Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. TSA Seeks Comments on Request for Renewal of Air Cargo Security Information Collection

2. TSA Seeks Comments on Request for Renewal of Certified Cargo Screening Info Collection

The Transportation Security Administration has sent a request for renewal of an information collection on the Certified Cargo Screening Program to the Office of Management and Budget for renewal. Among other things, the information collection includes applications from entities that wish to become Certified Cargo Screening Facilities (CCSF) or operate as a TSA-approved validation firm. Comments on the renewal request are due by April 5, 2010. (D/N TSA-2009-0018, FR Pub 03/04/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-4441.pdf)

3. BTS Reports Rise in Freight Transportation Services for December 2009

The Freight Transportation Services Index rose 10.5 percent in December 2009 as compared to the same month in 2008, the DOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported. The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in freight shipments (for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight) in ton miles, which are then combined into one index (Press release, dated 03/03/10, available at http://www.bts.gov/press_releases/2010/bts010_10/html/bts010_10.html)

4. USTR Holds Hearing on Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative recently held a public hearing on the Special 301 review evaluating trading partners' intellectual property rights (IPR) protections and enforcement. Stakeholders offered testimony to the interagency Special 301 subcommittee on a range of intellectual property matters, including pharmaceutical patents and digital copyright infringement. (Press release, dated 03/04/10, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2010/march/ustr-holds-hearing-intellectual-property-protection-)

5. NCTO Opposes Inclusion of Vietnam in TPP Agreement

On March 2, 2010, the National Council of Textile Organizations testified before the International Trade Commission regarding the proposed U.S. Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement. During its testimony, NCTO raised significant concerns with the inclusion of Vietnam in the agreement and urged the Obama Administration to rethink its proposal. (News release, dated 03/02/10, available at http://www.ncto.org/newsroom/PR030210NCTORelease-VietnamInclusioninTPPtoCostUSTextileJobs.pdf)

6. AAFA Issues Statement on President's 2010 Trade Policy Agenda, Report

On March 1, 2010, the American Apparel & Footwear Association released a statement regarding the publication of President Obama's 2010 Trade Policy Agenda and 2009 Annual Report. In its statement, AAFA notes that it looks forward to working with the Administration and Congress to achieve a trade policy that benefits the U.S. apparel and footwear companies, their workers, and consumers. (Press release, dated 03/01/10, available at https://www.apparelandfootwear.org/UserFiles/File/PressReleases/2010/030110AAFACommentsonPresidentsTradePolicyAgenda.pdf)

7. FDA Warning to Industry, 17 Firms for Food with Health Claims

The Food and Drug Administration has issued an open letter to the food industry on the importance of accurate nutrition and health claims, and notified 17 food manufacturers and importers that the labeling for 22 of their food products violates the FD&C Act. Companies that received warning letters have 15 business days to respond. (Press release, dated 03/03/10, available at http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm202814.htm)

8. USDA/FDA Announce Codex Committee Meetings on Food, General Principles

The USDA Office of Food Safety and the Food and Drug Administration are sponsoring public meetings on March 23, 2010and March 23, 2010to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the April 2010 Sessions of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food; and the Codex Committee on General Principlesof the Codex Alimentarius Commission, respectively.

9. ITDS Notice to PGA Users on ACE Portal and M1 Functions

An International Trade Data System website notice to Participating Government Agencies states that it has been notified that the portal applications for the ACE M1 user interface have been built using JAVA 1.6. PGAs should ensure that the computers they intend to use to access ACE for M1 support JAVA 1.6. (Notice, posted, 03/03/10, available at http://www.itds.gov/linkhandler/itds/news/tech_reqs.ctt/tech_reqs.pdf)

10. FTC, Partners Launch 12th National Consumer Protection Week

The Federal Trade Commission, otheragencies, andconsumer groups are sponsoring the National Consumer Protection Week from March 7-13, 2010. The campaign features a site,www.consumer.gov/ncpw, whichfeatures informationon consumer rights anda blog, www.consumer.gov/ncpw/blog, where visitors canconnect directly with representatives of consumer protection organizations. (News release, dated 03/03/10, available at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2010/03/ncpw.shtm)

11. President Continues Zimbabwe National Emergency for One Year

The President is continuing for one year the national emergency with respect to Zimbabwe, which blocks the property of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe and other persons undermining Zimbabwe's democratic processes or institutions. (FR Pub 03/04/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-4805.pdf)

12. DDTC Updates License Processing Times for February 2010

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has updated its table of license processing times to include February 2010. The table includes cases received, cases closed, cases open at the end of the month, and average processing time (in calendar days). (Table, updated 03/01/10, available at http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/metrics/index.html)

13. U.S. and Brazil Sign Climate Change MOU

On March 3, 2010, Secretary of State Clinton and Brazilian Foreign Minister Amorim signed a "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation Regarding Climate Change" to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the U.S. and Brazil as they work to meet the global climate and clean energy challenge. (Press release, dated 03/03/10, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/03/137723.htm)

14. WTO Trade Facilitation Group Circulates Revised, Draft Negotiating Text

The World Trade Organization's Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation has circulated to WTO members a revised, draft consolidated negotiating text. (Search WTO documents athttp://www.wto.org/underMarch 2, 2010 for source document or request copy by emailing documents@brokerpower.com.)

15. China Says High-Level Diplomatic Visit Meant to Diffuse Bilateral Tensions

China's People's Daily Online reports that high-level U.S. diplomats arrived in Beijing on March 2, 2010 in a bid to defuse bilateral tensions brought about by U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and a White House visit by the Dalai Lama, actions seen to have damaged China's "core interests." (Notice, dated 03/03/10, available at http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/6906763.html)

16. Draft Chinese Regulation Would Prohibit Foreign Companies from Directly Selling Imported Feed

China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine states that foreign companies and individuals would not be allowed to directly sell imported feed and feed additives within China under a draft, revised Regulation on the Administration of Animal Feed and Feed Additives, which opened for public comment on February 20, 2010. (News release, dated 03/03/10, available at http://english.aqsiq.gov.cn/NewsRelease/NewsUpdates/201003/t20100303_137964.htm)

17. Revised FDA Import Alert

The Food and Drug Administration has posted a revised version of the following Import Alert on the detention without physical examination of:

12-03: Imported Soft Cheese and Soft Ripened Cheese from France

18. 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/prerelmar10.html)

19. Agency Seeks Comments on Information Collections

Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):

Agency Information Collection Comments Due

(Information collection notices are hyperlinked to agency name.)