Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. Pakistan Joins ATA Carnet System, Waives Duties on Temporary Imports

2. Senator Baucus' Remarks on FTAs Under a Democratic Trade Policy

The Senate Committee on Finance has posted Senator Max Baucus' remarks before the New Democrat Network regarding a Democratic trade policy which supports new free trade agreements with environmental, labor and other provisions. (Remarks, dated 10/02/07, available at http://www.senate.gov/finance/press/Bpress/2007press/prb100207a.pdf)

3. U.S. Food Safety Agencies, Industry Seek More Import Regulation

According to the Washington File, U.S. food import safety officials and the food industry are proposing to ramp up federal regulation of imported food and ingredients to address the risk that unsafe products could enter the U.S. (Washington File, dated 10/02/07, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=October&x=20071002152124AKllennoCcM0.4573633)

4. EU Argues to WTO that Boeing Receives Lavish Government Subsidies

The New York Times reports that the European Union presented its case to the World Trade Organization that Boeing receives "lavish" government subsidies, including $23.7 billion in Defense Department and NASA research subsidies, as well as local and state funding, that give it an unfair competitive edge over its rival aircraft maker Airbus. The complaint follows a similar one filed by the U.S. about aid granted to Airbus. (NY Times, dated 09/27/07, available at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/business/worldbusiness/27air.html)

5. USTR Welcomes Conclusion of New International Coffee Agreement

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a press release announcing that USTR Susan Schwab welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations for a new International Coffee Agreement (ICA) - the ICA 2007. The ICA is a commodity trade agreement that establishes the International Coffee Organization (ICO), an intergovernmental forum to discuss coffee matters. (Press release, dated 10/02/07, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2007/October/USTR_Susan_C_Schwab_Welcomes_Conclusion_of_a_New_International_Coffee_Agreement.html)

6. State Dept Announces Application to Construct a New Bridge Between U.S., Mexico

The State Department has issued a notice announcing that it received an application for a Presidential Permit authorizing the construction, operation and maintenance of a new international rail bridge crossing (aka the Columbia Rail Bridge) between Webb County, Texas and Colombia, State of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Comments are due on or before November 5, 2007. (Public Notice 5923, FR Pub 09/04/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-17435.pdf)

7. State Dept Terminates Statutory Debarment of Davilyn Corporation

The State Department has issued a notice, effective October 9, 2007, announcing that it has terminated the statutory debarment against Davilyn Corporation. The effect of this termination is that Davilyn may participate in the export of defense articles and defense services subject to certain provisions of the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. (Public Notice 5953, FR Pub 10/09/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-19807.pdf)

8. ITA Announces Opportunity to Become a District Export Council Member

The International Trade Administration has issued a notice announcing that the Commerce Department is currently seeking expressions of interest from individuals in serving as a member of one of the sixty District Export Councils (DECs) nationwide. Applications for nomination to a DEC must be received by November 1, 2007. (FR Pub 10/09/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-19854.pdf)

9. CITA Seeks Comments on DR-CAFTA Commercial Availability Designation

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has issued an electronic notice requesting written comments by 12:00 a.m. EST on October 3, 2007 regarding a "commercial availability" request it received under the U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) on behalf of New World Sourcing alleging that certain stretch woven fabrics classifiable in HTS 5515.11.0040 cannot be supplied by the domestic industries or the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, or Honduras industries in commercial quantities in a timely manner. (Notice available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)

10. Shipping Coordinating Committee to Hold Open Meeting on October 16

The State Department has issued a notice announcing that its Shipping Coordinating Committee will conduct an open meeting on October 16, 2007 in Washington, DC to prepare for the Ninety-third Session of the International Maritime Organization's Legal Committee (LEG 93) scheduled from 22-26 October 2007. (Public Notice 5948, FR Pub 10/03/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-19527.pdf)

11. FMCSA Adjusts its Civil Penalties for Inflation, Makes Technical Correction

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a final rule, effective September 28, 2007, specifying inflation adjustments to civil penalties for violating the FMCSA regulations. The final rule also makes a technical correction to include a reference to a paragraph created by an earlier rulemaking. (FMCSA notice, FR Pub 09/28/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-19254.pdf)