Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Washington File reports that after the European Union (EU) member states were urged to renounce their bilateral open skies agreements with the U.S., the U.S. Mission to the EU stated that it values those agreements, and their termination would call into question the legal basis for the airline alliances and would be contrary to the interests of consumers, airlines, and communities. (Washington File Pub 07/22/04, available at http://164.109.48.86/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=July&x=200407221519551CJsamohT0.5732996&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html)
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1. U.S. Responds to EU Actions on Bilateral Open Skies Accords
2. Admiral Stone Confirmed as Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for TSA
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced that the Senate has unanimously confirmed the nomination of Rear Admiral David M. Stone, USN (Ret.) as Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for TSA. (TSA press release, dated 07/23/04, available at http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=44&content=09000519800bb494)
3. Textile CEOs Lobby for Comprehensive China Safeguard Mechanism
The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) has issued a press release stating that more than 100 textile CEOs and representatives lobbied House and Senate offices in an effort to get Congressional backing in persuading the Bush administration to act to keep Chinese imports from flooding U.S. markets once WTO quotas are removed on January 1, 2005. NCTO urges that a comprehensive safeguard mechanism be put into place prior to January 1, 2005 that will cover the more than $60 billion in textiles and apparel imports still under quota. (NCTO Press Release, dated 07/21/04, available at http://www.ncto.org/newsroom/prmeeting04.asp)
4. Dominican Republic to Join U.S.-Central America FTA
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release announcing that the Dominican Republic will enter into a free trade agreement (FTA) with the U.S. and five Central American countries (i.e., Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua) on August 5, 2004. According to the USTR, this agreement will be known as the U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central America FTA (US-DR-CAFTA). (Press Release No. 2004-62, dated 07/23/04, available at http://www.ustr.gov/releases/2004/07/04-62.pdf)
5. State Dept Imposes Missile Proliferation Sanctions Against Russian Entity
The State Department has issued a notice announcing that it has made a determination, effective July 22, 2004, that the Federal Research and Production Complex Altay (Russia) has engaged in missile technology proliferation activities that require the imposition of sanctions pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended and the Export Administration Act of 1979 (EAA), as amended. As a result, Federal Research and Production Complex Altay (Russia) and its subunits and successors are subject to certain export sanctions specified in this notice (e.g., new individual licenses for exports to this entity of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Annex equipment or technology controlled pursuant to the EAA will be denied for two years, etc.). (FR Pub 07/22/04, Public Notice 4771), available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-16730.pdf.)
6. State Dept Receives Application for New International Toll Bridge in Laredo, TX Area
The State Department has issued a notice announcing that it has received an application for a permit authorizing construction, operation, and maintenance of an international toll bridge in the Laredo, TX area, 7.6 miles downstream from the existing Gateway to the Americas Bridge (International Bridge I). According to the State Department, comments on this application are due within 30 days of July 20, 2004. (FR Pub 07/20/04, Public Notice 4766, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-16467.htm.)