Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
Washington Trade Daily reports that House Republican leaders have announced that instead of holding another vote on a Vietnam Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) bill on Wednesday, the House will consider such a measure when it returns in December after a break for the Thanksgiving holiday. (WTD, dated 11/15/06, www.washingtontradedaily.com )
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1. Vietnam PNTR Bill Now Expected to be Considered by House in December
2. WTO Finding Against EU Customs Classification of LCD Monitors
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a statement welcoming the World Trade Organization's (WTO's) Appellate Body report confirming that the European Union (EU) fails to administer in a uniform manner its rules on the customs classification of liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors. The report upheld an earlier WTO dispute settlement panel finding, but the Appellate Body also found that the panel erred in declining to consider the broader question of whether the EU's system of customs administration as a whole is inconsistent with WTO rules requiring the uniform administration of customs laws. (USTR statement, dated 11/13/06, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2006/November/WTO_Appellate_Body_Finds_Against_EU_Customs_Law_Administration.html)
3. USTR Welcomes Vietnam's WTO Accession, Urges Passage of PNTR
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a statement welcoming World Trade Organization (WTO) members' approval of Vietnam's accession to the WTO. In addition, USTR Schwab also called upon Congress to quickly pass the Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) legislation that will permit U.S. business and consumers to secure the benefits of Vietnam's WTO membership. (USTR statement, dated 11/07/06, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2006/November/Statement_by_US_Trade_Representative_Susan_C_Schwab_on_WTO_Members_Approval_of_Vietnams_Terms_of_Accession_to_the_World_Trade.html)
4. DoD Issues Interim Rule Amending DFARS to Implement U.S.-Bahrain FTA and DR-CAFTA
The Department of Defense (DoD) has issued an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement the U.S.- Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the Dominican Republic-Central America-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) with respect to Guatemala. The rule adds Bahrain and Guatemala to the definition of "Free Trade Agreement country," and removes Guatemala from the definition of "Caribbean Basin country." Written comments are due on or before December 4, 2006. (DFARS Case 2006-D028, FR Pub 10/04/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-16418.pdf)