Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

February 9, 2009 |Top News

According to The Congressional Record, on February 9, 2009, the Senate is expected to continue its consideration of H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Economic Stimulus Bill) and vote on a motion to invoke cloture (i.e., end debate) on a Collins/Nelson substitute amendment. If cloture is invoked, the Senate is expected to vote on the substitute amendment on February 10, 2009. If the amendment is agreed to, the Senate is then expected to proceed to a vote on the passage of H.R. 1, as amended by the Senate. (Congressional Records, dated 02/06/09 and 02/07/09, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r111:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20090206) and http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r111:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20090207)

Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article

Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today!

Start My Free Preview

1. Senate Aims for Vote on Economic Stimulus Bill on February 10th

2. Two House Chairmen Ask CPSC for Timeline for CPSIA Implementation, Action on Issues

The Chairmen of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee and two other members wrote to the Consumer Product Safety Commission to urge that they establish a clear timeline for action in order to ensure full compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and to issue guidance on four major issues before February 10th. Letter available here. (Announcement, posted 02/06/09, available at http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1488&Itemid=1)

3. Senate Adopts Amendment to Economic Stimulus Bill

In its February 4, 2009 consideration of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (aka Economic Stimulus Bill), the Senate adopted the following amendment, among others:

Dorgan Amendment No. 300 (to Amendment No. 98), to clarify that the Buy American provisions shall be applied in a manner consistent with the United States obligations under international agreements.

(Information available at http://thomas.loc.gov/r111/r111.html)

4. House Passes Bill to Delay DTV Transition Date

The House passed S. 352, to postpone the DTV transition date, by a yea-and-nay vote of 264 yeas to 158 nays on February 4, 2009. (Information available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r111:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20090204))

5. Members of Congress Seek to Add Expanded Trade Adjustment Assistance to Economic Stimulus Bill

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Baucus, House Ways and Means Chairman Rangel, and the Ranking Members of both Committees said that they will seek to amend the Economic Stimulus Bill with measures to help companies and workers affected by global expansion of the American economy. Their amendment, the Trade and Globalization Adjustment Act of 2009, will authorize Trade Adjustment Assistance through 2010 and redesign benefits to be more flexible and accessible. Press release on agreement reached by the Committees and its benefits available here. (Announcement, posted 02/05/09, available at http://waysandmeans.house.gov/)

6. New Agricultural Secretary Comments on Trade

During a January 26, 2009 news conference between the press and new USDA Secretary Vilsack, the Secretary stated that the U.S. needs to ensure that, in an effort to try to get comprehensive trade agreements, we don't sacrifice the interests of agriculture in the hopes of promoting other interests that are important to the country. (USDA transcript, dated 01/26/09, available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1RD?printable=true&contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/01/0027.xml )

7. GAO Reports on SBI Fence Construction Cost

The Government Accountability Office has issued a January 29, 2009 report on Secure Border Initiative fence construction costs. Among other things, the report notes that the "per mile" cost of building fencing varied considerably. (GAO-09-244R, dated 01/29/09. available at http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-09-244R )

8. BIS Denies Export Privileges to Certain Iran, S. Africa Entities for 180 Days

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a notice stating that it is denying for 180 days export privileges to the following entities: Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (Iran); Tadbir Sanaat Sharif Technology Development Center (Iran); and Icarus Marine (Pty) Ltd. (South Africa) in order to prevent an imminent export violation. (FR Pub 02/06/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-2540.pdf )

9. ITA Announces Export Trade Mission to Colombia

The International Trade Administration has issued a notice announcing that it and the U.S. and Foreign Service are organizing a Trade Mission to Bogota, Cartagena, and Barranquilla, Colombia from March 8 to March 13, 2009. The mission will focus on helping U.S. companies launch or increase their export business in the Colombian market. (FR Pub 02/06/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-2489.pdf )

10. President Continues National Emergency for Cote d'Iviore

President Obama has issued notice that he is continuing the national emergency declared on February 7, 2006 and associated measures that were adopted on that date with respect to Cote d-Ivoire, due to that country's continued violence and unrest. (FR Pub 02/06/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-2722.pdf )

11. ITDS Launches ACE A2.1 Web-Based Training for PGAs, Etc.

The International Trade Data System is announcing that ACE A2.1 (ESAR: M1 Reference Data) web-based training is now available to all Participating Government Agency ACE users who require access to master and reference data. ITDS has also posted a summary of the process and requirements for PGAs to obtain access to the ACE Portal, including the application process for PGA employees to obtain a PGA user account in ACE. CBP Form 7300, the Non-Disclosure Agreement, and ACE Portal Access Application, have also been posted. (ITDS postings available at http://www.itds.gov/xp/itds/whats_new/)

12. USDA Appoints Pork Producers/Importers to Delegate Body

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the appointment of 153 pork producers and 8 importers to the 2009 National Pork Producers Delegate Body. All appointees will serve a one-year term. The appointees were selected from nominees submitted by state pork producer association and importer groups. These appointments were made by former Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer. (AMS No. 009-09, dated 02/05/09, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateU&navID=&page=Newsroom&resultType=Details&dDocName=STELPRDC5075212&dID=107663&wf=false&description=USDAAppointsNationalPorkProducersDelegateBody&topNav=Newsroom&leftNav=&right)

13. FAS Issues Food Security Case Study on Kenya

The Foreign Agricultural Service has issued a Food Security Case Study on Kenya. (Study, dated 02/09, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/itp/Kenya/FoodSecurityKenya09.pdf)

14. FDA Posts Enforcement Report for February 4th

The Food and Drug Administration has posted its Enforcement Report for the week of February 4, 2009. The report contains information on actions taken in connection with agency Regulatory activities. (Report, dated 02/04/09, available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ENFORCE/2009/ENF01093.html)

15. TTB.Gov Web Site to Be Down During Feb. 6th Weekend

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has announced that the TTB.gov Web site will experience a temporary outage beginning 7 p.m. EST on Friday, February 6, 2009, as it performs routine maintenance. TTB expects for the site to be fully operational no later than 9 a.m. EST on Monday, February 9, 2009. (Announcement, posted 02/03/09, available at http://www.ttb.treas.gov/beer/index.shtml)