Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

The Journal of Commerce reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection will present its first report on the Secure Freight Initiative to Congress in April, 2008 with a more detailed report in October. CBP is reportedly reserving judgment until it sees hard numbers, adding it would be premature to draw conclusions as the ports where SFI is operational are not high volume ports. (JoC, dated 01/07/08, www.joc.com)

2. WCO Says U.S. Should Cover Other Countries' Costs to Implement 100% Scanning

American Shipper reports that World Customs Organization Secretary General Michel Danet has stated that the U.S. should consider a "Marshall Plan" to cover the technology and start-up costs for the rest of the world to implement the Congressional mandate to scan all U.S.-bound containers at overseas ports within five years. (American Shipper, dated January 2008, www.americanshipper.com)

3. China Lists Major Textile Exporters Subject to EU-China 'Double Checking'

China has posted to its Textile Economic Information Web site a list of major exporters of textiles under the China-European Union "Double Checking" surveillance system for 2008. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/15/07 news, 07101515, for BP summary of the EU and China's monitoring of certain China textile and apparel products for one year after China's quotas ended Jan. 1, 2008.) (CTEI, dated 01/14/08, available at http://www.ctei.gov.cn/english/e_show.asp?xx=6112)

4. FAS Announces Credit Guarantees for Export Sales to Various Countries and Regions

The Foreign Agricultural Service has issued various press releases announcing the availability, as of January 14 or 15, 2008, of credit guarantees for sales of U.S. agricultural commodities under the Commodity Credit Corporation's Export Credit Guarantee Program for fiscal year 2008 for the following countries/economies including: Turkey, South Korea, Russia, Mexico, and China/Hong Kong; and the following regions including: Eurasia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Africa and the Middle East. (FAS press releases, dated 01/11/08 and 01/14/08, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/info/newsevents.asp)

5. Chinese National Indicted for Shipping Endangered Species to U.S. FWS

The Justice Department has issued a press release announcing that Fu Yiner, a Chinese national, has been indicted and plead guilty to a felony count of smuggling in connection with his sale and shipment of raw shell and guitar picks made from the shell of Hawksbill sea turtles, an endangered species, from China to undercover agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Fu and ten others were indicted following a multi-year undercover investigation. (Justice Dept. press release, dated 01/10/08, available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2008/January/08_enrd_018.html)

6. TSA Updates its Quarterly TWIC Deployment Plan

The Transportation Security Administration has issued an updated version, as of January 11, 2008, of its quarterly deployment plan for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential. (TSA's TWIC Quarterly Deployment Plan as of 01/11/08, available at http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/twicquarterlydeploymentschedule_1_11_08.pdf)

7. FSIS Revises Meat, Poultry, Egg Export Requirements for Japan, Singapore

The Food and Safety Inspection Service has posted revised export requirements for meat, poultry, and processed egg products for Japan, revised as of January 11, 2008, and for Singapore, revised as of January 10, 2008. (FSIS Revised export requirements available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Index_of_Import_Requirements_by_Country/)

8. APHIS to Issue Import Permits for Certain Arugula Leaves from Panama

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services has issued a notice advising the public of its decision to begin issuing permits for the importation into the continental U.S. of arugula leaves with stems from Panama, based on the findings of a pest risk analysis. (APHIS Notice, D/N APHIS-2007-0122, FR Pub 01/04/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E7-25554.pdf)

9. OFAC Designates 23 Individuals, 19 Entities Under Kingpin Act

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice publishing the names of twenty-three additional individuals and nineteen additional entities whose property and interests in property have been blocked, effective December 12, 2007, pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. (OFAC Notice, FR Pub 12/19/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-24561.pdf)

10. State Department Terminates Statutory Debarment of Rotair Industries

The State Department has issued a notice announcing that it has terminated the statutory debarment against Rotair Industries, Inc. as of December 7, 2007. As a result, Rotair may participate without prejudice in the export of defense articles and services subject to Section 38 of the Arms Export Control Act and International Traffic in Arms Regulations. (Public Notice 6032, FR Pub 12/19/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-24637.pdf)

11. FDA Labeling Requirements for Certain OTC Contraceptive Drugs

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a final rule, effective June 19, 2008, establishing new warning statements and other labeling information for all over-the-counter (OTC) vaginal contraceptive drug products, also known as spermicides, containing nonoxynol 9 (N9). (FDA Notice, D/N 1980N-0280 (formerly D/N 80N-0280), FR Pub 12/19/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-6111.pdf)

12. GAO Testimony on Intellectual Property (IP) Protection

The Government Accountability Office has issued testimony entitled: "Intellectual Property: Risk and Enforcement Challenges." Among other things, the GAO recommends that various agencies strengthen their management of their IP enforcement efforts. (GAO-08-177T, dated 10/18/07, available athttp://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08177t.pdf)

13. GAO Testimony on the Status of TWIC

The Government Accountability Office has issued testimony entitled: "Transportation Security: TSA Has Made Progress in Implementing the Transportation Worker Identification Credential Program, but Challenges Remain." Among other things, GAO recommends that TSA develop a comprehensive plan for managing the TWIC program, conduct additional testing of the program to help ensure that key components work effectively, strengthen contract planning and oversight practices, and develop a plan for communicating and coordinating with stakeholders. (GAO-08-133T, dated 10/31/07, available athttp://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08133t.pdf)