Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. House Passes Bill to Raise Tonnage Tax on Vessels Arriving at U.S. Ports

2. European Commission Welcomes Adoption of Pharmaceutical Agreement

The European Commission has issued a press release welcoming the adoption by European Union (EU) member states of an international agreement which will make it easier to trade in pharmaceuticals. According to the press release, the third revision of the Pharma-GATT Agreement will eliminate customs duties among the main pharmaceutical trading nations and territories. The press release notes that the EU, U.S., and Switzerland are part of the Agreement as of January 1, 2007 and that Japan is expected to apply this revision later in 2007. (EC press release IP/07/177, dated 02/12/07, available at http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2007/february/tradoc_133284.pdf.)

3. Travelers to U.S. Have New Way to Report Entry/Exit Problems

The State Department's Washington File reports that travelers to the U.S. who experience difficulties during airport and train station screenings or at border crossings can now make in inquiries or seek resolution at an easy-to-use Internet site - the Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (http://www.dhs.gov/trip). (Washington File, dated 02/22/07, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=February&x=200702221832071CJsamohT0.2123224.)

4. Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Small/Minority Business to Meet

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced that the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business (ITAC-11) will hold a partially open meeting on March 19, 2007 in Washington, DC. The agenda for the open portion of the meeting includes updates on Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee Export Promotion Programs; overview of the recent U.S. Commercial Service Export Promotion Programs; etc. (USTR notice, FR Pub 03/02/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-3711.pdf.)

5. USTR Determination Regarding Waiver of Discriminatory Purchasing Requirements for the Dominican Republic

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice announcing that, effective March 1, 2007, it has made certain determinations regarding the waiver of discriminatory purchasing requirements with respect to goods and services covered by Chapter 9 of the U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) for the Dominican Republic, as the DR-CAFTA was implemented for the Dominican Republic on March 1, 2007. (FR Pub 03/07/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-4020.pdf)

6. AMS Proposes to Amend National List of Allowed & Prohibited Substances, Etc.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has issued a proposed rule which would amend the USDA's National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances regulations to reflect recommendations submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) from November 17, 2005 through October 19, 2006. The recommendations addressed in this proposed rule pertain to the continued exemption (use) and prohibition of 169 substances in organic production and handling. Consistent with the recommendations from the NOSB, this proposed rule would renew 166 of the 169 exemptions and prohibitions on the National List (along with any restrictive annotations), and remove 3 exemptions from the National List. Comments must be received by May 7, 2007. (D/N AMS-TM-06-0222; TM-04-07PR, FR Pub 03/06/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-3829.pdf)

7. Final Rule Moves Certain State Department Regs from 22 CFR to 2 CFR

The State Department has issued a final rule, effective March 7, 2007, that, among other things, moves its regulations on nonprocurement debarment and suspension from their current location in title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to title 2 of the CFR, and adopts the format established by the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) August 2005 document of interim final guidance on nonprocurement debarment and suspension. (OMB interim final guidance, FR Pub 08/31/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-16646.pdf; State Dept Public Notice 5710, FR Pub 03/07/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-3872.pdf)

8. FMCSA Sets Forth Schedule for Meetings of the CDL Advisory Committee

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a notice setting forth the schedule for the meetings of the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Advisory Committee. The meetings of the committee will take place on the following dates in Arlington, VA: March 20-22, 2007; April 17-19, 2007; and, May 15-17, 2007. The agenda topics for the meetings will include the following (partial list): state enforcement practices, operational procedures to detect and defer fraud, updated technology, etc. (D/N FMCSA-2007-27357, FR Pub 02/28/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-3481.pdf)

9. BIS Denies Certain Export Privileges for Activities Related to Transfer, Sale of Camera with Authorization, Etc.

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued an Order denying certain export privileges for a period of ten years from February 26, 2007 to S.P. Equipamentos de Proteo ao Trabalho Ltda. for activities related to the transfer and sale of a thermal imaging camera to a non-approved end user without prior U.S. government authorization. (D/N 04-BIS-15, FR Pub 03/02/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-949.pdf)

10. FDA Allows Certain Coal Tar/Menthol Combinations for OTC Dandruff Shampoo, Etc.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a final rule, effective April 5, 2007, which amends the final monograph for over-the-counter (OTC) dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis drug products to include the combination of 1.8% coal tar solution and 1.5% menthol in a shampoo drug product to control dandruff. (D/N 2005N-0448, FR Pub 03/06/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-3808.pdf)

11. DHS' Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee to Hold Public Meeting

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a notice announcing that its Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting on March 21, 2007 in Washington, DC. DHS states that, among other things, invited speakers will discuss policy development, data integrity and IT transformation at DHS, as well as DHS' plans to implement the REAL ID Act. (D/N DHS-2007-0008, FR Pub 03/06/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-1008.pdf)