Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
According to the American Shipper, on June 6, 2005, the office of the United States attorney in Brooklyn, N.Y. filed a civil racketeering lawsuit against the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA). AS articles state that the lawsuit asks a federal judge to allow the government to take over the ILA and several of its benefit plans. AS also reports that the ILA and the U.S. Maritime Alliance, Ltd. (USMX) have stated that their Master Contract (through September 30, 2010), which has a no-strike provision, is unaffected by the pending civil RICO action. (AS, dated 07/01/05 and 07/08/05, ShippersNewsWire@americanshipper.com )
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1. ILA, USMX Say No Strike Will Occur During U.S. Racketeering Lawsuit
2. CBP Acts to Increase C-TPAT Validations Following GAO Report
The Journal of Commerce states that since a recent GAO report on delays in supply chain validations for Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) companies, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has reportedly sent more than 2,000 letters to those submitting plans telling them that their validation was "in progress." (JoC, dated June 13, 2005)
3. USTR to Continue to Review Eight Petitions for 2003 & 2004 ATPA Reviews
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice announcing that the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) will continue its review of eight pending petitions received in connection with its 2003 and 2004 Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) annual reviews. According to USTR, the results will be announced in the fall 2005 notice containing the preliminary review results of 2005 petitions. (See ITT's Online Archives or 01/21/05 news, 05012120, for BP summary of USTR's previous notice, now superceded, stating that it would announce the results for these eight petitions on/about May 31, 2005, etc.) (FR Pub 07/01/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-12984.pdf)
4. Exporters' Textile Advisory Committee to Meet on July 20th
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has published a notice announcing that the Exporters' Textile Advisory Committee will hold a partially open meeting on July 20, 2005 in Washington, DC. This committee provides advice on the identification and surmounting of barriers to the expansion of textile exports, and on methods of encouraging textile firms to participate in export expansion. (ITA notice, FR Pub 07/07/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-3591.pdf.)
5. FDA Issues Information for Consumers about Health Claims and Green Tea
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a press release announcing that based on a systematic evaluation of the available scientific data, the FDA intends to consider exercising its enforcement discretion for certain qualified health claims for breast and prostate cancer. The FDA states that it has also concluded that existing evidence does not support qualified health claims for green tea consumption and a reduced risk of any other type of cancer. (FDA press release P05-36, dated 06/30/05, available at www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2005/NEW01197.html.)
6. FMCSA Technical Correction to Proposed Rule on Shifting & Falling Cargo
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a notice correcting the docket number of its June 8, 2005 proposed rule to amend a 2002 final rule on protection against shifting and falling cargo for commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) engaged in interstate commerce, etc. (See ITT's Online Archives or 06/16/05 news, 05061699 3, for BP listing of the proposed rule.) (D/N FMCSA-2005-21259, FR Pub 06/23/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-12442.pdf)