The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative posted USTR Schwab's July 22nd remarks at the Doha Ministerial in Geneva. Schwab's remarks include a new proposal to limit U.S. agricultural subsidies to $15 billion per year. Senator Grassley, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee and senior member of the Agriculture Committee, commented on the USTR's $15 billion proposal, and the reaction from leading developing countries that it was not enough. (USTR remarks, dated 07/22/08, available at http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2008/July/asset_upload_file409_15037.pdf; Grassley statement, dated 07/22/08, available at http://finance.senate.gov/press/Gpress/2008/prg072208a.pdf.)
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The Consumer Product Safety Commission has reached provisional settlement agreements with eight firms in order to settle allegations that the firms' children's hooded sweatshirts or jackets - sold with drawstrings at the hood and neck - did not meet the CPSC's 1996 Guidelines or ASTM F1816-97, failed to comport with the CPSC's May 2006 defect notice, and posed a strangulation hazard to children.
On December 14, 2007, the Senate passed its version of H.R. 2419, the Farm Bill Extension Act. The House passed its version of H.R. 2419 on July 27, 2007. According to the Library of Congress' Thomas Web site, the Senate has requested a conference with the House to resolve differences between the two versions. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/31/07 news, 07073199 2, for BP summary on the House passage of H.R. 2419.) (Congressional Record, dated 12/14/07, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r110:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20071214).)
The Food and Drug Administration has released its "Food Protection Plan: an Integrated Strategy for Protecting the Nation's Food Supply," which addresses both food safety and food defense for domestic and imported products, and encompasses three core elements.
On November 6, 2007, the Interagency Working Group on Import Safety presented to President Bush its "Action Plan for Import Safety: A roadmap for continual improvement." The Action Plan includes short and long-term recommendations based on risk-based approaches across the entire import life cycle and a verification model that allocates resources based on risk.
On November 6, 2007, the Interagency Working Group on Import Safety presented to President Bush its "Action Plan for Import Safety: A roadmap for continual improvement." The Action Plan includes short and long-term recommendations based on risk-based approaches across the entire import life cycle and a verification model that allocates resources based on risk.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has issued a final rule that will amend the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to tighten the safety standards for transportation of lithium batteries, including both primary (nonrechargeable) and secondary (rechargeable) lithium batteries.
According to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the European Commission decided on March 29, 2007 to extend until 2008 the validity date of the ecological criteria for various product groups including: televisions, textiles, refrigerators, washing machines, tissue paper, and dishwasher detergent. The eco-labeling scheme, depicted by a flower logo, is voluntary and aimed at promoting the sale of products determined by independent bodies to have a reduced environmental impact. (HKTDC article, dated 04/20/07, available at http://www.tdctrade.com/alert/eu0708d.htm?w_sid=194&w_pid=703&w_nid=&w_cid=&w_idt=1900-01-01&w_oid=166&w_jid=)
The law firm of Rodriquez O'Donnell Ross reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced that it had settled with Pioneer Speakers for $10 million over an incorrect North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) claim. According to the report, Pioneer wrongly claimed NAFTA for imported speakers that were made with ineligible parts. The case originally involved a claim for over $21 million for the purportedly false NAFTA claims and over $15 million for claimed record keeping violations. (Rodriquez O'Donnell Ross Pub October/November 2006, www.rorlaw.com)
The American Conference Institute has announced that the 2nd National Forum on Export Enforcement & Investigations will be held on December 5 & 6, 2006 in Washington DC. The conference will include discussions on how the government evaluates voluntary and directed disclosures, negotiating civil settlements with BIS, DDTC, and OFAC, etc. The conference will also feature two optional workshops on December 7, 2006 concerning conducting an effective internal investigation and the do's and don'ts in preparing voluntary disclosures. More information and a registration form is available at www.AmericanConference.com/exports.