Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a press release announcing that the U.S. will join negotiations on investment and financial services set to begin in March among Singapore, Chile, New Zealand and Brunei, known as the "P-4" group of countries, which have negotiated their own free trade agreement, the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership, based largely on the U.S.' FTAs with Singapore and Chile. The U.S. will also determine whether it should participate in the full Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership. (USTR press release, dated 02/04/08, available at http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2008/February/asset_upload_file806_14451.pdf)
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1. U.S. to Join Sectoral Negotiations with Four Asia-Pacific Countries
2. Chinese, U.S. Nationals Indicted in Tainted Pet Food Cases
The Food and Drug Administration reports that two Chinese nationals and the businesses they operate, along with a U.S. company and its president and chief executive officer, were indicted by a federal grand jury in separate but related cases for their roles in a scheme to import products purported to be wheat gluten into the U.S. that were contaminated with melamine. These products were used to make pet food. (FDA press release, dated 02/06/08, available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01792.html)
3. FTD, STAT-USA Launch New Web Site on U.S. Import/Export Stats
The Census Bureau's Foreign Trade Division, in collaboration with STAT-USA, created a new Web site called USA Trade Online. The new Web site provides current and cumulative U.S. export and import data on more than 18,000 export commodities and 24,000 import commodities worldwide. Using the Harmonized System classification codes, customers are able to select broad commodity categories at the 2-digit level or get very specific up to the 10-digit level. (USA Trade Online information available at http://www.usatradeonline.gov/usatrade.nsf/vwRef/About_Product?Open&mc=F9000)
4. EC Recommends Adoption of Code of Conduct for Nanoscience Research
The European Commission has issued a press release announcing its recommendation that its member states adopt a code of conduct for responsible nanosciences and nanotechnologies research based on general principles such as sustainability, precaution, inclusiveness, and accountability. (EC press release, dated 02/08/08, available at http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=newsalert&lg=en&year=2008&na=na-080208-3)
5. USDA Grants Protection to 55 New Plant Varieties
The Agricultural Marketing Service has issued two press releases announcing that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued certificates of protection to developers of: (1) 23 new varieties of seed-reproduced and tuber-propagated plants including bluegrass, corn, fescue, lettuce and pea; and (2) 32 new varieties of seed-reproduced and tuber-propagated plants including corn, soybean and tomato. (AMS press releases, dated 02/11/08, available athttp://www.ams.usda.gov/news/newsrel.htmFebruary_2008)
6. OTEXA to Hold Americas Textile/Apparel Competitiveness Forum in April
The Office of Textiles and Apparel has announced that it will hold an event entitled, "Americas Textiles and Apparel Competitiveness Forum: Realizing the Benefits of Western Hemisphere Trade" in Miami Beach, FL on April 7, 2008. The forum will cover textile trade policy initiatives and direction, including preferential programs and free trade agreements; supply chain and logistics strategies; and insight on doing business in the region, among other things. (Conference information available at http://www.otexa.ita.doc.gov/atacf.pdf)
7. UW to hold Various Transportation Management, Supply Chain Seminars
The University of Wisconsin - Madison will hold two-day seminars throughout 2008 on various transportation management and supply chain issues. Seminars include, "Today's Buying, Selling and Pricing of Transportation Services," "Contracting and Managing Motor Carrier and Logistics Services in Supply Chains," and "Import/Export Documentation and Traffic." (Seminar information available at http://exed.wisc.edu/transportation/default.asp)
8. BIS Action Affecting Export Privileges of AR-AM Medical Services
The Bureau of Industry and Security's Office of Antiboycott Compliance and AR-AM Medical Services LLC (AR-AM) have entered into a Settlement Agreement regarding allegations that AR-AM committed three violations of the Export Administration Regulations by furnishing information about business relationships with boycotted countries or blacklisted persons in its sales to Syria. (FR Pub 02/08/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/08-522.pdf)
9. BIS Action Affecting Export Privileges of DMA Med-Chem Corp.
The Bureau of Industry and Security's Office of Antiboycott Compliance and DMA Med-Chem Corporation (DMA) have entered into a Settlement Agreement regarding allegations that DMA committed one violation of the Export Administration Regulations by furnishing information about business relationships with boycotted countries or blacklisted persons in its sales to Syria. (FR Pub 02/08/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/08-521.pdf)
10. BIS' Materials TAC to Hold Partially Open Meeting
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a notice announcing that the Materials Technical Advisory Committee will hold a partially open meeting on February 21, 2008 in Washington, DC. The agenda for the public session of this meeting will include the Export Control Directive issued by President Bush on January 22, 2008 and other various topics. (FR Pub 02/08/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2370.pdf)
11. GAO Testimony on Restructuring the Surface Transportation Program
The Government Accountability Office has issued testimony titled, "Surface Transportation: Preliminary Observations on Efforts to Restructure Current Program." GAO discusses (1) principles to assess proposals for restructuring the surface transportation program; and (2) its preliminary observations on The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission's recommendations. (GAO-08-478T, dated 02/08, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08478t.pdf)
12. FMC Lists OTI Applications
The Federal Maritime Commission has issued a notice listing those applying for Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) licenses as a Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC), Ocean Freight Forwarder (FF), or NVOCC/FF as follows:
FMC notice (FR Pub 01/30/08) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-1576.pdf