Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The President of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) offered ideas in a press conference to "break the jam and get the cargo moving" in the seriously congested ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, including the Pacific Maritime Association's (PMA) hiring of more casual workers, the use of container gangs, moving to 24-hour gates to expedite the flow of containers, etc., adding that union workers were not going to pay the price of increased accidents by working two shifts back-to-back. (ShippersNewsWire@americanshipper.com, dated 10/22/04)
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1. ILWU Chief Warns Union Will Not Tolerate Fatigue-Producing Shifts
2. Association of Gulf Seaports to Soon Impose Broad Set of Security Fees
The Journal of Commerce Online reports that an association of Gulf seaports will soon be imposing a broad set of fees on port users to help offset the increased costs of security. The article notes that the fees are meant to help ports defray the ongoing costs of implementing port security plans that took effect on July 1, 2004 as mandated by the Maritime Transportation Security Act. (JoC Online 10/20/04, www.joc.com.)
3. United States Appeals WTO Ruling on U.S. Cotton Subsidies
The State Department's Washington File reports that the U.S. is appealing a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling that U.S. cotton subsidies violate international trading rules. According to the article, the U.S. position is that some of the issues raised in the cotton subsidy case should be resolved through ongoing WTO negotiations rather than dispute settlement. (State Dept Washington File article, dated 10/18/04, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=October&x=20041018181857MBzemoG0.4296381&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html.)
4. USTR Consults U.A.E. and Oman on Free Trade Talks
The State Department's Washington File reports that U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Zoellick has consulted with senior leaders of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) about launching negotiations for a free trade agreement with the U.S. According to the article, the USTR said he plans to travel to Oman on the next stage of his trip to assess that government's interest in negotiating a FTA. (State Dept Washington File article, dated 10/18/04, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=October&x=20041018162315cpataruk0.8180811&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html.)
5. EU and Vietnam Conclude Bilateral Deal for Vietnam's Accession to WTO
According to the State Department's Washington File, the EU Trade Commissioner and Vietnamese Trade Minister concluded the bilateral EU-Vietnam agreement for Vietnam's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The article notes that the EU, Vietnam's largest trading partner, is the first major partner to conclude its bilateral deal with Vietnam, giving a boost to Vietnam's accession to the WTO. (State Dept Washington File article, dated 10/11/04, available via fax by emailing documents @brokerpower.com.)
6. European Commission Announces Actions to Help EU Textiles Industry
The European Commission (EC) has issued a press release announcing that it is taking seven actions to help the European Union (EU) textiles industry ahead of the January 1, 2005 elimination of textile and apparel quotas for World Trade Organization (WTO) members. Among other things, the EC states that it will monitor Chinese imports to ensure a smooth transition to a quota-free system. (EC Press Release IP/04/1206, dated 10/12/04, available at http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/1206&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)
7. State Department Announces EU is Imposing New Sanctions on Burma
The State Department has issued a press release expressing its support for the European Union's (EU's) announcement of new sanctions on Burma (Myanmar). According to the State Department, these sanctions are a result of the Burmese junta's failure to meet the EU's October 7, 2004 deadline for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and the completion of certain concrete steps toward democratization. (State Department press release, dated 10/18/04, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2004/37182.htm)
8. Land Ports of Entry to Test US-VISIT Entry Procedures Starting Mid-Nov
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a press release stating that US-VISIT will begin a test of entry procedures at land ports of entry in the secondary inspection area starting in mid-November 2004. Initial testing will begin at land ports of entry in Douglas, Arizona, Port Huron, Michigan, and Laredo, Texas. (DHS Release, dated 10/14/04, available at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme=43&content=4062&print=true )
9. Updated NCBFAA Position Paper on Bill to Impose $5000 Penalty per BL for Uncleared Goods Left on the Dock for More Than 7 Days
The National Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association (NCBFAA) has posted an updated position paper to its Web site on the Hollings bill (S. 2279) which, as passed by the Senate, would impose a fine of $5000 per bill of lading (BL) for containers left on the docks for more than 7 days. (See ITT's Online Archives or 09/27/04 news, 04092705 for initial BP summary of Senate passage of S. 2279.)(position paper available at http://ncbfaa.org/2004GAC/s2279.htm )
10. USA-ITA Annual Textile and Apparel Trade and Transportation Conference
The United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA) is holding its 16th annual Textile and Apparel Trade and Transportation Conference, which will be held in New York City on November 15-16, 2004. (See www.usaita.com for details.)
11. FDA Updates Web Page Containing EU Export Certificates for Fishery/Aquaculture Products, Live Molluscan Shellfish
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has updated its Web page containing the required European Union (EU) export certificates for fishery/aquaculture products and live molluscan shellfish. This Web page includes PDF versions of the certificates in various languages. (FDA Web page, updated September 2004, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/eucert.html)
12. FDA Fresh Produce Safety Action Plan to Minimize Foodborne Illness
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted to its Web site a document entitled, "Produce Safety from Production to Consumption: 2004 Action Plan to Minimize Foodborne Illness Associated with Fresh Produce Consumption." (FDA document, dated October 2004, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/prodpla2.html)
13. National Emergency with Respect to Narcotics Traffickers Centered in Colombia Continued
On October 19, 2004, President Bush continued for an additional year the national emergency with respect to significant narcotics traffickers centered in Colombia. (FR Pub 10/20/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-23731.pdf.)