Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. USTR Discusses TPP FTA, Acknowledges Challenges

2. FMCSA Raises Safety Requirements for New Truck and Bus Companies

On December 16, 2009, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration began enforcing its New Entrant Safety Assurance Process rule, which requires newly registered truck and bus companies to meet stricter safety requirements. This final rule raises the compliance standards for passing new entrant safety audits and requires that new carriers correct safety deficiencies before being granted permanent registration. (News release, dated 12/16/09, available at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/news/news-releases/2009/Safety-Requirements-for-Truck-Bus-Companies.aspx)

3. U.S. and Brazil Held 4th Session of Economic Partnership Dialogue

On December 14, 2009, high-level representatives of the U.S. Department of State and the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Federative Republic of Brazil met in Washington, DC, for the fourth session of the U.S.-Brazil Economic Partnership Dialogue (EPD). The EPD provides a platform to advance a broad range of economic policy issues, including bilateral issues and U.S.-Brazil economic cooperation in third countries. (Press release, dated 12/16/09, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/dec/133722.htm)

4. FDA Opens Mexico City Post for Food Safety and Other Issues

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced the opening of its Mexico City post. This is the Agency's third post in Latin America and its tenth international post in the past 13 months. Staff assigned to the FDA's Mexico City post will work with their counterparts in the Mexican government to harmonize regulations and guidance standards and to work on other collaborative initiatives, such as those involving food safety. (News release, dated 12/15/09, available at http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm194165.htm)

5. CPSC Met on December 16 and December 17 on Key CPSIA Issues

The Consumer Product Safety Commission held a public meeting on December 16, 2009 on 1. (a) Interim Enforcement Policy on Component Testing and Certification (of Lead Paint and Content); (b) Commission Action on Existing Stay of Testing and Certification; (c) Final Rule Registration Cards, 2. Lead in Electronic Devices - Final Rule, and 3. Mandatory Recall Notice - Final Rule. A live Webcast of the meeting was available. Notice on compliance meeting that followed available here. Another nonpublic meeting was held on December 17, 2009 on the testing and certification stay for lead content. (FR Pub 12/17/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-29942.pdf)

6. California Fines Target Stores $500,000 for Selling Products That Violated Clean Air Regs

The California Air Resources Board has fined Target Corporation $500,000 for selling multiple products, including portable generators, portable fuel containers, automotive windshield washer fluid and liquid air fresheners, throughout California between 2006 and 2008, that do not comply with the state's clean air regulations. "ARB worked with manufacturers to design products that pollute less," said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols. "Retailers have a responsibility to ensure the products they offer are legal for sale in California." (News release, dated 12/16/09, available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr121609.htm)

7. FTC Challenges Intel's Dominance of Worldwide Microprocessor Markets

The Federal Trade Commission has sued Intel Corp., the world's leading computer chip maker, charging that the company has illegally used its dominant market position for a decade to stifle competition and strengthen its monopoly. (News release, dated 12/16/09, available at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/12/intel.shtm)

8. WTO's Lamy Suggests Deciding in March if Concluding Doha in 2010 is Feasible

World Trade Organization Director-General Pascal Lamy, stated that WTO members should reserve the last week of March of 2010 for stocktaking to assess whether concluding the Doha Round in 2010 "is doable." (News release, dated 12/17/09, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news09_e/tnc_chair_report_17dec09_e.htm)

9. Transcript of DHS Secretary's Remarks on DHS Accomplishments in 2009

The Department of Homeland Security has posted a transcript of Secretary Napolitano's remarks highlighting DHS' major accomplishments in 2009. (Transcript, dated 12/16/09, available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/speeches/sp_1261001129593.shtm.)

10. CBP Proposes Rule on Land Border Carrier Initiative Program

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a proposed rule to remove the regulatory provisions pertaining to the Land Border Carrier Initiative Program, a voluntary industry partnership program under which participating land and rail commercial carriers agree to enhance the security of their facilities and conveyances to prevent controlled substances from being smuggled into the United States. CBP has developed a more comprehensive voluntary industry partnership program known as the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT). Comments must be received on or before February 16, 2010. (D/N USCBP-2006-0132, FR Pub 12/17/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-29954.pdf)

11. U.S., Israel Hold FTA Joint Committee Meeting

Representatives of the U.S. and Israel recently convened a meeting of the Joint Committee of the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement. At the Joint Committee meeting, officials discussed bilateral trade, investment and economic issues of mutual interest, as well as the administration of the FTA. (Press release, dated 12/16/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2009/december/ustr-and-israel-hold-fta-joint-committee-meeting)

12. USTR Notice on U.S.-EU Agreement on Banana Dispute

USTR Kirk has issued a notice on the recent U.S.- EU agreement to end the Banana dispute. Press release, dated 12/16/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2009/december/ustr-ron-kirk-announces-us-eu-agreement-longstand)

13. OFAC Announces its Largest Sanctions Settlement

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has announced a $536 million global settlement with Credit Suisse, representing the largest sanctions settlement in OFAC's history. The settlement arises out of Credit Suisse's processing of thousands of transactions over a 20 year period that concealed the involvement of sanctioned parties and routing of wire transfers and securities transactions through the U.S. that never should not occurred. The great majority of the transactions involved Iran. (Notice, dated 12/16/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20091216.shtml)

14. FAS Reports 2010 Release Schedule for its World Market and Trade Reports

The Foreign Agricultural Service has posted the December 2009 and January - December 2010 release schedule for its World Market and Trade reports on a number of agricultural commodities. These reports outline the current supply, demand and trade estimates both for the U.S. and for many major foreign countries. (Schedule, posted 12/15/09, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/cmp/circular_schedule.asp)

15. 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/prereldec09.html

16. EU Extends & Expands Steel Import Surveillance Program until 2012

On December 17, 2009 the European Union decided to extend the current import surveillance system covering trade in steel products until December 31, 2012. At the same time the product coverage has been updated and now also includes flat stainless steel products and large welded tubes. (Press release, dated 12/17/09, available at http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=502)