Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. Census, CBP Expected to Reissue a New Proposed Rule for Mandatory AES

2. Congressional Members Concerned with Textile Import Monitoring of Vietnam

Six members of the Ways and Means Committee wrote a letter to the Department of Commerce expressing their concern over the disruption to trade caused by Commerce's Import Monitoring Program of Textile and Apparel Products from Vietnam. Congressional members questioned whether the program was cutting away at the benefits of granting Vietnam Permanent Normal Trade Relations, whether it was providing any benefit to U.S. apparel producers, and whether it was inconsistent with U.S. trade remedy law. (Congressional letter, dated 05/02/07, available via email by sending request to documents@brokerpower.com)

3. FSIS Reopens Comment Period in Proposed Rule for Poultry Imports from Chile

The Food and Safety Inspection Service has issued a notice providing additional information and re-opening the comment period until May 25, 2007 on its proposed rule that would add Chile to the list of countries eligible to export poultry and poultry products to the U.S. The supplement to the proposed rule explains the steps Chile has taken to remedy a deficiency in its species verification testing. (FSIS D/N FSIS-2007-0016, FR Pub 05/10/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-2202.pdf)

4. USDA Press Release Outlines 2007 Farm Bill Proposals Related to Trade

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a press release outlining the Administration's 2007 farm bill proposals related to international trade. Highlights include increasing U.S. presence in international trade standard-setting organizations, reforming the export guarantee programs examined by the World Trade Organization's dispute panel for the Brazil cotton case, enhancing U.S. ability to bring forward/respond to trade disputes, etc. (USDA press release, No. 0137.07, dated 05/10/07, available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.retrievecontent/.c/6_2_1UH/.ce/7_2_5JM/.p/5_2_4TQ/.d/3/_th/J_2_9D/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?PC_7_2_5JM_contentid=2007%2F05%2F0137.xml&PC_7_2_5JM_parentnav=LATEST_RELEASES&PC_7_2_5JM_navid=NEWS_RELEASE)

5. APHIS Modifies Restrictions Regarding Interstate Movement of Certain Species of Live Fish in Great Lakes Region

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a press release announcing that it is modifying its October 2006 emergency order which prohibited the importation of 37 species of live fish from two Canadian provinces and the interstate movement of the same species from the eight states bordering the Great Lakes. These modifications will allow for the catch-and-release of VHS-susceptible fish in waters that cross state and international boundaries. (Catch-and-release fishing activities do not include the movement of VHS-susceptible fish intended to be used as live bait.) (APHIS press release, dated 05/04/07, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2007/05/vhsfedor.shtml)

6. San Pedro Bay Ports CAAP Aims to Cut Air Pollution from Trucks, Ships, Rail by 45% in 5 Years, Etc.

The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles adopted the landmark San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) in November 2006 to curb port-related air pollution from trucks, ships, locomotives and other equipment by at least 45% in five years. Outlined in the CAAP is the Clean Trucks Plans, which aims to reduce air pollution from harbor trucks by more than 80% within five years. (CAAP available at http://www.polb.com/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=3452) (News releases, fact sheets, etc. on the Clean Trucks Plan available at http://www.cleanairactionplan.org/)

7. US-VISIT Program Moves Out of Biometric Exit Pilot Phase

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a press release announcing that effective May 6, 2007, international visitors are no longer required to use the U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) exit kiosks when they leave the U.S. DHS states that it intends to integrate biometric exit procedures into the existing international visitor departure process, which will make the process of departing the U.S. more convenient and accessible for international visitors. (DHS press release, dated 05/04/07, available at http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1178549052332.shtm)

8. State Dept Requests Comments on Draft U.S. Climate Action Report

The State Department has issued a notice requesting written comments, on or before noon on May 18, 2007, on the U.S. government's initial draft of the fourth U.S. Climate Action Report, which, among other things, provides an inventory of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks, an estimate of the effects of mitigation measures and policies on future emissions levels, a description of U.S. leadership and involvement in international programs, etc. (Public Notice 5791, FR Pub 05/04/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-2251.pdf)

9. CBP Cancels Customs Broker License With Prejudice

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a notice announcing that the following Customs broker license is canceled with prejudice:

(FR Pub 05/08/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-8770.pdf

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10. Various Agencies Seek Comments on Information Collections

Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):

APHIS 1 & 2 Information Collection (FR Pub 05/11/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-9119.pdf

FDA 1 Information Collection (FR Pub 05/14/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-9219.pdf

FDA 2 Information Collection (FR Pub 05/14/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-9220.pdf