The DOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that trade using surface transportation between the U.S. and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 2.9 percent lower in November 2009 than in November 2008, dropping to $58.9 billion. Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. About 88 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moves on land. (Press release, dated 01/28/10, available at http://www.bts.gov/press_releases/2010/bts005_10/html/bts005_10.html)

The Court of International Tradehasruled against further proceedingson an Appeal Court'sruling that invalidateda CIT decision thatUPS Customhouse Brokerage violated 19 USC 1641 by not exercising responsible supervision and control.The CAFC had ruled thatCustoms was required toconsider all 10 factors listed in 19 CFR 111.1 as a prerequisite. The CIT also ruled that a discretionary remand to Customs would be inappropriate. (U.S. v. UPS Customshouse Brokerage, Inc., Slip Op. 10-11, dated 01/28/10, available at http://www.cit.uscourts.gov/slip_op/Slip_op10/Slip%20Op%2010-11.pdf)

In a January 15, 2010 report to Congress, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommended improvements to the lead content and lead paint provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) and assessed CPSC's enforcement of these provisions in fiscal year 2009.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a final rule, effective February 22, 2010, that establishes guidelines and requirements for mandatory recall notices ordered by the CPSC or a U.S. District Court, as required by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA¹).

At the meeting of the World Trade Organization's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on January 19, 2010, a panel was established regarding the U.S. measures restricting imports of tires from China. The DSB also established a panel to review the Philippines tax regime on spirits, as requested by the European Union. (News release, dated 01/19/10, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news10_e/dsb_19jan10_e.htm)

The Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Graco Children's Products Inc., of Georgia is announcing a voluntary recall of certain Graco strollers and travel systems due to fingertip amputation and laceration hazards.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Dorel Asia SRL, of Barbados, is announcing a voluntary recall to replace drop side and non-drop side cribs that pose suffocation and strangulation hazards to infants and toddlers.

1. World Economic Forum Releases "Global Risks 2010"

The Census Bureau has posted a press release announcing that the U.S. international trade deficit increased to $36.4 billion in November from $33.2 billion (revised) in October, as imports increased more than exports. (Press release, posted 01/12/10, available at http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/data/)

The Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with St. Martin's Press LLC, of New York, has announced a voluntary recall of "Big Rex and Friends" cloth books due to high levels of lead content.