Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The State Department's Washington File reports that chief negotiators in the U.S.-Bahrain free trade discussions announced the successful conclusion of the second round of talks on March 5, 2004, and voiced expectations that negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would be concluded in the first half of 2004. (Washington File Pub 03/05/04, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=March&x=20040305180207ndyblehs0.8560602&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html)
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1. U.S., Bahrain Conclude Second Round of FTA Negotiations
2. Oakland, Seattle, and Tacoma Could Benefit from Port Space Squeeze in Los Angeles-Long Beach
The Journal of Commerce reports that the shortage of port property is already at a crisis stage in Los Angeles-Long Beach. According to the article, terminal operators at other West Coast ports are now scrambling to secure whatever land is available to prepare for what they believe will be a bonanza of cargo diverted from Southern California. The article notes that the space squeeze in Southern California could benefit Oakland, Seattle, and Tacoma, which have lost market share to Los Angeles and Long Beach. (JoC dated March 1-7, 2004, www.joc.com.)
3. Second Round of Consultations on China Safeguard Quotas Do Not Yield Agreement
The U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA) has issued a textile development memo which states that U.S. and Chinese negotiators met briefly the week of March 1, 2004 to discuss the three safeguard measures imposed on brassieres, dressing gowns, and knit fabric. According to USA-ITA, although the negotiating session was productive, no agreement was reached. The final round of consultations is scheduled for late March 2004. (USA-ITA Pub 03/08/04, www.usaita.com)