The Government Accountability Office released its report entitled, "Intellectual Property: Federal Enforcement Has Generally Increased, but Assessing Performance Could Strengthen Law Enforcement Efforts." (GAO report, GAO-08-157, dated March 2008, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08157.pdf.)
The National Retail Federation has issued a press release urging the Port of Oakland to reject a proposal to impose huge new container fees similar to those approved recently in Los Angeles and Long Beach, and instead adopt a plan to ease air pollution and congestion that is supported by shippers. (NRF press release, dated 03/11/08, available at http://www.nrf.com/modules.php?name=News&op=viewlive&sp_id=491)
Chicago and Cleveland CBP have issued Pipelines stating that Census has announced that its Automated Foreign Trade Zone Reporting Program for FTZ operators will be discontinued on April 1, 2008, as it has determined that the electronic CBP Form 214 (e-214) meets its statistical standards. Census sources state that operators seeking an extension of the April 1, 2008 deadline should contact the Census Bureau. (Chicago Pipeline 08-12, dated 03/07/08 and Cleveland Pipeline 08-050, dated 01/11/08, available by emailing documents@brokerpower.com.)
The Port of Los Angeles has posted an announcement to its Web site stating that the LA Board of Harbor Commissioners will vote on the proposed Port of Los Angeles Clean Truck Program at a special Board meeting on March 20, 2008. (LA Web site available at http://www.portoflosangeles.org/)
American Shipper reports that according to homeland security analyst Stephen Flynn, the U.S. will need to enlist the foreign-owned companies that dominate the maritime sector by creating incentives for shipping lines, terminal operators, logistics providers and shippers to do a better job securing the global supply networks they control and understand, if the U.S. is ever to achieve a high level of security. (American Shipper, dated February 2008, www.americanshipper.com)
The Senate Energy and Commerce Committee has issued a press release announcing that its Environment and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee met on February 28th to consider legislation to ban or severely restrict the manufacture and distribution in commerce of asbestos-containing products. Imports of asbestos-containing products would also be prohibited. (Subcommittee press release, dated 02/28/08, available at http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110st133.shtml)
The Senate Finance Committee has issued a press release announcing that Chairman Baucus reiterated to U.S. Trade Representative Schwab in a hearing that successful passage of Trade Adjustment Assistance legislation will take precedence in the Finance Committee over all pending free trade agreements. (Committee press release, dated 03/06/08, available at http://finance.senate.gov/press/Bpress/2008press/prb030608b.pdf)
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a guidance document on the status of entities owned by persons1 whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to an Executive Order or regulations administered by OFAC ("blocked persons").
American Shipper reports that California State Senator Alan Lowenthal (Long Beach) plans to amend his proposed statewide container fee bill to specify more than 140 projects (primarily involving rail-traffic grade separations). The bill, which is expected to move soon, will be Lowenthal's third attempt to pass a $30-per-TEU container fee. (AS, dated 02/29/08, www.americanshipper.com)
According to a Special Quest Edition by Avalon Risk Management, Inc., the primary writers of U.S. Customs bonds met February 21, 2008 to discuss the issue that the surety industry was not consulted prior to the publication of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's January 2nd Federal Register notice on 102, and confirmed that more information must be obtained to understand the true nature of the risk that 102 will create for the surety industry. (Special Quest Edition, dated 02/22/08, available by emailing BP at documents@brokerpower.com)