmental, and labor challenges elsewhere, to adding additional countries in ways that ensure that the countries maintain a comprehensive, high standard agreement. (Press release, dated 12/15/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2009/december/ustr-ron-kirk-remarks-trans-pacific-partnership-n)
President Obama has ordered the Federal Government to close for the last half of the work day on December 24, 2009, except to the extent that executive branch departments and agencies determine that certain offices and installations must remain open and that certain employees must remain on duty for the full scheduled workday, for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need. (FR Pub 12/16/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-30020.htm)
CBP has posted Acting Commissioner Ahern's remarks, as prepared, for CBP's 2009 Trade Symposium. Among other things, Ahern discussed transitioning to a new commissioner, 100% scanning, 10+2, ACE, etc. (See ITT's Online Archives or 12/09/09 news, 09120905, for BP summary of Ahern discussing 10+2 at the Trade Symposium.)(Remarks, posted 12/10/09, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/commissioner/speeches_statements/ahern_2009_trade.xml)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted its report to Congress on the Automated Commercial Environment for the third quarter of fiscal year 2009 (April 1 through June 30, 2009).
The ITDS Board has submitted its annual report on the International Trade Data System to Congress, as required by the 2006 SAFE Port Act.1 The report includes updates on the status of ITDS implementation and the status of the Automated Commercial Environment within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, among other issues.
At the November 4, 2009 COAC meeting, a Treasury official announced that the International Trade Data System annual report to Congress has been issued. According to Treasury, the report contains recommendations that could help mitigate the effect of ACE delays on ITDS program. For example, the report recommends that CBP could begin to collect ITDS information for other agencies through the Automated Broker Interface, and then make the data available through the ACE data warehouse. See future issues of ITT for additional details of COAC meeting and ITDS report. (Report, dated September 2009, available at http://www.itds.gov/xp/itds/whats_new/)
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has issued an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking to evaluate whether to amend the Hazardous Material Regulations to incorporate various amendments to international standards and modal regulations on hazmat classification, testing, packaging, etc.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has posted a joint statement by the trade ministers of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico regarding the results of the October 19, 2009 meeting of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Free Trade Commission (FTC).
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a report to Congress outlining the actions it is taking to strengthen its oversight of imported products. The report is in response to recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office in an August 2009 report on CPSC. (Report, dated October 2009, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/GAOresponse.pdf )