Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a statement that although Canada has recently announced the finding of an animal suspected of having BSE ("mad cow disease"), it would not alter USDA's implementation of a soon to be published rule that will recognize Canada as a BSE Minimal-Risk Region, as the possibility of additional cases of BSE in Canada was included in the risk analysis conducted as part of the rulemaking. (USDA release no. 0528.04, dated 12/30/04, available at http://www.usda.gov/documents/NewsReleases/2004/12/0528.doc.
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1. USDA Statement on Finding Another Suspect BSE Animal in Canada
2. U.S. and Barbados Agree on Protocol to Amend Income Tax Treaty
The State Department's Washington File has issued a press release announcing that the U.S. and Barbados have agreed on a protocol to amend the income tax treaty between the two countries. The amended protocol entered into force on December 20, 2004 and will be effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2005. (Washington File Pub 12/20/04, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=December&x=20041220153115GLnesnoM0.5185968&t=wh/wh-latest.html)
3. European Union and Serbia Initial Bilateral Agreement on Textiles
The European Union (EU) and Serbia initialed a bilateral agreement on textiles trade on December 21, 2004. According to the EU, under this agreement the EU will lift all textile quotas applied to Serbia. In return, Serbia will dismantle tariffs applied to EU textile imports. Both parties will refrain from applying non-tariff barriers to each other's textile and clothing exports. (EU Press Release IP/04/1532, dated 12/22/04, available at http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/1532&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)
4. U.S. and Korea Reach Agreement on U.S. Rice Exports to Korea
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced that the USTR and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have reached agreement with the Republic of Korea to obtain greater market access opportunities for U.S. rice exporters. As a result, Korea will double the amount of rice it imports over the next 10 years, provide guaranteed access for 50,000 metric tons of U.S. rice each year, and make imported rice available directly to Korean consumers. (USTR Release No. 2004-89, dated 12/30/04, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2004/December/United_States_Republic_of_Korea_Reach_Agreement_on_Rice_Imports.html)
5. FMC Issues Errata on Initial "Web-Version" of Final Rule on NSAs
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has posted to its Web site an errata to the initial "web site" version of its final rule on Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) Service Arrangements (NSAs). The errata removes the numbering in the summary paragraph of the final rule and revises the numbering of 46 CFR 531.8(a) and (c). Note that the current web-version and the December 20, 2004 Federal Register version of this final rule are correct; only the initial web-version of the final rule had these numbering errors. (FR Pub 12/23/04, 04122320 for BP summary of final rule. Errata and corrected rule (dated 12/23/04) available at http://www.fmc.gov/Dockets/04-12%20FINAL%20RULE%20errata%20with%20attach.pdf