Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release announcing that on March 15, 2004 the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), providing a forum for the two countries to examine ways to expand bilateral trade and investment. (Press Release 04-18, dated 03/15/04, available at http://www.ustr.gov/releases/2004/03/04-18.pdf)
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1. U.S. and UAE Sign Trade and Investment Framework Agreement
2. State Dept Advisory Committee on Int'l Communications & Information Policy to Hold Public Meeting
The State Department has issued a public notice stating that on March 18, 2004, its Advisory Committee on International Communications and Information Policy (ACICIP) will hold a public meeting in Washington, DC. This meeting will, among other things, decide on establishing subcommittees or working groups to focus on specific geographic regions or technologies. (Public Notice 4639, FR Pub 03/11/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-5650.pdf)
3. State Dept Advisory Committee on Private Int'l Law to Hold Open Meetings
The State Department's Advisory Committee on Private International Law will hold public meetings of a Study Group on Enforcement of Judgments on March 29 & 30, 2004 in Alexandria, VA. These meetings will seek consultations on the proposed draft Hague Convention on Exclusive Choice of Court Agreements. (Public Notice 4638, FR Pub 03/11/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-5501.pdf)
4. WTO Panel Rules for U.S. in Telecommunications Case against Mexico
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release announcing that a World Trade Organization (WTO) panel has ruled that Mexico's current regime for international telecommunications violates its WTO obligations. According to the release, Mexico requires U.S. carriers to connect with Mexican telecommunications providers in order to complete calls from the U.S. to Mexico, and grants Mexico's dominant carrier the exclusive authority to negotiate the rate for connecting calls into Mexico. (USTR press release 04-17, dated 03/12/04, available at http://www.ustr.gov/releases/2004/03/04-17.pdf)
5. USDA Announces Expanded BSE Surveillance Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced details for an expanded surveillance effort for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in the U.S. According to the USDA, the primary focus of the enhanced effort will continue to be the highest risk populations for the disease, but USDA will greatly increase the number of target animals surveyed and will include a random sampling of apparently normal, aged animals. (USDA Release No. 0105.04, dated 03/15/04, available at http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/0105.04.html)
6. Import Restrictions on Archeological Materials from Honduras
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Treasury Department have issued a final rule, effective March 16, 2004, that amends CBP's regulations to reflect that import restrictions have been imposed on certain Pre-Colombian ceramic, stone/stucco, metal, shell, and bone archeological materials from Honduras pursuant to an agreement between the U.S. and Honduras. (CBP Dec. 04-08, FR Pub 03/16/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-6017.pdf)