Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano released her remarks at a "pen and pad" session with DHS reporters regarding five major DHS missions - counterterrorism, securing the borders, enforcing smart and effective immigration policies, preparing for, responding to, recovering from disasters; and then building one Department of Homeland Security out of the 22 agencies that were originally put into DHS. (Remarks, dated 06/25/09, available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/speeches/sp_1245965901250.shtm.)
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1. DHS Secretary Remarks on Five Major DHS Missions
2. GAO Testimony on Highway Trust Fund
The Government Accountability Office has posted its testimony entitled "Highway Trust Fund: Options for Improving Sustainability and Mechanisms to Manage Solvency." (Testimony, dated 06/25/09, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09845t.pdf)
3. WTO Members Discuss Trade Responses to H1N1
At a recent meeting of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Committee of the World Trade Organization, WTO members discussed countries' trade responses to the H1N1 flu. Exporting countries complained about some of the trade restrictions that have been imposed in response to the H1N1 influenza pandemic and about failures to notify the WTO, while countries enacting the measures said they had to act quickly to deal with an emergency. (Notice, dated 06/25/09, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news09_e/sps_25jun09_e.htm)
4. Commerce Dept. Seeks Sponsors for Shanghai Expo May-Oct., 2010
The Commerce Department invites U.S. companies to participate in producing the U.S. pavilion at the World's Fair, to be held in Shanghai from May to October, 2010. The Expo's theme of "Better City, Better Life" focuses on improvement of the quality of life in the world's cities. Approximately 70 million visitors, including an anticipated 60 million from China are expected to attend the Expo. (Notice, available at http://www.export.gov/china/shanghaiexpo2010/)
5. USA Products Center at European Outdoor Show 2009 July 16-19
Apparel, footwear, general consumer goods, sporting goods/recreational equipment, textile products, and more, will be featured at the European Outdoor Show 2009, July 16-19, 2009, in Friedrichshafen, Germany. The Department of Commerce will be hosting a USA Products Center at the event. (Notice, available at http://www.export.gov/industry/goods/index.asp?EventID=28583)
6. TSA Final Rule on False Statements Regarding Background Checks
The Transportation Security Administration is adopting as final, with no changes, its interim rule prohibiting public transportation agencies, railroad carriers, and their respective contractors and subcontractors from knowingly misrepresenting Federal guidance or regulations concerning security background checks for certain individuals. (D/N TSA-2008-0011, FR Pub 06/26/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-15080.pdf)
7. FAS Announces Additional Credit Guarantees for Export Sales of Agricultural Commodities
The Foreign Agricultural Service is announcing that on June 24, 2009 it has amended the availability of the following credit guarantees for sales of U.S. agricultural commodities under the Commodity Credit Corporation's Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102) for fiscal year 2009 for Turkey, South Korea, Mexico, China/Hong Kong, the South American region, the Central American region, and the Caribbean region. (Notice, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/)
8. FAS Reports on Private Export Sale of Soybean Oil Delivered to Unknown Destinations
FAS states that private exporters reported to the U.S. Department of Agriculture export sales of 49,000 metric tons of soybean oil for delivery to unknown destinations during the 2009/2010 marketing year. (Notice, dated 06/24/09, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/PressRelease/pressrel_dout.asp?Entry=valid&PrNum=0098-09)
9. APHIS Instructions on Importing Processed U.S. Pet Foods into Canada
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has posted instructions for completing the Veterinary Sanitary Certificate for importing processed U.S. pet foods from a bovinae approved facility into Canada. Four forms are also posted. (Notice, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/products/product_canada.shtml)
10. APHIS Protocols for Importing Horses into the UAE from the U.S.
The APHIS protocols for importing horses into the United Arab Emirates from the U.S. has been updated in June 2009 for the temporary entry of U.S. origin horses, the permanent entry of U.S. origin horses, and the entry of European Union origin horses for graded races. (Notice, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/animal_united_arab_emirates.shtml)
11. GAO Testimony on Nuclear Smuggling
The Government Accountability Office has posted its testimony entitled "Combating Nuclear Smuggling: Lessons Learned from DHS Testing of Advanced Radiation Detection Portal Monitors." (Testimony, dated 06/25/09, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09804t.pdf)
12. DHS Reaches Third Efficiency Milestone, Launches New Initiatives
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a press release announcing the unveiling of six new efficiency initiatives, marking the third milestone in the Department-wide Efficiency Review launched in March. According to DHS, Efficiency Review initiatives already in progress continue to bring about substantial cost savings. (Press release, dated 06/26/09, available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1246040350725.shtm.)
13. FDA Posts Enforcement Report for June 24th
The Food and Drug Administration has posted its Enforcement Report for the week of June 24, 2009. The report contains information on actions taken in connection with agency regulatory activities. (Report, dated 06/24/09, available at http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Safety/Recalls/EnforcementReports/UCM169089.pdf)
14. ITA Amends Regulations Governing Duty-Free Entry for Scientific Instruments
The International Trade Administration has issued a final rule, effective July 27, 2009, to amend the regulations governing the duty-free entry of scientific instruments and apparatus into the United States by educational and nonprofit institutions to implement technical changes required by the passage of the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004, to update the regulations to comport with current CBP practices and changes made in the HTS, etc. (D/N 080102004-9266-02; FDMS D/N ITA-2009-0002, FR Pub 06/26/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-14884.pdf)
15. FSIS Updates Export Requirements for Argentina
The Food Safety and Inspection Service has updated its export requirements for Argentina to state that fresh/frozen pork and pork products exported from the U.S. are ineligible. (Notice, dated 06/25/09, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Argentina_Requirements/index.asp)
16. USDA Accepts Five Dairy Export Incentive Program Bids
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation has announced the acceptance of five bids on June 24 - June 25, 2009 from exporters under the Dairy Export Incentive Program for:
Anhydrous Milk Fat to Caribbean, Central and South America
Butter to Asia and Eurasia
Butter to Africa and Middle East
Nonfat Dry Milk to Asia and Eurasia
Nonfat Dry Milk to Africa and Middle East
Nonfat Dry Milk to Africa and Middle East
USDA is also announcing that new bonuses for exports of butterfat under the DEIP are alsoavailable. (Notice, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/)
17. Revised FDA Import Alerts
The Food and Drug Administration has posted revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of: