Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

The European Commission has presented a proposal to revise the current legislation on the protection of the ozone layer to simplify it and reflect the progress made in phasing out ozone-depleting substances in the European Union, to allow the EU to continue leading the global battle to protect and restore the ozone layer. (EC press release, dated 08/01/08, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/1235&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)

2. EU-Israel Trade Agreement on Agricultural, Fishery Products

Negotiators have reached a preliminary agreement to further liberalize trade in agricultural and processed agricultural products and fish and fishery products between the EU and Israel, following technical verification of the Common Understanding reached on April 30, 2008 in Bet-Dagan (Israel) on bilateral tariff concessions. This will form the basis of a future agreement, subject to completion of both sides' internal procedures. (EC, dated 08/01/08, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/1233&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)

3. EU, U.S. and Others Met to Advance Anti-Counterfeiting Agreement

Discussion on the proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement continued in Washington, DC on July 29-31, 2008 between Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, and the U.S. USTR Spokesman's statement available here. (EC, dated 07/31/08, available at http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/sectoral/intell_property/pr310708_en.htm)

4. WTO Subsidies Committee Elects Members of Permanent Group of Experts

On July 31, 2008, the World Trade Organization Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures elected four members of the five-person Permanent Group of Experts. (WTO press release, dated 07/31/08, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/scm_31july08_e.htm)

5. CARB Penalized Importer for Improperly Labeling Mini-Bikes

The California Air Resources Board last month penalized Baja Motorsports, an importer of off-road recreational vehicles from China, based in Tempe, Ariz., $14,000 for improperly labeling their Blitz mini-bikes without California emission certification labels. (CARB, dated 07/15/08, available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr071508.htm)

6. CARB Cites Goods-Movement Company for Emissions Violations

CARB has fined Don E. Keith Transportation, a transportation firm based in Bakersfield, $9,750 this month for diesel truck emission violations that occurred in 2005. A CARB fleet audit found that the company had not been annually inspecting their heavy-duty diesel vehicles at a fleet center in Bakersfield, as required by California law. (CARB, dated 07/22/08, available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr072208.htm)

7. CARB Approved Regs Curbing Greenhouse Emissions from Gas-Duster Canisters

CARB has approved regulations limiting emissions of climate-changing chemicals from air canisters used to blow dust off equipment such as computer keyboards to cameras, the nation's first for consumer products. (CARB, dated 06/26/08, available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr062608b.htm)

8. Results of Ginseng Dietary Supplements Survey

The Food and Drug Administration has released the results of its ginseng dietary supplements special survey. (Survey results, issued 08/01/08, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/ginseng.html)

9. Updated List of FSIS Accredited Labs

The Food Safety and Inspection Service posted an updated list of labs that are currently accredited by FSIS. (List, dated August 2008, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/alp_current.pdf)

10. GAO Report on Applying U.S. Immigration Law to N. Mariana Islands

The Government Accountability Office release its report to congressional committees entitled, "Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: Managing Potential Economic Impact of Applying U.S. Immigration Law Requires Coordinated Federal Decisions and Additional Data." (GAO-08-791, dated August 2008, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08791.pdf)

11. CBSA Makes Determination of Dumping/Subsidization of Standard Pipe

On July 21, 2008, pursuant the Special Import Measures Act, the President of the Canada Border Services Agency made final determinations of dumping and subsidization respecting certain carbon steel welded pipe, commonly identified as standard pipe, originating in or exported from China. (CBSA, dated 08/05/08, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/sima-lmsi/i-e/ad1373/ad1373-i08-fd-eng.html)

12. CBSA Issues Notice on Chicken, Chicken Products TRQ

The CBSA issued a notice regarding policies and practices respecting import allocations of tariff rate quota (TRQ) for chicken and chicken products in 2008 and applications for the 2009 import allocation for chicken and chicken products. (CBSA, dated 07/31/08, available at http://www.international.gc.ca/eicb/notices/ser732-en.asp)

13. OFAC Designates 19 Entities, Individuals under Narcotics Kingpin Act

The Office of Foreign Assets Control is publishing the names of six additional entities and thirteen additional individuals whose property and interests in property have been blocked pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. (OFAC notice, FR Pub 08/06/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-17978.pdf)

14. OFAC Unblocks 6 Individuals under Drug Trafficking EO

OFAC is publishing the names of six individuals whose property and interests in property have been unblocked pursuant to Executive Order 12978 of October 21, 1995, Blocking Assets and Prohibiting Transactions With Significant Narcotics Traffickers. (OFAC notice, FR Pub 08/06/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-17979.pdf)

15. BIS' Materials Advisory Committee to Hold Partially Open Meeting

The Bureau of Industry and Security's Materials Technical Advisory Committee will hold a partially open meeting on August 14, 2008 in Washington, DC. (BIS notice, FR Pub 08/06/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-18077.pdf)

16. FTZB Notices

The following Foreign Trade Zone Board notices were published:

· FTZ 161A - Approval of Expansion of Subzone 161A and Expansion of Manufacturing Authority Hospira, Inc. (Pharmaceutical Products), McPherson, KS

· FTZ 124M - Grant of Authority for Subzone Status, Baker Hughes, Inc., (Barite Milling), Morgan City, LA

17. OFAC Designates the Financial Network of Major Sinaloa Cartel Operator Medina

OFAC named 14 companies and 17 individuals tied to drug trafficking kingpin Rigoberto Gaxiola Medina as specially designated narcotics traffickers (SDNTs). The designees, all based in Mexico, are now subject to economic sanctions pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. (OFAC press release, dated 08/05/08, available at http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp1109.htm and additional OFAC information, dated 08/05/08, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20080805.shtml)

18. OFAC Publishes Enforcement Information forJuly 11, 2008

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice announcing the following enforcement information forJuly 11, 2008:

(OFAC notice available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/civpen/penalties/07312008.pdf)