Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The State Department has issued an amended Presidential Permit for the international bridge known as ''Anzalduas Bridge'' near McAllen, Texas. The amendment removes an article in the original permit that limited initial operating hours of the bridge to twelve hours per day. With this restriction removed, the Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Customs and Border Patrol, working with local and Mexican authorities, can set the bridge's hours of operation in accordance with demand and available resources. (FR Pub 06/08/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-13336.pdf )
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
1. State Dept Amends Permit for Anzalduas Bridge Near McAllen, Texas
2. U.S., Uruguay Hold Trade and Investment Council Meeting
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a press release announcing that the third meeting of the Trade and Investment Council (TIC), established by the U.S. - Uruguay Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), was recently held in Washington. (Press Release, dated 06/05/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2009/june/us-uruguay-hold-trade-and-investment-council-meeting)
3. USTR Kirk Arrives for Cairns Group Ministerial Meeting
The Office of the USTR has issued a press release announcing that USTR Kirk has arrived in Bali, Indonesia for the 33rd Cairns Group Ministerial Meeting from June 7-9. While in Bali, Ambassador Kirk is attending various sessions and bilateral meetings with Cairns Group members and other attendees, including trade and agriculture ministers from Australia, Canada, Japan, Indonesia, New Zealand, and other nations. (Press Release, dated 06/07/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2009/june/united-states-trade-representative-ron-kirk-arrives-b)
4. Labor Dept Notice on Child Labor in Guatemala, Indonesia, Nepal and Rwanda
The Labor Department is announcing that it will award up to $18.45 million through 4 or more cooperative agreements to one or more qualifying organizations and/or Associations to combat exploitive child labor in the following 4 countries: Guatemala (up to $4.2 million), Indonesia (up to $5.5 million), Nepal (up to $4.25 million) and Rwanda (up to $4.5 million). Projects funded will seek to ensure children's long-term withdrawal and prevention from exploitive child labor. (FR Pub 06/08/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-13319.pdf)
5. APHIS CITES Timber Species PPQ Manual Updated
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service posted a June 5, 2009 version of its Plant Protection and Quarantine Timber Species Manual, which provides CBP and PPQ personnel with guidelines for the import, re-export, violation, seizure, and forfeiture of CITES Appendix I, Appendix II, and Appendix III protected timber species. (Manual, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/cites.pdf)
6. APHIS Updates Nursery Stock Restrictions PPQ Manual
APHIS has issued a June 4, 2009 version of the PPQ Nursery Stock Restrictions Manual, which summarizes the entry status of regulated plant materials capable of and intended for propagation. (Manual, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/nursery_stock.pdf)
7. APHIS Updates Its Fruits and Vegetable Import Manual
APHIS has updated its Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Import manual. This manual lists by country the fruits and vegetables that are admissible into the U.S. It includes a description of methods for sampling and inspecting selected fruits and vegetables, pictorial identification guides, and a glossary for common and scientific names of fruits and vegetables. (Manual, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/fv.pdf)
8. ICE, Paraguayan Government Identify $52 Million in Unpaid Duties
More than $52 million dollars in evaded customs taxes on Paraguayan imports was identified by the Government of Paraguay as part of an in-depth investigation of money laundering patterns. The results of the investigation were part of a report by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Trade Transparency Unit, which targets trade-based money laundering. (New Release, dated 06/05/09, available at http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0906/090605buenosaires.htm)
9. Cargo Vessel Firm Fined $2.2 Million for Polluting, Falsifying Records
For dumping oily waste and sludge, and altering ship records, the Korean corporation STX Pan Ocean Co. Ltd., operator of the cargo ship M/V Ocean Jade, was ordered by a U.S. District Court to pay $2.2 million in penalties and serve four years of probation for conspiring to falsify and falsifying environmental compliance records, the Justice Department announced on June 5, 2009. (Notice, dated 06/05/09, available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2009/June/09-enrd-556.html)
10. FDA Posts Enforcement Report for June 3rd
The Food and Drug Administration has posted its Enforcement Report for the week of June 3, 2009. The report contains information on actions taken in connection with agency regulatory activities. (Report, dated 06/03/09, available at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/EnforcementReports/ucm164181.htm)
11. Port of Long Beach Says Stickers Now Required to Access Non-Container Terminals
POL is announcing that trucks that call at non-container terminals at the Port of Long Beach, which are not equipped with radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers, will now need to display a Non-Container Terminal Access Sticker. FAQ available at http://www.polb.com/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=6444 .Sticker request form available at http://www.polb.com/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=6445.
12. CBSA Announces Customs Tariff for Certain Woolen Fabrics
In the June 6, 2009 edition of the Canada Gazette, the Canada Border Services Agency announced that the total duty leviable on certain woolen fabrics provided in tariff Nos. 5111.11.90, 5111.20.91, 5111.30.18, 5111.30.91, 5111.90.91, 5112.11.90, 5112.19.94, 5112.20.91, 5112.30.91, 5112.90.91 and 5803.00.29, and imported into Canada during the period beginning July 1, 2009 and ending on June 30, 2010, shall not be in excess of (a) $2.24 per kilogram for imports from eligible Commonwealth countries; and (b) $4.10 per kilogram under the Most-Favoured-Nation Tariff. (Notice, dated 05/25/09, available at http://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2009/2009-06-06/html/commis-eng.htmlf101)
13. Canadian International Trade Tribunal Issues Furniture Determination
In the June 6, 2009 edition of the Canada Gazette, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal issued a determination on office furniture. Having examined the evidence presented by the parties and considered the provisions of the Agreement on Internal Trade, the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Agreement on Government Procurement and the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement, the Tribunal determined that the complaint was not valid. (Notice, dated 05/28/09, available at http://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2009/2009-06-06/html/commis-eng.htmlf107)
14. China Considering Penalty Tax on High-Pollution Businesses
China's Embassy in the U.S. states that a senior Chinese government official has stated that China is considering levying a tax on polluting businesses to better protect the environment. (Notice, dated 06/05/09, available at http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/xw/t566355.htm)
15. WCO Launches ENVIRONET to Help Customs Fight Environmental Crime
The World Customs Organization is launching ENVIRONET, an internet-based global communication tool for use in the fight against environmental crime at the border. (Press Release, dated 06/05/09, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/press/?v=1&lid=1&cid=6)
16. WTO Director General Urges Doha Deal for Sustainable Fishing
World Trade Organization Director-General Lamy, in a statement on the occasion of World Oceans Day stated that WTO members are now negotiating to reform fishing subsidies programs so that fishing becomes a sustainable industry. (Notice, dated 06/08/09, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/sppl_e/sppl129_e.htm)
17. WTO Members Conclude Balance of Payment Negotiations with Ecuador
On June 4, 2009, the WTO Committee on Balance-of-Payments Restrictions, successfully concluded its consultations with Ecuador on trade measures taken for balance-of-payments purposes. (Notice, dated 06/04/09, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news09_e/bop_04jun09_e.htm)
18. FMC Lists OTI Revocations
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a notice that revokes an ocean transportation intermediary (OTI) license, as follows:
| Wingar Logistics Inc. (CA) | 05/17/09 |
(Notice, FR Pub 06/03/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-12961.pdf)