Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. Unhappiness with the State of Importing Underlies COAC's Stand Against 102, First Sale Proposal

2. NTEU Declares Victory as DHS Ends Efforts to Implement New Labor Relations Regulations

The National Treasury Employees Union has declared victory in its five-year battle to defeat aspects of an enjoined Department of Homeland Security 2005 final rule on a new Human Resources Management System. The victory came with the federal government's filing in federal court that it will abandon efforts to install new labor relations regulations as part of its overall efforts at revamping the DHS personnel system. NTEU adds that it will continue its fight over the non-labor relations aspects of the February 1, 2005 final rule. (NTEU press release, dated 02/15/08, available at http://www.nteu.org/PressKits/PressRelease/PressRelease.aspx?ID=1219 )

3. Companies Seem to Have Adjusted to China's Mid-2007 Actions on NVO Registration

According to government and trade sources, U.S. carriers and non-vessel operating common carriers appear to have adjusted to China's June 2007 announcements requiring operators of non-vessel shipping businesses to comply with China's registration and deposit requirements when they use China NVOs as agents. China's June 2007 announcements available by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com

(In November 2007, the U.S. and China met for their second U.S.-China Maritime Consultative Meeting during which the U.S. proposed that the NVOCC Optional Bond Rider provided by the Federal Maritime Commission be allowed to cover the China cross trades as well as bilateral trade. Agreed minutes of this second U.S.-China meeting (which also considered other issues) available by sending requests to documents@brokerpower.com .)

4. Ports America Group Opens New Puerta Mexico Intermodal Facility

Ports America Group has issued a news release announcing the opening of its Puerta Mxico Intermodal Facility, located in the industrial zone of Toluca 65 kilometers west of Mexico City. The new terminal offers multi-modal terminal services and on-site customs and bonded warehousing facilities to ocean carriers, railroads, intermodal and other logistics service providers. (Ports America news release, dated 02/27/08, available at http://www.portsamerica.com/pdf/Ports%20America's%20Puerta%20Mexico%20grand%20open%20NR%20f.pdf)

5. China and New Zealand to Sign Free Trade Agreement in April

Yahoo! News reports that New Zealand will sign a free trade agreement with China in early April, the first FTA between China and a developed economy. China states that it entered into talks with New Zealand because it was the first developed country to recognize it as having a market-based economy. (Yahoo! News, dated 02/26/08, available at http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080226/new_zealand_china_free_trade.html?.v=4)

6. Environmental Groups Threaten Port of Long Beach with Pollution Lawsuit

The Journal of Commerce reports that two environmental groups have threatened to sue the Port of Long Beach within 90 days if it does not act more aggressively to enforce deadlines and reduce pollution under its Clean Air Action Plan. (JoC, dated 02/18/08, www.joc.com)

7. EC Issues Frequently Asked Questions Document on Microsoft Antitrust Decision

The European Community has issued a frequently asked questions document on the EC's antitrust decision of February 27, 2008 to impose penalty payments on Microsoft. (EC FAQ document, dated 02/27/08, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/08/125&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)

8. FDA Revises Import Alert on Cosmetics Containing Illegal Colors

The Food and Drug Administration has updated and reorganized Import Alert (IA) 53-06 "Automatic Detention of Cosmetics Containing Illegal Colors" by removing references to "automatic detention" and replacing them with "detention without physical examination," which is not a substantive change. Other changes include updating a reference document for color analysis and reorganizing the attached lists of firms subject to, or exempt from, detention. (IA 53-06, dated 01/16/08, available at http://www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/ora_import_ia5306.html )

9. FDA Amends Soluble Fiber Health Claim Regulations

The Food and Drug Administration has issued an interim final rule, effective February 25, 2008, amending the health claim regulation entitled "Soluble fiber from certain foods and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD)" to add barley betafiber as an additional eligible source of beta-glucan soluble fiber. Comments are due by May 12, 2008. (FDA interim final rule, D/N FDA-2008-P-0090 (formerly D/N 2006P-0393), FR Pub 02/25/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-3418.pdf)

10. Commerce Receives Application for Export Trade Certificate of Review

The Commerce Department has issued a notice stating that it has received an application from Wilco Machine & Fab, Inc. for an Export Trade Certificate of Review, which if granted, will protect the holder and members identified in the Certificate from specific antitrust actions. Written comments are due 20 days after February 18, 2008. (App. No. 08-00002, FR Pub 02/25/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-3426.pdf)

11. BIS Amends Order Denying Fazeli's Export Privileges to Update Address

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a notice that it is amending an Order denying Mohammad Fazeli all U.S. export privileges until August 7, 2012 in order to update Fazeli's address. (BIS notice, FR Pub 02/25/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/08-826.pdf)