Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has posted the remarks of USDA Secretary Vilsack at the recent G8 Agricultural Ministerial meeting. Among other things, Vilsack stated, "A successful conclusion to the World Trade Organization's Doha Development Round would reduce and eliminate tariffs and other barriers, as well as market-distorting subsidies for agricultural goods. We strongly encourage countries to lift trade-restrictive policy measures, such as export restrictions." (Remarks, dated 04/18/09, available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/04/0117.xml.)
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!
1. USDA Posts Secretary Vilsack's Remarks at G8 Agricultural Meeting
2. Canada Announces Trade Initiatives at 2009 Summit of the Americas
Canadian Prime Minister Harper announced new trade and development initiatives at the 2009 Summit of the Americas, including that Canada will be doubling its commitment to the Inter-American Development Bank and will be offering a five-year technical assistance program to help countries that have signed or are about to sign trade agreements with Canada. (Canada PM press release, dated 04/19/09, available at http://pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=2533)
3. CBSA Announces it Has Met Goal of Reducing Policy/Paperwork Burden on Business by 20%
Canada Border Services Agency announced that it has successfully met the Government of Canada's target for all participating departments and agencies to reduce 20 percent of the requirements their policies and forms impose on Canadian business. Through this initiative, the CBSA has eliminated over 1,600 obsolete, non-essential requirements and administrative demands imposed on business, making the overall CBSA commercial process clearer and easier for Canadian businesses to comply with and understand. (CBSA did not specify what the reductions were.) (CBSA, dated 04/17/09, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/media/release-communique/2009/2009-04-17-eng.html)
4. TTB Lists Common Errors on Tobacco Floor Stocks Taxes
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Trade Bureau has announced that its preliminary review of floor stocks tax returns for certain tobacco products suggests that some taxpayers are experiencing difficulty completing the returns properly, and offers a list of common errors to help filers avoid the mistakes that it has seen so far. (See ITT's Online Archives or 04/03/09 news, 09040320, for BP summary of a TTB rule imposing floor stocks tax on a larger scope of imported tobacco products, cigarette papers and tubes, etc.) (TTB guidance, posted 04/14/09, available at http://www.ttb.gov/tax_audit/floor-stocks-tax-errors.shtml)
5. FTZB Notice on Filing of Application
The Foreign Trade Zone Board is announcing that an application has been filed by the Greater Kansas City Foreign Trade Zone, Inc., grantee of FTZ 17, requesting authority to expand the zone in the Kansas City, Kansas, area, adjacent to the Kansas City Customs and Border Protection port of entry. (Notice, FR Pub 04/20/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-9041.pdf.)
6. OFAC Deletes Two Entities from SDN List
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has deleted two entities from its Specially Designated Nationals List pursuant to the Kingpin Act. (OFAC notice, dated 04/17/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20090417.shtml.)