Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Summer 2006 issue of the NCBFAA Quarterly Bulletin contains an article that states that the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program is being referred to disparagingly as "a unilateral preference program" and "an obstacle" to real trade liberalization due to the unwillingness of certain GSP beneficiary countries' to step forward in the Doha trade talks. In addition, Congressional leaders with the power to decide its fate are threatening to let GSP expire indefinitely at the end of this year or tighten eligibility requirements, which would likely remove some countries from the program. (NCBFAA Quarterly Bulletin, No. 106-2, Summer 2006, www.ncbfaa.org.)
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1. Congress is Questioning How or If to Renew GSP
2. State Department Begins Issuing Electronic Passports to the Public
The State Department has issued a media note announcing that on August 14, 2006 it began issuing Electronic Passports (e-passports) to the public. According to the State Department, the e-passport includes biometrics and other improvements that are designed to enhance security. (State Department media note, dated 08/14/06, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2006/70433.htm)
3. USDA Levies Civil Penalties Against Two Importers for Substandard Onions & Avocados
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a press release announcing its decision to levy individual civil penalties against two companies, Earthbound Farm in San Juan Bautista, CA and Sun Squeezed Market, Inc. in Hialeah, FL, for violations of Section 8(e) of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 and import regulations in effect under that law. The USDA states that the products at issue (onions and Dominican avocados) did not meet the same or comparable grade, size, quality, and maturity requirements in place for domestic producers. (USDA press release AMS No. 191-06, dated 08/09/06, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/news/191-06.htm)
4. ITA Announces November 2006 Secretarial Business Delegation to China
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice announcing that the Secretary of Commerce will lead a U.S. business delegation to Beijing and Shanghai, China from November 13 - 17, 2006. The purpose of the delegation is to promote U.S. exports to China's leading industry sectors. Applications will be availablefrom July 24, 2006 through September 14, 2006 and are due by September 15, 2006. (FR Pub 08/18/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-13772.pdf)
5. ITA to Host U.S. Delegation to India Business Summit in Nov./Dec. 2006
The ITA has issued a notice announcing that, along with the U.S. Commercial Service posts in India, it will host a U.S. delegation to the India Business Summit from November 29-30, 2006. The summit will be followed by spin-off missions in the Indian cities of Bangalore, Calcutta, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi. Applications for the summit and/or the spin-off missions will be received on a rolling basis; however, recruitment will close on October 2, 2006 or earlier, if all available spaces are filled prior to that date. (FR Pub 08/16/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-13471.pdf)
6. ITA Recruiting Members for Manufacturing Council
The ITA has issued a notice announcing that it is recruiting individuals to help advise and assist the Department of Commerce on manufacturing policies by applying to be members of the Manufacturing Council. Interested persons should submit a resume and cover letter between September 1, 2006 and September 15, 2006. (FR Pub 08/22/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-13797.pdf)
7. APHIS Proposed Rule on Importation of Sheep and Goat Semen
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a proposed rule which would amend 9 CFR Part 98 regarding the importation of animal germplasm by removing specific restrictions on sheep semen from regions where scrapie exists. It would also require the inclusion of additional information on the international health certificate accompanying sheep and goat semen, which APHIS believes pose a minimal risk of transmitting scrapie. Written comments are due on or before October 10, 2006. (APHIS D/N APHIS-2006-0120, FR Pub 08/09/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-12934.pdf)
8. Recent CPSC Press Releases on Recalls
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued separate press releases (dated 07/01/06 - 07/31/06) announcing that the following companies, in cooperation with the CPSC, are voluntarily recalling the products listed below. Due to the large number of recalls, this is Part I of a two-part series of summaries. (Press releases available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prereljul06.html)