Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. China Embassy Release on China's IPR Progress

2. U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Hearing on April 30th

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has issued a notice announcing an open public hearing on April 30, 2009 in Washington, DC to address China's propaganda and influence operations, its intelligence activities that target the U.S., and the resulting impacts on U.S. national security. (Hearing notice, FR Pub 04/13/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-8374.pdf)

3. Census Further Clarifies Export Filing Time-Frames Exemption for Puerto Rico

Census has issued Foreign Trade Regulations Letter No. 4 which further clarifies FTR Letter No. 1 issued September 4, 2008 on the time frames exemption for the filing of Electronic Export Information (EEI) through the Automated Export System for shipments between the United States and Puerto Rico. (Census FTR Letter No. 4 available at http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/regulations/ftrletters/ftrno4-filing-timeframe-exemption-pr.html )

4. EU Expresses Concern Over WTO-Inconsistency of U.S. Proposed Car Scrappage Legislation

Ambassador Bruton, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to the U.S., has sent letters to U.S. House Members expressing the European Union's concerns over H.R. 1550, the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act of 2009. According to Ambassador Bruton, while the EU generally applauds such promising environmental and economic initiatives, H.R. 1550, as currently drafted, provides benefits only for replacement vehicles assembled in the U.S. or North America, a distinction that would harm car manufacturers from other parts of the world, including Europe. Bruton states this is a clear violation of World Trade Organization rules. (EU delegation press release available at http://www.eurunion.org/eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3378&Itemid=58)

5. CBSA Initiates Expiry Review of Certain Carbon and Stainless Steel Fasteners from China, Chinese Taipei

Canada Border Services Agency issued a notice announcing that on April 23, 2009, it initiated an investigation to determine whether the expiry of its antidumping and/or countervailing duty finding regarding certain carbon and stainless steel fasteners from China and Chinese Taipei is likely to result in the continuation or resumption of dumping and/or subsidizing of the goods. (Notice, dated 04/23/09, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/sima-lmsi/er-rre/rr2009-001/rr2009-001-e09-ni-eng.html)

6. State Dept Notice on Inclusion of Expiration Dates in Presidential Permits for International Border Crossings

The Department of State is announcing that it intends to provide for the expiration of permits for vehicular border crossings (i.e., crossings for cars, trucks, buses, and trains) ten years after issuance unless the permittee notifies the State Department within that timeframe that construction has begun, and for the expiration of permits for all other border crossing facilities (e.g., pipelines, conveyor belts, pedestrian crossings, etc.) five years after issuance unless the permittee notifies the Department within that timeframe that construction has begun. (FR Pub 04/24/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-9352.pdf)

7. U.S. and Netherlands Launch New Travel Initiative

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a press release announcing that on April 23, 2009, officials of the U.S. and the Netherlands formally launched a new initiative to open membership in their expedited air travel programs to citizens of both countries in an effort to streamline entry processes for pre-screened fliers. Citizens of the two nations now may apply to join the other country's frequent traveler program allowing streamlined processing at the border. (Notice, dated 04/23/09, available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1240501085368.shtm)

8. Webinar on Doing Business in Barbados

Export.gov is announcing an upcoming Webinar on April 29, 2009 on doing business in Barbados as part of its Caribbean Webinar Series. (Notice, available at https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=9Q4D)

9. DHS Secretary Signs Aviation Agreement with Bermuda

DHS Secretary Napolitano has signed an agreement on new aviation preclearance security operations with Bermuda. The new agreement amends a previous version, expanding the pre-clearance of passengers and crew on all commercial aircraft to now include private aircraft destined for the U.S. for compliance with customs, immigration, and agricultural laws, etc. (Notice, dated 04/23/09, available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1240515431927.shtm)

10. APHIS Updates Its Canadian Border Agricultural Clearance Manual

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has updated its Canadian Border Agricultural Clearance Manual. (Manual, updated 04/15/09, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/canadian.shtml)

