Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Journal of Commerce Online reports that the container congestion that has affected the Los Angeles - Long Beach harbor for the past three months will continue for at least four to eight weeks, or even longer, due to higher than projected cargo volumes, compounded by lack of capacity on railroads serving the docks and a severe shortage of longshore labor. (JoC Online, dated 09/29/04, www.joc.com)
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1. Los Angeles - Long Beach Congestion Expected to Continue
2. World Shipping Council Supports Confidential Service Contracts between NVOCCs & Shippers
Shippers' Newswire reports that the World Shipping Council (WSC) has signaled its support for the joint supplemental comments filed by seven non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs) and national trade associations urging the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to allow NVOCCs to enter into confidential service contracts with shippers. While supporting the joint comments, the WSC urged the FMC to deny other various pending petitions that seek relief beyond that set forth in the joint supplemental comments. (SNW, dated 09/30/04, www.americanshipper.com)
3. Members of Congress Again File Section 301 Petition on China's Currency
According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), members of Congress have again filed a Section 301 unfair trade practice petition asking the Bush Administration to act on China's alleged currency manipulation. The USTR states that while it has examined this issue in the past, it will consult with Congress before a final decision is made. According to one of the petition's endorsers, Rep. Levin, China's currency is estimated to be undervalued by 15% to 75%. (USTR Statement, dated 09/30/04, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Spokesperson_Statements/Statement_from_USTR_Spokesman_Richard_Mills_Regarding_the_China_currency_petition.html Rep. Levin Press Release, dated 09/09/04, available at http://www.house.gov/levin/pr_090904.html)
4. USA-ITA to Hold Seminars on China Textile Safeguards
The U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA) has announced that it will hold two seminars on October 13, 2004 on the topic of China Textile Safeguards: What Can Happen and When. The issues that will be covered at these seminars include: what criteria CITA will consider in evaluating petitions, CITA's proposed evidentiary requirements for "threat-based" cases, and how quickly safeguard measures could come into force after January 1, 2005. More information is available at www.usaita.com.
5. Foreign-Trade Zones Board Actions
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board (FTZB) has issued the following notices of recent FTZB actions:
| FTZ Applicant | Company or action |
| Southern California Logistics Airport Authority (FTZ 243)1 | Black & Decker Corporation |
| City of Mobile, AL (FTZ 82)2 | Bender Shipbuilding and Repair Company |
| City of San Diego, CA (FTZ 153)2 | Callaway Golf Company |
| Suffolk County, NY (FTZ 52)2 | Festo Corporation |
| Codezol, C.D. (FTZ 163)2 | Application for expansion |
| Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves, TX (FTZ 36)2 | Approval of expansion |
| Puerto Rico Exports Development Corporation (FTZ 61)3 | Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing International, Ltd. |
| North Carolina Department of Commerce (FTZ 57)4 | Application for expansion |
| Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority (FTZ 40)5 | Approval of expansion |
| Chattanooga Chamber Foundation, TN (FTZ 134)6 | Sofix Corporation |
| Piedmont Triad Partnership (FTZ 230)7 | Diebold, Inc. |
| Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority (FTZ 8)7 | Application for expansion |
| Georgia Foreign-Trade Zone, Inc. (FTZ 26)8 | Application for expansion |
FTZB notices (FR Pub 08/26/041, 09/03/042, 09/09/043, 09/14/044, 09/17/045, 09/22/046, 09/24/047, and 09/29/048) available on the Federal Register web site under the appropriate date, then under 'Foreign-Trade Zones Board,' at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/frcont04.html