Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. CG Finds Security Flaws at One Third of Port Facilities Inspected in 2006

2. House Subcommittee Sends Expansive IPR Bill for Further Consideration

Washington Trade Daily reports that the House Judiciary Subcommittee on

Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property recently sent an expansive IPR protection bill (H.R. 4279) for full committee consideration. Among other things, the bill would create a special international envoy within the White House to coordinate IPR enforcement activities; raise penalties for IPR infringements; and appoint IPR officers to work with foreign countries in their efforts to combat counterfeiting and piracy. (Washington Trade Daily, dated 03/07/08, http://www.washingtontradedaily.com/)

3. U.S.-China Green Financing Program Provides Pollution Solutions to China

The U.S. Commercial Service has posted information on the eight year old Pollution Prevention and Energy Efficiency (P2E2) program between the U.S. and China which mobilizes private sector capital, management and technology from the U.S., China and elsewhere to provide solutions for China's growing energy conservation and air, water and ground pollution problems. According to the U.S. Commercial Service, P2E2 is a form of creative financing and public-private partnership that requires little or no public sector budgetary support to be effective. (U.S. Commercial Service, dated June 2007, available at http://www.buyusa.gov/hongkong/en/about_p2e2.html)

4. WIPO Had Record Number of International Patent Filings in 2007

The World Intellectual Property Organization reports that in 2007, it saw a record number of filings under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), with a 4.7% rate of growth over the previous year. For the fourth year running, the most notable growth rates came from countries in north east Asia which accounted for over a quarter (25.8%) of all international applications under the PCT. (WIPO press release, dated 02/21/08, available at http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2008/article_0006.html)

5. China-EU Joint Customs Cooperation Discuss IPR Protection, Etc.

China Customs has issued a press release announcing that the China-European Union Joint Customs Cooperation had its third meeting on January 28, 2008, in which they discussed issues on China-EU customs cooperation, focusing on the China-EU Pilot Project on Smart and Secure Trade Lanes, intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and the implementation of the "China-EC Agreement on Co-operation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters." (China Customs, dated 02/28/08, available at http://www.customs.gov.cn/YWStaticPage/7021/391c2b78.htm)

6. President's Export Council to Hold Open Meeting April 8th

The International Trade Administration has issued a notice announcing that the President's Export Council will hold an open meeting on April 8, 2008 in Washington, DC to discuss topics related to export expansion, including trade priorities and initiatives, PEC subcommittee activity, and proposed letters of recommendation to the President. (FR Pub 03/12/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-4893.pdf)

7. GAO Report on Laws and Policies Regulating Foreign Investment

The Government Accountability Office has released its report entitled, "Foreign Investment: Laws and Policies Regulating Foreign Investment in 10 Countries." Among other things, this report updates a 1996 GAO report that describes how four major foreign investors in the U.S. - France, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom - monitored foreign investment in their own countries to protect national security interests. It also examines foreign investment in six additional countries: Canada, China, India, the Netherlands, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates. (GAO-08-320, dated 02/08, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08320.pdf)

8. GAO Testimony on the Visa Waiver Program

The Government Accountability Office has released its testimony entitled, "Visa Waiver Program: Limitations with Department of Homeland Security's Plan to Verify Departure of Foreign Nationals." Among other things, the testimony focuses on one of the required actions aimed at enhancing the security of the Visa Waiver Program - namely, that a system be in place that can verify the departure of 97% of foreign nationals who depart through U.S. airports. (GAO-08-458T, dated 02/28/08, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08458t.pdf)

9. Various Agencies Seek Comments on Information Collections

Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):

BIS 1 & 2 Information Collections (FR Pub 03/10/08) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-4636.pdf

DHS Information Collection (FR Pub 03/10/08) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-4605.pdf

EPA Information Collection (FR Pub 03/10/08) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-4697.pdf

State 1 Information Collection (FR Pub 03/07/08) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-4511.pdf

State 2 Information Collection (FR Pub 03/07/08) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-4526.pdf