Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. Joint C-TPAT Validations in China Expected to Begin in January 2008

2. DHS to Opt for Mandatory Container Bolt Seals Instead of Mandatory CSDs

Shippers' NewsWire reports that DHS Secretary Chertoff has told the House Homeland Security Committee that he plans to opt for mandatory bolt seals on containers instead of requiring the comprehensive use of electronic container security devices. (SNW, dated 12/19/07, www.americanshipper.com)

3. USA-ITA Disappointed in New Detention Policy for ISA Textile/Apparel Importers

In the December 2007 Customs Overview, the U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel expressed disappointment with Customs' new detention policy for textile/apparel products from factories designated as high risk for transshipment that are imported by participants in the Importer Self Assessment (ISA) program, noting that among other things, it creates an automatic penalty for infractions greater than those faced by other importers. (USA-ITA Customs Overview, dated 12/07, www.usaita.com )

4. Customs Closes Ford NAFTA Penalty Case, Re-evaluating NAFTA Penalties

The law firm of Braumiller Schulz LLP has issued a press release announcing that on December 17, 2007, Customs decided to settle what had been a $42 million NAFTA recordkeeping penalty against Ford at a zero amount, as Customs is re-evaluating its policy on NAFTA recordkeeping. (Press release, dated 12/19/07, available by emailing documents@brokerpower.com)

5. ACE/ITDS Aids CPSC in Consumer Product Investigations

The International Trade Data System's Third Quarter 2007 newsletter states that the Consumer Product Safety Commission's access to the ACE portal provides CPSC with expedited access to electronic records, which allows it to conduct more targeted, timely intercepts of potentially dangerous products. (ITDS 3rd Quarter 2007 newsletter, available at www.itds.gov)

6. Domestic Industry Says Haitian HOPE Hurting U.S. Textile Exports, CAFTA

In testimony before the International Trade Commission on November 8, 2007, the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) and the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC) stated that the Haiti HOPE Act has caused a decline in U.S. exports of yarn and fabric to the CAFTA countries and Haiti, as Haiti now has better apparel benefits than any of the CAFTA, NAFTA, or Andean countries, and HOPE's new rules allow sourcing from Asian countries, particularly China. (NCTO testimony, dated 11/08/07, available at http://www.ncto.org/Newsroom/VerbalTestimonyHaiti.pdf)

7. Canada Takes Economic Action Against Burma

Canada's Foreign Affairs and International Trade Division has issued a press release announcing the entry into force of Canada's economic sanctions against Burma (Myanmar). Their measures include a ban on all exports except humanitarian goods, a ban on all imports, etc. (Canada FAIT release No. 177, dated 12/14/07, available at http://w01.international.gc.ca/minpub/Publication.aspx?isRedirect=True&publication_id=385690&Language=E&docnumber=177 )

8. Recent CPSC Press Releases on Recalls

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued separate press releases (dated 12/01/07 - 12/31/07) announcing that the following companies, in cooperation with the CPSC, are voluntarily recalling the products listed below. Due to the large number of recalls, this is Part III of a multi-part series of summaries. (Press releases available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prereldec07.html)