Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Dingell (D-MI) and the Chairman of its Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Stupak, announced that the Committee is expanding its food safety investigation following the recent outbreak in China involving contaminated milk products. (Press release, dated 10/02/08, available at http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110nr361.shtml)
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1. House Commerce to Investigate Melamine in Chinese Milk Products
2. OTEXA's Haiti HOPE II On-Line System for "3 for 1" is Now Available
The Office of Textiles and Apparel's new on-line system, known as the Haiti HOPE II Earned Import Allowance Online System, for administering the "3 for 1" Earned Import Allowance Program for certain Haiti apparel under Haiti HOPE II is now available. (FAQ and PowerPoint presentation on new program to be posted soon.) (Web page for access to online system available at http://web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/eamain.nsf/6e1600e39721316c852570ab0056f719/abf187b4c9ffc0f9852574d00058ff56?OpenDocument)
3. AESDirect October 1stAnnouncements of Technical Problems
Census issued an Automated Export System (AES) broadcast on October 1, 2008 stating that the AESDirect program was experiencing technical issues with password authentication for some company accounts, that may have resulted in delays. Census also issued an AES broadcast stating that AESDirect was experiencing a validation issue when some users logged into the system using their legacy (current) user accounts. (Broadcasts 2008049 and 2008050, dated 10/01/08, available at http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/aes/documentlibrary/broadcasts/2008049.html and http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/aes/documentlibrary/broadcasts/2008050.html)
4. FDA Posts Enforcement Report for October 1st
The Food and Drug Administration has posted its Enforcement Report for the week of October 1, 2008. The report contains information on actions taken in connection with agency regulatory activities, including actions on recalls of imports. (FDA Report 08-39 available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ENFORCE/2008/ENF01075.html)
5. ITC Updates Online 2008 HTS for JADE Act
The International Trade Commission states it has updated the 2008 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) Supplement 1 on September 29, 2008 to reflect Presidential Proclamation 8294, which amended the HTS to implement the prohibitions on certain jadeite and rubies mined in or extracted from Burma (Myanmar) and other countries, and jewelry containing these stones, imposed by the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act of 2008. (ITC notice available at http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts )
6. U.S.-China Economic & Security Review Commission Meetings to Prepare 2008 Report
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has announced upcoming October 2008 "report writing sessions" in order to prepare its 2008 Annual Report to Congress. These sessions are open to the public. (Meeting schedule available at http://www.uscc.gov/)
7. ITDS Advanced ACE Reports Web Based Training for PGAs
The International Trade Data System announced that advanced ACE reports Web based training is now available on its Learning Management System (LMS). The training is available to all PGA ACE users who require ACE reports effective October 1, 2008. (ITDS info available at http://www.itds.gov/xp/itds/news/web_training.xml)
8. ITDS Posts Sample "Request for Letter of Exchange" for Agencies to View ACE Data
The ITDS posted a sample letter template that should be used to request that CBP authorize an agency access to view data on the ACE Portal by providing a Letter of Exchange for one year or until the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding between CBP and the agency. The agency must be currently participating in the ITDS Program. (Sample letter available at http://www.itds.gov/linkhandler/itds/toolbox/library/resource_documents/sample.ctt/sample.doc)
9. DDTC Instructions on Accessing New Registration Tabs, Etc.
The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has announced that users may need to press "Ctrl and F5" at the same time, to refresh their browser and access the new Registration tabs. For those that have bookmarked the Web site, they will need to re-bookmark the Web site as a favorite. (DDTC notice, posted 10/01/08, available at http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/)
10. DDTC Says to Continue Using Expired DS-2032 Registration Form
The DDTC has announced that although the DS-2032 registration form has expired, users should continue to use that form but apply the new fee structure under the "Registration Fee" tab. October renewals will remain at $1750, November and all renewals after November should refer to the new fee structure. New registrants should also refer to the new fee structure. (DDTC notice, posted 10/01/08, available at http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/)
11 ITC Posts Working Paper on Export Diversification and CBERA
The ITC has posted a staff working paper entitled "Export Diversification and the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act." (No. 2008-09-E, dated September 2008, available at http://www.usitc.gov/ind_econ_ana/research_ana/research_work_papers/documents/EC200809E.pdf)
12. ITC Posts Working Paper on Vertical Specialization in China's Trade
The ITC has posted a staff working paper entitled "How Vertically Specialized is Chinese Trade?" (No. 2008-09-D, dated September 2008, available at http://www.usitc.gov/ind_econ_ana/research_ana/research_work_papers/documents/EC200809D.pdf)
13. FAS GSM-102 Credit Guarantee Notices
The Foreign Agricultural Service issued multiple notices on the Commodity Credit Corporation's Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102) for export sales to various regions/countries. (Notices available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/info/newsevents.asp)
14. Sunny Maid Recalls Mr. Brown Powdered Packets in Bag Coffee Mixes
Sunny Maid Corp. of Monterey Park, California is voluntarily recalling Mr. Brown 3-in-1 and 2-in-1 POWDERED PACKETS IN BAG COFFEE MIXES, because they are potentially contaminated with melamine. (dated 10/01/08, available at http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/sunnymaid10_08.html)
15. Four Shipping Executives to Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Eliminate Competition, Raise Freight Moving Prices
The Justice Department reports that four U.S. shipping company executives have agreed to plead guilty and serve jail sentences for their roles in a wide-ranging conspiracy to rig bids, fix prices and allocate market shares for customers transporting goods between the continental U.S. and Puerto Rico by ocean vessel. (dated 10/01/08, available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2008/October/08-at-876.html)
16. WCO to Hold World Customs Forum on December 4-5
The World Customs Organization has posted a notice announcing that it will be holding the World Customs Forum on December 4-5, 2008 in Brussels, Belgium. This will provide an opportunity for representatives of Customs administrations and the trade to undertake a critical dialogue on the global implementation of national and multilateral initiatives under the auspices of the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards to secure and facilitate global trade. (WCO information available at http://www.wcoomd.org/event.htm)
17. FAS' Global Agriculture Information Network Reports
The Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:
Canada Agricultural Situation: This Week in Canadian Agriculture, Issue 26
China Agricultural Situation: Week Hongbao
EU-27 Livestock and Products: Update on the EU BSE situation in 2007
India Agricultural Situation: Weekly Highlights & Hot Bites, 37
Japan Agricultural Situation: Japan Food Trends September
Russia Livestock and Products: Customs Announces New Cattle Classifications
Thailand Bio-Fuels: Price Structure of Petroleum Products in Bangkok
Thailand Grain and Feed: Rice Update
Bermuda FAIRS Country Report: Annual
EU-27 FAIRS Country Report: Annual European Union Report
Mexico FAIRS Country Report: Mexico
Russia Fishery Products: Annual
South Africa Livestock and Products: Annual Report
Sweden FAIRS Country Report: Annual
18. OPIC Announces $105 Million in Support for Costa Rica
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation has issued a press release announcing $105 million in new private sector investment in Costa Rica. (dated 10/01/08, http://www.opic.gov/news/pressreleases/2007/pr100108.asp)
19. CBSA Revises Memo on Making a Request for Re-Determination Appeal
The Canada Border Services Agency has posted a revised version of Memorandum D14-1-3: Procedures for Making a Request for a Re-Determination or an Appeal of Goods under the Special Import Measures Act. (dated 10/01/08, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d14/d14-1-3-eng.html)