Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. House Transportation Committee Held Hearing on Investing in Infrastructure

2. CBP Publishes 4th Quarter FY 2008 IRS Interest Rates

CBP has issued a general notice advising the public of the quarterly Internal Revenue Service interest rates used to calculate interest on overdue accounts (underpayments) and refunds (overpayments) of customs duties. For the calendar quarter beginning October 1 and ending December 31, 2008, the interest rates for overpayments will be 5% for corporations and 6% for non-corporations, and the interest rate for underpayments will be 6%. (CBP notice, FR Pub 10/29/08, available at http://federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2008-25812_PI.pdf.)

3. NMFS Applies ESA Prohibitions to Elkhorn, Staghorn Corals

The National Marine Fisheries Service has issued a final rule, effective November 28, 2008, to apply all the prohibitions enumerated in section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and staghorn (A. cervicornis) corals, with limited exceptions for two specified classes of activities that contribute to the conservation of the listed corals. (NMFS notice, FR Pub 10/29/08, available at http://federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2008-25820_PI.pdf.)

4. NAFTA Binational Panel Review on Certain Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip Completed

The International Trade Administration has issued a notice announcing that the NAFTA Binational Review on the final injury determination in the five year antidumping review of stainless steel sheet and strip from Mexico (Secretariat File No. USA-MEX- 2005-1904-06) was completed on September 22, 2008. (ITA notice, FR Pub 10/29/08, available at http://federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2008-25750_PI.pdf.)

5. OFAC Unblocks 2 Individuals under Narcotics Kingpin Act

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice publishing the names of two individuals whose property and interests in property have been unblocked pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. (OFAC notice, FR Pub 10/28/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-25595.pdf.

6. OFAC Unblocks 3 Individuals under Narcotics Trafficking EO

OFAC has issued a notice publishing the name of three 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 10/28/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-25591.pdf.)

7. OFAC Designates Entities under WMD EO

OFAC has issued three notices which publish the names of newly designated entities whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13382, "Blocking Property of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators and Their Supporters." (OFAC notices, FR Pub 10/28/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-25599.pdf; http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-25600.pdf; and http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-25601.pdf.)

8. Homeport TWIC New Hire Information Available

The Coast Guard reports that the Homeport TWIC New Hire Provision is now available for MTSA-regulated vessels and maritime facilities in the COTP Zones of Boston, Northern New England, Southeastern New England, Detroit, Duluth, Lake Michigan, and Sault Ste. Marie. It will be available to other MTSA-regulated vessels and maritime facilities in other COTPs as their compliance dates near. (Coast Guard information available at http://homeport.uscg.mil/mycg/portal/ep/home.do.)

9. Revised Import Alert on Low Acid Canned Foods, Acidified Foods

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a revised version of its Import Alert entitled "Detention Without Physical Examination of Manufacturers of Low Acid Canned Foods and Acidified Foods." (Revised IA99-04, dated 10/24/08, available at http://www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/ora_import_ia9904.html.)

10. FSIS Directive on Inspection, Export Certification of Livestock Intestines/Casings

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a directive, which should not be implemented until November 26, 2008, instructing inspection program personnel how to determine whether intestines or casings from livestock are eligible to receive the mark of inspection and how to certify intestines or casings for export. (FSIS Directive, dated 10/27/08, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/9000.2.pdf.)

11. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recalls

The CPSC has published notice of the following voluntary recalls:

(CPSC Recalls available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prereloct08.html.)

12. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports

The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:

• Algeria Dairy and Products: Annual
• Brazil Dairy and Products: Annual Dairy Report
• EU-27 Dairy and Products: Annual
• Ghana Exporter Guide: Exporter Guide Annual
• Indonesia Dairy and Products: Annual
• Sweden Solid Wood Products: Russian Export Duties Threat and Opportunity
• Taiwan Grain and Feed: SBS Tender Results for the 2008 Public Sector Import Quota
• Thailand Grain and Feed: New Rice Intervention Program Revised

13. UN Coordinator Seeks Relief for Haiti Due to Recent Hurricanes

The United Nations has issued a news release announcing that the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator stated that the four hurricanes that recently struck Haiti probably constituted the worst disaster in the country over the last 100 years, warning that the hurricane season still had six weeks to go and urging the international community to provide immediate relief. (UN press release dated 10/27/08, available at http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2008/081027_Holmes.doc.htm.)

14. CARB: Sears to Pay $600,000 for Air Quality Violations

The California Air Resources Board has issued a news release announcing that in September 2008 it fined Sears Holdings Corporation $600,000 for selling portable fuel containers and windshield washer fluid throughout the state that failed to meet California air emissions requirements. (CARB press release 08-97, dated 10/27/08, available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr102708.htm.)

15. BASCAP Launches Intellectual Property Guidelines for Business

The International Chamber of Commerce reports that on October 17, 2008, BASCAP (Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy) launched its Intellectual Property (IP) Guidelines for Business during a special session at the European Union Conference on Industrial Property Rights in the Internal Market. The Guidelines were developed to provide information on practical steps businesses can take to protect their IP, as well as protect against the risk of using counterfeit materials or infringing other companies' IP rights. (BASCAP information available at http://www.iccwbo.org/bascap/id1127/index.html.)