Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. Mexico to Open Bidding on $4 Billion Port to Service Asian Trade to U.S.

2. Oakland Port Commissioners Vote to Enact Container Fee

American Shipper reports that the Oakland, California Board of Port Commissioners recently voted to enact fees on shipping containers passing through the city's port. Details on the amount, who would pay the tax, or when it would be imposed are expected by June. (American Shipper, dated 03/21/08, available at http://www.americanshipper.com/cpc/CPC_story.asp?news=88687)

3. Firms Pursuing China as Growth Market, not Just Manufacturing Hub, More Profitable

The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai has issued a press release on the study it conducted in conjunction with Booz Allen that found that companies adopting China as both a growth market and a manufacturing hub are two-thirds more profitable than companies pursuing just one of those objectives. The study also found that the advantage of China solely as a low-cost, manufacturing-for-export market is diminishing. (AMCHAM Shanghai press release, dated 03/04/08, available at http://www.amcham-shanghai.org/AmChamPortal/MCMS/Presentation/Template/Content.aspx?Type=41&Guid=%7B40FFF252-B49C-4BDC-8A8E-1143957E123B%7D)

4. TWIC Enrollment for Ports in CT, MI, and TX

The Transportation Security Administration has issued a notice announcing that enrollment for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential for the ports of New London, CT and Bay City, MI will begin on April 16, 2008; enrollment for the port of Point Comfort, TX will begin on April 17, 2008. (TSA notice, D/N TSA-2006-24191; Coast Guard-2006-24196, FR Pub 03/26/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-6076.pdf.)

5. Canada Customs Brokers EDI Deadline of April 1st

Canada Border Services Agency issued a notice to importers, customs brokers and service providers which is an update to Customs Notice 07-029, Measures to Increase the Use of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) for Release Purposes, issued on October 12, 2007. CBSA states that effective April 1, 2008, all customs brokers acting on behalf of importers must be capable of transmitting release requests through EDI. This includes sub-agents acting on behalf of other brokers. Commercial importers obtaining release of their own shipments must also be EDI-capable by that date. Brokers and importers not EDI-capable by April 1, 2008, will be permitted to present a paper "C" type Form B3, Canada Customs Coding Form, for commercial releases. (Notice, dated 02/22/08, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/cn-ad/cn08-009-eng.html)

6. FDA Issues New Import Alert on Cantaloupes from Honduras Company

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a new import alert regarding the detention without physical examination of cantaloupe from Agropecuaria Montelibano, a Honduran grower and packer, because, based on current information, fruit from this company appears to be associated with a Salmonella Litchfield outbreak in the U.S. and Canada. (IA 22-02, dated 03/21/08, available at http://www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/ora_import_ia2202.html; Press release on this IA, dated 03/22/08, available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01808.html)

7. Transportation Secretary Launches Electronic Recall Notification Service for Child Seats, Tires

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a press release announcing that Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters announced that consumers will be able to get important safety updates about child seats and tire recalls automatically e-mailed or sent to their PDA devices as part of a new federal government notification service. (NHTSA 02-08, dated 03/24/08, available at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.f2217bee37fb302f6d7c121046108a0c/?javax.portlet.tpst=1e51531b2220b0f8ea14201046108a0c_ws_MX&javax.portlet.prp_1e51531b2220b0f8ea14201046108a0c_viewID=detail_view&itemID=d412e4cebdcc8110VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRD&pressReleaseYearSelect=2008)

8. AMS Plans to Review PACA Regulations

The Agricultural Marketing Service has issued a notice announcing that it plans to review the Regulations (Other than Rules of Practice) under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, 1930, as amended, under the criteria contained in section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Comments are due by May 20, 2008. (D/N AMS-FV-08-0013; FV08-379, FR Pub 03/21/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-5750.pdf)

9. Egypt Passes New Size Standard for Labeling of Suits, Jackets

The Office of Textiles and Apparel has posted a notice to its Web site which reports that the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOS) has passed new standards for apparel exports and imports related to sizes and proportions of suits and jackets. (OTEXA notice, updated 03/20/08, available at http://web.ita.doc.gov/otexa/hotiss.nsf/7bfa72c94f543da685256e5b00498a4d/614fb31039856a7685257412006f084a?OpenDocument.)

