Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
Washington Trade Daily reports that key House and Senate lawmakers announced on June 26, 2007 that they had reached agreement on an eight-month extension of the Andean trade preferences program, and have the intention of passing an extension measure before the program's expiration on June 30, 2007. (WTD, dated 06/27/07, www.washingtontradedaily.com)
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1. Key Congressional Leaders Agree to 8-Month Extension of ATPDEA
2. Agreement Reached with Peru on Labor/Environmental Amendments for U.S.-Peru FTA
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has posted a statement announcing it has reached agreement with the government of Peru on amendments to the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (another term for free trade agreement). The legally binding amendments to the TPA's provisions on labor, the environment and other matters reflect the bipartisan agreement on a new trade policy reached between Congress and the Administration in May 2007. USTR adds that it is also in consultations with the governments of Colombia, Panama and Korea regarding similar provisions. (USTR's statement, dated 06/25/07, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2007/June/Schwab_statement_on_amendments_to_US-Peru_Trade_Promotion_Agreement.html)
3. Administration and Congressional Leaders Finalize Formal Text on New Trade Policy to Incorporate Labor, Environmental Standards for Peru, Colombia, Panama, Korea FTAs
U.S. Trade Representative Schwab has issued a statement announcing that the Office of the USTR and the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees have finalized formal text reflecting the May 10, 2007 agreement of Congress and the Bush Administration on incorporating labor and environmental standards into free trade agreements with Peru, Colombia, Panama, and Korea. Schwab states that she looks forward to Congressional action on the Peru agreement in July, and the agreements with Colombia, Panama and Korea as soon as possible. (Schwab statement, dated 06/25/07, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2007/June/Schwab_statement_on_completion_of_text_for_bipartisan_trade_agreement.html)
4. Vietnam to Reduce Import Duties on 90% of U.S. Manufactured Products
The Journal of Commerce quoted a senior Vietnamese trade official as saying that Vietnam will reduce tariffs on more than 90% of U.S. manufactured products to 15% or less due to Vietnam's entry into the World Trade Organization. Tariffs will reportedly be eliminated on computers, telecommunications equipment and civil aircraft as well as on 91% of Vietnam's imports of medical equipment and 96% of scientific equipment. Duties on sport-utility vehicles, minivans, large motorcycles, etc. will decline by 50% or more. (JoC, dated 06/11/07, www.joc.com)
5. National Coffee Association Offers Consolidated C-TPAT Information
Shippers' NewsWire reports that the National Coffee Association of USA is starting a pilot program to help members and their foreign suppliers pool their resources to meet the security requirements of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism. The association has set up a secure Internet portal that would serve as a registry of foreign suppliers and their security practices that members can leverage to reduce redundancy in establishing corporate controls on international shipments. (SNW, dated 06/22/07, www.americanshipper.com)
6. President Continues National Emergency With Respect to Western Balkans
On June 22, 2007, the President issued a notice continuing for one year the national emergency dealing with the threat to U.S. national security and foreign policy constituted by the actions of persons engaged in, or assisting, sponsoring, or supporting (i) extremist violence in the Republic of Macedonia and elsewhere in the Western Balkans region, or (ii) acts obstructing implementation of the Dayton Accords in Bosnia or United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. The emergency was originally declared in Executive Order (EO) 13219 on June 26, 2001 and was amended by EO 13304 on May 28, 2003. (FR Pub 06/25/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-3143.pdf)
6. FMCSA Announces Meeting of CDL Advisory Committee
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a notice announcing a meeting of the Commercial Driver's License Advisory Committee on July 11-12, 2007 in Arlington, VA. (D/N FMCSA-2007-27357, FR Pub 06/20/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-11864.pdf)