Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Canada Border Services Agency has issued a press release announcing that on December 1, 2007, the government of Canada will reduce the application fees (currently $80) for the NEXUS and Free and Secure Trade (FAST) programs to $50, which will coincide with current U.S. application fees. (CBSA press release, dated 10/24/07, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/media/release-communique/2007/1024ottawa-eng.html)
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1. Canada Reduces NEXUS and FAST Fees to $50, Effective Dec. 1st
2. CBP to Form an Advisory Group on Agricultural Inspection Issues
American Shipper reports that while at the 2007 Western Cargo Conference (WESCCON), U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Basham announced that CBP will form an advisory group to provide expertise on agricultural inspection issues. (AS, dated 10/23/07, www.americanshipper.com)
3. Mississippi River to Ban Ships During Certain Times for Construction
According to e-Cargonews Asia, the Mississippi River will be closed to ships, barges, and other traffic during certain times for almost a year while construction workers prepare the Huey P. Long Bridge for an expansion starting on November 2, 2007. (e-Cargonews, dated 11/02/07, available at http://www.cargonewsasia.com/secured/article.aspx?article=14580)
4. Chinese Government Arrested 774 People for Production, Sale of Tainted Goods
The New York Times reports that the Chinese government recently revealed that it had arrested 774 people over the last two months as part of a nationwide crackdown on the production and sale of tainted food, drugs and agricultural products. (NY Times, dated 10/30/07, available at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/business/worldbusiness/30yuan.html)
5. OFAC Designates 8 Individuals, 17 Entities Under WMD EO
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice publishing the names of 17 newly-designated entities and eight newly-designated individuals whose property and interests in property are blocked, effective October 25, 2007, pursuant to Executive Order 13382 entitled "Blocking Property of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators and Their Supporters." (FR Pub 11/05/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-21725.pdf)
6. House Committee Sends Letters to Companies on Lead in Their Products
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has issued a press release announcing that it sent letters to four companies (Claire's Boutique, RC2, Dollar General and GeoCentral) to request further information on the discovery of lead in their children's products. In the letters, top executives were asked to provide clarifications and further details to responses the companies previously supplied the Committee in regards to toy testing, vendor contracts, recalled products and the companies' processes for recalling products. (House Committee press release, dated 10/31/07, available at http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110nr116.shtml)
7. APHIS Reopens Comment Period on Proposed Rule to Reduce Quarantine for Imported Chrysanthemums, Etc.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a notice reopening the comment period on its August 2008 proposed rule that would amend the regulations on importing nursery stock by providing a new option for the postentry quarantine growing period for articles of Chrysanthemum spp., Leucanthemella serotina, and Nipponanthemum nipponicum and amending the definition of "from." Comments are now due by November 26, 2007 (from October 9, 2007). (See ITT's Online Archives or 08/22/07, 07082299 5 for BP summary of APHIS' proposed rule.) (APHIS notice, D/N 03-002-5, FR Pub 10/26/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-21136.pdf)
8. Agriculture Secretary Names Members, Alternates to Hass Avocado Board
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a press release announcing that the acting Agriculture Secretary has appointed two producer members, two alternate producer members, one importer member and one alternate importer member to serve on the Hass Avocado Board. The members and alternates will serve 3-year terms beginning November 1, 2007 and ending on October 31, 2010. (Release No. 0315.07, dated 10/29/07, available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.retrievecontent/.c/6_2_1UH/.ce/7_2_5JM/.p/5_2_4TQ/.d/2/_th/J_2_9D/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?PC_7_2_5JM_contentid=2007%2F10%2F0315.xml&PC_7_2_5JM_parentnav=LATEST_RELEASES&PC_7_2_5JM_navid=NEWS_RELEASE7_2_5JM)
9. BIS Denies Certain Export Privileges for India Export Without License
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued an order denying certain export privileges for a period of 15 years against Megatech Engineering & Services Pvt. Ltd., Ajay Ahuja, Ravi Shettugar, and T.K. Mohan, for activities involving the export from the U.S. to the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research in India a thermal fatigue test system and a universal testing machine without the required BIS license. (D/Ns 04-BIS-04, 04-BIS-05, 04-BIS-06, and 04-BIS-07, FR Pub 10/31/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-5382.pdf)