10. Egypt Decree on Port Entry, Price Restrictions for Textiles and Apparel

The Office of Textiles and Apparel has posted a notice to its Web site which reports that on November 13, 2007 the Ministers of Finance and Trade and Industry issued Decree No. 682 for 2007 that confines customs release of imported textile products and apparel to four specific ports, in addition to setting benchmark prices for such imports. (OTEXA notice, updated 03/20/08, available athttp://web.ita.doc.gov/otexa/hotiss.nsf/7bfa72c94f543da685256e5b00498a4d/df72a6adf4ae874885257412006f8d47?OpenDocument.)

11. ITA Announces Aerospace, Defense and Security Trade Mission

The International Trade Administration has issued a notice announcing that the U.S. Commercial Service is organizing an Aerospace, Defense and Security Trade Mission, October 7-10, 2008, to Athens, Greece, with an optional stop in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 5-6, 2008. (ITA notice, FR Pub 03/25/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-5934.pdf)

12. ITA Announces Medical Equipment Trade Mission

The International Trade Administration has issued a notice announcing that the U.S. Commercial Service is organizing a Medical Equipment Trade Mission to the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia from August 4 to 12, 2008. (ITA notice, FR Pub 03/25/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-5933.pdf)

13. ITA Announces U.S. Health Care Trade Mission

The International Trade Administration has issued a notice announcing that it is organizing a Health-Care Trade Mission to China, from April 23-25, 2008. (ITA notice, FR Pub 03/25/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-5935.pdf)

14. House Commerce Committee Subcommittee Hearing on Heparin Failures

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has issued a press release announcing that its Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations has tentatively scheduled an April 15, 2008, hearing to examine the events leading up to the distribution of a contaminated batch of heparin, a blood-thinning drug that was imported from China. (Press release, dated 03/19/08, available at http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110nr229.shtml.)

15. FDA Announces Global Harmonization Document on Medical Devices

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a notice announcing the availability of a final document that has been prepared by Study Group 4 of the Global Harmonization Task Force (GHTF). This document represents a harmonized proposal and recommendation from Study Group 4 of the GHTF that may be used by governments developing and updating their regulatory requirements for medical devices. (D/N FDA-2008-D-0149 (formerly D/N 2007D-0031), FR Pub 03/25/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-5927.pdf)

16. FDA Announces Availability of "Harmonized" Genotoxicity Draft Guidance

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a notice announcing the availability of a draft guidance entitled "S2(R1) Genotoxicity Testing and Data Interpretation for Pharmaceuticals Intended for Human Use," which was prepared under the auspices of the International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use. (FDA notice, FDA-2008-D-0178, FR Pub 03/26/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/08-1076.pdf.)

17. FDA Announces Public Meeting on Preparation for ICH Meetings

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a notice announcing a public meeting entitled "Preparation for ICH Meetings in Portland, Oregon" to provide information and receive comments on the International Conference on Harmonization as well as the upcoming meetings in Portland, Oregon. The meeting will be held on Friday April 4, 2008 in Rockville, MD. (FDA notice, FDA-2008-N-0145, FR Pub 03/26/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/08-1077.pdf.)

18. BIS Corrects Address for Comments on Crime Control Export Licensing

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a notice correcting the address for submitting comments in its March 19, 2008 request for comments on the scope and destinations for crime control export and reexport license requirements contained in the Export Administration Regulations. According to BIS, the reference to room H-7205 should have read H-2705. (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/21/08 news, 08032140, for BP summary of BIS' request for comments.) (BIS correction notice, D/N 080229350-8450-03, FR Pub 03/26/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-6175.pdf.)