Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

March 23, 2009 |Top News

The White House has posted remarks by the Vice President at the swearing-in of former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk as U.S. Trade Representative on March 20, 2009. In his remarks, the Vice President emphasized that the USTR's mission is to blaze a trail beyond our borders and come up with innovative ways for our trade policies to inspire a new environment of basic fairness. (Vice President's remarks, dated 03/20/09, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-Vice-President-Biden-at-the-Swearing-in-of-United-States-Representative-Ron-Kirk/.

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1. Kirk Sworn in as USTR, VP Says USTR Should Seek Basic Trade Fairness

2. Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Hearing on Tainted Peanut Products

On March 19, 2009, the Energy and Commerce Committee's Health Subcommittee held an investigative hearing on the actions and obligations of manufacturers and retailers that purchased tainted peanut products from the Peanut Corporation of America. (Hearing information available at http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1540&Itemid=1.)

3. New Version of PPQ 505 Posted to Lacey Act Amendments Website

A new version of PPQ Form 505 (Plant and Plant Product Declaration Form) has been posted to the APHIS Lacey Act Amendments Web page. Among other changes, the requirement to supply the "use" of the product, as part of the product description, is now only needed if known. (USDA form available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/lacey_act/downloads/declarationform.pdf)

4. FSIS Final Rule Affirms Interim Final Rule on COOL

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a final rule that effective March 20, 2009, affirms without change an earlier interim final rule that was issued largely to conform FSIS regulations to the requirements of the Agricultural and Marketing Service's final rule, ''Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Beef, Pork, Lamb, Chicken, Goat Meat, Perishable Agricultural Commodities, Peanuts, Pecans, Ginseng, and Macadamia Nuts.'' (FSIS rule, FR Pub 03/20/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-6127.pdf)

5. DOE Proposes Rule on Energy Conservation for Commercial Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Water-Heating Equipment

The Department of Energy has issued a proposed rule and is announcing a meeting on April 7, 2009 regarding energy conservation standards for certain commercial and industrial equipment, including commercial heating, air conditioning, and water-heating equipment. Of particular relevance is the fact that each time the corresponding industry standard is amended, DOE must assess whether there is a need to update the uniform national energy conservation standards for the same equipment covered under EPCA. Written comments on the proposed rule are due by June 3, 2009. (DOE rule, FR Pub 03/20/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5818.pdf)

6. DOE Notice on Storage of Elemental Mercury Under Mercury Export Ban Act

DOE has issued a notice seeking Expressions of Interest from Federal agencies and from the private sector regarding potential locations for a facility or facilities where DOE can store and manage elemental mercury pursuant to the Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008. (DOE notice, Fr Pub 03/20/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-6136.pdf)

7. AMS Notice Continues PACA Regulations

The Agricultural Marketing Service has issued a notice containing its determination that the Regulations (Other than Rules of Practice) under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, 1930, as amended, should be continued without change. (AMS notice, 03/20/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-6055.pdf)

8. EPA Issues Latest Information on Toxic Chemical Releases

The Environmental Protection Agency has released the most recent report on the amount of toxic chemicals released into the U.S. environment. According to the EPA's Toxics Release Inventory, the latest data, from the calendar year 2007, show an overall decrease of five percent in releases since 2006. (EPA news release, dated 03/19/09, available at http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/c99e4539e712a2758525757e00556ac2!OpenDocument)

9. FAS Report on Indonesian Palm Oil Production Growth

The Foreign Agricultural Service has issued a Commodity Intelligence Report entitled, Indonesia: Palm Oil Production Growth to Continue. (FAS report, dated 03/19/09, available at http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/highlights/2009/03/Indonesia/)

10. OFAC Issues Guidance, Q&A Document on Cuban Travel

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a Guidance On Implementation Of Cuba Travel And Trade-Related Provisions of the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009, and a Spanish translation of the guidance. OFAC has also issued a question and answer document concerning the March 11, 2009 family visit general license for Cuba. (OFAC guidance, dated 03/18/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20090318.shtml)

11. EU Trade Commissioner Calls on U.S., EU to Stand Up for Free Trade

On March 18, 2009, EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton delivered a speech at the Carnegie Endowment in Washington, DC, in which she called on the EU and US to stand up for open trade in the economic downturn. She argued that a commitment to open markets is as important in the current economic crisis as determining the right fiscal stimulus and financial regulation, as trade creates growth and jobs. Commissioner Ashton concluded that the EU and U.S. must show leadership both in the multilateral trade arena as well as in tackling bilateral trade issues, in order to help lift the global economy out of recession. (EU trade information, dated 03/09, available at http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/bilateral/countries/usa/pr180309_en.htm)

12. CBSA Audit Information

The Canada Border Services Agency has posted information regarding the audit of the control and disposal of good seized under the Customs Act. (CBSA posting, dated 02/09, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/agency-agence/reports-rapports/ae-ve/2009/sei-sai-eng.htmla1)

13. CBSA Advance Rulings Information

The CBSA has posted information regarding advance rulings for tariff classification. (CBSA information, dated 03/12/09, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/import/ar-da/menu-eng.html)

14. Foreign Trade Zone Board Notice on FTZ 31

The FTZB is publishing notice that an application has been submitted by the Tri-City Regional Port District, grantee of FTZ 31, requesting authority on behalf of WRB Refining LLC, to expand the scope of manufacturing activity conducted under zone procedures within Subzone 31B at the oil refinery complex of WRB located at sites in Madison County, Illinois. (FTZB notice, FR Pub 03/20/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-6162.pdf)