The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a question & answer document on the imposition of Section 421 duties on imports of certain tires for passenger vehicles and light trucks that are produced in China. (See ITT's Online Archives or 09/17/09 news, 09091705, for BP summary of the FR notice) (Q&A document, available at http://www.ustr.gov/sites/default/files/Information%20on%20China%20Tires%20Safeguard.pdf)
China's Ministry of Commerce has responded to the recent U.S. decision to impose 35-25% additional duties over three years on imports of tires for passenger cars and light trucks from China with two actions: (i) filing a formal complaint to the World Trade Organization through a request for consultations; and (ii) launching anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations into certain U.S. automobile and poultry products. (Mofcom press releases, dated 09/15/09 and 09/14/09 available at http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/newsrelease/commonnews/200909/20090906516774.html and http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/newsrelease/commonnews/200909/20090906514107.html)
The Office of Foreign Assets Controls has issued a final rule, effective September 9, 2009, which amends the Sudanese Sanctions Regulations (SSR) by issuing a general license that authorizes the exportation and reexportation of agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices to the Specified Areas of Sudan1, as well as the conduct of related transactions.
CBP has posted updated versions of the following draft ACE ABI CATAIR chapters:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Port of Los Angeles has issued a Public Bulletin advising the public of, and inviting comments on, a proposed fee schedule change for the Centralized Examination Station operated by Price Transfer, Incorporated, for the CBP Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team (A-TCET) at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport. (Bulletin LA09-022, dated 09/03/09, available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)
The Bureau of Industry and Security and the Office of Foreign Assets Controls have each issued final rules, effective September 3 and September 8, 2009, respectively, which ease restrictions on U.S.-Cuban trade regarding certain telecommunications transactions and certain agricultural and medical device travel-related transactions, pursuant, in part, to a Presidential directive.
The U.S. Trade Representative was due to submit by September 2, 2009, his recommendation to President Obama on whether to grant relief to union workers in the form of additional duties on imported tires from China. Although the President has 15 days to decide the issue, trade sources expect him to make a decision before the deadline. This case is of interest to other industries as it will be President Obama's first Section 421 decision, and it was brought by a union rather than domestic industry. (USW press release, dated 09/02/09, available at http://www.usw.org/media_center/news_articles?id=0382 )
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is issuing a final rule, effective August 26, 2009, on its determinations that certain materials (such as certain paper, wood, ink, textiles) do not exceed the lead content limits specified in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. (See ITT's Online Archives or 08/21/09 news, 09082110, for BP summary detailing the final rule.)(FR Pub 08/26/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-20589.pdf)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Port of Chicago has issued a Pipeline providing notice that effective November 5, 2009 it will no longer accept CBP Form 7501 (entry summary) versions dated prior to June 2009. According to port sources, this November 5th effective date is only for entries filed at the Port of Chicago and could be extended if Headquarters instructs them to push the date out further. (See today's ITT, 09082605, for BP update on the use of the new CBP Form 7501.)(Pipeline 09-18, dated 08/21/09, is available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)
California's Energy Commission has proposed amendments to its Appliance Efficiency Regulations. Among other things, the amendments concern the efficiency of general service fluorescent lamps and general service incandescent lamps. (Amendments, dated November 2008, available at http://www.energy.ca.gov/2008publications/CEC-400-2008-020/CEC-400-2008-020-15DAY.PDF)