Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The State Department has issued a press release announcing that the U.S. has signed an Open Skies civil aviation agreement with Madagascar. According to the press release, this agreement provides for open routes, capacity, frequencies, designations, and pricing, as well as opportunities for cooperative marketing agreements, including code-sharing. The press release also states that the agreement includes all-cargo seventh freedom rights, allowing airlines to perform international cargo operations with no connection to their homeland. (State Department press release, dated 03/10/04, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2004/30328.htm.)
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1. U.S. Signs Open Skies Aviation Agreement with Madagascar
2. Treasury Announces New Senate-Approved Income Tax Treaty with Japan
The Treasury Department has issued a press release announcing the recent Senate-approved new income tax treaty with Japan, which will replace the existing income tax treaty that dates back to 1971, and will enter into force when the required exchange of instruments of ratification between the two countries is completed. According to Treasury, the most dramatic advances in the new treaty are reflected in the reciprocal reductions in source-country withholding taxes on income from cross-border investments. (Press release js-1227, dated 03/10/04, available at http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/js1227.htm)
3. President Continues National Emergency With Respect to Iran for One Year
On March 10, 2004, the President issued a notice continuing for one year the national emergency with respect to Iran. This emergency was originally declared in Executive Order (EO) 12957 on March 15, 1995. (FR Pub 03/12/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-5858.pdf)
4. President Delegates Certain Reporting Functions to the USTR
On March 1, 2004, the President issued a memorandum which states that the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is delegated the functions conferred upon the President in section 163 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 USC 2213) to provide the specified reports to Congress. These reports include the Annual Report on Trade Agreements Program and the National Trade Policy Agenda. (FR Pub 03/04/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-5048.pdf)
5. APHIS Issues Final Rule on Blood and Tissue Collection at Slaughtering & Rendering Establishments
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule which, effective March 4, 2004, amends regulations governing interstate transportation of animals to establish requirements for the collection of blood and tissue samples from livestock (horses, cattle, bison, captive cervids, sheep and goats, swine, and other farm-raised animals) and poultry at slaughtering and rendering establishments when it is necessary for disease surveillance. (D/N 99-017-13, FR Pub 03/04/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-4810.pdf )