Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
On March 18, 2009, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1512, which it states would amend the Internal Revenue Code to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, as well as amend title 49, United States Code, to extend authorizations for the airport improvement program. The bill was subsequently forwarded to the Senate. (Congressional Record, dated 03/18/09, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r111:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20090318))
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1. House Passes Federal Aviation Extension Act
2. President Sends Certification to Congress on Certain Graphite Exports to China
The White House has issued a press release announcing that the President has certified to the Congress that the export of fine grain graphite to be used for solar cell applications and for the fabrication of components used in electronic and semiconductor fabrication, and two dual-motor, dual-shaft mixers to be used to produce carbon fiber and epoxy prepregs for the commercial airline industry is not detrimental to the U.S. space launch industry, and that the material and equipment, including any indirect technical benefit that could be derived from these exports, will not measurably improve the missile or space launch capabilities of China. (White House press release, dated 03/17/09 available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Message-to-the-Congress-from-the-President-concerning-exports-to-China/)
3. Updated Import Specialist and Entry Team Directory and Market Assignment Guide for LA/LB
U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Port of Los Angeles has issued a PublicBulletin providing updated information regarding commodities and personnel assigned to import specialist and entry teams at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport. Effective April 6, 2009, revisions are being made in the assignment of HTS numbers to the various teams at the LA/LB Seaport. The directory attached to the Bulletin provides up-to-date information regarding HTS assignments, supervisor names, and telephone numbers for LA/LB import specialist and entry teams. (Bulletin LA09-010, dated 03/17/09, available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)
4. LA/LB MTOs to Eliminate One OffPeak Shift Per Week
PierPass has issued a press release announcing that marine terminal operators at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach announced on March 12, 2009 that they will each eliminate one Thursday or one Saturday PierPass OffPeak shift per week due to declining cargo volume. MTOs that close a Thursday OffPeak gate will maintain a Saturday OffPeak gate, and vice versa. The new schedule is effective the week of April 6. (PierPass press release, dated 03/12/09, available at http://www.pierpass.org/press_room/releases/?id=71target=)
5. BIS Removes 2 Persons from Entity List, Removes 2 UAE Addresses
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective March 18, 2009, which removes the following two persons from the Entity List pursuant to the annual review conducted by the End-User Review Committee (ERC): Bazaar Trading Co. and Elmstone Trading Co. of the United Arab Emirates. The final rule also clarifies the listings for Akbar Ashraf Vaghefi and Antony Emanuel, which were previously listed under addresses in more than one country, to remove the address listed under the UAE for each of these entities. These two entities remain listed under Germany and Hong Kong, respectively. (BIS final rule, FR Pub 03/18/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5860.pdf)
6. BIS Charges Iranian Man, Firm, in International Scheme to Supply Iran with Sensitive U.S. Technology
The Bureau of Industry and Security announces that an Iranian citizen, Hussein Ali Khoshnevisrad, and his Iranian company, Ariasa, AG, have been charged with purchasing helicopter engines and advanced aerial cameras for fighter bombers from U.S. firms and illegally exporting them to Iran using companies in Malaysia, Ireland and the Netherlands. Among the alleged recipients of these U.S. goods was an Iranian military firm that has since been designated by the United States for being owned or controlled by entities involved in Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program. (BIS news release, dated 03/13/09, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/news/2009/doj03172009.htm)
7. CPSC Posts Presentations from Phthalates Public Meeting
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has posted the presentations of CPSC staff at its March 12, 2009 public meeting on the phthalates provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). (CPSC information, dated 03/12/09, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/phthalates.html)
8. FDA OKs Certain Additives to Bottled Water
The Food and Drug Administration is amending the food additive regulations to provide for the safe use of an aqueous solution of silver nitrate and hydrogen peroxide as an antimicrobial agent in bottled water, effective March 18, 2009. (FDA rule, FR Pub 03/18/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5852.pdf)
9. FDA Posts Enforcement Report for March 11th
The Food and Drug Administration has posted its Enforcement Report for the week of March 11, 2009. The report contains information on actions taken in connection with agency regulatory activities. (FDA Enforcement Report, dated 03/11/09, available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ENFORCE/2009/ENF01098.html)
10. EC Completes Pesticide Review as Part of Its Approval Process
The European Commission has completed its review of existing pesticides that were on the market before 1993. This program concerned about 1,000 substances, of which about 250 have passed the harmonized European Union safety assessment. If the evaluation shows that the substance has no harmful effect on human or animal health and that it has no unacceptable impact on the environment, the substance can be approved. (EC review, dated 03/12/09, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/402&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=fr)
11. Commerce Issues January 2009 Export Fact Sheet
The Commerce Department has issued its January 2009 U.S. Export Fact Sheet, which contains an export overview and a trade spotlight on the largest export markets, etc. (Commerce Department fact sheet, dated 03/13/09, available at http://www.trade.gov/press/press_releases/2009/export-factsheet_031309.pdf)
12. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recalls
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has published notice of the following voluntary recalls:
| Product: Reason | Company | Release |
|---|---|---|
| Nordstrom Girl's Shoes: violation of lead paint standard | Nordstrom (WA) | 09-157 |
| State Farm Good Neigh Bears: choking hazard | State Farm (IL) | 09-156 |
| 2009 Six 5, Six 6, Six Carbon 5 and Six Carbon 6 Bicycles | Cannondale Bicycle Corporation (CN) | 09-155 |
(CPSC Recall information available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerelmar09.html)
13. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports
The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:
Colombia Cotton and Products: Cotton Situation
Colombia Grain and Feed: Annual
Japan Grain and Feed: Grain and Feed Annual Report
Russian Federation Grain and Feed: New Seasonal Import Duty on Rice
Saudi Arabia Agricultural Situation: Agricultural Economy and Policy Report
Thailand Grain and Feed: Weekly Rice Price Update
United Arab Emirates FAIRS Subject Report: GCC Notifies WTO of New Food Standards
Australia Livestock and Products: Semi-Annual
China Livestock and Products: Semi-Annual Report
Japan HRI Food Service Sector: Sector Report 2009
Russian Federation Livestock and Products: Livestock Semi-Annual Report