Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. CPSC Conference Call on Proposed Labeling Requirements for Toy, Game Advertising

2. U.S., Singapore Met to Discuss FTA

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a notice stating that the U.S. and Singapore held their fourth annual Free Trade Agreement (FTA) review on October 10, 2008. During the review, the two sides discussed how to address issues and concerns related to market access for agricultural and textile products, intellectual property rights and telecommunications, and environmental cooperation. (USTR press release, dated 10/15/08, available at http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2008/October/asset_upload_file769_15172.pdf.)

3. Economic Stabilization Act Contains Rules for Refund of Coal Excise Tax

On October 3, 2008, President Bush signed into law H.R. 1424 (Public Law 110-343), the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 which included special rules for refund of the coal excise tax to certain coal producers and exporters. (H.R. 1424 available at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:h1424enr.txt.pdf.)

4. TSA Response to Inspector General Report on Badges, IDs and Uniforms

The Transportation Security Administration has responded to an audit conducted by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General regarding policies, procedures, and internal controls to manage and safeguard airport security badges, uniforms, and identification cards for its employees. (Press release, dated 10/13/08, available at http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/oig_badges.shtm.)

5. State Dept Fact Sheet on Sanctions, Provisions Related to N. Korea

The State Department has posted a fact sheet on existing sanctions and reporting provisions related to North Korea. (Fact sheet, dated 10/11/08, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2008/oct/110923.htm.)

6. Updated List of Approved Cross-Border Trucking Motor Carriers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration posted an updated list of motor carriers that have been cleared to participate in the U.S.-Mexico Cross-Border Trucking Pilot. (List available at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/cross-border/cross-border-carriers.htm.)

7. DHS and Michigan Team Up to Advance Secure ID Initiatives

The Department of Homeland Security has reached an agreement with the state of Michigan to enhance the security features of the state's driver's license, which may serve in the future as an acceptable alternative document for crossing U.S. land and sea borders. (Press release, dated 10/13/08, available at http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1223915151497.shtm.)

8. Certain Dried Radishes Recalled Due to Undeclared Sulfite

JFC International has recalled all products of Kyosai Sengiri Daikon due to the presence of undeclared sulfite. Kyosai Sengiri Daikon is sold in 3.5 oz, clear plastic package with following UPC Code 0 11152 42327 2 and was distributed nationwide. It is a product of China. (Press release available at http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/jfc10_08.html.)

9. OTEXA Webinar on Revised DR-CAFTA Commercial Availability Procedures

The Office of Textiles and Apparel will host a free webinar on October 28, 2008 on the newly revised procedures for DR-CAFTA commercial availability proceedings. (Webinar information available at http://web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/eamain.nsf/6e1600e39721316c852570ab0056f719/9554106bad7c79b0852574e300491c91?OpenDocument.)

10. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recalls

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has published notice of the following voluntary recalls:

11. Revised FDA Import Alerts

The Food and Drug Administration issued revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:

• Rice-Based Products Due to Filth (02-02)
• Nuts and Nut Containing Products for Aflatoxin (23-11)
• Guidance of Foods Containing Illegal and/or Undeclared Colors (45-02)

12. FAS' Global Agriculture Information Network Reports

The Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:

• Bolivia Exporter Guide: Annual
• China Agricultural Situation: New Oilseed Industrial Policy
• Colombia Export Guide: Annual
• China Asparagus: Annual
• China Sugar: Semi-Annual
• Bahrain FAIRS Export Certificate Report: Annual
• France Product Brief: Wine Harvest Outlook
• Netherlands FAIRS Export Certificate Report: Annual
• Portugal Exporter Guide: Annual
• Thailand Sanitary/Phytosanitary/Food Safety: Thai FDA Response to Melamine in Chinese Dairy Products
• Tunisia FAIRS Country Report: Annual
• Thailand Grain and Feed: National Rice Policy Committee Might Cut Rice Intervention Prices
• India Agricultural Situation: Weekly Highlights & Hot Bites, 41
• Germany Pest/Disease Occurrences: AI update: Suspect case in Saxony
• China, Peoples Republic of Agricultural Situation: Weekly Hongbao
• Canada Agricultural Situation: This Week in Canadian Agriculture, Issue 29

13. ATA Files Opening Brief, Seeking Injunction of LA/LB CTP Concession Plans

The American Trucking Association filed its opening brief on October 8, 2008 with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in an effort to secure an injunction against the enforcement of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach's Clean Truck Program Concession Plans that became effective October 1, 2008. (ATA press release, dated 10/09/08, available at http://www.truckline.com/Newsroom/PressReleases/Pages/PortsInjunctionAppealBrief.aspx.)

14. Port of LA Releases New Truck Concession Agreement for CTP

The Port of Los Angeles has posted a new version of the Drayage Services Concession Agreement for access to the Port of Los Angeles for the Clean Trucks Program. (New version available at http://www.portoflosangeles.org/CAAP/CTP_Concession_Agreement_New.pdf.)

15. EU, Caribbean Sign Economic Partnership Act

The European Union and countries of the Caribbean region have signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which will strengthen ties between the two regions and promote regional integration in the Caribbean. The EPA is the first genuinely comprehensive North-South trade and development agreement in the global economy. (Press release, dated 10/15/08, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/1510&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en.)

16. Mills Producing CARB Complaint Composite Wood Products Listed

California's Air Resources Board has provided a list of mills that have been identified by a CARB-approved Third Party Certifier as producers of CARB compliant composite wood products. (List, dated 10/16/08, available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/compwood/tpc/listofmills.htm.)

17. Revised CBSA Forms/Memoranda

The Canada Border Services Agency has posted revised versions of the following:

• Application for Customs Brokers Examination
• Late Accounting Penalties Application for Waiver, Cancellation
• Canada Customs Invoice
• CBSA Invoice Requirements

18. FSIS, Etc. Meeting to Prepare for Food Hygiene Codex Committee

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a notice announcing it, along with other agencies, is sponsoring a public meeting on October 30, 2008 in College Park, MD to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 40th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene. The Codex Committee will meet in Guatemala City, Guatemala from December 1 - 5, 2008. (Notice, FR Pub 10/16/08, available at http://federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2008-24464_PI.pdf.)