Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

March 18, 2009 |Top News

Senator Robert Menendez (D) sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Napolitano expressing concern about her testimony which doubted the Department of Homeland Security would be able to meet the Congressionally-mandated July 2012 deadline for 100% scanning. Menendez urges the DHS Secretary to do everything she can to either ensure the July 2012 deadline is fully met or that significant progress towards fulfilling the mandate is achieved. (Menendez press release and letter available at http://menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=309058)

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1. Senator Presses DHS Secretary to Meet 100% Scanning 2012 Deadline

2. Senate Homeland Security Chair Outlines Budget Priorities

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Lieberman (D) sent a letter to the Senate Budget Committee outlining his budget priorities for homeland security. (Press release, dated 03/17/09, available at http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuseaction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=6ff2d9fb-7065-4510-80bb-8346961a2087&Month=3&Year=2009&Affiliation=C.)

3. DHS Certifications Related to Implementation of WHTI Passport Card

The Department of Homeland Security has issued notice of certain certifications it has made with respect to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative passport card, including that the National Institute of Standards and Technology has made the requisite certifications regarding the card's architecture, the technology to be used by the U.S. for the passport card, and any subsequent change to that technology, has been shared with the governments of Canada and Mexico, etc. (DHS notice, FR Pub 03/17/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5742.pdf)

4. Senators Expresses Concern About Impact of OFAC Notice on Exports to Cuba

Senator Baucus has issued a press release announcing that he and other Senators have sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Geithner expressing concern regarding a notice issued by the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) that will continue to severely inhibit sales of U.S. products to Cuba by affecting the treatment of cash-based transactions involving U.S. agricultural exports. (Press release, dated 03/17/09, available at http://finance.senate.gov/press/Bpress/2009press/prb031709.pdf.

5. President Sends Certification to Congress on Certain Graphite Exports to China

The White House has issued a press release announcing that the President has certified to the Congress that the export of fine grain graphite to be used for solar cell applications and for the fabrication of components used in electronic and semiconductor fabrication, and two dual-motor, dual-shaft mixers to be used to produce carbon fiber and epoxy prepregs for the commercial airline industry is not detrimental to the U.S. space launch industry, and that the material and equipment, including any indirect technical benefit that could be derived from these exports, will not measurably improve the missile or space launch capabilities of China. (Press release, dated 03/17/09, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Message-to-the-Congress-from-the-President-concerning-exports-to-China/.)

6. U.S.-China Climate Change Leaders Met on March 16th

The State Department has issued a press release announcing that Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern met with Chinese Vice Chairman Xie Zhenhua of the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China at the Department of State on March 16, 2009 to share views on climate change and clean energy. Among other issues, they discussed how to increase cooperation to ensure a positive outcome at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiation in Copenhagen, December 7-18, 2009. (Press release, dated 03/16/09, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/03/120435.htm.)

7. USTR Corrects HTS to List Burkina Faso as Eligible for AGOA Textile Benefits

The U.S. Trade Representative is correcting a 2006 omission by amending the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to list Burkina Faso in Note 2(d) to Subchapter XIX of HTS Chapter 98 as eligible for African Growth and Opportunity Act textile and apparel benefits. (USTR notice, FR Pub 03/16/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5595.pdf)

8. Senate to Begin Consideration of USTR Nomination on March 18th

In the Senate on March 17, 2009, there was an unanimous-consent time agreement to begin consideration of the nomination of Ron Kirk to be U.S. Trade Representative on March 18, 2009. (Congressional Record, dated 03/17/09, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r111:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20090317)

9. Deputy USTR Nomination Withdrawn

On March 17, 2009, the Senate received the notification of the withdrawal of the nomination of Demetrios Marantis to be Deputy U.S. Trade Representative. Marantis is the Chief International Trade Counsel for the Senate Finance Committee. (Congressional Record, dated 03/17/09, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r111:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20090317)

10. House Commerce Committee Concluded Hearing on Export Promotion

On March 18, 2009, the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection concluded its hearing on Stimulating the Economy through Trade: Examining the Role of Export Promotion. Testimony was heard from government officials and public witnesses. (Congressional Record, dated 03/17/09, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r111:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20090317)

11. House Energy Subcommittee Hearing on Competitiveness and Climate Policy

The House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Energy and Environment will hold a hearing titled "Competitiveness and Climate Policy: Avoiding Leakage of Jobs and Emissions" on March 18, 2009 to address potential domestic legislative provisions to prevent the leakage of jobs and carbon emissions from the U.S. to countries that do not take similar action to curb greenhouse gas emissions. (Hearing announcement, dated 03/16/09, available at http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1536&Itemid=99999999)

12. CPSC Posts Videos of Meetings on Phthalates, Bicycles, ATVs

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has posted videos from its most recent meetings, including one public meeting on March 12, 2009 on phthalatesand two March 11, 2009 meetings with specific industry representatives on bicyclesand all-terrain vehicles.

