U.S. Customs and Border Protection has sent an email to Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism partners highlighting certain security matters for the purpose of raising awareness and renewing partner vigilance regarding supply chain security.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a frequently asked questions document to its website on user fees.
On December 15, 2010, the U.S. and Mexico Executive Steering Committee on 21st Century Border Management (ESC) held its first meeting where it adopted an Action Plan establishing specific goals for the U.S.-Mexico border region.
A European industry plan for self-regulation of online behavioral advertising (OBA) won political support from the European Commission and cautious backing from privacy advocates at a Brussels roundtable Thursday, participants said. The best practice recommendation (BPR), developed by publishers, advertisers, agencies and Internet advertising and media companies through the European Advertising Standards Alliance, will usher in a new age of interaction with consumers, EASA said. The proposal is a good start but several questions remain, consumer and data protection organizations said.
Telecom issues can amount to a “fight between Godzilla and King Kong,” Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., said Thursday at a Capitol Hill event on broadcasting and TV carriage deals. Acknowledging that “I'm moving into dangerous territory” in discussing net neutrality, he said its definition has evolved to become more realistic. “There has been an elitist approach to broadband,” Rush said. “We're somewhat” in the “wilderness” and “are aiming for the promised land,” and congressional leaders need to recognize that, he said. Rush is a contender to become ranking member of the House Communications Subcommittee (CD Dec 16 p1). He has opposed the FCC’s net neutrality effort. He didn’t specify what the promised land might be on the issue. Rush expressed amazement at the “disruptive technologies” he has seen. “Ingenious network engineering” may lead to further technological advances, he said. Rush also said that “minorities are grossly under-represented” in technology industries. Entering the promised land would mean ending telecom disparities between minorities and other Americans, Rush said. And “the door to media ownership has to swing far more wide open than it is,” he said.
The European Customs Information Portal has previously reported that the transition period for the European Union’s pre-departure information submission requirements for inbound and outbound cargo (security data) will end December 31, 2010.
The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:
PSP sales in Japan more than quadrupled to 323,700 units in the week through Dec. 5, from 75,700 the prior week (CED Dec 6 p6), on strong demand for the latest Capcom Monster Hunter videogame, according to Media Create data. Monster Hunter Portable 3rd was the week’s No. 1 videogame in its first week available, moving 2 million copies. All sales estimates are rounded to the nearest 100. The Wii moved up three to No. 2 on the hardware chart as sales jumped to 56,100 from 41,300, helped by Nintendo’s release of Mario Sports Mix, No. 3 again on the software chart, with 59,000 copies sold in its second week. The PS3 fell one to No. 3 on the hardware chart, sales tumbling to 41,800 from 68,800. The DSi LL fell one to No. 4, though sales grew to 40,500 from 28,400. The DSi fell one to No. 5, but sales increased to 36,500 from 26,500. The Xbox 360 repeated at No. 6, sales falling to 3,500 from 4,300. The download-only PSP Go was again No. 7, sales improving to 1,900 from 1,700. The DS Lite repeated at No. 8, but sales grew to 1,600 from 1,500. The PS2 was again last, at 1,400 vs. 1,300. Another new release was No. 2 on the software chart, Namco Bandai’s Tales of Graces F for the PS3, which moved 215,200 copies. Sony’s racing game Gran Turismo 5 for the PS3, the prior week’s No. 1 title, slipped to No. 5 in its second week, sales tumbling to 55,700 from 430,700. Also beating it this time was another new release, Nintendo’s Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem for the DS, which sold 57,500 copies.
The following are the trade-related hearings scheduled for December 6-11, 2010:
Virgin Media will “pace” the U.K. rollout of its TiVo service in the first half of 2011 but turn it into a “major weapon” for attracting customers and generating revenue in the second half, CEO Neil Berkett said Friday at a New York analysts conference. The launch last week of a Motorola-built, TiVo-equipped HD/DVR generated “unparalleled” interest, but the demand is “unproven” in the U.K. and “we'll have to see how it lands,” Chief Operating Officer Andrew Barron said.