Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. Afghanistan, Pakistan to Commit to Trade Transit Agreement in 2009

2. EC-China to Hold Second Round of Economic and Trade Dialogue

On the 7th and 8th of May, the European Commission and the Chinese government will hold the second round of high-level economic and trade talks in Brussels. EU Trade Commissioner Ashton and Chinese Vice-Premier Qishan will chair the second meeting of the High Level Economic and Trade Dialogue (HED). A further eight EU Commissioners and five Director Generals and a total of 12 Chinese ministers or vice-ministers are set to participate. (Release, dated 05/06/09, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/220&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)

3. Census Names New FTD Trade Ombudsman

Census has issued an Automated Export System broadcast announcing that Omari Wooden is the Foreign Trade Division's new Trade Ombudsman. Mr. Wooden was previously the project manager for Census' AES postdeparture reporting program. (AES Broadcast 2009017, dated 05/06/09, available at http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/aes/documentlibrary/broadcasts/2009017.html.)

4. Treasury Announces International Tax Reforms

The Treasury Department has announced that President Obama and Treasury Secretary Geithner are unveiling two components of the Administration's plan to reform our international tax laws and improve their enforcement: (1) replacing tax advantages for creating jobs overseas with incentives to create them at home; and (2) getting tough on overseas tax havens. (Release, dated 05/04/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/tg119.htm)

5. President Establishes Interagency Committee on Trade in Timber Products from Peru

The President has issued a memorandum to establish an interagency committee on trade in timber products from Peru, as required by Section 501 of the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (Public Law 110-138). (Memorandum, dated 05/01/09, FR Pub 05/06/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-10648.pdf)

6. USDA Confirms Swine Farm in Canada Has H1N1, Restates Pork Meat is Safe, Rejects Protectionism

U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that additional analysis conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency of the H1N1 Influenza A has re-affirmed that the virus found in swine at a farm in Alberta, Canada, is the human strain. However, USDA Secretary Vilsack and Canada's Agriculture Minister Ritz re-affirmed that all appropriate steps are being taken to protect public health and strengthen the pork industry in both countries; that the international scientific community agrees that pork is safe; and both countries are rejecting protectionism and respecting international agreements. (Release No. 0149.09, dated 05/05/09, available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/05/0149.xml)

7. USDA Directed to Accelerate Investment and Production of Biofuels

USDA states that President Obama has issued a presidential directive to Secretary Vilsack to aggressively accelerate the investment in and production of biofuels. (Release No. 0145.09, dated 05/05/09, available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/05/0145.xml)

8. DHS Secretary Remarks at DHS' Final Daily Briefing on H1N1 Flu Outbreak

The Department of Homeland Security has posted remarks by Secretary Napolitano at a May 6, 2009 briefing on the H1N1 flu outbreak, the last of DHS' daily briefings on the H1N1 flu situation. (Remarks, dated 05/06/09, available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1241646562350.shtm.)

9. OFAC Issues Cuban Assets Addendum for Certain Service Providers

The Office of Foreign Assets Control, in administering Section 515.572 of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (31 CFR Part 515), has updated Circular 2006 by the publication of a letter of addendum. The Addendum reflects administrative changes and interpretive clarifications affecting persons who apply and/or whom OFAC has authorized under Section 515.572 as Service Providers (SPs): Carrier Service Providers (CSPs), Travel Service Providers (TSPs), and Remittance Forwarders (RFs). (Addendum, dated 01/14/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/cuba/circ2006_add.pdf)

10. Fish Importer Indicted for Violation of Lacey Act

The Justice Department reports that Qi Gui Nie of Charlotte, North Carolina, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of illegally importing, and attempting to import endangered and prohibited wildlife into the U.S. through the port of Atlanta, and violating the Lacey Act. A U.S. Magistrate Judge has not yet set a date for NIE's arraignment. (Notice, dated 04/28/09, available at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan/press/2009/04-28-09.pdf)

11. ICE Reports on Tucson BEST Seizures Drugs, Weapons

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reports that significant drug and weapons seizures by the Tucson-based, multi-agency Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) are on the rise. BEST agencies include ICE, CBP, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Pima County Sheriff's Office, the Arizona National Guard and the Mexican Federal Police. In the last six months, the Tucson BEST has made more than 120 arrests and seized more than 10,000 pounds of marijuana; 75 pounds of cocaine; 50 pounds of methamphetamine; and 47 weapons. (Release, dated 05/05/09, available at http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0905/090505tucson.htm)

12. DHS Announces Partially Open Meeting of Security Advisory Council

The Department of Homeland Security is announcing that the Homeland Security Advisory Council will meet on June 5, 2009, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The meeting will be partially open to the public. (D/N DHS-2009-0049, FR Pub 05/06/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-10492.pdf)

13. Long Beach Port Updates Fact Sheet on Clean Truck Fee

New guidelines for the Clean Truck Fee have gone into effect in the Port of Long Beach, to encourage private investment in cleaner trucks. The changes provide more incentive for truck owners to buy their own big rigs. Fee revenue subsidizes the purchase of new big-rigs for some owners. Notably the Port now exempts all liquid natural gas trucks. (Update, available at http://www.polb.com/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=6333)

14. FTZB Notice on Application to Expand FTZ at Norfolk, Virginia

The Foreign Trade Zones Board is announcing that an application has been submitted by the Virginia Port Authority to reorganize and expand FTZ 20 within the Norfolk Customs and Border Protection port of entry. Comments are due by July 6, 2009, with rebuttal comments due 15 days later. (D/N 19-2009, FR Pub 05/06/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-10495.pdf)

15. Export.gov Posts Trade-Related Events and Seminars

Export.gov has issued information on the following trade-related events and seminars:

Export-Import Bank Webinar Series

Canada Regional Webinar Series

The Americas Business Forum

Breaking into the Trade Game

16. 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.)