Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

September 18, 2009 |Top News

During a recent speech on financial rescue and reform, the President expressed his administration's commitment to pursuing expanded trade and new trade agreements. The President also noted that every time the G20 and the G8 have met, the U.S. has reaffirmed the need to fight against protectionism. According to the President, his recent action against tires from China was not meant to be protectionist, but is part of maintaining an open and free trading system. (Remarks, dated 09/14/09, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-on-Financial-Rescue-and-Reform-at-Federal-Hall/)

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1. President Reaffirms Commitment to Expanded Trade, New Trade Agreements

2. U.S. and Bangladesh Discuss Trade During Recent Meeting

According to Secretary of State Clinton, during a recent meeting with Bangladesh, the U.S. and Bangladesh discussed, among other things, the issue of preferential tariff treatment for products from Bangladesh and a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. (Remarks, dated 09/16/09, available at http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/09/129279.htm.)

3. Commerce Secretary Locke Meets with France's Foreign Trade Minister

Commerce Secretary Locke hosted a meeting on September 16, 2009 with France's Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Anne-Marie Idrac, at the Commerce Department. Both officials promoted their respective country's green technology, with Locke raising concerns about the French government's views toward agricultural biotechnology, saying he's concerned that France is moving away from sound science. (Press release, dated 09/16/09, available at http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/PROD01_008422)

4. DHS Secretary Remarks on SW Border Initiatives

During recent remarks at the Domenici Legacy Conference on Public Policy, Secretary of Homeland Security Napolitano highlighted the U.S.-Mexico partnership to strengthen enforcement and combat cartels by disrupting the flow of drugs, weapons and currency across the Southwest border. The DHS Secretary also discussed current initiatives designed to enhance border security. (Readout of remarks, dated 09/17/09, available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1253202841305.shtm.)

5. Maritime Administration Warns of Likely Increase in Piracy

The Maritime Administration has issued an advisory to mariners and ship operators that piracy is likely to increase off the Horn of Africa and in the Indian Ocean now that monsoon season has ended. The advisory not only warns vessels to avoid routes where attacks have taken place, but also recommends that mariners "demonstrate a willingness to defend yourself." (News release, dated 09/09/09, available at http://www.marad.dot.gov/news_room_landing_page/news_releases_summary/news_release/MARAD_10.09.htm)

6. NHTSA Final Rule on Early Warning Reports and ID/Origin Info for Recalled Tires

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a final rule that amends, effective October 19, 2009 (Sept. 13, 2010 for certain bus manufacturers), certain provisions of its early warning reporting rule published pursuant to the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act. The final rule also adds requirements for information identifying products involved in a recall to require that tire manufacturers provide a range of tire identification numbers of recalled tires and manufacturers provide the country of origin of a component involved in a recall. (D/N NHTSA-2008-0169; Notice 2, FR Pub 09/17/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-22365.pdf)

7. CPSC to Hold Closed Meetings on Compliance

The CPSC will hold a closed meeting on its weekly compliance report on September 22, 2009 in Bethesda, MD. A closed meeting on its monthly compliance status report will occur on September 24, 2009 in the same location.

8. DOT and EPA Announce Proposed Rule on National Program to Improve Vehicle Fuel Economy

DOT Secretary LaHood and EPA Administrator Jackson are announcing their joint proposed rule to establish a historic national program that would improve vehicle fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gases. (Press release, dated 09/15/09, available at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.f2217bee37fb302f6d7c121046108a0c/?javax.portlet.tpst=1e51531b2220b0f8ea14201046108a0c_ws_MX&javax.portlet.prp_1e51531b2220b0f8ea14201046108a0c_viewID=detail_view&itemID=70ba836076eb3210VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRD&pressReleaseYearSelect=2009)

9. FDA Issues Letter on Flavored Cigarettes as Adulterated

The Food and Drug Administration is reminding regulated industry that effective September 22, 2009, cigarettes that contain certain characterizing flavors are considered adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA, as amended by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (FSPTCA)). (Letter, dated 09/14/09, available at http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/ucm182186.htm)

10. Warmest Global Sea-Surface Temperatures for August, Summer

The Commerce Dept's NOAA preliminarily reports that the world's ocean surface temperature was the warmest for any August on record, and the warmest on record averaged for any June-August since 1880. (Notice, dated 09/16/09, available at http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090916_globalstats.html)

11. Canada's DFAIT Issues Notice on Wheat Products

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada issued a notice on Wheat Products that is an adjunct to its January 10, 2002 Notice to Importers No. 628. The new notice refers to Items 162 to 181 of the Import Control List; namely wheat products falling under heading Nos. 11.01, 11.03, 11.04, 11.08, 11.09, 19.01, 19.02, 19.04, 19.05 and 23.02 in the List of Tariff Provisions set out in the schedule to the Customs Tariff. (Notice, dated 09/11/09, available at http://www.international.gc.ca/controls-controles/prod/agri/wheat-ble/notices-avis/749.aspx?lang=eng)