On March 3, 2009, Senators Durbin (D-IL), Gregg (R-NH), Kennedy (D-MA) and Burr (R-NC), along with 4 cosponsors1, introduced the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (S. 510), bipartisan legislation that would give the Food and Drug Administration new authorities, tools and resources to comprehensively reform U.S. food safety systems.
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission will hold a public hearing in Washington, DC on March 24, 2009 to address "China's Industrial Policy and its Impact on U.S. Companies, Workers, and the American Economy." (FR Pub, 03/06/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-4774.pdf)
The Senate Finance Committee has sent a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee expressing concern about many of the provisions in the fiscal year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill and accompanying Explanatory Statement, including almost 30 in the trade area alone, several of which could invite billions of dollars in retaliation against U.S. exports. (Letter, dated 03/03/09, available at http://finance.senate.gov/press/Gpress/2009/prg030409c.pdf)
The Senate Finance Committee has sent a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee expressing concern about many of the provisions in the fiscal year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill and accompanying Explanatory Statement that impinge on Finance Committee jurisdiction, including almost 30 in the trade area alone. (Letter, dated 03/03/09, available at http://finance.senate.gov/press/Gpress/2009/prg030409c.pdf.)
The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America has issued a third email notice (dated February 26, 2009) stating that NCBFAA subject matter experts (SMEs) continue to work with senior managers at U.S. Customs and Border Protection to answer additional questions on the startup of the Importer Security Filing (ISF). In response to additional forwarded questions, NCBFAA states that (partial list):
Canada's Office of the Prime Minister has posted a brief summary of issues discussed by U.S. President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Harper, including the need to review management of the Canada-U.S. border. (Summary, dated 02/19/09, available at http://pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=2432)
The House Ways and Means Committee has issued a press release summarizing the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) provisions in the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (H.R. 1, the Economic Stimulus Bill). (Press release dated 02/18/09, available at http://waysandmeans.house.gov/News.asp?FormMode=release&ID=863.)
On January 28, 2009, the Food and Drug Administration Globalization Act (H.R. 759) was introduced in the House of Representatives. The stated purpose of H.R. 759 is to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to improve the safety of food, drugs, devices, and cosmetics in the global market, etc.
On February 12, 2009, the House Committee on Education and Labor held a hearing on Examining Workers' Rights and Violence Against Labor Union Leaders in Colombia. (Congressional Record, dated 02/12/09, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r111:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20090212).)
The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America issued on February 11, 2009 an email notice stating that NCBFAA subject matter experts (SMEs) are working with senior managers at U.S. Customs and Border Protection to answer additional questions on the recent startup of the Importer Security Filing (ISF). In response to forwarded questions (additional questions can be sent to eid@ncbfaa.org ), NCBFAA states that (partial list):