Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. CARB Approves Climate Action Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

2. Trade Deficit Increases in October 2008

According to the Census Bureau, the U.S.' international deficit in goods and services increased to $57.2 billion in October from $56.6 billion (revised) in September, as exports decreased more than imports. (Census release for October 2008 available at http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/Press-Release/current_press_release/press.html)

3. OMB Completes Review of DOJ Rule Child Safety Lock Act

The Office of Management and Budget completed, on December 10, 2008, the Justice Department's proposed rule entitled "Implementation of the Child Safety Lock Act of 2005." (See proposed rule as submitted to OMB available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?ruleID=291646 and see OMB's receipt of the rule at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoReviewSearch;jsessionid=0a65171430d558099168763a42aabd97c2bc3eff5f52.e38Nch4NbhuNa40LbxmQaxiNaxmNe6fznA5Pp7ftolbGmkTy by selecting"Department of Justice" from the second dropdown box.)

4. UN Committee Sanctions Lashkar e-Tayyiba Associated Individuals and Entities

The State Department has issued a news release announcing that the UN Security Council's al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions Committee (the "1267 Committee") recently took several actions related to the terrorist group Lashkar e-Tayyiba (LET): it listed four members of the terrorist group Lashkar e-Tayyiba (LET) for targeted sanctions (including asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo); it added a new alias for the group: Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JUD), which is an LET front operation; and it added additional aliases for Al Rashid and Al Akhtar Trusts, which have raised funds for LET. (State Dept. press release, dated 12/10/08, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2008/dec/113087.htm)

5. FAS Report on Afghanistan Wheat Production

The Foreign Agricultural Service has issued a Commodity Intelligence Report entitled "Afghanistan: 2009/10 Wheat Production Outlook Uncertain." (FAS report, dated 12/11/08, available at http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/highlights/2008/12/Afghanistan/)

6. Revised FDA Import Alerts

FDA has posted revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:

Honey and Blended Syrup Due to the Presence of Fluoroquinolones

Seafood Due to the Presence of Salmonella

Cheese Due to Microbiological Contamination

Fish and Fishery Products Where the Foreign Processor has Failed to Comply with Seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Points, 21 CFR 123

Processed Seafood and Analogue Seafood (Surimi) Products for L. Monocytogenes

and Guidance of Foods Containing Illegal and/or Undeclared Colors

7. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recalls

The CPSC has published notice of the following voluntary recalls: