Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Associated Press (AP) reports that an aide to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has said that the Senate will restore $50 million in funding which was recently cut by the Senate Appropriations Committee from the fiscal year (FY) 2006 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). (AP article dated 07/08/05, available at http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/07/08/congress.transitsecurity.ap/.)
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1. Senate Likely to Restore Cuts to Rail Security Funding in FY 2006 DHS Budget
2. DOC Press Release/Fact Sheet on JCCT Meeting Between the U.S. and China in Beijing
The Department of Commerce (DOC) has issued two releases regarding the 16th Annual Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) meeting held on July 11, 2005 in Beijing, China. In one release, DOC Secretary Gutierrez emphasized that progress is being made on market access for U.S. software and increased prosecutions for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) violations. (DOC Secretary release on JCCT meeting, available at http://www.commerce.gov/opa/press/Secretary_Gutierrez/2005_Releases/July/11_JCCT.htm), Fact sheet on China's JCCT agreements, available at http://www.commerce.gov/opa/press/Secretary_Gutierrez/2005_Releases/July/11_JCCT_FactSheet.htm )
3. U.S. Wins WTO Semiconductor Case
The Office of U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release stating that the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Appellate Body reversed a WTO panel and sided with the U.S. in a dispute involving subsidies provided by the government of Korea to Hynix, a Korean manufacturer of memory semiconductors. According to the U.S., the government of Korea had subsidized Hynix by pressuring private creditors to provide it with financial assistance. (USTR release, dated 06/27/05, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2005/June/United_States_Wins_WTO_Semiconductor_Case.html )
4. U.S. and Iraq Sign a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release announcing that on July 11, 2005, the U.S. and Iraq singed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). According to the press release, the TIFA provides a forum for Iraq and the U.S. to examine ways to expand bilateral trade and investment. (USTR press release, dated 07/11/05, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2005/July/United_States_Iraq_Sign_Trade_Investment_Framework_Agreement_printer.html.)
5. PTO Final Rule on Reduced Fee if Electronic Trademark Application Filed
The Patent and Trademark Office (Office) has issued a final rule, effective July 18, 2005, which amends 37 CFR Parts 2 and 7 to permit an applicant to pay a reduced fee under certain circumstances when the applicant uses the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) to file a trademark or service mark application for registration on the Principal Register under section 1 and/or 44 of the Trademark Act. (D/N 2005-T-056, FR Pub 07/06/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-13301.pdf)
6. CPSC Provisionally Accepts $300,000 Settlement on Soap Making Kits
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a notice announcing that it has provisionally accepted a settlement agreement with Rose Art Industries, Inc. containing a civil penalty of $300,000 in connection with CPSC allegations that the company's Glamour Gear Soap Making Kits are defective. Requests that the CPSC not accept this agreement and other comments are due by July 21, 2005. (D/N 05-C0009, FR Pub 07/06/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-13288.pdf)
7. Foreign-Trade Zones Board Actions
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board (FTZB) has issued the following notices of recent FTZB actions:
| FTZ applicant/grantee | Company or action |
|---|---|
| Airborne FTZ, Inc.(FTZ 101) | Submission of application requesting authority to expand FTZ 101 to a site in Fayette Country, Ohio |
| Port of Houston Authority (FTZ 84) | Submission of application to expand Subzone 84C, at the E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Inc. plant located at one existing site and one proposed site in La Porte, Texas, and to expand the scope of manufacturing authority under zone procedures for Subzone 84C. |
| City of San Jose (FTZ 18) | Correction to June 1, 2005 FTZB Federal Register notice requesting subzone status for Space Systems/Loral Inc. in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Mountain View, CA. |
(FTZB notices, FR Pub 06/14/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-11740.pdf ; FTZB correction, FR Pub 06/24/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-12583.pdf )
8. BIS' SITAC to Hold Partially Open Meeting on July 26, 2005
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a notice announcing that its Sensors and Instrumentation Technical Advisory Committee (SITAC) will hold a partially open meeting on July 26, 2005 in Washington, DC. According to BIS, SITAC advises the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration on technical questions that affect the level of export controls applicable to sensors and instrumentation equipment and technology. (FR Pub 07/11/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-13550.pdf)
9. BIS' ISTAC to Hold Partially Open Meeting on July 27 & 28, 2005
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a notice announcing that its Information Systems Technical Advisory Committee (ISTAC) will hold a partially open meeting on July 27 & 28, 2005 in Washington, DC. According to BIS, ISTAC advises the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration on technical questions that affect the level of export controls applicable to information systems equipment and technology. (FR Pub 07/11/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-13549.pdf)