1. MCC Publishes Text of Amended U.S.-Madagascar Compact
On July 31, 2008, the Senate passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (H.R. 4040) conference report, clearing it for the President. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/31/08 news, 08073110, for BP summary of the H.R. 4040 conference report.) (Congressional Record, dated 07/31/08 news, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r110:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20080731))
On July 29, 2008, WTO Director-General Lamy announced that ministers have failed in their effort to agree on blueprint Doha agreements in agriculture and industrial products. Out of 20 topics, convergence was reached on18 but the gaps could not narrow on the 19th - the special safeguard mechanism in farm products for developing countries. Nevertheless, the results represent twice or three times more than has been achieved in any previous multilateral negotiation, and this collapse does not mean the end of the Doha Round. (WTO release, dated 07/29/08, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/meet08_summary_29july_e.htm)
On July 28, 2008, Director-General Pascal Lamy reported that negotiators have registered very important progress...there is now a very high level of convergence on many subjects". He urged negotiators to accelerate movement towards compromises in the coming hours, adding that he aims to issue revised "modality" texts on agriculture and non-agricultural market access later in the day. (WTO notice available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm.)
On the opening day of about a week of negotiations in Geneva, ministers said a Doha Round deal is badly needed because of economic uncertainties. They promised to strive to settle their differences on blueprint agreements - "modalities" - in agriculture and industrial products, provided the outcome is balanced. (WTO release, dated 07/21/08, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/meet08_summary_21july_e.htm)
Democratic leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee questioned whether the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) knowingly allowed drugs suspected of being fraudulently approved and manufactured in gross violation of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to continue being sold by Ranbaxy, Inc., in the U.S. (News release, dated 07/17/08, available at http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110nr318.shtml.)
On July 15, 2008, the House agreed to the Senate's amendment of H.R. 3890 with amendments pursuant to H. Res. 1341. (H.R. 3890 is the Burma Democracy Promotion Act, a bill to impose sanctions on officials of the State Peace and Development Council in Burma, to amend the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 to prohibit the importation of gemstones and hardwoods from Burma, to promote a coordinated international effort to restore civilian democratic rule to Burma, and for other purposes.) (See ITT's Online Archives or 12/28/07 and 01/09/08 news, 07122810 and 08010915, for previous BP summary on H.R. 3890.) (H.R. 3890 details available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR03890:@@@X)
On July 14, 2008, the House of Representatives passed H. Res. 1182, to express the sense of the House that American flags flown on Federal Government buildings and on Federal property be made in the U.S. (Congressional Record, dated 07/14/08, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r110:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20080714).)
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has issued a press release containing a statement by Committee Chairman Dingell and Chairman of the Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee Rush, commending the Consumer Product Safety Commission's import safety strategy. (See ITT's Online Archive or 07/03/08 news, 08070307, for BP summary of CPSC import safety strategy.) (Press release, dated 07/02/08, available at http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110nr309.shtml.)
President Bush has issued a proclamation lifting the application of the Trading with the Enemy Act (TWEA) with respect to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and notified Congress of his intent to rescind North Korea's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. These actions were taken following North Korea's submission of a declaration of its nuclear programs, which will now be subject to verification.