Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. President Obama Issues FY 2010 Budget Overview

2. Senator Baucus Comments on President's FY 2010 Budget

On February 26, 2009, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Baucus issued a statement on the President's fiscal year 2010 budget stating he would be watching closely to ensure that any changes to USDA's Market Access Program do not reduce the ability of U.S. producers to promote their products overseas. Baucus welcomed the budget's extended funding for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and a commitment to open new markets and reduce trade barriers through the International Trade Administration. The Chairman was also encouraged by the President's commitment to address climate change by establishing a cap-and-trade regime. (Statement, dated 02/25/09, available at http://finance.senate.gov/press/Bpress/2009press/prb022609.pdf.)

3. Ways & Means Chair Comments on President's FY 2010 Budget

On February 26, 2009, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rangel issued a statement on the President's FY 2010 budget. Rangel stated that he looks forward to working with President Obama to move forward in a bipartisan manner to simplify U.S. tax laws and help U.S. workers and companies remain competitive internationally. (Statement, dated 02/25/09, available at http://waysandmeans.house.gov/News.asp?FormMode=release&ID=869.)

4. Senate Homeland Security Chair Comments on FY 2010 DHS Budget

On February 26, 2009, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Lieberman issued a statement regarding the President's FY 2010 budget overview for the Department of Homeland Security, noting that it recognizes the continuing need for vigilant security at the nation's ports of entry and for rail and transit security. (Statement, dated 02/26/09, available at http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuseaction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=e56e7a1b-f1f4-40bb-a467-872c4601bab1&Month=2&Year=2009&Affiliation=C.)

5. House Transportation Chair Comments on FY 2010 Budget

On February 26, 2009, House Transportation Committee Chairman Oberstar commented on the President's FY 2010 budget proposal. Oberstar praised the administration's support for surface transportation programs, but expressed concern about the budget's aviation user fee. (Statement, dated 02/26/09, available at http://transportation.house.gov/news/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=840.)

6. Senate Finance Committee to Hold Hearings on USTR-Nominee Kirk

The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on March 5, 2009 to consider the nomination of Ronald Kirk to be the U.S. Trade Representative. (Senate Finance announcement available at http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/hearing030509.htm.)

7. Congressional Advisers on Trade Policy, Negotiations Appointed

On February 26, 2009, the following Members of the Senate Finance Committee were appointed as congressional advisers on trade policy and negotiations to International conferences, meetings and negotiation sessions relating to trade agreements: Senators Baucus, Rockefeller, Conrad, Grassley, and Hatch. (Congressional Record, dated 02/26/09, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r111:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20090226)

8. CBP Los Angeles Bulletin on New Assistant Port Director for LAX

U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Port of Los Angeles has issued a Public Bulletin announcing the selection of Ms. Anne Maricich as Assistant Port Director, Trade, Los Angeles International Airport. (Bulletin LA09-008, dated 02/24/09, is available via email by sending a request here.)

9. CBP Los Angeles Bulletin on Reporting Deserters, Stowaways, Etc.

CBP's Port of Los Angeles has issued a Public Bulletin reminding all members of the trade community to report all incidents involving the presence of stowaways and/or any evidence of suspected stowaway activity, absconders or deserters to CBP. (Bulletin LA09-007, dated 02/23/09, is available via email by sending a request here.)

10. Chicago Bulletin on Informal Entries

CBP's Port of Chicago has issued a Pipeline providing updated information on informal entry qualifications, procedures, and bond requirements. (Pipeline 09-04, dated 02/23/09, is available via email by sending a request here.)

11. Chicago Bulletin on Mandatory Fumigation of Herbs from Israel

CBP's Port of Chicago has issued an amended Pipeline on the mandatory fumigation of fresh herbs from Israel. (Pipeline 09-01A, dated 02/23/09, is available via email by sending a request here.)

