Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. State Dept Briefing on Secretary's Trip to Central and South America

2. IMF Says Chinese Renminbi Substantially Undervalued, Etc

In a report prepared for a February 27, 2010 meeting of "G20" Deputies, the International Monetary Fund concludes, among other things, that the Chinese renminbi is "substantially undervalued", that the global recovery is off to a stronger start than anticipated, and that policymakers need to begin to implement exit strategies from crisis-related intervention policies. (IMF report, dated 02/27/10, available at http://www.imf.org/external/np/g20/pdf/022710.pdf)

3. U.S. Requests WTO Review of India's Textile Export Competitiveness

On February 26, 2010, the World Trade Organization circulated a request from the U.S. that the WTO Secretariat compute the export competitiveness of textile and apparel exports from India, in accordance with the Subsidies and Countervailing Measures Agreement, as the U.S. believes India has met the definition of "export competitiveness" for certain products. (Search WTO documents under Feb 26, 2010 at http://www.wto.org/for source document or request copy by emailing documents@brokerpower.com)

4. CARB Allows Federal Greenhouse Gas Standards for Cars to Fully Comply

The California Air Resources Board states it has fulfilled its commitment to establish the nation's first ever greenhouse gas standard for passenger vehicles by allowing federal greenhouse gas standards to fully comply with California's standards for model years 2012 to 2016. (News release, dated 02/25/10, available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/2010/nr022510b.htm )

5. FDA Announces March 30th Workshop on Food Safety

The Food and Drug Administration will hold a public workshop on March 30, 2010 in Washington, DC on "Measuring Progress on Food Safety: Current Status and Future Directions," to inform the public about current and potential measurements for assessing progress in food safety and associated methodological issues and to discuss potential improvements. (D/N FDA-2010-N-0104, FR Pub 03/01/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-4110.pdf)

6. PHMSA/FAA Announce Meeting on Lithium Battery Proposed Rule

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration will hold a public meeting on March 5, 2010, in Washington, DC, to provide interested persons with an opportunity to submit oral comments on their January 2010 proposed rule addressing safety risks associated with air transport of lithium cells and batteries. Written comments are due by March 12, 2010. (D/N PHMSA-2009-0095 (HM-224F), FR Pub 03/01/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-4232.pdf)

7. GSA to Report on Modernization of Otay Mesa Land Port of Entry

The General Services Administration is announcing its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the modernization of the Otay Mesa Land Port of Entry in San Diego, California. GSA has proposed to modernize the port by remodeling, improving and expanding the existing facility through the acquisition of approximately 10 acres of land along the eastern boundary of the port to add booths, etc. (FR Pub 03/01/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-4188.pdf)

8. EPA Sends Proposed Rule on TSCA to OMB for Approval

The Environmental Protection Agency has submitted a proposed rule to the Office of Management and Budget that would modify the Inventory Update Reporting rule. The rule enables EPA to procure basic information on commercial chemicals under Toxic Substances Control Act, resulting in a unique database. Among other things, the proposed rule would require electronic reporting. (Rule, received 02/26/10, available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=200910&RIN=2070-AJ43)

9. OMB Approves DOE Proposed Rule on Small Electric Motors

The Office of Management and Budget has approved an Energy Department proposed rule to determine whether it is appropriate to establish energy conservation standards for small electric motors, where doing so would be technologically feasible and economically justified. (Rule, completed 02/25/10, available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=200910&RIN=1904-AB70)

10. OMB Approves Final Rule on PHMSA Hazmat Security Plans

The Office of Management and Budget has approved a Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration final rule to create a distinction between hazardous materials that present a significant security risk while in transportation and require a security plan, and the vast majority of hazardous materials that pose no significant security risk in transportation. (Rule, completed 02/25/10, available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=200910&RIN=2137-AE22)

11. DHS Announces Prison Term for Former CBP Officer

The Department of Homeland Security states that Jose Carmelo Magaa, of Yuma, Ariz., was sentenced in U.S. District court to 37 months in federal prison, to be followed by a term of three years of supervised release for charges of attempting to bring illegal aliens to the U.S. and acceptance of a bribe by a public official. (Press release, dated 01/22/10, available at http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/press/oigpr_012210.pdf)

12. Canada Statement on Order to Align Canadian Lead Paint Limit with U.S.

Canada's Department of Health has posted a Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement regarding an order to amend Schedule I of Canada's Hazardous Product Act in order to align Canada's limit on lead in paint and surface coatings with the U.S. limit of 90 ppm. (Statement, posted 02/27/10, available at http://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2010/2010-02-27/html/reg2-eng.html)

13. Canada Statement on Proposal to Establish NORDREG Shipping Zone, Etc

Canada's Department of Transportation has posted a regulatory impact analysis statement on proposed regulations to formally establish the Northern Canada Vessel Traffic Services (NORDREG) Zone and, consistent with international law regarding ice-covered areas, implement requirements for vessels to report information prior to entering, while operating within and upon exiting Canada's northern waters. (Statement, posted 02/27/10, available at http://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2010/2010-02-27/html/reg4-eng.html)

14. Canadian ITT Notices on Baby Formula, Refined Sugar Expiry Review

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal has posted notices announcing:a public hearingon March 23, 2010 regarding an appealin the case ofNutricia North America v. President of the Canada Border Services Agency regarding the proper classification of Neocate infant and junior formula; and its initiation of an expiry review on its November 2000 orders on certain refined sugar from the U.S., Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK.

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/prerelfeb10.html)

16. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports

The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:

Nigeria - Rice Trade - Quarterly: Nigeria's Rice Imports from the U.S. is Increasing

Ghana - FAIRS Country Report Update: FAIRS Country Report

Ghana - 2010 Exporter Guide Annual: Exporter Guide

Austria - Six People Died from Austrian Listeria Contaminated Cheese: Dairy and Products

Caribbean Basin - HRI Food Service Sector: Bermuda 2010 HRI Food Service Sector Report

Caribbean Basin - Retail Food Sector: Bermuda 2010 Retail Food Sector Report

Peru - U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement-First Year's Results: Trade Policy Monitoring

Venezuela - List of goods negotiable according to the assignment of SUCRES: Agriculture in the Economy

Spain - Spain's reduced duty sorghum and corn import quota: Grain and Feed

17. 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:

99-20: Imported Food Products Due to NLEA Violations

99-05: Raw Agricultural Products for Pesticides

80-04: Surgeon's and Patient Examination Gloves

71-02: Animal Feeds and Feed Ingredients That May Contain Ingredients of Animal Origin

53-06: Cosmetics Containing Illegal Colors

16-124: Aquaculture Seafood Products Due to Unapproved Drugs

16-119: Fish and Fishery Products for Importer and Foreign Processor (Manuf) Combinations

16-81: Seafood Products Due to the Presence of Salmonella

16-18: Shrimp

12-10: Cheese Due to Microbiological Contamination