Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
According to a State Department Washington File article, the third and final round of negotiations aimed at integrating the Dominican Republic into the U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) began in Washington, DC on March 8, 2004. The article states that during the week of March 8, 2004, U.S. and Dominican officials hope to conclude negotiations to add the Dominican Republic to the CAFTA accord reached between the U.S. and Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. (Washington File article dated 03/08/04, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=March&x=20040308162754ASrelliM5.480593e-02&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html.)
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1. U.S. and Dominican Republic Begin Final Round of CAFTA Negotiations
2. BTA Calls for Executive Order on Federal Agency Participation in ACE/ITDS
According to a Border Trade Alliance (BTA) press release, the BTA and the international trade community are calling for an Executive Order to ensure full interagency participation in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)/International Trade Data System (ITDS). The press release notes that participation in ACE/ITDS is needed by all of the approximately 104 U.S. government agencies that depend on electronic data for international commerce. (BTA press release available via fax by emailing staff@brokerpower.com.)
3. West Coast Terminals Will Implement Wireless ID for Trucks in 2004
The Journal of Commerce (JoC Online) has reported that marine terminal operators intend to use radio frequency identification tags to track the movements of every truck calling at West Coast ports. According to JoC Online, this plan is to be implemented during the second quarter of 2004. (JoC Online Pub 03/01/04, www.joc.com)
4. USA-ITA Reports that One Vietnamese Factory Has Been Dropped from High Transshipment Risk List
The U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA) has issued a textile development memo which states that Hung Wah Garment Co. Ltd. has been dropped from the list of Vietnamese factories considered to be a high risk for transshipment of textiles and apparel. U.S. Customs and Border (CBP) sources stated, however, that they were unaware of any such changes. (USA-ITA memo, dated 03/02/04, www.usa-ita.com)
5. State Department Says Visa Waiver Countries Will Miss Passport Deadline
The State Department's Washington File reports that virtually all of the 27 nations participating in the U.S. visa waiver program have indicated that they will be unable to meet the October 26, 2004 deadline requiring that they issue machine-readable passports that incorporate biometric identifiers. (Washington File Pub 03/05/04, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=March&x=20040305184422aawajuk0.5066797&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html)
6. FAO Finds that 1/3 of Global Meat Exports Are Affected by Animal Diseases
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that one-third of global meat exports, or 6 million tons, are affected by animal disease outbreaks. For 2004, FAO estimates that the value of lost business due to import bans could reach $10 billion. (Shippers' NewsWire Pub 03/03/04, www.americanshipper.com)
7. ITA & Interior Allocate 2004 Duty Exemptions for V.I. Watch Producers
The International Trade Administration (ITA) and the Interior Department (Interior) have issued a notice allocating calendar year (CY) 2004 duty exemptions for watch producers located in the Virgin Islands. According to the notice, the total quantity for duty-free insular watches and watch movements for CY 2004 is 1,866,000 units for the Virgin Islands, with 1,050,000 of these units allocated between four firms and the balance of units available for new entrants into the program or producers who request a supplement to their allocation. (D/N 990813222-0035-03, FR Pub 03/03/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-4734.pdf)
8. ITA Receives Application for Export Trade Certificate of Review
The International Trade Administration's (ITA's) Office of Export Trading Company Affairs (OETCA) has issued a notice stating that it has received an application from Gold Star Exporters Ltd. for an Export Trade Certificate of Review, which, if granted, will protect the applicant and members identified in the Certificate from specific antitrust actions. Written comments should be submitted no later than 20 days after March 3, 2004. (FR Pub 03/03/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-4754.pdf)
9. FMC Lists Applicants for OTI Licenses
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a notice stating that the following companies have filed applications for license as non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC), ocean freight forwarder (FF) or NVOCC/FF ocean transportation intermediaries (OTIs):
NVOCC-OTIs
Coast Forwarding, LLC (MD)
Integrated Logistics Management Corporation (CA)
Central American Shipping Agency Inc. (NJ)
Centrum Overseas Transport, Inc. (TX)
Dean's International Shipping Co., Inc. (NY)
Oceanika Express, Inc. (FL)
Transnet Logistics, Inc. (CA)
FF-OTIs
AmeriCorp, Inc. (TX)
Overseas Shipping (VA)
Forward Tech Logistics Inc. dba FT Logistics (FL)
NVOCC/FF-OTIs
Global Cargo Expediters, Inc. (NY)
Zust Bachmeier of Switzerland, Inc. (MD)
Horizon Auto Services (TX)
United Logistics, Inc. (CA)
Pasha Freight Systems (CA)
(FR Pub 02/19/04, available at: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-3587.pdf)