Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
American Shipper reports that the Coalition for Clean and Safe Ports has produced a report which says that the proposed Southern California trucking program offers sizable savings to the public in the form of lowered health care costs and increased wages for the 16,800 port truck drivers. (American Shipper, dated 08/31/07, www.americanshipper.com and the coalition's report, "The Road to Shared Prosperity," dated August 2007, available at http://www.laane.org/docs/research/The_Road_to_Shared_Prosperity.pdf)
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1. Coalition Says CA Clean Trucks Program Would Offer Savings to Public
2. CBP Fast-Tracking Customs Systems Upgrades at U.S. Airports
The Los Angeles Times reports that in an attempt to avoid a repeat of a systems meltdown that complicated travel for tens of thousands of international passengers at the Los Angeles airport in August, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has allocated about $15.3 million to refurbish technical systems at the country's 104 major airports and international border crossings within the next six to nine months. (LA Times, dated 09/04/07, available at http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-laxcustoms4sep04,1,2215793.story?ctrack=8&cset=true)
3. DHS Says it Has Doubled Scanning of Cargo for Radiological/Nuclear Threats in 2 Years, Expects 100% by 2008
In testimony before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff stated that in just two years, DHS has more than doubled the percentage of incoming containerized cargo being scanned for radiological and nuclear threats at U.S. land borders (from 40% to 97%) and more than quadrupled that percentage at seaports (from about 20% to 91%). The Secretary added that by the end of next year, DHS will scan nearly 100% of inbound cargo containers for such deadly material. (Secretary Chertoff's testimony, dated 09/05/07, available at http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/testimony/testimony_1189114519132.shtm)
4. East ASEAN Countries to Harmonize/Streamline Customs, Security, Etc.
Philippine News reports that the East ASEAN Growth Area, the economic sub-region including Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, received approval from the Asian Development Bank to strengthen their customs, immigration, quarantine, and security operations, including harmonizing and streamlining their processes and formalities at ports of entry and border crossings. (Philippines News, dated 08/31/07, available at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2007/08/31/bus/bizmen.to.eaga.customs.streamline.mov.t.across.borders.html)
5. TSA, Coast Guard Jointly Published TWIC Guides
According to Marine Link, the Transportation Security Administration and the Coast Guard jointly published guides for applicants and owners and operators relating to the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program. (Marine Link, dated 09/24/07, available at http://www.marinelink.com/Story/TSA%26USCG%e2%80%93TWICguides-209030.html)
6. Canada to No Longer Accept Paper Versions of Certain Import Documents
The Canada Border Services Agency has posted a notice to importers on its Web site announcing that as of October 15, 2007, the CBSA will no longer accept paper versions of either the release on minimum documentation (RMD) or the Pre-arrival Review System (PARS) service options. However, there will be certain exceptions to this requirement. (CBSA notice available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/import/notice-avis-imp-eng.html
7. USTR Praises Senate Committee Vote in Favor of Peru TPA
U.S. Trade Representative Schwab has issued a statement praising the 18-3 Senate Finance Committee vote for the Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, saying that this is the first vote on a free trade agreement since the Administration and Congress agreed on a path for the consideration of four pending FTAs last May. (USTR statement, dated 09/21/07, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2007/September/Statement_by_USTR_Susan_C_Schwab_on_Senate_Finance_Committee_vote_of_18-3_on_Peru_Trade_Promotion_Agreement.html)
8. China Puts New Restrictions on Processing Trade Products
China's Ministry of Commerce and its Customs Bureau co-released issuance No. 44 announcing a new list of restricted processing trade products, many involving labor-intensive industries such as plastic raw materials and plastic processed products, yarn, textiles, and furniture. Altogether 1,853 tariff numbers were included on the list, which China says is meant to discourage the export of low added value products, curb "high polluting" products, reduce trade conflicts, etc. (Ministry of Commerce announcement, dated 07/25/07, available at http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/newsrelease/significantnews/200707/20070704923789.html and Customs Bureau announcement, dated 07/26/07, available at http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/policyrelease/domesticpolicy/200707/20070704928458.html)
9. Comprehensive Tariff Data Now Available on WTO's Web Site
The World Trade Organization has issued a news release announcing that information on customs duties has been upgraded on the WTO Web site in a new standardized format and in greater detail. This includes new data on the tariffs that governments actually charge on imports, which have a direct impact on trade. (Press release, dated 09/24/07, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news07_e/tariff_sept07_e.htm)
10. Mattel Says It Recalled More Lead-Tainted Toys than Justified
MSNBC.com reports that Mattel Inc. issued an apology to China over the recall of Chinese-made toys, taking the blame for design flaws, and stating that its lead-related recalls were "overly inclusive, including toys that may not have had lead in paint in excess of the U.S. standards." (MSNBC.com, dated 09/21/07, available at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20903731)
11. FDA, USDA Meeting on Upcoming Codex Antimicrobial Task Force
The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a notice announcing that the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration sponsored a public meeting on September 24, 2007 to discuss the agenda items coming before the First Session of the Codex Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance, which will be held in Seoul, Korea, October 23-26, 2007, and to present draft U.S. positions on the agenda items. (D/N FSIS-2007-0034, FR Pub 09/21/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-18719.pdf)