Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
American Shipper reports that the Department of Commerce has undertaken an intensive review of a recent committee report that recommended significant changes to the regulations that help control access to certain U.S. technologies by foreign nationals, and it has already begun to implement some of the recommendations such as the formation of an Emerging Technologies Advisory Committee. (See ITT's Online Archives or 01/23/08 news, 08012330, for BP summary of the advisory committee's recommendations.) (American Shipper, dated 01/28/08, http://www.compairdata.com/compairdatanews/080728_010.asp)
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
1. Commerce Already Implemented Some 'Deemed Export' Recommendations
2. Canada Signs FTA with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland
The Government of Canada has issued a press release announcing that Canada has signed a free trade agreement with the four countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) which includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Taken together, this group represents Canada's eighth largest merchandise export destination. (Canadian press release, No. 21, dated 01/26/08, available at http://news.gc.ca/web/view/en/index.jsp?articleid=374859)
3. House Leader Says Passage of Colombia, S. Korea, Panama FTAs Unlikely
Reuters reports that according to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Congress is unlikely to pass a free trade deal with Colombia this year, or two other pending agreements with South Korea and Panama, despite pressure from the White House. (Reuters, dated 01/29/08, available at http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2962564920080130)
4. Congressional Leaders Urge President to Fully Enforce Canadian Softwood Lumber Agreement
Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Max Baucus has issued a press release announcing that he and the ranking Republican member of the Senate Agriculture Committee led 13 colleagues in calling on the President to make additional efforts to fully enforce the 2006 Softwood Lumber Agreement with Canada, stating that current arbitration efforts are not ensuring Canada's compliance. (Chairman's press release, dated 01/28/08, available at http://www.senate.gov/finance/press/Bpress/2008press/prb012808.pdf)
5. USTR Places Czech Republic on Special 301 Watch List
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a press release announcing that as a result of its out-of-cycle review of intellectual property rights protection and enforcement in the Czech Republic under the "Special 301" provisions of U.S. trade law, the Czech Republic will be placed on the Special 301 Watch List. (USTR press release, dated 01/22/08, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2008/January/USTR_Announces_Results_of_Out-of-Cycle_Review_for_the_Czech_Republic.html)
6. FTC Proposes Std. Serving Size, Pure Alcohol Amt. on Alcohol Labeling
The Federal Trade Commission has submitted a staff comment to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau concerning a proposed rulemaking on alcohol labeling to adopt a mandatory Serving Facts panel. The FTC proposes that the labels give consumers the standard serving size (to be defined in the new rules) as well as the amount of pure alcohol per serving, thus permitting consumers to compare different beverages. (FTC, dated 01/28/08, available at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/01/ttb.shtm)
7. BIS Imposes $400,000 Penalty for Alleged Unlicensed Navigation Exports
The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has issued a press release announcing that Northrop Grumman Corporation of Los Angeles, CA has agreed to pay a $400,000 civil penalty to settle allegations of violations involving unlicensed exports of specially designed components for navigation equipment and module manufacturing data to the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Italy, and the UK. BIS notes that Northrop voluntarily self-disclosed the violations and cooperated fully in the investigation. (BIS, dated 01/25/08, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/news/2008/northrop01252008.html)
8. FSIS Revises Meat, Poultry, Egg Export Requirements for Taiwan
The Food and Safety Inspection Service has posted revised export requirements for meat, poultry, and processed egg products for Taiwan, revised as of January 28, 2008. (FSIS Revised export requirements available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Index_of_Import_Requirements_by_Country/)
9. The State Dept.'s ITAC Committee to Hold Open Meeting Feb 5, 2008
The State Department has issued a notice announcing that its International Telecommunication Advisory Committee (ITAC) will hold a public meeting on February 5, 2008 in Washington, DC, to prepare advice on U.S. positions for the April 2008 meeting of the Organization of American States Inter-American Telecommunication Commission Permanent Consultative Committee II (Radiocommunication including broadcasting) and on various matters associated with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. (State Dept. Public Notice 6019, FR Pub 01/16/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-727.pdf)
10. DHS Network Advisory Committee to Hold Open Meeting Feb 12-13, 2008
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a notice announcing that its Homeland Security Information Network Advisory Committee will hold an open meeting on February 12-13, 2008 in Potomac, MD. (DHS notice, D/N DHS-2008-0001, FR Pub 01/11/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-292.pdf)