Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. China's Premier Says Exchange Rate Policy to Remain Stable in 2010

2. USTR Statement on Start of TPP Negotiations in Australia

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has announced that eight members of the Trans Pacific Partnership have begun negotiations in Melbourne, Australia with more than 200 delegates participating in an opening plenary session. Negotiators are discussing the appropriate framework for the negotiations and the U.S. team shared initial input it received from consultations with Congress and stakeholders on objectives for the TPP. (Press release, posted 03/15/10, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/blog/2010/march/trans-pacific-partnership-negotiations-began-today-australia)

3. DOJ Announces Plea Agreement for Black Coral Lacey Act Violations

The Justice Department reports that two Taiwanese nationals that ran a business named Peng Chia Enterprise Co. Ltd. have plead guilty to conspiracy to ship internationally protected black coral from mainland China into the U.S. Virgin Islands, in violation of both the Endangered Species Act and the Lacey Act. The shipments were falsely labeled, and a Hong Kong intermediary was used. (News release, dated 03/11/10, available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/March/10-enrd-249.html)

4. CBP and ICE Update 19 CFR for their Current Department Names

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have issued a final rule, effective March 16, 2010, which revises two chapter headings in 19 CFR to reflect the March 2007 name changes for these two Department of Homeland Security components, from the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, respectively. (FR Pub 03/16/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-5639.pdf)

5. Federal Register Publication of National Export Initiative EO

The Federal Register has publishedthePresident's Executive Order ona new National Export Initiative to meetthe Administration's goal of doubling exports over the next five years by working to remove trade barriers abroad, by helping firms overcome the hurdles to entering new export markets, by assisting with financing,among other steps. (FR Pub 03/16/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-5837.pdf)

6. EPA Makes Formatting Changes to 2009 GHG Reporting Final Rule

The Environmental Protection Agency issued a direct final rule to make minor formatting changes to its 2009 final rule on mandatory greenhouse gas reporting requirements, in order to accommodate the addition of future subparts. EPA also published a proposed rule on these changes for commenting purposes. The direct final rule is effective May 17, 2010, unless EPA receives adverse comments by certain dates. (FR Pub 03/16/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-5695.pdf)

7. FDA Requests Comments on Prior Notice Imported Food Info Collection

The Food and Drug Administration is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the information collection provisions of FDA's regulations requiring that FDA receive prior notice before food is imported or offered for import into the U.S. Comments are due by May 17, 2010. (D/N FDA-2010-N-0118, FR Pub 03/16/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-5655.pdf)

8. FDA Requests Comments on Food Facility Registration Info Collection

The Food and Drug Administration is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the information collection provisions of FDA's regulations that require registration for domestic and foreign facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food for human or animal consumption in the U.S. Comments are due by May 17, 2010. (D/N FDA-2010-N-0119, FR Pub 03/16/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-5656.pdf)

9. FDA Requests Comments on Info Collections in Cosmetic Labeling Regs

The Food and Drug Administration is announcing an opportunity for public comment on four information collection provisions in FDA's cosmetic labeling regulations. Comments are due by May 17, 2010. (D/N FDA-2010-N-0120, FR Pub 03/16/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-5657.pdf)

10. TSA Requests Comments on Info Collection for Aircraft Operator Security Programs

The Transportation Security Administration invites public comment on an existing information collection, which will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for renewal, that requires aircraft operators to adopt and implement TSA-approved security programs. Comments are due by May 17, 2010. (FR Pub 03/16/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-5732.pdf)

11. ITA Requests Applications for Manufacturing Council Membership

The International Trade Administration is currently seeking applications for membership on the Manufacturing Council, which advises the Secretary of Commerce on matters relating to the competitiveness of the U.S. manufacturing sector and provides a forum for regular communication between the government and the manufacturing sector. Applications are due by April 15, 2010. (FR Pub 03/16/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-5716.pdf)