12. OFAC Extends Authorization for Certain Blocked Persons in Belarus

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued and posted on its Web site an amendment to Belarus General License No. 1, which was issued on September 4, 2008. The amendment, Belarus General License No. 1a, extends the authorization for transactions between U.S. persons and Lakokraska OAO and/or Polotsk Steklovolokno OAO for a period of 90 days (until June 1, 2009). (Belarus General License No. 1a, posted 02/23/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/belarus/gls/belarus_gl_1a.pdf)

13. OFAC Issues FAQ on Property Owned by Blocked Persons

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a new frequently asked question and answer regarding financial institutions' obligations with regard to property that is owned, directly or indirectly, 50% or more by persons whose property and property interests in property are blocked pursuant to an Executive Order or regulations administered by OFAC. (FAQ available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/faq/answer.shtml)

14. California Firm Recalls Imported Chicken Bouillon Products

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has announced that Wei-Chuan USA, Inc., a Bell Gardens, Calif., establishment, is recalling approximately 89,531 pounds of granulated chicken bouillon products that were ineligible for import to the U.S. (News release, dated 02/24/09, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_006_2009_Release/index.asp)

15. FDA Takes New Regulatory Action Against Ranbaxy's Paonta Sahib Plant in India

The Food and Drug Administration announced that a facility owned by India-based Ranbaxy Laboratories falsified data and test results in approved and pending drug applications. The facility, Paonta Sahib, has been under an FDA Import Alert since September 2008. To address the falsified data, the FDA has invoked its Application Integrity Policy (AIP) against the Paonta Sahib facility. The AIP is invoked when a company's actions raise significant questions about the integrity of data in drug applications. This AIP covers applications that rely on data generated by the Paonta Sahib facility only. (News release, dated 02/25/09, available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2009/NEW01962.html)

16. Millennium Challenge Committee to Select Countries Eligible for FY 2009 Assistance

The Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation will hold a closed meeting on March 11, 2009 to consider the selection of countries that will be eligible for FY 2009 Millennium Challenge Account assistance, as well as other MCC-related issues. (FR Pub 02/26/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-4252.pdf)

17. USTR Announces Meeting of Small and Minority Business Trade Committee

The U.S. Trade Representative is publishing notice that the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business (ITAC-11) will hold a partially open meeting on March 23, 2009. Discussion will include export promotion and trade. (FR Pub 02/26/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-4138.pdf)

18. Senate Homeland Security Hearing on Southern Border Violence

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has announced that it will hold two hearings to examine the national and homeland security consequences of violence along the US- Mexican border. The first hearing will be held in Washington, D.C., on March 25. A second hearing will be held in Arizona in April. (Announcement available at http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuseaction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=537b4bca-c3dc-4152-84bc-0f632f4dd42f&Month=2&Year=2009&Affiliation=C.)

19. NY/Newark to Hold Steel Identification, Classification & Trade Law Seminar

CBP's Service Port of New York/Newark has issued an Informational Pipeline announcing that it will hold a Steel Identification, Classification and Trade Law seminar on April 22 and 23, 2009. (Pipeline 09-008-NYFO, dated 02/19/09, is available via email by sending a request here.)

20. Revised FDA Import Alerts

FDA has posted revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:

All Milk Products, Milk Derived Ingredients and Finished Food Products Containing Milk from China Due to the Presence of Melamine and/or Melamine Analogs

Pet and Laboratory Animal Food Due to the Presence of Melamine and/or Melamine Analogs

Raw Agricultural Products for Pesticides

Devices Without Approved PMAs or IDEs and other Devices Not Equivalent or no 510K

21. FMC Lists OTI Applications

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a 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 (FR Pub 02/04/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-2366.pdf

22. 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):

CBP 1 Information Collection (FR Pub 02/06/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-2507.pdf

CBP 2 Information Collection (FR Pub 02/06/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-2508.pdf

CBP 3 Information Collection (FR Pub 02/06/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-2509.pdf

CBP 4 Information Collection (FR Pub 02/06/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-2510.pdf

CBP 5 Information Collection (FR Pub 02/13/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-3120.pdf