Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Journal of Commerce Online reports that striking public servants for the third day in a row have delayed truck traffic heading into Canada by as much as 3 hours while negotiators remain optimistic a deal could be reached soon on a new contract. According to the article, picketers are at the Queenston, Ontario-Lewiston, NY bridge and at the Peace Bridge (Buffalo-Fort Erie, Ontario) and are mostly targeting commercial traffic. The nationwide strike began Tuesday. (JoC Online dated 10/13/94 and 10/14/04, www.joc.com.)
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1. Strike Delays Traffic for Trucks Heading from U.S. into Canada
2. USA-ITA Says Four Additional Petitions for China Safeguard Quotas Filed
The United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA) has issued a Textile Development Memo stating that on October 13, 2004, domestic industry groups filed four more China textile safeguard petitions, for cotton knit shirts (338/339), manmade fiber knit shirts (638/639), men's and boy's woven cotton and manmade fiber shirts (340/640), and manmade fiber trousers (647/648). (TDM, dated 10/15/04, www.usaita.com )
3. Commerce Launches New Tools to Help U.S. Exporters to China
The Commerce Department has issued a press release announcing the launching of new tools to help U.S. small and medium-size exporters take advantage of China's growing market. According to the press release, the China Business Information Center provides U.S. firms with one-stop shopping for exporting and American Trade Centers will help U.S. firms compete for infrastructure projects. (Commerce Department press release, dated 09/14/04, available at www.ita.doc.gov/media/PressReleases/0904/chinabic_0914.html.)
4. USTR Presents Japan with Recommendations on Opening Markets, Etc.
The USTR has announced that on October 14, 2004, the Deputy USTR presented the Japanese government with extensive reform recommendations designed to help sustain Japan's recent return to growth and open markets for U.S. companies. (USTR press release, dated 10/14/04, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2004/October/United_States_Calls_on_Japan_to_Bolster_Regulatory_Reform_Submits_Far-Reaching_Recommendations.html; Recommendations (69 pages) available at http://www.ustr.gov/assets/World_Regions/North_Asia/Japan/Regulatory_Reform_Initiative/asset_upload_file229_6538.pdf)
5. USTR Thanks Congress for Passing Bill to End FSC/ETI; White House Official Says Bush to Sign
USTR Zoellick has thanked Congress for removing the Foreign Sales Corporation/Extra-Territorial Income (FSC/ETI) tax provisions of the tax code within the larger tax measure (i.e., the conference version of H.R. 4520) that was recently approved. The State Department's Washington File states that a White House official has indicated that President Bush will sign the bill. (USTR press release, dated 10/14/04, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2004/October/USTR_Zoellick_Thanks_Congress_For_Passing_FSC-ETI_Bill.html; Washington File article (dated 1012/04) available at http://usinfo.state.gov/eur/Archive/2004/Oct/12-132881.html )
6. EPA Final Rule on HCFC-141b as Unacceptable Foam Agent under SNAP
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final rule, effective November 29, 2004, to change the listing of HCFC-141b from acceptable to unacceptable for use as a foam-blowing agent under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program. (OAR-2003-0228, FRL-7821-6, FR Pub 09/30/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-21809.pdf )