Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. NAFTA Panel Rejects U.S. Duties on Canadian Lumber

2. Complete Import Ban of Beluga Sturgeon Unlikely

According to the Washington File, a Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) official has indicated that a complete ban of imported beluga sturgeon, the source of beluga caviar, is less likely than only banning imports from countries with poor conservation records and allowing continued restricted imports from countries with better records. (See ITT's Online Archives or 04/22/04 news, 04042215, for BP summary of the FWS final rule designating beluga sturgeon as a "threatened" species, effective October 21, 2004.) (Washington File Pub 04/29/04, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=April&x=20040429155423ebyessedo2.029055e-02&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html)

3. EU Ratification of Montreal Convention on Air Passenger/Cargo Liability

The State Department has announced that 13 European Union (EU) member states joined Greece and Portugal, as well as the European Community (EC), in depositing with the International Civil Aviation Organization their instruments of ratification of the 1999 Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air, known as the "Montreal Convention." According the press release, the Montreal Convention represents a significant step forward in modernizing international passenger and cargo liability law. (Press release, dated 04/29/04, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2004/31965.htm)

4. Port of Chicago Seminar on Drawback Requirements

A Chicago U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) pipeline announces that the port of Chicago will present a seminar entitled, "Review of Basic Drawback Requirements" on May 20, 2004. (Pipeline 04-14, dated 04/01/04, available via fax by emailing documents@brokerpower.com)

5. Draft Document on Risks Associated with Imported Soybean Products

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a press release seeking public comments by April 12, 2004 on a draft document outlining the risks associated with importing soybean products from countries affected by soybean rust, an air-borne, fungal pathogen not found in the continental U.S. (APHIS press release, dated 03/11/04, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/news/2004/03/soybrisk_ppq.html)

6. APHIS Recognizes France, Spain As Regions Where Classical Swine Fever is Not Known to Exist

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule which, effective April 20, 2004, amends its regulations to recognize France and Spain as regions in which classical swine fever is not known to exist, and from which breeding swine, swine semen, and pork and pork products may be imported into the U.S. under certain conditions, in the absence of restrictions associated with other foreign animal diseases of swine. (D/N 98-090-7, FR Pub 04/20/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-8893.pdf)

7. FDA Outlines Science-Based Plan for Dietary Supplement Enforcement

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a press release in which its Acting Commissioner outlines the agency's science-based approach to protecting American consumers from unsafe dietary supplements. According to the press release, the FDA will soon provide further details about its plan to ensure that the consumer protection provisions of the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (ESHEA) are used effectively and appropriately. (Press Release P04-45, dated 04/19/04, available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01055.html)

8. Canada Issues Frequently Asked Questions About Seized Goods

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has issued a publication which contains answers to the questions most often asked when good are seized. According to CBSA, goods can be seized if all goods received, purchased, or acquired outside of Canada are not declared; if the value of goods is not correctly declared, etc. (CBSA Publication RC4093 Rev. 03, undated, available at http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pub/cp/rc4093/README.html)

9. CBP Cancels Customs Broker Licenses and Associated Permits Due to Death of License Holders

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice announcing that the following individual Customs broker licenses and any and all associated permits have been canceled due to death of the broker:

(CBP notice (FR Pub 04/29/04) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-9748.pdf)

10 CBP Cancels Customs Broker Licenses Without Prejudice

CBP has issued a notice announcing that the following Customs broker licenses are canceled without prejudice:

(CBP notice (FR Pub 04/29/04) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-9749.pdf)

11. BIS Seek Comments on Information Collection Submitted to OMB

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following information collection:

FR Pub 04/19/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-8735.pdf