Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
Washington Trade Daily reports that a U.S. Department of Agriculture official told the Senate Agriculture Committee that the U.S. sugar program will all but be abandoned by January 1, 2008 as duty-free imports are allowed without constraint from Mexico under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). According to the article, on May 12, 2006, the USDA will take a look at the latest global production and demand report on sugar, which may direct further expansion of tariff-rate quotas for the rest of the year. (WTD dated 05/11/06, www.washingtontradedaily.com.)
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1. USDA Official Says Sugar Program Will All But Be Abandoned by January 1, 2008
2. OFAC Prohibits U.S. Persons from Engaging in Transactions with Palestinian Authority Unless Authorized
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued a final rule, effective May 10, 2006, to add general licenses authorizing certain transactions with the Palestinian Authority. According to OFAC, the new provisions prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with the Palestinian Authority unless authorized. (FR Pub 04/10/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-4351.pdf)
3. Update on May 24th Exporters' Textile Advisory Committee Open Meeting
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice that amends a March 28, 2006 notice on the Exporters' Textiles Advisory Committee open meeting that is currently scheduled for May 24, 2006. The ITA states that the meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Main Commerce Building, Room 6029 in Washington, DC. According to the ITA, the room number was not available when the initial notice was published and all other aspects of the March 28, 2006 notice remain the same. (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/30/06 news, 06033099 4, for BP summary.) (FR Pub 05/10/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-7133.pdf)
4. State Department Announces Proposal to Extend MOU Imposing Import Restrictions on Certain Archaeological/Ethnological Material from Bolivia
The State Department has issued a public notice announcing a proposal by the Bolivian government to extend the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. and Bolivia concerning the imposition of import restrictions on archaeological material from pre-Columbian cultures and certain ethnological materials from the Colonial and Republican Periods of Bolivia. The MOU originally entered into force on December 7, 2001. (Public Notice 5383, FR Pub 05/04/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-6773.pdf)
5. NMFS Lists Elkhorn and Staghorn Corals as Threatened Species
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued a final rule that implements its determination to list elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and staghorn (A. cervicornis) corals as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. This final rule is effective June 8, 2006 and responses to NMFS' request for information are due by June 2, 2006. (D/N 050304058-6116-03, FR Pub 05/09/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-4321.pdf)
6. Treasury Interim Final Rule on Terrorism Risk Insurance Program
The Treasury Department has issued an interim final rule, effective May 1, 2006, as part of its implementation of amendments made to Title I of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Extension Act of 2005. Among other things the Extension Act extends the program through December 31, 2007 and makes other changes which are implemented by this interim final rule. In particular, the final rule addresses changes to the types of commercial property and casualty insurance covered by the Act, the requirements to satisfy the Act's mandatory availability program, etc. Comments must be submitted by June 12, 2006. (FR Pub 05/11/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-4348.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/action |
|---|---|
| Board of Harbor Commissioners of the City of Los Angeles (FTZ 202) | Submission of application requesting special-purpose subzone status for the office and consumer electronics/home products/solar panels warehousing and distribution facility of Sharp Electronics Corporation in Huntington Beach, CA |
| Puerto Rico Trade and Exports Company (FTZ 61) | FTZB has issued an order approving an application for manufacturing authority under zone procedures within Subzone 611 with respect to Shell Chemicals Yabucoa Inc. |
| Port Authority of the Greater Oklahoma City Area (FTZ 106) | Submission of an application requesting authority to expand the FTZ in Oklahoma area, within and adjacent to the Oklahoma Customs port of entry. |
| Illinois International Port District (FTZ 22) | Submission of an application requesting authority on behalf of Michelin North America to assemble wheels under FTZ procedures at its distribution facility located in Monee, IL. |
| Northeast Ohio Trade & Economic Consortium (FTZ 181) | Submission of application requesting authority to expand Site 2A within the Cleveland Customs port of entry. |
| Puerto Rico Trade & Export Company (FTZ 61) | Correction to earlier notice of submission of application to expand the subzones at the Merck, Sharpe & Dohme Quimica De Puerto Rico, Inc., facilities in Arecibo, and Barceloneta areas. This correction lists an updated address where a copy of the application and accompanying exhibits can be viewed. |
(FTZ 202, FR Pub 03/13/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-3535.pdf)
(FTZ 61, FR Pub 03/13/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-3536.pdf)
(FTZ 106, FR Pub 02/09/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-1224.pdf)
(FTZ 22, FR Pub 02/10/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-1885.pdf)
(FTZ 181, FR Pub 02/10/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-1886.pdf)
(FTZ 61, FR Pub 01/18/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-474.pdf)
8. FMC Application List
The FMC has issued a notice listing applicants for OTI licenses, as follows:
| Applications |
| NVOCC OTI applicants: |
| Network Shipping International, Inc. dba Pillar Trans California (CA) |
| Union Pacific Logistics, Inc. (CA) |
| GAL (Bos) Inc. (MA) |
| Fast Track/Everlast Shipping & Delivery (MD) |
| Velocity Freight Inc. (FL) |
| Kompas Line, Inc. (FL) |
| Far-Go Express, Inc. (CA) |
| Oceanic Export Inc. (NJ) |
| Direct Services Solutions, Inc. (NJ) |
| FCL Marine USA, Ltd. (VA) |
| NVOCC/FF OTI applicants: |
| ClearPoint International Group LLC (CA) |
| Chaker, Inc. dba Marina Line dba Folk Shipping Co. (TX) |
| Planes Moving & Storage, Inc. (OH) |
| Guaranteed International Freight and Trade, Inc. dba International Freight and Trading (NY) |
| Florida Freight Forwarders, LLC (FL) |
| Sunset Transportation, Inc. (MO) |
| D.M.C. Logistics Incorporated (NJ) |
| Cargo Shipping Expedition International Inc. (NJ) |
| FF/OTI applicants: |
| Hal-Mari International Logistics, Inc. (TX) |
| Matt Global Freight Co. LLC. (MD) |
| Allfreight Worldwide Cargo, Inc. dba Allfreight (VA) |
FMC notice (FR Pub (03/09/06) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-3315.pdf)