Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
In response to a question about the Buy American policy posed at a press conference in Canada, Secretary of State Clinton stated that the Buy American provision is not being enforced in any way that is inconsistent with U.S. international trade obligations. She acknowledged the concerns that there may be elements of the international trade obligations or absences of agreements that should be looked at so that the U.S. can promote more procurement and other kinds of trade interactions and assured Canadian officials that the U.S. will take a very close look at that. (Press briefing, dated 06/13/09, available at http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/06/124717.htm.)
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. Secretary of State Responds to Canadian Questions on Buy American
2. U.S. and Mexico Sign Agreement to Strengthen Security, Facilitate Trade
DHS has issued a press release announcing that on June 15, 2009, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano and Mexican Minister of Finance and Public Credit Carstens signed a Letter of Intent that will strengthen bilateral cooperation between the United States and Mexico. The agreement aims to increase security in both countries and facilitate the flow of legal travel and trade.
(DHS press release, dated 06/15/09, available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1245081021647.shtm.)
3. EC Likely to Adopt Child Safety Standards for Window Locks, Bathing Articles as Part of Broader Initiative
According to the European Commission, the European Parliament was likely to vote on June 15, 2009 to give a green light to two new child safety standards for "childproof" locking devices for windows and balcony doors and child bathing articles. The EC is in the process of updating safety standards for a range of childcare products which currently have no EU standards or the existing standard does not cover all the risks. Proposals for additional standards for nursery products will be brought forward over the coming year including, for example, on high chairs, booster seats, cots and mattresses. (EC press release, dated 06/12/09, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/912&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)
4. EC Committee Calls for Rapid Conclusion of Far-Reaching U.S.-EU Air Transport Agreement
The European Economic and Social Committee adopted an opinion calling for the rapid conclusion of negotiations on an EU-US air transport agreement. The opinion calls for total removal of ownership restrictions and discriminatory market practices, full regulatory EU-US cooperation, and abolition of excessive security procedures. (EC press release, dated 06/12/09, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=CES/09/83&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)
5. President Continues National Emergency on Belarus
The President has issued notice that he is continuing for one year the National Emergency regarding the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Belarus and other persons. (FR Pub 06/15/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-14214.pdf)
6. CPSC Reorganizes CPSIA Web Site
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has reorganized its Web site on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. (Web Site, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html)
7. OFAC Updates its SDN List
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has updated its Specially Designated Nationals List to include additional individuals and entities and to make changes to certain individuals/entities on the list. (List, dated 06/12/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20090612.shtml)
8. BIS Presents Seminar on Export Controls June 25-26 at Salt Lake City
June 25-26, 2009 at the Hilton Hotel Salt Lake City Center, an in-depth examination of the Export Administration Regulations, covering export control requirements on commercial goods, for those who need a comprehensive understanding of their obligations under the EAR. with "hands-on" exercises. (Fee $325.) (Notice, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/seminarsandtraining/saltlakecity_Jun_25_26_09.htm)
9. BIS Offers Seminar for Companies Creating or Enhancing Export Compliance Programs, San Diego June 25-26
The Bureau of Industry and Security presents "How To Develop An Export Management And Compliance Program, June 25 - 26, 2009, in San Diego; with speakers from the Bureau of Industry and Security, the Census Bureau, the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, and the State Department's Office of Defense Trade Controls, to help companies create or enhance their export compliance programs, focusing on industry best practices. (Fee $495.) (Notice, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/seminarsandtraining/revised_emcp_seminar_in_ca_june_09.pdf)
10. Shark Fins Dealer Pleads Guilty to Violating Lacey Act
The Justice Department announced that Mark Harrison of Southport, FL, and Harrison International LLC, a Florida corporation, pled guilty June 12, 2009 in District Court in Atlanta to violating the Lacey Act by dealing in shark fins, and related charges. (Notice, dated 06/12/09, available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2009/June/09-enrd-584.html)
11. CBSA Makes Affirmative Preliminary AD Determination for Certain Waterproof Footwear from China, Vietnam
In the June 13, 2009 edition of the Canada Gazette, the Canada Border Services Agency issued a notice announcing its preliminary affirmative determination of dumping with in respect to waterproof footwear and waterproof footwear in nearly finished form, constructed wholly or in part of rubber and/or thermoplastic rubber, originating in or exported from China, and waterproof footwear and waterproof footwear in nearly finished form, constructed wholly or in part of rubber, thermoplastic rubber and/or plastic, originating in or exported from Vietnam. (Notice, dated 05/28/09, available at http://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2009/2009-06-13/html/commis-eng.htmlf101)
12. Canada's DFAIT Posts 2009 Chicken Quota Holder Lists, TRQ Tables
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada has posted its 2009 Chicken Quota Holders Lists, tariff rate quota utilization tables for imports of chicken and chicken products, etc. (Notice, available at http://www.international.gc.ca/controls-controles/prod/agri/chicken-poulet/index.aspx?lang=eng)
13. President Issues Statement on World Day Against Child Labor
The White House has posted a statement by the President regarding the World Day Against Child labor. (Statement, dated 06/12/09, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Statement-by-President-Barack-Obama-on-World-Day-Against-Child-labor/.)
14. DHS Announces Stimulus Funding for Philadelphia Int'l Airport
The Department of Homeland Security issued a press release announcing that Secretary Napolitano has announced approximately $26 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for the construction of two new inline baggage handling systems at Philadelphia International Airport. (Press release, dated 06/15/09, available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1245087110753.shtm.)
15. APHIS Announces Availability of Avian Flu Evaluation for Counties in Hungary
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is announcing the availability of and a request for comments by July 15, 2009, on its evaluation of the animal health status of two counties (Bacs-Kiskun and Csongrad) in Hungary relative to the H5N1 subtype of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). (D/N APHIS-2009-0005, FR Pub 06/15/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-14004.pdf)
16. FAS Commodity and Market Intelligence Reports
The Foreign Agricultural Service has issued a commodity and market intelligence report entitled: "Brazil's Biennial Downturn Lowers World's Coffee Production for 2009/2010." (Report, dated June 2009, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/htp/coffee/2009/June_2009/2009_Coffee_June.pdf)
17. FDA Posts Enforcement Report for June 10th
The Food and Drug Administration has posted its Enforcement Report for the week of June 10, 2009. The report contains information on actions taken in connection with agency regulatory activities. (Report, dated 06/10/09, available at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/EnforcementReports/ucm166095.htm)
18. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports
The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:
China FAIRS Export Certificate Report: Annual 2009
19. USDA Accepts Four Dairy Export Incentive Program Bids
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation has announced the acceptance of bids from exporters under the Dairy Export Incentive Program for:
nonfat dry milk to Africa and Middle East
mozzarella cheese to Africa and Middle East
nonfat dry milk to Asia and Former Soviet Union
nonfat dry milk to Asia and Former Soviet Union
An updated fact sheet about the Program is available here.