Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. TSA Unsure When TWIC Readers Will Be Deployed, Testing to Start in 2008

2. WCO Secretary General Recommends Privatizing Seaports

All Africa reports that the World Customs Organization's Secretary General, Michel Danet, recommends that seaports be privatized for them to meet international standards and cope with fast changes. (All Africa, dated 02/25/08, available at http://allafrica.com/stories/200802251745.html)

3. African and Western Hemisphere Textile/Apparel Groups Urge Striking Sections of NPDA Bill

The National Council of Textile Organizations has issued a press release announcing that fifteen textile and apparel trade groups from Africa and the Western Hemisphere urged House Ways and Means Chairman Rangel to strike certain sections of the New Partnership for Development Act (NPDA) bill, authored by Congressman McDermott, that the groups state would result in hundreds of thousands of job losses in their textile and apparel sectors while increasing poverty in the African, Andean, DR-CAFTA and NAFTA countries. (NCTO press release with link to the letter, dated 02/26/08, available at http://www.ncto.org/newsroom/pr20080226.asp)

4. Federal Court Rules Against California Low-Sulfur Fuel Law for Vessels

The Long Beach Press Telegram reports that California air quality regulators recently lost a ruling in federal court that prevents the state from setting emissions standards on the thousands of ships calling at California's seaports. While the decision invalidates a state law, enacted in January 2007 and requiring ships to use low-sulfur fuel in their auxiliary engines within 24 miles of the state's coastline, state authorities say they are considering an appeal. (Press Telegram, dated 02/27/08, available at http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_8386514)

5. MARAD, Maritime Transportation System Release Vision for 21st Century

The Maritime Administration and the U.S. Maritime Transportation System have released their report entitled, "The Maritime Administration and the U.S. Maritime Transportation System: A Vision for the 21st Century." (MARAD/MTS report, dated November 2007, available at http://www.marad.dot.gov/)

6. USDA Analyzes Impact of Absence of Farm Bill on Trade, Etc.

At the request of Congressional requestors, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a document analyzing the impact to current USDA programs in the absence of enactment of a new farm bill or extension of the 2002 farm bill past March 15, 2008. Among other things, USDA noted that funding for the following trade and international development programs would expire on March 16, 2008: export credit guarantees, export credit guarantees for emerging markets, market access, foreign market development cooperator, technical assistance for specialty crops, food for progress, dairy export incentives, and facilities credit guarantees. (Press release w/link to analysis, dated 02/29/08, available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2008/02/0062.xml)

7. TSA Updates its TWIC Quarterly Deployment Plan for FY 2008

The Transportation Security Administration has issued an updated version, as of February 28, 2008, of its quarterly deployment plan for fiscal year 2008 for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential. (TWIC Quarterly Deployment Plan as of 02/28/08, available at http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/twicquarterlydeploymentschedule.pdf)

8. WTO Panel Decides on U.S. in Shrimp/Bonding Disputes

On February 29, 2008 the World Trade Organization issued panel reports on complaints by Thailand and India, respectively, titled "U.S. - Measures Relating to Shrimp from Thailand" (DS343) and "U.S. - Customs Bond Directive for Merchandise Subject to Anti-Dumping/Countervailing Duties" (DS345). (WTO, dated 02/29/08, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/343r_345r_e.htm)

9. U.S./Tanzania Enter into Compact to Promote Economic Growth in Tanzania

In accordance with the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) published a summary and the complete text of the Millennium Challenge Compact between the U.S. and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania. The program will fund three constraints to economic growth and private investment in Tanzania. (Notice, MCC FR 08-02, FR Pub 02/27/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-3661.pdf)

10. BIS RPTAC to Hold Partially Open Meeting

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a notice announcing that its Regulations and Procedures Technical Advisory Committee will hold a partially open meeting on March 11, 2008 in Washington, DC. The agenda for the public session of this meeting will include comments on Simplified Network Application Process-Redesign System (SNAP-R), updates on export enforcement, the Automated Export System (AES), etc. (BIS notice, FR Pub 02/27/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-3660.pdf)

11. FTC Seeks Comments on its Home Entertainment Amplifier Rule

The Federal Trade Commission has issued a notice requesting public comment on its Trade Regulation Rule Relating to Power Output Claims for Amplifiers Utilized in Home Entertainment Products, as part of its systematic review of all current FTC rules and guides. Written comments must be received by May 12, 2008. (FTC notice, FR Pub 02/27/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-3715.pdf)

12. FSIS Announces Public Codex Meeting on Contaminants in Foods

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a notice announcing a public meeting on March 5, 2008 in College Park, MD to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 2nd Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which will be held in The Hague, The Netherlands, from March 31-April 4, 2008. (FSIS notice, D/N FSIS-2008-0005, FR Pub 03/03/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-4056.pdf)

13. FSIS Announces Public Codex Meeting on Food Additives

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a notice announcing a public meeting on March 12, 2008 in College Park, MD to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 40th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which will be held in Beijing, China, on April 21-25, 2008. (FSIS notice, D/N FSIS-2008-0006, FR Pub 03/03/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-4060.pdf)

14. FTC to Hold Public "Green" Workshop

The Federal Trade Commission has issued a notice announcing its plan to host a public workshop on April 30, 2008, in Washington, D.C. to examine developments in green packaging claims and consumer perception of such claims. The workshop is a component of the Commission's regulatory review of the Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims. Comments must be submitted no later than May 19, 2008. (FTC notice, FR Pub 03/03/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-3972.pdf)