On Aug. 5 the Foreign Agricultural Service posted the following GAIN reports:
The Port of Houston Authority has submitted an application to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board to reorganize FTZ 84 under the Alternative Site Framework, said the FTZ Board in a Federal Register notice. Under the reorganization, the service area would cover Harris County, Texas. The Alternative Site Framework streamlines processes for designation of new FTZ subzones and usage driven sites within the service area by allowing companies to request zone status through the relatively simple "minor boundary modification" process. Comments on the application are due by Oct. 6.
A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the Commerce Department posted to CBP's website Aug. 5, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching for the listed CBP message number at http://adcvd.cbp.dhs.gov/adcvdweb.
Brazil is temporarily lowering duty rates on 502 subheadings for machinery and industrial equipment in chapters 82, 84, 85, 86, 87, 89, 90, 94 of the tariff schedule, said Brazil’s Foreign Trade Council. Most duty rates will be reduced from 14% to 2%. The reductions will be in effect until Dec. 31, 2015. Currently, over 30% of imports under affected tariff provisions come from the U.S., it said.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is amending its regulations on transportation of lithium cells and batteries in order to conform them to international codes. PHMSA’s final rule brings U.S. requirements in line with standards set by the United Nations, International Civil Aviation Organization, and International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, said the agency. Voluntary compliance with the new regulations may begin immediately upon publication Aug. 6. Compliance will be required by Feb. 6, 2015.
The International Trade Commission published notices in the Aug. 5 Federal Register on the following AD/CV injury, Section 337 patent, and other trade proceedings (any notices that warrant a more detailed summary will be in another ITT article):
On Aug. 4 the Food and Drug Administration posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:
During the week of July 28 - Aug. 3, the Food and Drug Administration modified the following existing Import Alerts (not otherwise listed on the FDA's new and revised import alerts page) on the detention without physical examination and/or surveillance of:
On Aug. 4 the Foreign Agricultural Service posted the following GAIN reports:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes Aug. 4 to Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) electronic manuals. While some changes are minor, other changes may affect the admissibility of the plant products, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers.