Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. ILWU Caucus Approves Contract Proposal for Membership Review, Vote

2. CBP Interim Rule on First Sale Declaration Published in Federal Register

The August 25, 2008 Federal Register contains CBP's interim rule, which effective August 20, 2008, for a one year period, creates a new 19 CFR 141.61(g) to establish a "first sale" importer declaration requirement pursuant to provisions contained in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-234, the "Farm Bill"). (See ITT's Online Archives or 08/22/08 news, 08082205, for BP summary of interim rule.) (CBP interim rule, D/N USCBP-2008-0062, CBP dec. 08-31, FR Pub 08/25/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-19640.pdf.)

3. LA/LB Ports File Defense of Clean Trucks Program

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach filed their opposition, in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, in response to the preliminary injunction motion from the American Trucking Associations (ATA) that seeks to stop the ports' Clean Truck Program concession requirement. (LA/LB press release, dated 08/21/08, available at http://www.portoflosangeles.org/newsroom/2008_releases/news_082108ctp.pdf)

4. FDA Final Rule on the Radiation of Iceberg Lettuce, Spinach

The Food and Drug Administration issued a final rule, effective August 22, 2008, amending the food additive regulations to provide for the safe use of ionizing radiation for control of food-borne pathogens, and extension of shelf-life, in fresh iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach at a dose up to 4.0 kiloGray (kGy). The trade can submit objections and requests for a hearing by September 22, 2008. (FDA final rule, FR Pub 08/22/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-19573.pdf)

5. Tennessee Tech Company Pleads Guilty to AECA Violations

The Justice Department reports that Atmospheric Glow Technologies Inc. (AGT), a privately-held plasma technology company located in Knoxville, Tenn., pleaded guilty to ten counts of a federal indictment charging AGT with unlawfully exporting in 2005 and 2006 ten different "defense articles" to a citizen of China in violation of the Arms Export Control Act. (Justice Dept. press release, dated 08/20/08, available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2008/August/08-nsd-736.html)

6. FTC to Host Workshop on Consumer Protection, and RFID Applications

The Federal Trade Commission will host a "Transatlantic RFID Workshop on Consumer Privacy and Data Security" on September 23, 2008, to explore emerging applications of radio frequency identification technology and their implications for consumer protection policy. (FTC press release, dated 08/20/08, available at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/08/transatlantic.shtm.)

7. China to Regulate Recycling of Electronic Waste

The Chinese Government's official web portal reports that China has approved a draft law on the management of electronic waste, aiming to reduce the pollution it causes. The proposed regulation on the recycling and treatment of used electronic products and home appliances received approval at an executive meeting of the State Council, China's cabinet. (Chinese Government posting, dated 08/21/08, available at http://english.gov.cn/2008-08/21/content_1076010.htm)

8. NRF Demands End to Use of Forced Child Labor in Uzbekistan

The National Retail Federation and other trade associations representing the U.S. retail and apparel industries recently demanded that Uzbekistan take immediate action to end the use of child labor in the harvesting of cotton, and said member companies could boycott products made from Uzbek cotton if action is not taken. (NRF press release, dated 08/18/08, available at http://www.nrf.com/modules.php?name=News&op=viewlive&sp_id=560)

9. TSA Updates its TWIC Quarterly Deployment Plan

The Transportation Security Administration has updated its Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) quarterly deployment plan. (TSA quarterly deployment plan (dated 08/20/08) available at http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/twicquarterlydeploymentschedule.pdf.)

10. AES Education, Production Regions Were to be Down on August 23-24

The Census Bureau issued an Automated Export System broadcast reminding the trade that the AES Education and Production Regions were to undergo an extended outage for 12 hours beginning at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) Saturday, August 23, 2008. The regions were to be restored by 11:00 a.m. EST Sunday, August 24, 2008. (AES Broadcast 2008028, http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/aes/documentlibrary/broadcasts/2008028.html.)

11. ITDS to Provide PGAs with Training on New Ad-Hoc Reporting

The International Trade Data System will provide PGAs with the opportunity to receive instructor-led training on the new ad hoc reporting capability being deployed in ACE. The training will cover new and/or updated reporting functionality and take place on September 8, 2008 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at the ACE facility in Vienna, Virginia. (ITDS information on training available at http://www.itds.gov/ and http://www.itds.gov/linkhandler/itds/news/training_adhoc_reporting.ctt/training_adhoc_reporting.pdf)

12. DDTC Updates Its In-House Seminar Schedule

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls posted an updated version of its In-House Training Seminar Schedule. (DDTC training seminar schedule available at http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/docs/In-House_Seminar_Schedule.doc)

13. RPTAC to Hold Partially Open Meeting

The Bureau of Industry and Security announced that the Regulations and Procedures Technical Advisory Committee (RPTAC) will hold a partially open meeting on September 9, 2008 in Washington, DC. The open session will be accessible via teleconference to 20 participants on a first come, first serve basis. (BIS notice, FR Pub 08/21/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-19459.pdf.)

14. CPSC Updates Settlement Agreements for Two Companies

The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued corrections to the settlement agreements for two of the nine firms that recently agreed to pay a total of $355,000 in civil penalties to settle allegations that the firms knowingly failed to report to the CPSC immediately, as required by federal law, that their children's hooded sweatshirts, jackets, or sweaters were sold with drawstrings at the hood and neck. The CPSC is correcting the comment deadline dates for the following firms: Cobmex, Inc. and Siegfried & Parzifal, Inc.

15. 4 Countries Join Nations for Full Market Access of U.S. Beef

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer reviewed the success from recent openings of U.S. beef markets into Costa Rica, Belize, Qatar and Ghana recognizing international trade standards for U.S. beef and beef products from cattle of all ages. (USDA press release No. 0215.08, dated 08/20/08, available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2008/08/0215.xml.)

16. GAO Letter on Hardrock Mining: Trends in Mineral Imports & Exports

The Government Accountability Office released its letter to certain Senators and Representatives on hardrock mining: information on state royalties and trends in mineral imports and exports. (GAO letter, dated 07/21/08, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08849r.pdf.)

17. USDA Updates Contacts for FAS Export Credit Guarantee Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture revised the listing of contacts for the Foreign Agricultural Service's (FAS) Export Credit Guarantee Programs - for the Commodity Credit Corporation's Export Credit Guarantee program (GSM-102) and Facility Guarantee Program (FGP). (USDA press release, dated 08/20/08, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/PressRelease/pressrel_dout.asp?Entry=valid&PrNum=0133-08.)

18. CBP Cancels Customs Broker Licenses Due to Death of the Broker

U.S. Customs Border and Protection has issued a notice announcing that the following Customs broker licenses, as well as any and all permits have been cancelled due to the death of the broker:

(FR Pub 07/21/08 available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-16559.pdf)

19. CBSA Expiry Review Decision on Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Plate

On April 23, 2008, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal initiated an expiry review of its finding made on January 9, 2004 concerning certain hot-rolled steel plate originating in or exported from the Republic of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Romania. As a result, the President of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) initiated an investigation to determine whether the expiry of the finding is likely to result in the continuation or resumption of dumping of the goods. The investigation has now been completed and on August 21, 2008, the CBSA President determined that the expiry of the finding is likely to result in the continuation or resumption of dumping of the goods from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Romania. (CBSA posting, dated 08/21/08, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/sima-lmsi/er-rre/rr2008-002/rr2008-002-e08-nd-eng.html)