The Department of State has posted Secretary Clinton's November 11, 2009 remarks at the APEC Conference. Clinton noted that the U.S. has engaged the Burmese authorities in high-level dialogue to advance the goals of democratic reforms and human rights. She added that U.S. sanctions will remain in place until the U.S. sees meaningful progress in key areas. Clinton added that officials discussed a wide range of economic and foreign policy issues, especially expanding trade and ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth. (Remarks, dated 11/11/09, available at http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/11/131796.htm)
The Federal Maritime Commission has granted the Petition for Declaratory Order of Team Ocean Services, Inc. and affirms that it is lawful for licensed Ocean Transportation Intermediaries (OTIs) to engage unlicensed persons to act as their agents to perform OTI services. This matter was before the FMC on remand pursuant to court order. (Order, dated 11/06/09, available at http://www.fmc.gov/UserFiles/pages/File/06-08-010_-_NOV_6.pdf)
At the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, PortCheck is preparing to introduce a simplified cargo claiming system to reduce the administrative and economic burdens of the Clean Trucks Program (CTP). The system will be developed, tested and operational by November 15, not November 1 as previously announced. Under the new system, cargo owners using exempt clean trucks to move local or intermodal rail cargo will no longer be required to claim cargo or pay the Clean Trucks Fee (CTF) in advance; only cargo owners using older, non-compliant trucks will be required to do so. Currently, all cargo, including intermodal cargo, must be claimed through PortCheck. (PierPass press release, dated 10/29/09, available by emailing documents@brokerpower.com.)
In a March 2009 presentation, the Consumer Product Safety Commission provided an overview of its regulations affecting textile and clothing products, including the long-standing regulations of the CPSA, FFA, and FHSA1 as well as the newer regulations of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA2).
On October 29, 2009, Secretary of State Clinton announced a breakthrough in negotiations in Honduras. According to the Secretary, there will be elections held on November 29, 2009 and the U.S. will work with the people and government of Honduras to realize the full return of democracy and a better future for the Honduran people. (Press release, dated 10/30/09, available at http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/10/131078.htm.)
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 U.S. Department of the Treasury has released the Semi-Annual Report concluding that no major U.S. trading partner met the currency manipulation standards during the most recent reporting period. However, the report notes that the U.S. will continue to work with China both in the G-20 and the bilateral Strategic and Economic Dialogue to pursue policies that permit greater flexibility of the exchange rate and lead to more sustainable and balanced trade and growth. (Report, posted 10/15/09, available at http://www.treasury.gov/offices/international-affairs/economic-exchange-rates/)
The International Trade Commission has issued a notice of an earlier-than-expected transmittal of its report to Congress regarding the use of the ''first sale rule'' for customs valuation of U.S. imports. As ITC received the final report from U.S. Customs and Border Protection on September 25, 2009, it now expects to deliver its report to Congress by December 23, 2009. (Investigation No. 332-505, FR Pub 10/15/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-24793.pdf)