Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
According to Journal of Commerce Online, as part of the Democratic response to President Bush's State of the Union address, House Minority Leader Pelosi called for the physical inspection of all ocean containers entering the U.S., charging that the Bush administration's inspection standard is too low to protect the U.S. from terrorism. (JoC Online, 01/21/04, www.joc.com )
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1. Democratic Leadership Calls for Physical Inspection of All Ocean Containers
2. Saudi Arabia May Join WTO in 2004
The State Department's Washington File reports that, according to a recent speech by the World Trade Organization's Director-General, there is a realistic chance that Saudi Arabia will join the WTO before the end of 2004, after over ten years of negotiation. (Washington File, 01/21/04, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=January&x=20040121180109atarukp0.4489252&t=usinfo/wf-latest.html )
3. USTR Adds South Korea to "Special 301" Priority Watch List
The Office of U.S. Trade Representative has issued a press release stating that South Korea will be elevated to the "Special 301" Priority Watch List as a result of an Out-of-Cycle Review finding on film and music piracy, which was reached in late December 2003. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/08/03 news, 03100825 for BP summary of USTR notice seeking comments on this out of cycle review.) (USTR release no. 2004-01, dated 01/08/04, available at http://www.ustr.gov/releases/2004/01/04-01.pdf )
4. CBP Proposes to Extend the Limits of the Port of Memphis, TN
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is requesting comments by March 15, 2004 on its proposed rule to extend the port limits of the port of Memphis, Tennessee to include all of the territory within the limits of DeSoto County, northern Mississippi. (CBP proposed rule (FR Pub 01/14/04) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-813.pdf.)
5. FDA Signs MOU With United Kingdom's Central Science Laboratory
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a notice concerning a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that it signed with the Central Science Laboratory, Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the United Kingdom, which became effective on October 28, 2003. The purpose of the MOU is to provide a framework for developing a common approach to analytical methods in support of food safety in relation to the protection of public health and international trade. (FDA 225-04-8005, FR Pub 01/05/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/05jan20040800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-15.pdf)
6. FDA Announces Availability of Draft Compliance Policy Guide for Radionuclide Levels in Food
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a notice announcing the availability of a draft compliance policy guide (CPG) entitled Guidance Levels for Radionuclides in Domestic and Imported Foods. According to the FDA, this draft CPG, among other things, provides updated guidance levels for radionuclide activity concentration in food offered for import, and also expands the scope of coverage of FDA policy from food accidentally contaminated with radionuclides to food accidentally or intentionally contaminated with radionuclides. (D/N 2003D-0558, FR Pub 01/14/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-719.pdf)
7. DOD Interim Rule Amends DFARS to Implement Chile & Singapore FTAs
The Department of Defense (DOD) has issued an interim rule, effective January 13, 2004, which amends the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement new Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Chile and Singapore, which waive the applicability of the Buy American Act for some foreign supplies and construction materials from Chile and Singapore, and specify procurement procedures designed to ensure fairness. Written comments are due by March 15, 2004. (DFARS Case 2003-D088, FR Pub 01/13/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-568.pdf)