On Nov. 23 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:
The Food Safety and Inspection Service is proposing to add Korea to the list of countries eligible to export poultry products to the U.S., after a review by the agency found Korea’s poultry inspection system requirements equivalent to U.S. standards. If the proposed rule is adopted, all slaughtered poultry, or parts and products thereof, exported to the U.S. from Korea will be subject to re-inspection at the U.S. port of entry for transportation damage, product and container defects, labeling, proper certifications, general condition, and accurate count, among other things, FSIS said. Products that pass re-inspection will be stamped with the official U.S. mark of inspection and allowed to enter U.S. commerce.
The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Nov. 26:
The Bureau of Industry and Security proposed its long-expected “clean-up” of the Commerce Control List (CCL), in a rule scheduled for publication in the Nov. 29 Federal Register. The proposed rule follows a December 2010 request for comments on how to make descriptions of items controlled on the CCL clearer. ECCNs in all categories of the CCL, as well as its basic structure, would be affected by the proposal. Most of the changes would be non-substantive and would provide additional guidance to people classifying items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), BIS said. Comments on the proposed rule are due by Jan. 28.
The State Department and Bureau of Industry and Security proposed changes for export controls on military electronics in two rules set for publication in the Nov. 28 Federal Register. State’s proposed rule would amend the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to revise Category XI (military electronics) of the U.S. Munitions List (USML) to move jurisdiction for control of certain items to BIS, describe more precisely the articles warranting control, and provide a definition for "equipment." BIS is proposing corresponding changes to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), as well as changes to implement Wassenaar Arrangement controls on cryogenic and superconducting equipment. Both State and BIS are accepting comments on their respective proposals until Jan. 28.
The Agricultural Marketing Service released the Ocean Shipping Container Availability Report (OSCAR) for the week of Nov. 21-27. The weekly report contains data on container availability for westbound transpacific traffic at 18 intermodal locations in the U.S.1 from the eight member carriers of the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA).2 Although the report is compiled by AMS, it covers container availability for all merchandise, not just agricultural products.
Mexico's Diario Oficial of Nov. 22-23, lists notices from the Secretary of the Economy as follows:
The International Trade Commission is publishing notices in the Nov. 23 Federal Register on the following AD/CV injury, Section 337 patent, and other trade proceedings (any notices that warrant a more detailed summary will appear in another ITT article):
The International Trade Commission will review an administrative law judge’s determination of no violation of Section 337 by Apple in its patent investigation, requested by Samsung, of certain electronic devices, including wireless communication devices, portable music and data processing devices, and tablet computers (337-TA-794). The ITC is also asking for comments by Dec. 3 on how issuance of exclusion and/or cease and desist orders would affect the public interest. In the Sept. 14 initial determination, the ALJ found Apple did not infringe any of Samsung’s patents at issue, and said one of the four patents was invalid.
The International Trade Administration published notices in the Nov. 23 Federal Register on the following AD/CV proceedings (any notices that announce changes to AD/CV duty rates, scope, affected firms, or effective dates will be detailed in another ITT article):