Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
On June 14, 2004, the House Ways and Means Committee approved H.R. 4520, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, which would, among other things, repeal the Foreign Sales Corporation//Extraterritorial Income Tax (FSC/ETI) regime. According to the Committee, the full House is expected to consider H.R. 4520 during the week of June 14, 2004. The Senate passed its own FSC/ETI repeal legislation (S. 1637), on May 11, 2004. (See ITT's Online Archives or 05/13/04 news, 04051399 1, for previous BP summary on S. 1637.) (Committee press release, dated 06/14/04, available at http://waysandmeans.house.gov/News.asp?FormMode=release&ID=227.)
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1. House Ways and Means Approves FSC/ETI Repeal Legislation
2. New Chinese New Law Would Penalize Overloaded Trucks, Increase Transport Costs
An article in The Economist reports that manufacturers in China are facing a new threat from a new traffic law, effective June 20, 2004, that brings standardized, more stringent penalties for overloading of trucks, forcing truckers to cut their loads and resulting in increased transport costs. However, the article notes that China has a habit of passing laws that are soon ignored, noting that in the province of Guangxi the government has granted a grace period because of complaints from farmers. (The Economist, dated 06/12/04, www.economist.com.)
3. APHIS Final Rule Amends Animal Welfare Act's Definition of "Animal"
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule, effective June 5, 2004, amending the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations to reflect an amendment to the AWA's definition of the term "animal." APHIS explains that the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 amended the definition of "animal" to specifically exclude birds, rats of the genus Rattus, and mice of the genus Mus, bred for use in research. However, while the AWA excluded such rats and mice bred for use in research, it also excluded all birds, not just those birds bred for use in research. APHIS is now amending the definition of "animal" in the regulations at 9 CFR Part 1 by narrowing the scope of the exclusion for birds to only those birds bred for use in research. (D/N 98-106-3, FR Pub 06/04/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-12693.pdf)
4. USTR, USAID Seek Resource Partners for Trade Capacity Building Efforts in Support of Andean FTA Negotiations
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice stating that, in conjunction with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), it is seeking to expand the circle of resource partners to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), corporate sponsors, and private foundations that can conduct trade capacity building efforts in support of the free trade agreement (FTA) process with Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia (Andean countries). Initial expressions of interest should be forwarded by June 30, 2004; however, expressions of interest will be accepted throughout the FTA negotiations. (FR Pub 06/14/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-13322.pdf)
5. FMC Commissioner Anderson Sworn in for Term Expiring on June 30, 2007
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has announced that Commissioner A. Paul Anderson was sworn in as a commissioner on June 3, 2004 for the remainder of a term expiring June 30, 2007. (FMC news release NR 04-08, dated 06/10/04, available at http://www.fmc.gov/Dockets/NR%2004-08%20Commissioner%20Anderson%20Sworn%20In.htm)