Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
American Shipper reports that the multibillion-dollar program to cut diesel truck emissions in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach threatens thousands of jobs and may wind up costing CA taxpayers nearly $1 billion. The ports' Clean Truck Plan is also being guided by political efforts to re-regulate and unionize the Southern CA trucking industry. Among other things, the plan, which was scheduled to take effect at the start of 2008, seeks over the next five years to replace or retrofit more than 16,000 drayage trucks that service the ports daily with newer models that run up to 80% cleaner than older models. (American Shipper, July 2007, www.americanshipper.com)
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1. LA/LB Clean Truck Plan Threatens Jobs, Could Cause Increase in Taxes
2. Senate Approves Foreign Investment Bill, Next Step is Conference
PortSecurityNews.com reports that during the week of June 28, 2007 the Senate approved legislation that would revise the process for reviewing foreign investments in the U.S. Earlier this year the House passed its version of the legislation (H.R. 556), which is similar to the Senate bill. The next step in the process is a House-Senate conference on the bill. (PSN, dated 07/02/07, available at http://portsecuritynews.com/news/templates/registered.asp?articleid=1639&zoneid=1)
3. U.S.-UK Sign Treaty to Allow Certain Defense Item Exports Without License
The State Department has issued a press release announcing that President Bush and United Kingdom Prime Minister Blair signed the U.S.-UK Defense Trade Cooperation Treaty on June 26, 2007, which if ratified by both governments, will allow most defense goods, services, and information intended for use by the authorities of the two countries to be exchanged without the requirement for an export license. (State Dept. press release no. 2007/527, dated 06/28/07, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2007/jun/87522.htm)
4. USTR Posts Summaries of U.S.-Peru and U.S.-Panama TPAs to Its Web Site
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has posted to its Web site brief and detailed summaries of the trade promotion agreements (another term for free trade agreement) with Peru and Panama. The U.S.-Peru TPA was signed in April 2006 and revised on June 25, 2007 to reflect the bipartisan consensus on trade reached in May of 2007. Negotiations for the U.S.-Panama TPA were concluded in December 2006, and the TPA was also later revised to reflect the bipartisan consensus on trade reached in May of 2007. (U.S.-Peru TPA and U.S.-Panama TPA summaries, dated 07/02/07, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Trade_Agreements/Bilateral/Peru_TPA/Fact_Sheets/Section_Index.html and http://www.ustr.gov/Trade_Agreements/Bilateral/Panama_FTA/Panama_FTA_Fact_Sheets/Section_Index.html?ht, respectively.)
5. 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):
| Agency | Information Collection | Comments Due |
|---|---|---|
| BIS 1 | Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Under The Wassenaar Arrangement | 07/25/07 |
| BIS 2 | Written Assurances for Exports of Technical Data Under License Exception Technology and Software Under Restriction | 07/25/07 |
| FMC | Licensing, Financial Responsibility Requirements and General Duties for Ocean Transportation Intermediaries and Related Form | 08/07/07 |
| ATF | Implementation of Public Law 103-322, The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 | 08/13/07 |
BIS 1 and BIS 2 Information Collection (FR Pub 06/25/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-12213.pdf
FMC Information Collection (FR Pub 06/08/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-11067.pdf
ATF Information Collection (FR Pub 06/12/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-11302.pdf