Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. Revised WTO Doha Negotiating Texts in Agriculture and Industrial Goods

2. WTO Reports Decline in New AD Investigations, Etc.

The WTO Secretariat reported that during the period July 1 - December 31, 2007, the reported number of initiations of new antidumping investigations continued its previously-reported declining trend, falling by 7 percent compared with the number reported for the corresponding period of 2006. (WTO release 535, dated 07/09/08, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres08_e/pr535_e.htm )

3. Seventh AGOA Forum on July 14-16, 2008

The seventh African Growth and Opportunity Act Forum is being held in Washington D.C. on July 14-16, 2008. The theme of this year's Forum is 'Mobilizing Private Investment for Trade and Growth.' The Forum will focus on creating a business climate that will encourage private investment and help mobilize capital to finance investment. (Announcement available at http://www.agoa.gov/agoa_forum/agoa_forum7.html )

4. Two of Busiest U.S. Interstates to Get Funding for Truck Parking

The Department of Transportation announced that two of the U.S.' busiest interstates (I-95 and I-5) will receive more than $5 million each as part of the Trucking Parking Facilities program, which uses intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technology to provide truckers with real time information on available parking. (DOT release FHWA 13-08, dated 07/09/08, available at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/fhwa1308.htm)

5. BTS Freight Transportation Services Index Rose 1.9% in May 2008

The DOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that the Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 1.9 percent in May 2008 from its April 2008 level, the largest monthly increase since January. The index measures month-to-month changes in the output of services provided by the for-hire transportation industry. (DOT release BTS 33-08, dated 07/09/08, available at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/bts3308.htm)

6. Port of Long Beach Places $35 Million Order for Clean Trucks

The Port of Long Beach has placed a $35 million order for 300 heavy-duty trucks to jumpstart its landmark Clean Trucks Program, which will begin replacing the existing port drayage trucking fleet to improve air quality on October 1, 2008. (Press release available at http://www.polb.com/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=400&targetid=1 )

7. USDA Accepting Applications for 2 Export Market Development Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service recently announced that it continues to accept applications for two export market development programs: the Quality Samples Program (QSP) and the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program. (USDA PR 0106-08, dated 07/09/08, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/PressRelease/pressrel_dout.asp?Entry=valid&PrNum=0106-08 )

8. FSIS Notice on Export of Beef and Beef Products to Korea

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a notice on the export of beef and beef products to Korea which sets out what products are eligible and ineligible for export to Korea, etc. This notice also cancels Notice 45-08, dated 07/09/08 on the same topic. (Notice 46-08, dated 07/10/08, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISNotices/46-08.pdf )

9. FSIS Updates Lists of Plants Certified to Export Meat, Etc. to U.S.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has updated its lists of eligible foreign establishments certified to export meat and poultry to the U.S. for the following countries: Mexico and Chile.

10. Q&A on Possible Rescission of N. Korea from State Terrorism List

The Bureau of Industry and Security has posted a set of questions and answers regarding the possible rescission of North Korea from the State Sponsor of Terrorism List. (BIS notice dated 07/08/08, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/policiesandregulations/regionalconsiderations/north_korea_questions.pdf )

11. CBSA Concludes AD Reinvestigation of Bicycles from China, Taiwan

The Canada Border Services Agency has concluded its re-investigation of the normal values and export prices of bicycles originating in or exported from Chinese Taipei and the People's Republic of China pursuant to the Special Import Measures Act. (dated 07/09/08, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/sima-lmsi/ri-re/ad0962/ad0962-r08-nc-eng.html)

12. Canada Amends Members of NAFTA Committee

The Canadian Government has revised the list of "Members of Committees and Special Committees (NAFTA) Regulations." (Canada Gazette, Vol. 142, No. 14, July 9, 2008, available at http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partII/2008/20080709/html/sor215-e.html )

13. DOE and Sweden Sign MOU on Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles

U.S. Department of Energy's Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the Director General of the Swedish Energy Agency, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaboratively work on accelerating consumer acceptance and commercialization of plug-in hybrid vehicles. (DOE press release dated 07/07/08, available at http://www.energy.gov/news/6385.htm )

14. USDA Announces Kiwi Growers Vote to Continue Order

The Department of Agriculture has announced that kiwifruit growers in California voted to continue their federal marketing order program. In addition, minimum grade requirements established under the order are applied to imported kiwifruit. (AMS No. 131-08, dated 07/09/08, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.printData.do?template=printPage&navID=&page=printPage&dDocId=STELPRDC5070586&dID=96003&wf=false&docTitle=KiwifruitGrowersinCaliforniaVotetoContinueMarketingOrder )

15. New Members Sought for ITA Exporters' Textile Advisory Committee

The International Trade Administration is seeking new members for the Exporters' Textile Advisory Committee. The closing date of this announcement is August 5, 2008. (FR Pub 07/10/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-15755.pdf )

16. American Conference Institute Announces ITAR Compliance Conference

The American Conference Institute has announced a conference on International Traffic in Arms regulations compliance on July 23 and 24, 2008 in Washington, DC. Among other things, the conference offers insights on U.S.-United Kingdom and U.S.-Australia treaties for defense articles and services. (Information and registration available at http://www.americanconference.com/ITAR.htm)