Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. USTR Provides Update on Day 3 of TPP Negotiations

2. China Again Defends Value of Its Currency

Xinhua News reports that China has again defended its exchange rate policy saying that the value of its currency is not the major cause of the U.S. trade deficit with China and that the recently proposed U.S. legislation to press China to appreciate its currency is harmful to relations. The Ministry of Commerce has also posted a notice quoting a UNCTAD statement that the burden of rebalancing the global economy should not be put on a single country and its currency. (Notice, dated 03/18/10, available at http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-03/18/c_13216480.htm)

3. USDA Secretary to Promote Ag Exports While in Japan

USDA Secretary Vilsack will be in Japan April 5 thru 9, 2010 to promote U.S. agricultural exports, as part of President Obama's efforts to expand U.S. exports. While he is in Japan, Vilsack will meet with Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Hirotaka Akamatsu, as well as U.S. exporters and Japanese importers. (News release, dated 03/16/10, available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2010/03/0132.xml)

4. ITDS Technical Note on JAVA Version Needed for ACE M-1

The website of the International Trade Development System has posted a technical note stating that: prompted by a question from TTB, it inquired further into the specific version of JAVA needed to support the use of ACE M1 Functionality. ACE M1 will require JAVA version 1.6.17." (Notice, posted 03/15/10, available at http://www.itds.gov/linkhandler/itds/news/java_update.ctt/java_update.pdf)

5. EC Adopts ACP Country Support as Part of Banana Dispute Resolution

On March 17, 2010, the European Commission adopted a 190 million support package for banana exporters from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries as part of the historic December 2009 agreement to settle the15 year old WTO banana dispute. The new measures aim to support ACP banana exporters to adjust to the new trading environment. (Press release, dated 03/17/10, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/287&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)

6. WTO Posts Proposed Agenda for DSB's March 19th Meeting

The World Trade Organization has posted the proposed agenda for the Dispute Settlement Body's March 19, 2010 meeting which includes status reports on Members' implementation of panel rulings and recommendations in various disputes, including various U.S. "zeroing" disputes, the EC's biotech product dispute, China's intellectual property rights protection dispute, etc. (Agenda, posted 03/17/10, available at http://docsonline.wto.org/DDFDocuments/t/wt/dsb/W423.doc)

7. U.S. and Finland Sign Agreement to Prevent and Combat Crime

On March 17, 2010, the Attorney General and Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary joined the Finnish Interior Minister to sign a Preventing and Combating Crime Agreement-allowing for the enhanced exchange of biometric and biographic data to bolster counterterrorism and law enforcement efforts in both the U.S. and Finland. (Press release, dated 03/17/10, available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1268857871775.shtm)

8. DOT Announces U.S.-Zambia Open Skies Agreement

Secretary of Transportation LaHood announced that the U.S. and Zambia have signed an Open Skies aviation agreement, liberalizing U.S. Zambia air services for the carriers of both countries. The agreement, which is effective immediately, also allows U.S. and Zambian carriers to operate all cargo flights between the other country and third countries without a stop in their home countries. (Notice, dated 03/17/10, available at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2010/dot4910.htm)

9. CPSC Announces Voluntary Recall of 1.2 Million Graco High Chairs

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced that Graco has voluntarily recalled 1.2 million Graco Harmony High Chairs due to fall hazards. The recall involves all Harmony High Chairs. These high chairs were manufactured in the U.S. from November 2003 through December 2009 but are no longer in production. (Notice, dated 03/18/10, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10171.html)

10. BIS Renews for 180 Days Temporary Denial Order Against Mahan Airways

The Bureau of Industry and Security is renewing for 180 days the Order temporarily denying the export privileges of respondent Mahan Airways, as the renewal is necessary in the public interest to prevent an imminent violation of the Export Administration Regulations. (FR Pub 03/18/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-5889.pdf)

11. Canada Amends Hazardous Product Regulations for Lead in Kettles

In the March 17, 2010 edition of the Canada Gazette, Health Canada announced it is lowering the maximum permissible amount of lead that may leach into water that is boiled in kettles for household use. (Notice, dated 02/23/10, available at http://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2010/2010-03-17/html/sor-dors37-eng.html)

12. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recalls

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has published notice of the following voluntary recalls:

(CPSC recalls available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerelmar10.html)