Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has released a statement on U.S. China trade relations which announces, among other things, that the administration has rejected a section 301 unfair trade practices petition filed by the AFL-CIO with regard to China's worker's rights policies. The USTR explains while there are serious concerns about labor rights and working conditions in China, the administration believes that trade and economic growth, among other things, will move China faster and further toward achieving results. (USTR Statement, dated 04/28/04, available at http://www.ustr.gov/releases/2004/04/2004-04-28-statement-china.pdf)
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
1. Bush Administration Rejects Section 301 Petition on Labor Rights in China
2. USDA Announces Mexico's Expanded Market Access for Additional U.S. Beef Exports
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a press release announcing that Mexico is expanding market access to U.S. exports of a selected variety of meats, veal, and tallow. Combined with Mexico's announcement to reopen the border to boneless beef on March 3, 2004, the U.S. has now regained access for products that accounted for $746 million, or approximately 74% of approximately $1 billion in exports, of beef and tallow to Mexico in 2003. Mexico has also announced new requirements for the importation of these U.S. meats, veal, and tallow, which can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/arc/bevmexico.htm. (USDA Release No. 0142.04, dated 04/09/04, available at http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/0142.04.html)
3. USDA Announces Framework for Animal Disease Identification System
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a three-phase framework for the implementation of a National Animal Identification System (NAIS) which is designed to identify any agricultural premise exposed to a foreign animal disease so that it can be more quickly contained and eradicated.
(USDA news release no. 0170.04, dated 04/27/04, available at http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/0170.04.html. Transcript of USDA press briefing, Release no. 0171.04, dated 04/27/04, available at http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/0171.04.html.)
4. China Will Continue to Be an NME Until Certain Reforms are Made
The Secretary of Commerce has stated that China will continue to be considered a non-market economy (NME) under U.S. antidumping (AD) law, until certain reforms (e.g., regarding labor and currency rates) are made and U.S. statutory criteria are met. (Secretary's statement, dated 04/28/04, available at http://www.commerce.gov/opa/press/2004_Releases/April/28_Evans_China_stmt.htm)
5. USDA Certifies 7 Laboratories for BSE Sample Analysis
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced the approval of seven geographically dispersed state laboratories that will assist in the USDA's enhanced surveillance program for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/17/04 news, 04031799 5, for BP summary of the USDA's expanded BSE surveillance program.) (Press release, dated 03/29/04, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/news/2004/03/bse_labs.html)
6. US and China Agree to Further Cooperation on Food Safety, Animal & Plant Health
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced an agreement between the U.S. and China to establish a consultative mechanism on food safety and animal and plant health issues, which was signed at the recent U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT). (See ITT's Online Archives or 04/23/04 news, 04042315, for BP highlights of other results of the JCCT meeting.) (Release No. 0162.04, dated 04/22/04, available at http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/0162.04.html)
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 |
| APHIS | Importation of Unshu Oranges | 05/14/041 |
| BIS | International Import Certificate (BIS-645P) | 05/14/042 |
| BIS | Report of Requests for Restrictive Trade Practice or Boycott, Single or Multiple Transactions (621P, 6051P, 6051P-a) | 05/17/043 |
1 FR Pub 04/14/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-8461.pdf
2 FR Pub 04/14/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-8386.pdf
3 FR Pub 04/15/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-8596.pdf
8. Various Agencies Seek Comments on Information Collections
The following is a list of various agencies that are seeking comments on the following information collections:
| Agency | Information Collection | Comments Due |
| BIS | Technical Data Letter of Explanation (BIS 748-P) | 06/22/041 |
| CPSC | Procedures for Export of Noncomplying Products | 06/25/042 |
1 FR Pub 04/23/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-9308.pdf
2 FR Pub 04/26/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-9341.pdf