Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. Commerce Sec. Identifies 5 Priorities for Improving Trade Fundamentals

2. EC Ambassador to U.S. Concerned about "Buy American" Provisions in Energy Bill, Etc.

The European Commission's Ambassador to the U.S. has issued a statement expressing concern over the "Buy American" provisions in the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 and similar provisions found in House Resolution 3183 passed July 17, 2009. The Ambassador states, "notwithstanding the issue of their compatibility with U.S.-WTO obligations, the current language of these two pieces of legislation would go against the commitment made by all G20 members." (Statement, dated 07/21/09, available at http://www.eurunion.org/eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3438&Itemid=58)

3. USTR Kirk Concludes Visit for APEC Trade Meeting

USTR Kirk concluded his visit to the 2009 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum's Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting from July 21 to 22 in Singapore. At the forum, APEC ministers agreed to accelerate work to strengthen regional economic integration, including by breaking down barriers to trade in services and environmental goods and services. APEC Ministers will also seek to ensure that the benefits of globalization are spread more widely across societies and that growth strategies are consistent with sustainable development. (USTR press release, dated 07/22/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2009/july/united-states-trade-representative-ronald-kirk-conclu)

4. USTR Announces WTO Technical Assistance Contribution

U.S. Trade Representative Kirk announced that the U.S. will contribute nearly $1 million for trade-related technical assistance to the World Trade Organization. This latest contribution will bring total U.S. trade assistance for the Doha Development Agenda to almost $9.4 billion since the launch of negotiations in November 2001. (USTR press release dated 07/22/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2009/july/ambassador-kirk-announces-us-contribution-wto-technic)

5. Manufacturer Settles with FTC for Making Misleading Made-in-the-USA Claims

The Federal Trade Commission reports that Enhanced Vision Systems, a manufacturer of magnifiers and other desktop and portable vision aids has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it falsely claimed its products were "Made in the U.S.A.," as several of the company's products contain a significant portion of foreign components. (FTC news release, dated 07/20/09, available at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/07/evs.shtm)

6. USDA Launches Electronic Request System for EU Dairy Export Certification

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced the implementation of a new system that will allow exporters to request European Union Health Certificates electronically for dairy products. The system allows applicants to request the certificates over the Internet and track their request from the moment the request is received, accepted and processed by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service. (AMS press release, dated 07/20/09, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateU&navID=&page=Newsroom&resultType=Details&dDocName=STELPRDC5078206&dID=115841&wf=false&description=USDALaunchesElectronicRequestsforDairyExportCertification&topNav=N)

7. ITA Announces Initiation of AD Investigation of Certain Woven Electric Blankets from China

On July 21, 2009, the International Trade Administration issued a fact sheet announcing its decision to initiate an antidumping investigation on imports of certain woven electric blankets from China. A quantity and value questionnaire was also posted. (Fact sheet, posted 07/21/09, available at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/download/factsheets/factsheet-prc-cweb-init-072109.pdf; questionnaire, dated 07/20/09, available at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/download/nme-sep-rates/prc-cweb/prc-cweb-qvq-072209.pdf)

8. ITA Makes Final AD and CV Determinations for Certain Kitchen Appliance Shelving and Racks from China

On July 21, 2009, the ITA issued a fact sheet announcing its affirmative final determinations in the antidumping duty and countervailing duty investigations on imports of certain kitchen appliance shelving and racks from China. AD rates were found to range from 44.77 to 95.99 percent; CV rates were found ranging from 13.30 to 170.82 percent. (Fact sheet, posted 07/21/09, available at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/download/factsheets/factsheet-prc-kasr-final-072109.pdf)

9. FDA Posts Enforcement Report for July 22nd

The Food and Drug Administration has posted its Enforcement Report for the week of July 22, 2009. The report contains information on actions taken in connection with agency regulatory activities. (Report, dated 07/22/09, available at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/EnforcementReports/ucm173256.htm)

10. 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:

Surgeon's and/or Patient Examination Gloves

11. Updated List of Foreign Plants That Can Export Meat and Poultry to the U.S.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has updated the list of foreign establishments in Chile (July 22, 2009) and Mexico (July 21, 2009) that can export meat and poultry products to the U.S.

12. Updated List of Instructions and U.S. Plants for Exporting Meat and Poultry to Foreign Countries

FSIS has provided updated information as noted below for the export of U.S. meat and poultry to the following countries:

MexicoPlant List (Jul 23, 2009)

Russia(Poultry) Plant List (Jul 22, 2009)

Russia(Pork) Plant List (Jul 22, 2009)

Russia (Jul 22, 2009)

Japan (Jul 22, 2009)

China(Jul 21, 2009)

European Union(Jul 21, 2009)

Germany(Jul 20, 2009)

13. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recalls

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

(CPSC press releases available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prereljul09.html)

14. CBP Announces Cancellation of Customs Broker Licenses Due to Death of the Broker

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice announcing that the following four individual Customs broker licenses, as well as any and all permits, have been cancelled due to the death of the broker:

(FR Pub 07/24/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-17727.pdf)

15. FMC Lists OTI Applications

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a notice that lists those applying for ocean transportation intermediary licenses as a non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC), ocean freight forwarder (FF) or NVOCC/FF OTI, as follows:

FMC notice (FR Pub 07/22/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-17415.pdf