Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
According to the Washington File, the USTR has released its 2006 report of unfair trade barriers in foreign countries, called the National Trade Estimate on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE), where China is listed as having the most barriers, followed by the European Union, Japan, and South Korea. The article notes that most of the problems listed in the 2006 report are the same ones that have appeared in earlier reports. (Washington File (dated 03/31/06), available at http://usinfo.state.gov/eap/Archive/2006/Apr/02-251571.html )
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
1. Chinese Practices Loom Large in U.S. Annual Trade Barriers Report
2. Last Minute Changes for Mandatory AES Would Have "Chilling Effect"
According to Shippers' NewsWire, the Agriculture Ocean Transportation Coalition and the Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Association have warned that last minute changes to Option 4 in the final rule for mandatory electronic filing of export information would have a 'chilling effect' on U.S. exports such as perishable and bulk agriculture cargoes and scrap metal and paper, as accurate weights and measures are not known until the cargo is stowed on ship. (Shippers' NewsWire, dated 04/04/06, www.americanshipper.com )
3. USTR Seeks Comments on Employment Review of Proposed Malaysia FTA
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice requesting comments for a review of the impact of a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with Malaysia on U.S. employment, including labor markets. Comments should be received by noon on May 12, 2006 to be assured of timely consideration. (FR Pub 03/31/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-4739.pdf)
4. ITC Announces that Updates Have been Made to EDIS
The International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued a notice announcing that updates have been made to the Electronic Document Information System (EDIS), including an enhanced interface for the filing of electronic documents and a revised Handbook on Electronic Filing Procedures. (FR Pub 03/31/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-4732.pdf)
5. APHIS Proposes to Establish Process for States to Make Special Need Requests Regarding Domestic Quarantine Regulations
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a proposed rule that would amend its domestic quarantine regulations to establish a process by which a state or a political subdivision of a state could request approval to impose prohibitions or restrictions on the movement in interstate commerce of specific articles that are in addition to the prohibitions and restrictions imposed by APHIS. Written comments must be received on or before June 5, 2006. (D/N APHIS-2005-0103, FR Pub 04/04/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-4840.pdf)
6. Army Announces Availability for Licensing of Footwear-Related Patent
The Department of the Army has issued a notice announcing the availability for licensing of U.S. Patent No. US 7,013,579 B2 entitled "Article of Footwear with Temperature Regulation Means" issued March 21, 2006. According to the notice, this patent has been assigned to the U.S. government as represented by the Secretary of the Army. (Notice, FR Pub 03/31/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-3142.pdf)