Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

Reuters reports that Nokia Corporation won its patent battle with chip maker Qualcomm Inc. as an administrative law judge with the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that there is no violation of three patents that control power to mobile telephones. Qualcomm had accused Nokia of infringing on the three patents and asked the ITC to bar the importation of the infringing technology. (See ITT's Online Archives or 09/12/07 news, 07091225, BP Note, for previous BP summary of this case.) (Reuters, Pub 12/12/07, available at http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN1210875820071213)

6. Application Fees for Non-Immigrant Visas to Increase to $131 Jan. 1, 2008

The State Department has issued a press release announcing that effective January 1, 2008, the application fee for a U.S. non-immigrant visa will increase from $100 to $131, which applies both to non-immigrant visas issued on machine-readable foils in passports and to border crossing cards issued to certain applicants in Mexico. Applicants who paid the prior $100 application fee before Jan. 1, 2008 will be processed only if they are scheduled and appear for a visa interview before Jan. 31. Applicants who paid the prior $100 application fee and appear for visa interviews after Jan. 31, 2008 must pay the difference of $31 before they will be interviewed. (Press release, dated 12/13/07, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2007/dec/97384.htm)

7. BTS Reports Freight Index Rose 1.3% in October from September 2007

The Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics has issued a press release announcing that the Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 1.3% in October from its September level, rising after a one-month decline that brought the index to its lowest level since January 2004. The freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in the output of services provided by the for-hire freight transportation industries, and consists of data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight. (BTS 56-07, dated 12/12/07, available at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/bts5607.htm)

8. FWS Proposes Rule to Amend CITES Migratory Bird Import/Export Regs

The Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a proposed rule to amend 50 CFR Part 21 in order to resolve problems related to the export of species covered by Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) permits or certificates; to allow the importation and possession without an import permit of legally acquired migratory game birds in the families Anatidae, Columbidae, Gruidae, Rallidae, or Scolopacidae that were lawfully hunted in a foreign country; to extend the period of time for which an import and export permit is valid from 3 to 5 years; and to reorganize and reword the regulations to make them easier to understand. Written comments are due by February 19, 2008. (FR Pub 11/19/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-22182.pdf )

9. DOE Final Rule on Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps

The Department of Energy has issued a final rule, effective April 21, 2008, on its test procedure for residential central air conditioners and heat pumps. (D/N EE-RM/TP-02-002, FR Pub 10/22/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-5142.pdf )

10. FDA Proposes Rule on Omega-3 Fatty Acid Nutrient Content Claims

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a proposed rule to find that certain nutrient content claims for foods, including conventional foods and dietary supplements, that contain omega-3 fatty acids, do not meet the requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and may not appear in food labeling. The three Omega-3 fatty acids at issue are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Written comments are due by February 11, 2008. (D/N 2004N-0217, 2005P-0189 & 2006P-0137, FR Pub 11/27/07, available athttp://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-22991.pdf )

11. FDA Plans to Conduct a Risk Assessment for Listeria

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a notice requesting comments, scientific data and information to assist it in conducting a risk assessment for Listeria Monocytogenes in soft-ripened cheese. Scientific data, information, and comments are due by January 28, 2008. (D/N 2007N-0432 , FR Pub 11/28/07, http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-23104.pdf )

12. APHIS Announces Pest Risk Analysis Availability on Dropwort Leaves with Stems

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a notice advising the public that it has prepared a pest risk analysis evaluating the risks associated with the importation of dropwort leaves with stems from South Korea into the U.S. APHIS will consider comments received on or before January 22, 2008. (D/N APHIS-2007-0143, FR Pub 11/21/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/30nov20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-22760.pdf )

13. Foreign-Trade Zones Board Actions

The FTZB has issued the following notices of recent FTZ actions: