Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. 19 CFR Amended to Reflect Increase in Certain Personal Duty Exemptions

2. CBP Amends 19 CFR to Remove Obsolete Regs on Cement from Mexico

CBP has issued a final rule, effective September 25, 2009, which amends 19 CFR Parts 12 and 163 to remove regulations that were originally promulgated to provide special entry requirements for certain cement products from Mexico requiring a U.S. Commerce Department import license and to include certain required entry documentation in the "List of Records Required for the Entry of Merchandise" set forth in the Appendix to 19 CFR Part 163. These regulations are obsolete because the underlying trade agreement that necessitated these regulations expired on March 31, 2009. (CBP final rule, CBP Dec. 09-36, FR Pub 09/25/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-23157.pdf.)

3. FR Publication of USTR's Beef Hormone Notice Canceling Expansion of 100% Duties

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued its Federal Register notice stating that the U.S. has fulfilled its obligations under the first phase of the May 2009 U.S.-European Communities Memorandum of Understanding on the Beef Hormones dispute by canceling the 100% duty modifications that were scheduled to go into effect September 19, 2009. (See ITT's Online Archives or 09/22/09 news, 09092205, for BP summary.) (D/N USTR-2009-0022, FR Pub 09/24/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-23000.pdf)

4. USTR Kirk, Russian Deputy PM Discuss U.S. Agric. Exports, Russia's WTO Accession Efforts, Etc.

U.S. Trade Representative Kirk and Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov met recently to discuss multilateral and bilateral trade issues, including concerns regarding U.S. exports of agricultural products, protection of intellectual property rights, licensing procedures for certain information technology products, and Russia's efforts to join the World Trade Organization. (Notice, dated 09/22/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/blog/ambassador-kirk-meets-russian-deputy-prime-minister-igor-shuvalov)

5. Exporters' Textile Advisory Committee to Hold Open Meeting Nov 4th

The International Trade Administration is announcing that an open meeting of the Exporters' Textile Advisory Committee will be held on November 4, 2009 in Washington, D.C. The Committee provides advice and guidance to ITA officials on expanding textile exports, and on methods of encouraging textile firms to participate in this expansion. (FR Pub 09/24/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-23120.pdf)

6. Free Webinar on U.S.-Peru TPA Interim Commercial Availability Procedures

Export.gov has announced that the Office of Textiles and Apparel will host a free webinar on CITA's interim procedures for participation in the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement's commercial availability proceedings on October 6, 2009. (Notice, posted 09/24/09, available at http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/webinars/Peru_webinar_announcement.pdf)

7. List of China's Recently Updated Textile and Apparel Standards

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council has listed the textile and apparel standards that China updated, effective September 1, 2009. (List, dated 09/18/09, available at http://www.hktdc.com/info/vp/a/ctde/en/1/1/1/1X069O6U/China-Trade/Standard-Update-of-Textiles-and-Garment---China-Domestic-Market.htm)

8. State Dept Briefing on its Burma Policy Review and Sanctions

The State Department has posted a transcript of a briefing on its Burma policy review which was announced in February 2009. At the briefing, a senior official notes that neither a sanctions-based policy nor ASEAN's approach of engagement had worked with Burma and that the Administration will be using a mix of policy tools. In response to a question on whether there is an intention to remove sanctions against Burma, the State Department stated that if any changes were made going forward, it would be based on tangible progress by Burma. (Transcript, dated 09/23/09, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/sept/129541.htm.)

9. APHIS Removes Bird Flu Restrictions on Imports from Hungary

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, effective October 9, 2009, is lifting certain restrictions against 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 Hungary, as such imports are now determined to present a low risk of introducing HPAI H5N1 avian influenza (bird flu) into the U.S. Lifted restrictions include the requirement for an import permit and government certification for processed poultry products, and the prohibition of processed/unprocessed poultry products in personal luggage. (D/N APHIS-2009-0005, FR Pub 09/24/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-23129.pdf)

10. EC Issues 4th Report on Potentially Trade Restrictive Measures

The European Commission has issued its fourth report on potentially trade restrictive measures covering the period between June 1, 2009 and September 1, 2009. The report states that several governments introduced a number of measures of a trade restrictive character, with border measures, such as import licences, increased tariff duties, as well as more burdensome pre-shipment inspections, being particularly numerous. It also noted the domino effect of the U.S. and China "buy local" policies, in which other countries have followed suit. (Report, updated 09/16/09, available at http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2009/september/tradoc_144778.pdf)

11. EC Adopts Regulation on Authorization of Plant Protection Products

On September 24, 2009, the European Council adopted a Regulation to replace the current legislation setting out the rules on the authorization of plant protection products. The legislation, which will enter into force later in 2009, contains criteria for approval of active substances; inspection and monitoring on production, storage, transport and use of plant protection products; and a simplified evaluation and authorization procedure, among other things. (Press release, dated 09/24/09, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1354&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)

12. Canada Proposes Regulations to Require Tracking Systems in Certain Vessels

Canada's Transport Minister John Baird has announced proposed regulations to help improve marine safety and security. The regulations would enable Canada to adopt an international shipping requirement that mandates tracking systems aboard certain classes of vessels. The proposed regulations would apply to Canadian passenger vessels with more than 12 passengers and cargo vessels, including high-speed craft, of 300 gross tons and up that undertake international voyages. (Notice, dated 09/23/09, available at http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do;jsessionid=ac1b105430d78fcb468b478f459195f9fe1d9d4b0fc8.e34Rc3iMbx8Oai0Tbx0SaxeRahj0?crtr.sj1D=&mthd=tp&crtr.mnthndVl=&nid=484739&crtr.dpt1D=&crtr.tp1D=1&crtr.lc1D=&crtr.yrStrtVl=&crtr.kw=&crtr.dyStrtVl=&crtr.aud1D=&crt)

13. 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/prerelsep09.html)

14. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports

The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:

Italy Agricultural News for Italy and the EU - August 09: Agriculture in the News