Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
American Shipper reports that to cover the extra risk associated with the deferred payment of customs duties under the new periodic payment system, surety companies are raising the premiums on performance bonds used by importers and their brokers to guarantee duties will be paid to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The article notes one surety's view that for a typical importer that imports on a fairly regular schedule, they are looking at five times the credit risk for the same series of transactions. (American Shipper, August 2004)
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1. Importers Could Face Bond Surcharge to Use ACE Periodic Payment Feature
2. China Plans to Use WTO to its Advantage, Including Filing Dumping Actions
The Journal of Commerce reports that the Chinese government has stated it will make more use of WTO market-protection mechanisms, including filing antidumping cases against foreign companies, which, among other things, will help China make its case for "market economy status." The article notes that China has been the subject of more than 600 antidumping (AD) cases, but have filed only 30 such cases so far. (Journal of Commerce, July 12-18, 2004)
3. Coast Guard Rule on Nitrates as Dangerous Cargo and Vessel Electronic Arrival Notices
The Coast Guard has issued a temporary final rule, effective September 17, 2004 - March 20, 2006, to amend the definition of certain dangerous cargo to include ammonium nitrate and certain ammonium nitrate based fertilizers, in bulk, as well as propylene oxide, alone or mixed with ethylene oxide, in bulk. This change will impose Notice of Arrival requirements on these chemicals. The temporary final rule also adds two new optional methods for vessels to submit electronically notices of arrival. Written comments due by November 16, 2004. (USCG-2003-16688, FR Pub 08/18/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-18899.pdf )
4. DOE Technical Amendment for Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps
The Department of Energy has issued a final rule, effective February 21, 2001, in order to incorporate certain energy conservation standards that will apply to residential central air conditioners and central air conditioning heat pumps beginning on January 23, 2006. DOE states that this change is necessary due to a decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit which ruled that DOE's withdrawal of a 2001 rule was invalid. (D/N EE-RM-98-440, FR Pub 08/17/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-18533.pdf )
5. Meetings to be Held on Draft NOAA Shrimp Issues and Options Paper
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a notice which states that it is hosting public meetings during August and September 2004 to present the results of an analysis of different options and alternatives that may help resolve current financial and market industry challenges for the domestic shrimp industry. (FR Pub 08/18/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-18964.pdf )
6. FSIS Proposed Rule on Foreign Inspection System Supervisory Visits
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a proposed rule to change the required frequency of foreign inspection system supervisory visits to certified foreign establishments in order to bring FSIS import requirements into agreement with its requirements for domestic establishments. Written comments due by October 18, 2004. (D/N 03-033P, FR Pub 08/18/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-18889.pdf )