In a letter to Secretary of State Clinton, eight U.S. textile and apparel trade associations warned that the continuing crisis in Honduras is causing permanent damage to what once was the most economically vibrant textile and apparel trade platform in the CAFTA region. The letter is a follow-up to a September 25th letter to the Secretary which noted job losses in the U.S. and Honduras and urged the U.S. government to support a quick resolution of the crisis. (Press release, dated 10/28/09, available at http://www.ncto.org/newsroom/pr20091028.pdf.)
On October 14th, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, swore in Richard Lidinsky, Jr. as the Federal Maritime Commission's 18th Chairman. President Obama had designated then-Commissioner Lidinsky as Chairman on September 11th. (News release, dated 10/23/09, available at http://www.fmc.gov/speeches/newsrelease.asp?SPEECH_ID=289)
The World Bank reports that the global use of remedy laws such antidumping and countervailing duties, safeguards, and China-specific safeguards increased 52.6% in the third quarter of 2009 compared to the third quarter of 2008. (Notice, dated October 2009, available at http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTPREMNET/Resources/PREMNote144Antidumping.pdf)
The ITA has issued a fact sheet on the 2009 U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT),which will be convened October 28 and 29, 2009 in Hangzhou, China. The fact sheet discusses the background and objectives of the 2009 JCCT, and information on U.S.-China trade flows. The ITA has also issued a press release on the upcoming JCCT, which is available here. (Fact sheet, posted 10/21/09, available at http://www.commerce.gov/s/groups/public/@doc/@os/@opa/documents/content/prod01_008529.pdf)
The World Customs Organization states that at the 8th Asia-Europe Customs DGs/Commissioners Meeting held in Greece on October 15-16, 2009, members adopted the ASEM Trade Facilitation Action Plan on Customs Matters (TFAP) for 2010-2012, which includes enhanced dialogue with business and exploration of the possibility to implement pre-arrival and pre-departure security declaration in line with SAFE Framework of Standards. (Report, posted 10/20/09, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/speeches/?v=1&lid=1&cid=2&id=172)
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has updated its frequently asked questions Web page to include new guidance on license policies for exporting or reexporting replacements parts for medical devices pursuant to the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (TSRA).
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a report to Congress outlining the actions it is taking to strengthen its oversight of imported products. The report is in response to recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office in an August 2009 report on CPSC. (Report, dated October 2009, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/GAOresponse.pdf )
The Census Bureau has announced that the U.S.' international trade deficit decreased to $30.7 billion in August from $31.9 billion (revised) in July, as exports increased and imports decreased. (Census Bureau information, posted 10/09/09, available at http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/data/)
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has announced that the U.S. has asked the World Trade Organization to establish a dispute settlement panel regarding the European Union's restrictions on imports of U.S. poultry. (Press release, dated 10/08/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2009/october/united-states-requests-wto-panel-challenge-eu-rest)
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a notice announcing that it has begun the third and final national dialogue for the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review. The third dialogue, which ends on October 4, presents the final study group proposals, including the vision, goals, objectives, and key strategic outcomes from the mission studies as well as the path forward for the Homeland Security National Risk Assessment Study Group. DHS is seeking input on the strategic approaches proposed by the study groups, the implications of these proposed strategic approaches, and the proposed strategic outcomes. (DHS notice, dated 10/02/09, available at http://www.dhs.gov/journal/theblog/2009/10/third-dialogue.html.)