11. APHIS Updates Its Treatment Manual

APHIS has updated its Treatment Manual which is its operational guide for selecting and conducting quarantine treatments. The procedures and treatment schedules in this manual are administratively authorized for use by APHIS to prevent the movement of agricultural pests into or within the U.S. Listed treatments include chemical treatments such as fumigation with methyl bromide, and nonchemical treatments with heat, cold, or irradiation. (Manual, updated 04/23/09, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/treatment.shtml)

12. APHIS Updates its Miscellaneous and Processed Products Manual

APHIS has also updated its Miscellaneous and Processed Products manual. This manual is on regulating imported items that are processed and are not intended for propagation. (Manual, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/miscellaneous.pdf)

13. USDA Announces Lamb Checkoff Program to Continue

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on April 23, 2009 that lamb producers, feeders, seedstock producers, and first handlers of lamb and lamb products who voted in a national referendum in February 2009 have approved the continuation of the Lamb Promotion, Research, and Information Order, commonly known as the Lamb Checkoff Program. Under the program, producers, seedstock producers (breeders), feeders, and exporters are required to pay an assessment of one-half cent ($.005) per pound when live ovine animals are sold. The first handler, primarily packers, pays an additional 30 cents per head on ovine animals purchased for slaughter. Importers are not assessed. (Release, dated 04/23/09, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateU&navID=&page=Newsroom&resultType=Details&dDocName=STELPRDC5076318&dID=110976&wf=false&description=USDAAnnouncesResultsofLambCheckoffProgramReferendum&topNav=Newsroom&leftNav)

14. CPSC Federal Register Notice on Provisional Acceptance of $1.1 Million Settlement on Magnet Hazards

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a Federal Register notice on its provisional acceptance of a settlement agreement with Mega Brands America, Inc. f/k/a Rose Art Industries, Inc., containing a civil penalty of $1,100,000, as the company failed to furnish information as required by the Consumer Product Safety Act concerning the injury and/or death of children due to the ingestion of Magnetix set magnets. Any interested person may ask the CPSC not to accept this agreement or otherwise comment on its contents by filing a written request by May 11, 2009. (See ITT's Online Archives or 04/17/09 news, 09041725, for previous BP summary.) (D/N 09-C0018, FR Pub 04/24/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-9452.pdf)

15. BIS Issues Export Denial Order to Pakistani Person

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a denial order, which among other things, denies export privileges to Tariq Ahmed of Karachi, Pakistan for a period of seven years. (FR Pub 04/24/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-9400.pdf)

16. BIS Meeting of Transportation and Related Equipment Technical Advisory Committee

The Bureau of Industry and Security is announcing that a partially open meeting of the Transportation and Related Equipment Technical Advisory Committee will be held on May 6, 2009 in Washington, D.C. (FR Pub 04/24/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-9451.pdf)

17. State Dept Corrects USML Error

The Department of State has issued a final rule which corrects, effective April 24, 2009, a 2004 final rule that revised Category XII(c) of the United States Munitions List by restoring language in a note after Category XII(c) that was inadvertently deleted by the 2004 rule. (FR Pub 04/24/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-9291.pdf)

18. FDA Posts Enforcement Report for April 22nd

The Food and Drug Administration has posted its Enforcement Report for the week of April 22, 2009. The report contains information on actions taken in connection with agency regulatory activities. (Report, dated 04/22/09, available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ENFORCE/2009/ENF01104.html)

19. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recall

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has published notice of the following voluntary recall:

20. Revised FDA Import Alerts

The Food and Drug Administration has posted revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:

cheese

and intensified coverage of pig ears (dog treats)

processed foods

raw agricultural products

APIS misbranded which do not meet label requirements

imported food products

animal feeds and feed ingredients that may contain ingredients of animal origin

food products

unapproved new drugs promoted in the U.S.

and surveillance of surgeon's and patient examination gloves

seafood products