Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. WCO Forum in June 2009 on Coordinated Border Management

2. FMC Announces Brennan to Serve as Acting Chairman

The Federal Maritime Commission announced that Joseph Brennan has been designated Acting Chairman of the FMC by President Obama. (News Release, dated 06/05/09, available at http://www.fmc.gov/speeches/newsrelease.asp?SPEECH_ID=280)

3. CBSA Announces Highway Sufferance Warehouse Closure at Port Hawkesbury

Canada Border Services Agency announced that, effective June 12, 2009, F.K. Warren Ltd., located at Light Industrial Park, Port Hawkesbury, NS will be surrendering their highway sufferance warehouse license and CBSA has decided not to advertise for a new highway sufferance warehouse at this port. Therefore, as of June 13, 2009, all bonded highway carriers transporting in-bond commercial freight destined for clearance at the Port Hawkesbury, NS port should report to an alternate highway sufferance warehouse. (Notice, dated 06/03/09, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/cn-ad/cn09-012-eng.html)

4. President Issues National Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a press release announcing that on June 5, 2009, Attorney General Holder, DHS Secretary Napolitano, and Director of National Drug Control Policy Kerlikowske released President Obama's National Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy. The strategy directs Federal agencies to increase coordination and information sharing with State and local law enforcement agencies, intensifies national efforts to interdict the southbound flow of weapons and bulk currency, and calls for continued close collaboration with the Government of Mexico in their efforts against the drug cartels. (DHS press release, dated 06/05/09, available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1244217118076.shtm; Attorney General remarks (dated 06/05/09) available at http://www.justice.gov/ag/speeches/2009/ag-speech-090605.html.)

5. Exporters Invited on November Trade Mission to Libya and Algeria

A Commerce Department trade mission to help U.S. firms find business partners and sell equipment and services will visit Tripoli, Libya and Algiers, Algeria, November 4-8, 2009. The focus will be on energy, infrastructure projects, IT, environmental technology, and safety and security, but U.S. firms from other industries are welcome, too. Apply by August 1, 2009. (Notice, available at http://www.export.gov/northafricamission/)

6. Commerce Secretary Meets with Singapore Minister of Trade

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke hosted Singapore's Minister of Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang at the Commerce Department, and took note of the success of the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which has led to a two-way trade increase of 41% since January, 2004, with U.S. exports increasing nearly 74 percent. (Press Release, dated 06/04/09, available at http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/PROD01_008055)

7. USTR Arrives in Russia for International Economic Forum

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a news release announcing that USTR Kirk has arrived St. Petersburg for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). While in Russia, Ambassador Kirk will meet with senior Russian officials and discuss Russia's bid for accession to the World Trade Organization, and U.S.-Russia bilateral trade relations. (News Release, dated 06/04/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2009/june/united-states-trade-representative-ron-kirk-arrives-s)

8. ITDS Announces Web-Based ACE A2.2 Training for PGAs

The International Trade Data System is announcing the availability of ACE Initial Entry Summary Types (A2.2) Web-based Training for participating government agencies (PGAs), which can be accessed through ITDS.gov. (Notice, available at http://www.itds.gov/linkhandler/itds/news/ent_sum_training.ctt/ent_sum_training.doc)

9. USDA Public Meeting on Agenda Items for the 32nd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

The Department of Agriculture is sponsoring a pubic meeting on June 8, 2009 in Washington D.C. on the agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 32nd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), to be held in Rome, Italy, June 29-July 4, 2009. (New Release, dated 06/03/09, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_060309_01/index.asp)

10. APHIS Issues Determination of Bird Flu Risk of Germany, Poland

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that that the importation of live birds, poultry carcasses, parts or products of poultry carcasses, and eggs (other than hatching eggs) of poultry, game birds, and other birds from either Germany (except Saxony, Germany) or Poland presents a low risk of introducing HPAI H5N1 (avian flu) into the United States. (D/N APHIS-2008-0121, FR Pub 06/05/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-13154.pdf)

11. APHIS Updates Its Fruits and Vegetable Import Manual

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has updated its PPQ Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Import manual as of June 4, 2009. This manual lists by country the fruits and vegetables that are admissible into the U.S. It includes a description of methods for sampling and inspecting selected fruits and vegetables, pictorial identification guides, and a glossary for common and scientific names of fruits and vegetables. (Manual, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/fv.pdf)

12. AMS Proposes Amendments and Referendum for Mushroom Order

The Agricultural Marking Service is proposing to amend the Mushroom Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order to reapportion membership of the Mushroom Council to reflect shifts in U.S. production and to allow the Council the power to develop and propose good agricultural and handling practices and related activities for mushrooms, as provided for by the 2008 Farm Bill. A referendum on these changes will be conducted by mail ballot from July 6, 2009 through July 17, 2009. (D/N AMS-FV-08-0047; FV-08-702-PR 2, FR Pub 06/05/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-13152.pdf)

13. GAO Testimony on Military and Dual-Use Technology

The Government Accountability Office has posted its testimony entitled "Military and Dual-Use Technology: Covert Testing Shows Continuing Vulnerabilities of Domestic Sales for Illegal Export." (Testimony, dated 06/04/09, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09725t.pdf)

14. GAO Testimony on Export Controls

GAO has posted its testimony entitled "Export Controls: Fundamental Reexamination of System Is Needed to Help Protect Critical Technologies." (Testimony, dated 06/04/09, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09767t.pdf)

15. CBSA Revises List of Cooperative Exporters in AD Case of Carbon Steel Fasteners from China, Taiwan

On June 4, 2009, Canada Border Services Agency revised its list of co-operative exporters with specific normal values for certain carbon steel fasteners originating in or exported from China and certain carbon steel and stainless steel fasteners originating in or exported from Chinese Taipei. (Notice, dated 05/28/09, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/sima-lmsi/ri-re/ad1308/ad1308-ri08-nti-eng.html)

16. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recalls

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

(CPSC recalls available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prereljun09.html)