Ministers from Japan, China, and Korea agreed to launch negotiations for a free trade agreement between the three countries by the end of 2012 at the Ninth Japan-China-Korea Trilateral Economic & Trade Ministers' Meeting in Beijing on May 12, reports Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. To achieve this end, said the ministers in a joint statement, the three countries should immediately start preparation work including domestic procedures and working level consultations.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation published its Compact between the U.S. and Zambia, a five-year, $354.8 million agreement at reducing poverty through economic growth. MCC said the Compact addresses one of Zambia’s most binding constraints to economic growth through investment in the water sector, and its investments are designed to continue the Zambian Government’s sector reform efforts through institutional strengthening to improve the health and economic productivity of more than 1.2 million Lusaka residents and to help the country reduce poverty on a sustainable basis. MCC said the Compact has an economic rate of return of approximately 13.7 percent.
International Trade Commission submitted its questionnaire for use in connection with its investigation of Used Electronic Products: An Examination of U.S. Exports (332-528) for review by the Office of Management and Budget. The ITC estimates that the questionnaire, which would be for U.S. firms acquiring, refurbishing, repairing, reselling, recycling, and/or exporting used electronics products in 2011, would be mailed to 5,500 respondents and require 2.5 hours to complete. The investigation was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative. The ITC expects to deliver the results of its investigation to the USTR by February 10, 2013. The ITC said comments on the questionnaire should be directed to OMB, and copies of the form and supporting documents may be obtained from Laura Bloodgood (laura.bloodgood@usitc.gov or 202-708-4726).
The International Trade Commission is publishing notices in the May 17, 2012, 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 Administration published notices in the May 17, 2012, Federal Register on the following AD/CV proceedings (any notices that announce changes to AD/CV duty rates, the scope, affected firms, or effective dates will be detailed in another ITT article):
On May 16, 2012, the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails May 16, 2012, 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 Commodity Credit Corporation published a final rule amending the regulation used to administer the Market Access Program (MAP). CCC said the amendments address: application requirements and activity plan requirements with relation to the Unified Export Strategy (UES) system; the eligibility of activities designed to address international market access issues; the list of eligible and ineligible contributions; evaluations, contracting procedures, and the compliance review and appeals process; etc.
The President’s Export Council will hold an open meeting on June 6, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. to discuss topics and provide recommendations related to the National Export Initiative and export promotion. The meeting will be available via live webcast on the internet at http://whitehouse.gov/live. The public is invited to submit written statements to the President's Export Council by close of business on May 25.
The International Trade Administration’s determination not to apply Adverse Facts Available (AFA) to Plaintiff Tianjin Magnesium International Co., Ltd. (TMI) in the final results of its 2008-09 administrative review of the antidumping duty order on pure magnesium from China (A-570-832), despite knowledge that TMI had submitted falsified documentation to the ITA, was remanded to the ITA by the Court of International Trade for further proceedings. CIT agreed with Defendant-Intervenor U.S. Magnesium’s arguments, and said the ITA’s final results did not provide an adequate basis for its decision.