"Daily Update on Capitol Hill Trade Actions" is a daily International Trade Today compilation of the most relevant legislation, hearings, and actions by Congress involving international trade. The following are brief summaries of recent Capitol Hill actions:
Latest Harmonized System updates
1. CPSC to Start Issuing Its Own Import Detention Notices in May 2010
The World Trade Organization frequently posts communications to WTO members on issues that involve the U.S. The following are short summaries of such issues for March 2010:
CBP has posted an updated version (version 2.1) of its ACE Entry Summary Instructions document, which provides guidance to ACE users on what entry summary information to provide in ACE. (Instructions, posted 04/05/10, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/trade_programs/entry_summary/ace/ace_es_instructions.ctt/ace_es_instructions.doc)
The U.S. Trade Representative's Trade Policy Staff Committee requests comments on what should be included in the scope of the environmental review of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement for the U.S., as well as potential complementarities between trade and environmental objectives, appropriate methodologies, etc. Comments are due by June 1, 2010. (FR Pub 03/25/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-6653.pdf)
The Federal Maritime Commission has created a new Webpage on U.S. export issues. To assist the public in locating information on this topic and related matters, this page will be updated frequently to include a variety of documents, including Commission press releases, Congressional testimony, and Commission actions related to exports. (Notice, posted 03/19/10, available at http://www.fmc.gov/home/ExportIssues.asp)
On March 17, 2010, the Government Accountability Office testified before Congress1 on the Transportation and Security Administration's efforts to meet the 100% screening mandate for cargo on domestic and inbound (foreign) passenger aircraft by the August 2010 deadline2.
The International Trade Commission has issued a notice announcing that on February 26, 2010, it instituted an investigation (Inv. No. 1205-7) on proposed modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S. (HTS), pursuant to section 1205 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has sent a letter to the International Trade Commission stating that the U.S. and Bahrain recently reached an agreement in principle on certain modifications to the rules of origin for home furnishings (sheets, pillow cases, etc.) under the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement.
On February 17, 2010, Transportation Secretary LaHood announced Recovery Act awards to fund innovative transportation projects. The TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Grant Program was included in the Recovery Act to spur transportation projects that promise significant economic and environmental benefits, including improvements to roads, bridges, rail, ports, transit and intermodal facilities. (White House, dated 02/17/10, available for http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/secretary-lahood-announces-funding-over-50-innovative-strategic-transportation-proj.)