Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. Ways and Means Summarizes TAA Expansion in Stimulus Bill

2. Ways & Means February 25th Hearing on Climate Change Legislation

The House Ways and Means Committee has announced that it will hold a hearing on February 25, 2009 on scientific objectives for climate change legislation. Written statements for consideration by the Committee are due by March 11, 2009. (Advisory FC-1, dated 02/19/09, available at http://waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.asp?formmode=view&id=7575.)

3. EU Parliament Says Stricter Rules Needed to Keep Illegal Timber Out of EU Market

The European Parliament's Environment Committee has called on the European Commission to table tough legislation to ensure that illegally harvested timber and timber products are removed from the EU market. The Committee added that illegal timber suppliers should pay penalties that reflect the degree of environmental and economic damage. (Press release, dated 02/17/09, available at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/064-49520-047-02-08-911-20090216IPR49519-16-02-2009-2009-false/default_en.htm)

4. EU Parliament Committee Backs Phase-Out of Incandescent Light Bulbs

The European Commission plan proposed in December 2008 to gradually replace incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving or halogen ones by 2012 was backed by the Environment Committee of the European Parliament on February 17, 2009, when it rejected a move to block it. According to an EU Parliament press release, while Parliament has until March 15, 2009 to oppose the plan, in rejecting the resolution opposing the plan, the Environment Committee has in effect, approved it. (Press release, dated 02/17/09, available at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/064-49662-047-02-08-911-20090217IPR49659-16-02-2009-2009-false/default_en.htm)

5. CARB Fines San Francisco Importer $4,350 for Selling Scooters with Improper Vehicle Engine Labels

The California Air Resources Board fined San Francisco-based Bajaj USA in January $4,350 for selling imported motor scooters with incorrect emissions labels, stating that "retailers are as responsible as the manufacturers of vehicles for assuring that the products they sell meet California's tough air pollution requirements." (News release, dated 02/17/09, available http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr021709b.htm)

6. DHS Announces Efficiency Review Initiative

The Secretary of Homeland Security has announced a department-wide action directive challenging every agency, component and office to generate new efficiencies and to promote greater accountability, transparency and customer satisfaction. (Press release, dated 02/17/09, available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1234889688937.shtm)

7. CPSC Commissioners Vote to Publish Draft Guidance on CPSIA Phthalates Bans in Federal Register

The Commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission have voted to publish without change, the draft guidance CPSC recently posted to its website on determining which children's products are subject the phthalates bans of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. (Commissioners' vote, dated 02/13/09, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/ballot/ballot09/draftsect108guidance.pdf)

8. CPSC Issues February Issue of Safety Review Newsletter

CPSC has posted the February 2009 edition of its newsletter, The Safety Review. (Edition, dated 02/09, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/tsr0209.pdf)

9. BIS Issues Major Case List for February 2009

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued its monthly Export Enforcement Major Case List for February 2009, which contains some of BIS' most significant cases. (List, dated 02/09, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/complianceandenforcement/majorcaselist/mcl022009.pdf)

10. BIS' Fourth Annual U.S. Export Control Forum March 2009

The Bureau of Industry and Security is announcing its Fourth Annual Export Control Forum to be held in Newport Beach, California on March 16, 2009, followed by concurrent Special Topics seminars on (1) technology licensing, and (2) encryption controls on March 17, 2009. (Announcement available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/seminarsandtraining/newport_beach_mar_16_09.htm)

11. Export.Gov Announces Renewable Energy Conference

Export.Gov is announcing that RETECH 2009 will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, Feb 25 - 27, 2009, and will build on the outcomes of WIREC 2008. RETECH 2009 will highlight top companies and thought leaders in the renewable energy industry, as well as cover the impact of the recently enacted Economic Stimulus Bill on the renewable energy industry. (Announcement available at http://www.retech2009.com/)

12. FTC Announces More Hearings on Evolving Intellectual Property Market

The Federal Trade Commission announced the third in a series of public hearings exploring the evolving market for intellectual property to be held March 18 and 19, 2009, in Washington, DC. The March 18th hearing will explore how organizations and inventors from different industries use patents by enforcing exclusivity or licensing, and the March 19th hearing will consider economic perspectives on IP and technology markets and the role of notice and transparency in the IP marketplace. FTC has also extended the period for submitting comments on topics raised in the hearings until May 15, 2009. (News release, dated 02/17/09, available at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/02/iphearings.shtm)

13. Port of Long Beach DTR Fee Transfer Tutorial

The Port of Long Beach has posted a PowerPoint presentation showing how to transfer a paid Drayage Truck Registry (DTR) fee from one truck VIN to another truck VIN (vehicle identification number). (Presentation available at http://www.polb.com/environment/air_quality/cleantrucks.asp)

14. June 2009 Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy

The Fifth Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy will convene June 2-4 2009 in Cancun, Mexico. The congress is organized jointly by INTERPOL, the World Customs Organization and the World Intellectual Property Organization, with major support from the International Trademark Association, Business Against Counterfeiting and Piracy and the International Security Management Association. (Announcement available at http://www.iccwbo.org/bascap/id1127/index.html)

15. CBSA Posts Final AD/CV Determinations for Certain Aluminum Extrusions from China

On February 16, 2009, the Canada Border Services Agency posted its notice of final determinations of dumping and subsidizing regarding certain aluminum extrusions from China. (Notice, dated 02/16/09, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/sima-lmsi/i-e/ad1379/ad1379-i08-nf-eng.html)

16. Canada Announces Independent Review of Preclearance Act

On February 16, 2009, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Transport announced an independent review of Canada's Preclearance Act, which governs U.S. customs and immigration preclearance at some Canadian airports. (Preclearance enables U.S. officials to process travelers at Canadian airports for entry into the U.S. instead of on arrival in the country.) (Press release, dated 02/16/09, available at http://w01.international.gc.ca/minpub/Publication.aspx?isRedirect=True&publication_id=386834&language=E&docnumber=43)

17. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recalls

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the following voluntary recall: