Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. FDA Reversed Plan to Close Field Laboratories Early in 2008

2. Senate Commerce Committee Reports Seafood Consumer Protection Bill

On April 24, 2008, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee ordered to be favorably reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute the Commercial Seafood Consumer Protection Act (S. 2688), which would establish a federal program to ensure that seafood distributed commercially in the U.S. is fit for consumption. (Press release, dated 04/24/08, available at http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=56b52282-ae08-4e7b-9f96-de7007794820&Month=4&Year=2008.)

3. House Passes FY 2008 Coast Guard Authorization Bill

On April 24, 2008, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2830, a bill to authorize appropriations for the U.S. Coast Guard for fiscal year 2008. (H.R. 2830 available at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:h2830eh.txt.pdf.)

4. BIS Transportation and Related Equipment TAC to Meet on May 8th

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a notice announcing that the Transportation and Related Equipment Technical Advisory Committee will hold an open meeting on May 8, 2008 in Washington, DC. The agenda for this meeting includes (partial list): regulations and status of Commerce Control List review, Missile Technology review, Wassenaar update - status of May 2008 proposals, etc. (BIS notice, FR Pub 04/23/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-8741.pdf.)

5. Manufacturing Council to Hold Open Meeting on May 7, 2008

The International Trade Administration has issued a notice announcing that the Manufacturing Council will hold an open meeting via teleconference on May 7, 2008 to deliberate a draft recommendation to the Secretary of Commerce regarding Alternative Energy. (ITA notice, FR Pub 04/23/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-8877.pdf.)

6. Foreign Trade Zones Board Notice

The Foreign Trade Zone Board issued the following:

FTZ 161 - Sedgwick County, Kansas - Application for Subzone Status Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Aircraft Manufacturing), Wichita and Salina, Kansas

(FTZ notice, FR Pub 04/23/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-8814.pdf.)

7. Man Arrested for Disclosing National Defense Information to Israel

The Justice Department has issued a press release announcing that Ben-Ami Kadish was arrested on charges that he participated in a conspiracy to disclose to the Government of Israel documents related to the national defense of the U.S. (Justice Dept press release, dated 04/22/08, available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2008/April/08_nsd_324.html.)

8. Commerce to Convene 2nd National Summit on American Competitiveness

The Commerce Department has issued a press release announcing that it will convene the second national meeting of premier leaders from business, government, and academia to discuss what steps the public and private sectors can take to secure America's position as the most competitive economy in the 21st century on May 22, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. (Commerce Dept press release, dated 04/22/08, available at http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/PROD01_005562.)

9. Ukraine to Join WTO on May 16, 2008

The World Trade Organization has issued a press release announcing that Ukraine informed the WTO that it has accepted its membership agreement. As a result, Ukraine's membership will be effective May 16, 2008. (WTO press release, dated 04/21/08, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/acc_ukraine_apr08_e.htm.)

10. CBSA Memo on Value for Duty of Printed/Lithographed Matter, Etc.

The Canada Border Services Agency posted an updated version of its memo outlining and explaining the methods by which the value for duty of printed or lithographed matter, financial and other instruments is determined. (CBSA memo D13-11-3, dated 04/18/08, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d13/d13-11-3-eng.html.)

11. FMC Lists OTI Applications

The Federal Maritime Commission has issued a notice that list those applying for OTI licenses as a non-vessel-operating common carrier , ocean freight forwarder or NVOCC/FF OTI, as follows:

FMC notice (FR Pub 04/02/08) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-6798.pdf