Export Control Reform is going to create a “massive challenge” to the Obama administration in how it approaches export enforcement, said Kevin Kurland, Director of the Bureau of Industry and Security’s Office of Enforcement Analysis. Speaking at the Update 2012 Conference on Export Controls and Policy, July 17-19 in Washington, Kurland said ECR will pose challenges for exporters and other agencies such as CBP as well. To respond to these challenges, BIS created an Information Triage Unit, will step up end-use monitoring, and will increase its outreach efforts, he said.
A World Trade Organization committee dealing with food safety and animal and plant health met on July 10 and 11, where it heard concerns about proposed new European Union limits on cadmium in cocoa and chocolate, and agreed to accept a number of additional organizations as observers, three of them from Africa, said the WTO. The committee discussed five new specific trade concerns and nine that had been raised before. The new issues were: from Argentina about Japan’s foot-and-mouth-disease restrictions, and access to the U.S. market for fresh lemon; from the EU about Schmallenberg virus restrictions; and from India about Taiwan’s maximum residue levels on coffee and the EU’s testing of pesticide residues. The WTO also said that the committee discussed the resolution of Costa Rica’s concerns about the U.S. prohibition of ornamental plants larger than 18 inches.
On July 16 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails July 16 announcing changes to some 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.
The public meeting for the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables is scheduled for 10 am-12 pm on August 30 in Room 2068 of the USDA South Building, said the Food Safety and Inspection Service. The Committee meets September 3-7 in Mexico City.
Geoffrey B. Roose, of Corvallis, Ore., was sentenced Friday to 10 months in federal prison for attempting to sell export restricted military-grade equipment to overseas buyers in violation of the Arms Export Control Act, said Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Roose had pleaded guilty in March. According to court documents, investigators sent a message via eBay advising Roose that the scopes he was auctioning were restricted for export to which Roose responded with "Thanks." Despite the warning, he didn't end his auction, ICE said. Undercover ICE special agents then purchased one of the military-grade rifle scopes and had it shipped to a European address. Roose shipped the order, which was seized before it left the country, ICE said. On the customs declaration, Roose identified the $1,700 scope as "telescope w/Mount" valued at $150.
“Export Control Reform has not stalled…and our goal is in sight” said Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs Andrew Shapiro in his opening remarks at the Bureau of Industry and Security’s annual Update 2012 Conference on Export Controls and Policy. “Come January, we will either have crossed the goal line,” or whoever replaces the officials in the next administration will “dive into the end zone and do a touchdown dance,” he said. BIS Under Secretary Eric Hirschhorn also addressed recent Congressional activity on Export Control Reform (ECR) in his opening remarks, and outlined the Obama administration’s second-term priorities for ECR.
Mexico's Diario Oficial of July 16, lists notices from the Secretary of the Economy as follows:
The World Trade Organization issued its World Trade Report for 2012, which focuses on non-tariff measures that restrict trade. According to the report, world trade growth slowed sharply in 2011, but developed countries exceeded expectations, led by growth in U.S. exports. The WTO said there has been an upward trend in the imposition of technical barriers to trade and sanitary and phytosanitary measures, which disproportionately affect agriculture trade and small and medium-sized companies. It can be difficult to determine whether such non-tariff measures are motivated by legitimate concerns or protectionism, the WTO said.
The International Trade Administration issued a correction to its proposed Modification of Regulations Regarding the Definition of Factual Information and Time Limits for Submission of Factual Information in antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings, published in the July 10 Federal Register. The notice did not include a Docket Number for the submission of comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. The ITA now says the Docket Number is Docket No. ITA-2012-0004. Comments are still due by Aug. 24.