Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

Yahoo! News reports that the World Health Organization has announced its plans to adopt a new international treaty by 2010 on the illegal trade of tobacco which is estimated at approximately 10% of global tobacco sales. (Yahoo! News, dated 02/15/08, available at http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080215/ts_afp/healthtobaccowhotrade)

3. USTR Announces U.S. Appeal of WTO Panel Finding in Cotton Dispute

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a statement announcing that the U.S. has filed an appeal of a World Trade Organization compliance panel finding that certain changes made by the U.S. to its cotton programs were insufficient to bring the challenged measures - certain support payments under the 2002 farm bill and export credit guarantees - into conformity with U.S. WTO obligations. (USTR statement, dated 02/13/08, available at http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2008/February/asset_upload_file685_14463.pdf)

4. CBP Building ITDS to WCO Standards but WCO Syntax Remains an Issue

The Journal of Commerce reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection is building its International Trade Data System data requirements to be consistent with international (e.g. World Customs Organization) data standards as mandated in the 2006 SAFE Port Act, but the issue is when CBP will create the facility to accept messages in the WCO syntax. (JoC, dated 02/11/08, www.joc.com)

5. OFAC Designates 3 Individuals, 4 Entities Under Burma EO

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice publishing the names of three newly-designated individuals and four entities whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13448, "Blocking Property and Prohibiting Certain Transactions Related to Burma," effective February 5, 2008. (OFAC notice, FR Pub 02/11/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2425.pdf)

6. OFAC Designates 4 Individuals Under Burma EO

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice publishing the names of four newly-designated individuals whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13448, "Blocking Property and Prohibiting Certain Transactions Related to Burma," effective February 5, 2008. (OFAC notice, FR Pub 2/11/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2426.pdf)

7. FDA Extends Comment Period on Proposed Rule to Allow Use of Ultrafiltered Milk in Making Cheese, Etc.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a notice extending the comment period until April 11, 2008 for its October 2005 proposed rule that would amend 21 CFR Part 133 in order to provide for the use of fluid ultrafiltered milk in the manufacture of standardized cheeses and related cheese products. The FDA is seeking further comment on only two specific issues concerning the proposed ingredient declaration. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/21/05 news, 05102199 3, for BP summary of the proposed rule.) (FDA extension notice, D/N FDA-2008-P-0086 (formerly D/N 2000P-0586), FR Pub 02/11/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2454.pdf)

8. USDA's Economic Research Issues 10-Year Agriculture Projection Report

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service has issued notice of its updated report providing 10-year projections for the agricultural sector through 2017 covering agricultural commodities, agricultural trade, and aggregate indicators of the sector, such as farm income and food prices. (Updated 02/12/08, available at http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/oce081/)

9. TSA Updates its Quarterly TWIC Deployment Plan

The Transportation Security Administration has issued an updated version, as of February 13, 2008, of its quarterly deployment plan for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential. (TWIC Quarterly Deployment Plan as of 02/13/08, available at http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/twicquarterlydeploymentschedule.pdf)

10. FSIS Updates Export Requirements, Eligible Foreign Establishments

The Food and Safety Inspection Service has posted revised export requirements for Costa Rica, Russia, revised as of February 11, 2008, and for Mexico, revised as of February 8, 2008. FSIS has also updated its list of countries certified to export meat, poultry, or egg products to the U.S. for Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Chile. (Revised export requirements by country available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Index_of_Import_Requirements_by_Country/) (Updated list of eligible foreign establishments available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/Eligible_Foreign_Establishments/index.asp)

11. CBP Accredits Sixteen Companies as Commercial Gaugers and/or Laboratories

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued notices stating that it has accredited and approved the following companies as commercial gaugers and/or laboratories for petroleum and petroleum products, organic chemicals and vegetable oils, and to test petroleum and petroleum products for customs purposes, in accordance with 19 CFR 151.12 and/or 151.13, on the effective dates listed (see individual notice for dates of next triennial inspections):

(Inspectorate-Chelsea, MA, FR Pub 02/11/08, available athttp://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2432.pdf)

(SGS-Bayonne, NJ, and Inspectorate-Romeoville, IL, FR Pub 02/12/08, available athttp://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2431.pdf)

(Inspectorate-East Haven, CT; Intertek-Romeoville, IL; and SGS-St. Croix, VI, FR Pub 02/12/08, available athttp://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2430.pdf)

(Camin-Linden, NJ; Camin-Nederland, TX; and Chem Coast, FR Pub 02/12/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2404.pdf)

(Inspectorate-Linden, NJ; Inspectorate-Beaumont, TX; and Intertek-Houston, TX, FR Pub 02/12/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2400.pdf)

(NMC; Saybolt; and Inspectorate-Texas City, TX, FR Pub 02/12/08 available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2403.pdf)

(SGS-Freeport, TX, FR Pub 02/12/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2436.pdf)