Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
CNN reports that the House passed a $37.4 billion appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security on June 15, 2007, but minority Republicans rallied enough votes to uphold a promised veto by President Bush. The bill exceeds Bush's request for the department by $2.1 billion, or 6%, thus drawing a veto threat from the White House. (CNN, dated 06/19/07, available at http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/06/18/congress.spending.ap/index.html?eref=rss_latest)
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1. GOP Has Votes to Back Veto on Homeland Security Appropriations Bill
2. U.S., South Korea Expected to Meet to Revise FTA
Washington Trade Daily reports that South Korea and the U.S. are likely to meet this week to revise their free trade agreement. The report states that the U.S. is expected to call for changes in the sectors of labor, environment, pharmaceuticals, national security, government procurement, harbor safety, and investment. The South Korean government said it has not decided yet how to respond to the U.S. proposal. (WTD, dated 06/19/07, www.washingtontradedaily.com)
3. Japan Ratifies FTAs with Thailand and Chile, FTAs Could Take Effect in Fall
The Journal of Commerce reports that Japan has ratified free trade agreements with Thailand and Chile, which would allow the FTAs to take effect as early as this autumn. The agreements would eliminate tariffs on more than 90% of bilateral trade by value within 10 years. (JoC, dated 06/15/07, www.joc.com)
4. EU to Withdraw GSP from Belarus Over Workers' Rights Violations
The European Union has issued a press release announcing that Belarus' Generalized System of Preferences trade preferences will be withdrawn from June 21, 2007, as the International Labor Organization adopted its assessment that Belarus has not acted to ensure the protection of certain key labor rights related to freedom of association in Belarus. (EU press release IP/07/844, dated 06/18/07, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/844&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
5. U.S. Business Drawn to Booming Russian Market
The Washington File reports that despite political tensions, U.S. businesses are flocking to Russia to take advantage of the booming Russian economy and transform Russia's business environment. According to a recent World Bank report, Russia's $1 trillion economy is undergoing an investment boom that increasingly includes domestic markets energized by a sharp growth in real wages and disposable income. (Washington File, dated 06/15/07, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=June&x=20070615145921zjsredna0.8554041)
6. U.S., Development Bank Partner to Launch Latin American Loan Program
The Washington File reports that the Bush administration, in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), is launching a loan program for small businesses in Latin America that it hopes will expand economic opportunities and energize economies in the region. The U.S. Treasury Department and IDB will provide technical assistance to help local banks build expertise and capacity, and $150 million will be allocated by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) to share financial risk with U.S. and local banks lending to small enterprises. (Washington File, dated 06/15/07, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=June&x=20070615142813saikceinawz0.485119)
7. Number of Trade Adjustment Assistance Petitions Certified, Filed Have Declined
The Government Accountability Office testified before the House Ways and Means Committee that the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, which allows trade-affected workers to file for certain benefits and services, has seen a decline in the number of petitions certified and filed during the past three fiscal years. Of the petitions received, those most commonly denied were done so because workers were not involved in the production of articles, a basic requirement of the TAA program. GAO added that nationally, the decline in the number of workers entering training from fiscal years 2004 to 2006 parallels a decline in the estimated number of trade-affected workers. (GAO-07-994T, dated 06/14/07, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07994t.pdf)
8. BIS Denies Export Privileges for 5 Years for Activities Related to Export Without License
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued an Order denying certain export privileges for five years from the date of his conviction to George Charles Budenz II, a federal inmate, and related person Richard Scott Tobey, for activities related to the export from the U.S. to Malaysia and Belgium of military aircraft parts which were designated as defense articles on the U.S. Munitions List without having first obtained a State Department license or written authorization. The Order is effective until July 19, 2011. (FR Pub 06/18/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-2982.pdf)
9. BIS Denies Export Privileges for 10 Years for Activities Related to Export Without License
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued an Order denying certain export privileges for ten years from the date of his conviction to Arif Ali Durrani, a federal inmate, for activities related to the export from the U.S. to Malaysia and Belgium of military aircraft parts which were designated as defense articles on the U.S. Munitions List without having first obtained a State Department license or written authorization. The Order is effective until June 5, 2015. (FR Pub 06/18/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-2981.pdf)