Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Wall Street Journal reports that in a ruling the Bush Administration views as vital to its war against terrorism, the U.S. Supreme Court bolstered the powers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to conduct searches, allowing border agents to conduct extensive searches of vehicles at border crossings without reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. According to one legal expert, this decision is a carte blanche for border searches of property, adding that the decision is not terribly surprising, given the whole border control issue and the war on terror. (WSJ, 03/31/04, www.wsj.com )
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1. Supreme Court Backs Customs Power to Conduct Searches at Border
2. GAO Reports on U.S. Companies' Views of China's Implementation of WTO Commitments
The General Accounting Office (GAO) has issued a report examining U.S. companies' views on China's implementation of its World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments. According to the GAO, U.S. company representatives who completed its 2003 questionnaire thought that China had implemented most of the 26 listed WTO commitment areas on average only to some or little extent. However, more than 2/3 of respondents reported that China's implementation of its WTO commitments had a positive impact on their companies' ability to do business in China. (GAO-04-508, dated March 2004, available at http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-508)
3. State Department's Defense Trade Advisory Group Charter Renewed
The State Department has announced that the Charter of the Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG) is being renewed for a two-year period. The membership of this advisory committee consists of private sector defense trade specialists who advise the State Department on policies, regulations, and technical issues affecting defense trade. (Public Notice 4608, FR Pub 03/25/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-6716.pdf)
4. APHIS Issues Technical Correction to Final Rule Issued to Reflect the Plant Protection Act, Etc.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a technical correction to its April 27, 2001 final rule which amended its regulations in order to reflect the enactment of the Plant Protection Act (Act), revise authority citations and remove references to plant protection and quarantine statutes that were repealed by the Act, etc. (See ITT's Online Archives or 05/15/01 news, 01051599 4, for BP summary of final rule.) (D/N 00-063-3, FR Pub 03/16/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-5870.pdf)
5. Travel and Tourism Promotion Advisory Board to Hold Public Meeting
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice stating that the Travel and Tourism Promotion Advisory Board will hold a public meeting on April 16, 2004, to discuss the design, development and subsequent implementation of an international advertising and promotional campaign. (FR Pub 03/29/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-6867.pdf)
6. Codex Alimentarius Meeting on Food Labeling
The Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) has issued a notice announcing a public meeting on March 30, 2004 in order to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items that will be discussed at the upcoming Codex Committee Meeting on Food Labeling (CCFL), which will be held in Montral, Canada on May 10 - 14, 2004. (D/N 04-005N, FR Pub 03/15/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-5815.pdf)
7. Various Agencies Seek Comments on Information Collections Submitted to OMB
The following agencies have submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), for review and approval/clearance the following information collections:
| Agency | Information Collection | Comments Due |
| ATF | Notice of Firearms Manufactured or Imported (ATF F 2 (5320.2) | 06/01/041 |
| CBP | Drawback Process Regulations (CBP - 7551, 7552, 7553) | 04/15/042 |
| FMCSA | Request for Revocation of Authority Granted (OCE-46) | 04/28/043 |
1 FR Pub 03/30/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-7021.pdf
2 FR Pub 03/16/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-5856.pdf
3 FR Pub 03/29/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-6900.pdf
8. Various Agencies Seek Comments on Information Collections
The following agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections:
| Agency | Information Collection(s) | Comments Due |
| AMS | Export Fruit Regulations - Export Apple Act (7 CFR part 33) and Export Grape and Plums (7 CFR part 35) | 05/28/041 |
| BIS | Safe Harbor Guidance | 05/14/042 |
| Census | Survey of Industrial Research and Development | 05/14/043 |
| CPSC | Safety Standard for Multi-Purpose Lighters | 06/01/044 |
| FWS | Title 50 Certifying Official Form (FW 3-2273) | 05/17/045 |
| FAS | Export Sales Reporting Program | 05/14/046 |
1 FR Pub 03/29/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-7037.pdf
2 FR Pub 03/15/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-5733.pdf
3 FR Pub 03/15/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-5734.pdf
4 FR Pub 03/30/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-7086.pdf
5 FR Pub 03/17/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-5450.pdf
6 FR Pub 03/15/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-5707.pdf