On August 6, 2009, Senate Finance Committee leaders Baucus (D) and Grassley (R) introduced the "Customs Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Reauthorization Act of 2009" (S.1631).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Port of Los Angeles has issued a Public Bulletin advising the public of, and inviting comments on, a proposed fee schedule change for the Centralized Examination Station operated by Price Transfer, Incorporated, for the CBP Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team (A-TCET) at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport. (Bulletin LA09-022, dated 09/03/09, available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)
The U.S. Trade Representative was due to submit by September 2, 2009, his recommendation to President Obama on whether to grant relief to union workers in the form of additional duties on imported tires from China. Although the President has 15 days to decide the issue, trade sources expect him to make a decision before the deadline. This case is of interest to other industries as it will be President Obama's first Section 421 decision, and it was brought by a union rather than domestic industry. (USW press release, dated 09/02/09, available at http://www.usw.org/media_center/news_articles?id=0382 )
The World Trade Organization has issued its arbitration reports allowing Brazil to suspend trade concessions (impose countermeasures) against the U.S. stemming from the U.S.-Brazil Cotton dispute.
Note that Daily Update on Capitol Hill Trade Actions does not appear in today's issue of International Trade Today. Publication of this feature will resume as new information becomes available.
The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced on August 12, 2009 that total June exports of $125.8 billion and imports of $152.8 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $27.0 billion, up from $26.0 billion in May. June exports were $2.4 billon more than May exports of $123.4 billion. June imports were $3.5 billion more than May imports of $149.3 billion. Commerce Secretary Lockestated "While we are seeing signs that the worst part of the recent economic downturn is behind us, we still face challenges to resuscitate domestic manufacturing and expand U.S. exports." Fact sheet availablehere. (News Release, dated 08/12/09, available at http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/international/trade/tradnewsrelease.htm)
On July 23, 2009, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3288, a bill that would make appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes.
On July 9, 2009, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a hearing entitled "The Rise of the Mexican Drug Cartels and U.S. National Security."
In the July 10, 2009 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (Vol. 43, No. 27), CBP published a notice proposing to revoke a ruling and a treatment as follows: