Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced that the U.S. and Bahrain were scheduled to launch negotiations on a free trade agreement on January 26, 2004 to lower tariffs and barriers and expand trade between the two countries. According to the press release, subsequent negotiation rounds will alternate between the U.S. and Bahrain with a goal of completing the negotiations by the end of 2004. (USTR press release dated 01/26/04, http://www.ustr.gov/releases/2004/01/04-05.pdf.)
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1. U.S. and Bahrain to Launch Negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement
2. Eight Countries Request WTO Authorization for Sanctions Against U.S. in Byrd Amendment Dispute
According to the World Trade Organization (WTO), at the January 26, 2004 Dispute Settlement Body meeting, Brazil, Chile, the European Communities, India, Japan, Korea, Canada, and Mexico requested authorization for sanctions against the U.S. for its failure to implement the DSB recommendations regarding the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000 (Byrd Amendment). The WTO states that the U.S. objected to the sanctions requests and, as a result, the eight requests were referred to arbitration. (See ITT's Online Archives 01/21/04 news, 04012110, for recent BP summary on this issue.) (WTO notice, dated 01/26/04, www.wto.org/english/news_e/news04_e/dsb_26jan04_e.htm.)
3. President Bush Signs FY 2004 Omnibus Appropriations Bill into Law
The White House has issued a statement announcing that on January 23, 2004, President Bush signed into law H.R. 2673, the omnibus appropriations bill that provides fiscal year (FY) 2004 appropriations for the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, Veterans Affairs, etc. (See ITT's 01/26/04 news, 04012605, for BP summary on the passage by Congress of the conference version of H.R. 2673.)(Statement by the Press Secretary, dated 01/23/04, http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/01/20040123-9.html.)
4. AMS Proposes to Amend Procedures on Requesting Soybean Referendums
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has issued a proposed rule that would amend the procedures for soybean producers to request a referendum on the Soybean Promotion and Research Order, as authorized under the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act. AMS states that the changes are intended to improve the operation of these procedures. Written comments are due by February 17, 2004. (No. LS-03-09, FR Pub 01/27/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-1602.pdf)
5. APHIS Final Rule Declares 3 Mexican States Free of Exotic Newcastle
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule, effective February 11, 2004, which amends its regulations by adding the Mexican States of Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatan to the list of regions considered free of exotic Newcastle disease. APHIS states that this action allows importation into the U.S. of poultry and poultry products from these regions. See final rule for details of certification requirement for these regions. (D/N 02-036-2, FR Pub 01/27/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-1735.pdf)
6. TTB Issues Final Rule to Recodify Regulations on Export of Liquors
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has issued a final rule which recodifies its regulations pertaining to the exportation of liquors. Due to the Homeland Security Act, TTB states that it is also making administrative changes to these regulations to reflect its new name and organizational structure. TTB notes that this final rule, effective January 27, 2004, does not include any substantive regulatory changes. (T.D. TTB-8, FR Pub 01/27/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-1508.pdf)