Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. China and Peru Sign Free Trade Agreement

2. Georgia becomes the 137^th Contracting Party to the Harmonized System Convention

The World Customs Organization states that on 27 March 2009, Georgia became the 137th Contracting Party to the Harmonized System Convention and looks forward to Georgia's active participation with respect to Harmonized System matters. (Notice, dated 04/28/09, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/press/default.aspx?lid=1&id=180)

3. Commissioner Creel Announces Departure from FMC

Federal Maritime Commissioner Harold J. Creel, Jr. has announced that he will be leaving the agency at the end of his term on June 30, 2009. (Notice, dated 04/28/09, available at http://www.fmc.gov/speeches/newsrelease.asp?SPEECH_ID=276)

4. CPSC Commissioners to Vote on Lead Content Stay for Youth ATVs by May 1, 2009

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has posted for Commission vote by May 1, 2009 a ballot vote sheet regarding a draft Federal Register notice to stay enforcement of the lead content provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 for certain component parts and materials pertaining to youth motorized recreational vehicles (aka, all-terrain vehicles or ATVs). CPSC did not post a copy of the draft Federal Register notice which it states is restricted. (Ballot, dated 04/28/09, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia09/brief/youthvehiclesstay.pdf )

5. USDA Accepting Applications for 2010 Funding for 5 Export Market Development Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on April 28, 2009 that it is accepting applications for 2010 funding for five export market development programs administered by USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service: the Market Access Program (MAP), the Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program (FMD), the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) Program, the Quality Samples Program (QSP), and the Emerging Markets Program (EMP). All the programs are designed to help expand commercial export markets for U.S. agricultural products. (Notice, dated 04/28/09, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/PressRelease/pressrel_dout.asp?Entry=valid&PrNum=0070-09)

6. APHIS Updates Miscellaneous and Processed Products Manual

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has updated its manual entitled, "Miscellaneous and Processed Products. (Manual, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/miscellaneous.pdf)

7. APHIS Final Rule on Potato Pest in Idaho

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is adopting as a final rule, with two changes, an interim rule that amended the regulations by quarantining parts of Bingham and Bonneville Counties, ID, due to the discovery of the potato cyst nematode there and establishing restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from the quarantined area. The notice also has a detailed discussion of imports and exports of potatoes, noting that the U.S. is a significant exporter of these articles. (D/N APHIS-2006-0143, FR Pub 04/29/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-9724.pdf)

8. FAS Extends Application Period for Child/Forced Labor in Agricultural Products Group

Foreign Agricultural Service announced that it has extended the period for receiving applications from individuals to serve as a non-government member of the Consultative Group to Eliminate the Use of Child Labor and Forced Labor in Imported Agricultural Products until May 13, 2009. (FR Pub 04/29/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-9727.pdf)

9. AMS Seeks Nominations for Peanut Standards Board

The Agricultural Marketing Service is seeking nominations of eight individuals to serve on the Peanut Standards Board. AMS, which the Peanut Standards Board advises on peanut quality issues, administers the regulations for peanut quality standards for domestic and imported peanuts. (Release, AMS No. 072-09, dated 04/28/09, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateU&navID=&page=Newsroom&resultType=Details&dDocName=STELPRDC5076381&dID=111175&wf=false&description=USDASeeksNominationsforthePeanutStandardsBoard&topNav=Newsroom&leftNav=&rig)

10. FWS to Allow Import of Certain Pheasants Without CITES Documents

The Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that effective May 22, 2009, the U.S. will allow the import of the following species of pheasants without Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) documents: Arborophila campbelli; Arborophila charltonii; Caloperdix oculeus; Lophura erythrophthalma; Lophura ignita; Melanoperdix niger; Polyplectron inopinatum; Rhizothera dulitensis; Rhizothera longirostris; Rollulus rouloul. (Notice, dated 04/28/09, available at http://www.fws.gov/le/PubBulletins/PB042809MalaysiaAppendixIIIdeletions.pdf)

11. ITC Report on Foreign Market Restrictions for Insurance Services

The International Trade Commission has issued a report entitled, "Property and Casualty Insurance Services: Competitive Conditions in Foreign Markets." As requested, the ITC report provides an overview of the global market for P&C insurance services; examines the nature and extent of trade in P&C insurance services; and identifies and examines policies and practices that affect U.S. firms' access to, and competitiveness in, foreign markets for such services. The ITC's press release is available here. (Report, dated March 2009, available at http://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub4068.pdf)

12. CBSA Revises D-Memoranda on Certain Steel Structural Tubing and Kimberly Process for Diamonds

Canada Border Services Agency has revised the following two D-memoranda:

D15-2-43: Certain Steel Structural Tubing Known As Hollow Structural Sections (HSS);

D19-6-4: Kimberley Process - Export and Import of Rough Diamonds

13. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports

The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:

Hong Kong HRI Food Service Sector: Annual

Japan Agricultural Situation: The History of U.S. Beef and Pork Exports to Japan

Netherlands Fishery Products: Netherlands Fishery Products Report

Netherlands Fishery Products: Revised - Netherlands Fishery Products Report

Sweden Bio-Fuels: Swedish Ethanol Plant's Bi-Product Becomes Main Product

Vietnam Agricultural Situation: News Summary 10

14. Agency Seeks 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):

(Information collection notices are hyperlinked to agency name.)