The World Customs Organization states that Cuba, Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka have deposited their instruments of accession to the revised Kyoto Convention on the simplification and harmonization of Customs procedures with the WCO during the Annual Sessions of the WCO Council. (Press Release, dated 06/26/09, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/press/?v=1&lid=1&cid=6&id=185)
The Census Bureau has issued an Automated Export System broadcast announcing that it has developed AESDirect and AESPcLink Sample Shipment Guides which provide screenshots of the entire filing process in each respective application, along with important information and helpful tips that appear among Census' most frequently asked questions. (Notice, available at http://www.aesdirect.gov/support/userguide.htmlsample_shipments)
China's Ministry of Commerce reports that China will abolish export duties on some grains and industrial products and cut the export duties for chemical fertilizers and nonferrous metals from July 1 to promote exports. (Notice, dated 06/23/09, available at http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/newsrelease/commonnews/200906/20090606352494.html)
The National Industrial Transportation League filed a brief to join the American Trucking Association in its litigation to reverse, on appeal, the portion of a district court order that upheld aspects of the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports' concession programs imposing new requirements on truckers. NITL brief available athttp://www.nitl.org/NITLBrief-No09-55749.pdf
According to U.S. tobacco growers, a bill which recently passed Canada's House of Commons and is currently before the Canadian Senate, would have the effect of banning all imports and sales in Canada of U.S.-grown burley tobacco and cigarettes. The bill, C-32, would amend Canada's Tobacco Act with new controls on, among other things, little cigars, additives, and advertising, but is written so broadly as to apply to all cigarettes containing flavoring agents normally used with burley tobacco to lessen harshness, according to industry representatives. Virginia Farm Bureau release available at http://www.vafb.com/news/2009/june/061809_3.htm. Draft of Canadian Bill C-32 available at http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Sites/LOP/LEGISINFO/index.asp?Language=E&Chamber=N&StartList=A&EndList=Z&Session=22&Type=0&Scope=I&query=5835&List=toc-1
In response to a question about the Buy American policy posed at a press conference in Canada, Secretary of State Clinton stated that the Buy American provision is not being enforced in any way that is inconsistent with U.S. international trade obligations. She acknowledged the concerns that there may be elements of the international trade obligations or absences of agreements that should be looked at so that the U.S. can promote more procurement and other kinds of trade interactions and assured Canadian officials that the U.S. will take a very close look at that. (Press briefing, dated 06/13/09, available at http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/06/124717.htm.)
The U.S.-China Business Council has posted a press release noting that despite the global economic downturn, 85% of congressional districts increased their exports to China in 2008. The council also posted a mapthat shows U.S. exports to China by state and district (must scroll down). (Press Release, dated 06/11/09, available at http://www.uschina.org/public/documents/2009/06/congressional-district-exports.html)
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a final rule, effective June 10, 2009, amending the Sudanese Sanctions Regulations to expand the scope of an existing authorization of certain imports and to authorize the importation of certain transshipped goods or services into the U.S. by the regional Government of Southern Sudan and its employees.
The International Trade Data System website has posted U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP's) proposal for addressing Participating Government Agency concerns regarding third party sharing, that was included as part of the May 7, 2009 ITDS Legal Policy meeting. (Proposal, available at http://www.itds.gov/linkhandler/itds/toolbox/library/resource_documents/third_party_agent.ctt/third_party_agent.pdf)
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a press release announcing the release of application guidance for more than $500 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) preparedness grants for fire station construction, port and transit security - funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This includes $150 million for the Port Security Grant Program and $150 million for the Transit Security Grant Program. (DHS press release available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1243604359686.shtm.)