Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. Committee Reports Amended Bill to Make Cigarettes Etc. Nonmailable

2. Senate Finance to Consider Baucus Iran Sanctions Plan

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Baucus unveiled an original Chairman's Mark of legislation strengthening U.S. sanctions on Iran, for consideration by the full Committee on June 18th. (Senator Baucus' press release, dated http://finance.senate.gov/press/Bpress/2008press/prb061608%20Iran%20sanctions%20chairman's%20mark.pdf.)

3. International Arms Dealer Extradited on Terrorism Charges

The Justice Department has issued a press release announcing that international arms dealer Monzer Al Kassar, aka Abu Munawar, aka El Taous, has been extradited to the U.S. from Spain on federal terrorism charges. Al Kassar was extradited for his participation in a conspiracy to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (the FARC), a designated foreign terrorist organization. (DoJ press release, dated 06/13/08, available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2008/June/08-nsd-533.html)

4. BIS Temporary Denial Order Issued for Export of U.S. Aircraft to Iran

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a Temporary Denial Order suspending the export privileges of Galaxy Aviation Trade Company, three of its shareholders, and Iran Air for 180 days. Evidence obtained by BIS shows that the respondent parties were planning to re-export a U.S.-origin Boeing 747 cargo aircraft to Iran from Turkey in violation of the Export Administration Regulations. (BIS press release, dated 06/12/08, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/news/2008/bis_press06122008.htm)

5. Commerce Secretary to Lead DR-CAFTA Business Mission

The Commerce Department has issued a press release announcing that Commerce Secretary Gutierrez will lead a business delegation of U.S. exporters on a business development mission to the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2008. The mission will promote U.S. exports and investment and highlight regional opportunities that the DR-CAFTA has created since its implementation in 2006. (Commerce, dated 06/12/08, available at http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/PROD01_006666)

6. OTEXA to Hold Webinar on China IPR Protection

The Office of Textiles and Apparel has announced a free webinar on June 25, 2008 on protecting intellectual property rights trade protection for textile, apparel, footwear, and travel goods imported from China. (Webinar info available at http://web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/eamain.nsf/6e1600e39721316c852570ab0056f719/4816eca9f3c603e18525746700506379?OpenDocument)

7. FDA Eliminates Baseline Reports for Medical Devices

The Food and Drug Administration issued a direct final rule, effective October 27, 2008, amending its medical device reporting regulations to remove a requirement for baseline reports that the agency deems no longer necessary. As a companion to this final rule, FDA issued a proposed rule to amend its medical device reporting regulations to remove a requirement for baseline reports that the agency deems no longer necessary. Comments are due August 27, 2008. (FDA direct final rule, D/N FDA-2008-N-0310, FR Pub 06/13/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-13350.pdf and FDA proposed rule, D/N FDA-2008-N-0310, FR Pub 06/13/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-13349.pdf)

8. DOT Amends Drug and Alcohol Test Procedures for CMV Drivers

The Transportation Department issued an interim final rule, effective June 13, 2008, amending its drug and alcohol testing procedures to authorize employers to disclose to State commercial driver licensing authorities the drug and alcohol violations of employees who hold CDLs and operate commercial motor vehicles, when a State law requires such reporting. This rule also permits third-party administrators to provide the same information to State CDL licensing authorities where State law requires the TPAs to do so for owner-operator CMV drivers with CDLs. Comments should be submitted by August 12, 2008. (DOT interim final rule, D/N OST-2008-0184, FR Pub 06/13/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-13377.pdf)

9. DTAG to Hold Open and Closed Meetings on June 19, 2008

The State Department's Defense Trade Advisory Group will hold a closed meeting on June 19, 2008 in Washington, DC. As previously announced, DTAG will also hold an open meeting on June 19th. (See ITT's Online Archives or 06/11/08 news, 08061199 5, for previous BP summary announcing the open DTAG meeting on June 19, 2008.) (See ITT's 06/18/08 news, 08061850, for BP summary of the draft regulations to be discussed at the DTAG open meeting.) (State Department Public Notice 6254, FR Pub 06/13/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-13374.pdf)

10. FMC Lists OTI Applications

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

FMC notice (applications) (FR Pub 05/29/08) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-12017.pdf