13. CPSC Issues March 2009 Safety Review

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued the March 2009 edition of its publication, The Safety Review. (CPSC edition, dated 03/09, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/tsr0309.pdf)

14. President Continues National Emergency Declared for Iran

President Obama has issued a notice announcing that because the actions and policies of the Government of Iran continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the U.S., the national emergency declared on March 15, 1995, will be continued for one year. (News release, dated 03/11/09, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Presidential-Notice-on-Iranian-Sanctions/)

15. U.S. Signs Letter of Agreement with Panama for Merida Initiative

On March 13, 2009, the U.S. and Panama signed the first letter of agreement implementing the Merida Initiative, a multi-year regional effort to combat organized crime, gangs and the trafficking of narcotics and firearms. (State Department press release, dated 03/13/09, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/03/120344.htm)

16. Canada Announces 2010 Expiration of AD and CV Duty Orders on Steel Fasteners from China and Taiwan

Canadian International Trade Tribunal states that its findings made on January 7, 2005, in Inquiry No. NQ-2004-005, concerning the dumping of carbon steel fasteners from China and Taiwan, and the subsidizing of such products originating in or exported from China, and the dumping of stainless steel fasteners from Taiwan, are scheduled to expire on January 6, 2010. (CITT notice, dated 03/02/09, available at http://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2009/2009-03-14/html/commis-eng.htmlf102)

17. CBO Testimony on Consequences of Cap-and-Trade Program

The Congressional Budget Office has posted the March 12, 2009 testimony of a Senior Advisor on the "Distributional Consequences of a Cap-and-Trade Program for CO2 Emissions." This testimony was delivered before the House Ways and Means Committee's Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support. (Testimony available at http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/100xx/doc10018/03-12-ClimateChange_Testimony.1.1.shtml.)

18. AMS Relaxes Table Grape Minimum Bunch Size Requirement

The Agricultural Marketing Service has issued an interim final rule which effective March 20, 2009 relaxes the one-quarter pound minimum bunch size requirement for the 2009 season for grapes packed in containers holding 2 pounds net weight or less under the California table grape marketing order and the table grape import regulation (pursuant to Section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act). Comments are due by May 18, 2009. (AMS final rule, FR Pub 03/17/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5731.pdf)

19. USDA Final Rule Bans Slaughter of Cattle That Become Non-Ambulatory After FSIS Inspection

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announced a final rule on March 14, 2009 to amend the federal meat inspection regulations to require a complete ban on the slaughter of cattle that become non-ambulatory disabled after passing initial inspection by Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) inspection program personnel. According to USDA, the final rule is designed to enhance consumer confidence and humane handling standards and will provide clear guidance that non-ambulatory cattle will not be allowed to enter the human food supply. (USDA news release, dated 03/14/09, available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/03/0060.xml)

20. DOD Submits Interim Final Rule for Certain FTAs to OMB for Review

On March 16, 2009, the Department of Defense submitted an interim final rule titled "FAR Case 2008-036, Trade Agreements - Costa Rica, Oman, Peru" to the Office of Management and Budget for review. (Select on "DOD/GSA/NASA (FAR)" from the first dropdown box.) (DOD Rule available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoReviewSearch)

21. DHS Testimony at Hearing on SBI, Border Control and Violence

The Department of Homeland Security has posted the March 10, 2009 testimony of Deputy Assistant Secretary Mark Koumans, Office of International Affairs, before the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Homeland Security on "Secure Border Initiative (SBI), Control of the Land Border, and DHS Response to Violence on the Border with Mexico." (DHS press release, dated 03/10/09, available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/testimony/testimony_1237218661657.shtm)

22. U.S. and Germany Sign Pact on Homeland Security Research Sharing

Secretary of Homeland Security Napolitano and German Minister of Education and Research Schaven signed an agreement on March 16, 2009 that will facilitate science and technology research collaboration in homeland/civil security matters between the two nations. (DHS press release, dated 03/16/09, available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1237235450525.shtm)

23. U.S. Citizen and Director of Singapore Company Pleads Guilty to Violating Iran Trade Embargo

The Department of Justice reports that a U.S. citizen who served as a director of Monarch Aviation Pte, Ltd., a Singapore company that imported and exported military and commercial aircraft components for more than 20 years, pled guilty on March 13, 2009 in federal court in Brooklyn to conspiring to violate the U.S. trade embargo by exporting controlled aircraft components to Iran. (Justice department news release, dated 03/13/09, available at http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2009/March/09-nsd-227.html)

24. FSIS Updates Export Requirements for Japan, Dominica

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued updated export requirements for Japan and Dominica. (FSIS requirements, dated 03/16/09, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Index_of_Import_Requirements_by_Country/index.asp)