12. DHS Meets with Asia/Pacific Counterparts on Int'l Aviation Security

On March 13, 2010, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano was in Tokyo to meet with top officials from the Asia/Pacific region and the International Civil Aviation Organization to discuss ways to bolster global aviation security. Secretary Napolitano and participating officials issued a joint declaration on strengthening the international civil aviation system through enhanced information collection and sharing, cooperation on technological development, and modernized aviation security standards. (Press release, dated 03/13/10, available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1268485284130.shtm)

13. USDA's Codex Commission to Meet June 8

The Department of Agriculture is announcing that a meeting of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) will take place on June 8, 2010 in Washington, D.C. its call in number is 866-692-3158, the pass code is 5986642. (Notice, posted 03/11/10, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Codex_Alimentarius/Public_Meetings/index.asp)

14. WTO Ag Negotiating Group Discusses Special Safeguards, Tariff Caps, Etc

The Chair of the World Trade Organization agriculture negotiations stated that the small group negotiations which took place March 3-12, 2010 included discussion of the Special Safeguard Mechanism, a tool that will allow developing countries to raise tariffs temporarily to deal with import surges or price falls; sensitive products whose tariff reductions will be less than normal; tariff caps; etc. (News items, dated 03/12/10, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news10_e/agng_03mar10_e.htm)

15. European Council Adopts Draft Regulation on "Novel Food"

The European Council has adopted a draft regulation on "novel foods" meant to stimulate the development and placing on the EU market of safe innovative foods and to ensure a high level of food safety and health protection. Among other things, the draft regulation would centralize the authorization procedure for approval of novel foods, accelerate authorization for traditional food, etc. (Press release, dated 03/15/10, available at http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/agricult/113344.pdf)

16. EC Conference on Trade Policy for Developing Countries Discusses GSP

The European Commission is holding a conference on the EU's trade policy towards developing countries in order to discuss the effectiveness of the EU's General System of Preferences (GSP) in promoting development and making the most of regional trade agreements with developing countries. The EC also announced the launch of a public consultation to support the review of the EU's GSP scheme in the coming month. (Notice, dated 03/16/10, available at http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2010/march/tradoc_145891.en%20-%20ftw.pdf)

17. CPSC Announces Open Meetings with Industry Stakeholders

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has updated its list of meetings between CPSC and industry stakeholders that are open to the public, unless otherwise stated (partial list):

Dorel Juvenile Group and Chairman Tenenbaum; 03/11/10; to discuss quality assurance and Dorel juvenile products under CPSC jurisdiction;

Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers and CPSC staff; 03/11/10; to discuss CPSC Section 15j, Substantial Product Hazard List and its application to hand-held hair dryers;

President & staff of Hasbro, Inc. and Commissioner Adler; 03/16/10; for a closed meeting on Hasbro's proprietary product safety systems and related matters.

18. ITA Posts Decision Memoranda on AD Final Results of Section 129 Determinations

The International Trade Administration has posted its March 12, 2010 decision memoranda regarding its final results of proceedings under Section 129 of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act for the following antidumping duty proceedings:

Chlorinated Isocyanurates from Spain

Purified Carboxymethylcelluose from Finland

Purified Carboxymethylcelluose from the Netherlands

Purified Carboxymethylcelluose from Sweden

19. Canada Decides Against Interim AD Review of Fasteners from China, Taiwan

In the March 13, 2010 edition of the Canada Gazette, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal announced that it would not conduct an interim review on the dumping of certain carbon steel fasteners from China and stainless steel fasteners from Taiwan. (Notice, dated 03/01/10, available at http://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2010/2010-03-13/html/commis-eng.htmlf110)

20. Canada's CBSA Issues D-Memoranda on Certain FTA Rules of Origin

The Canada Border Services Agency has issued Memoranda D11-5-8 and D11-5-7 on the rules of origin of the Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement and Canada-European Free Trade Association, respectively. The memorandaalso providelinks to another Website where the Rules of Originmay be found.

21. FMC Lists OTI Applications

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a notice that lists those applying for ocean transportation intermediary licenses as a non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC), ocean freight forwarder (FF) or NVOCC/FF OTI, as follows:

(Notice, FR Pub 03/10/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-5102.pdf)

23. 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):

Agency Information Collection Comments Due

(Information collection notices are hyperlinked to agency name.)