On May 1, 2012, the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails May 1, 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 Foreign Agricultural Service amended the availability and maximum allowable tenor of credit guarantees for sales of U.S. agricultural commodities under the Commodity Credit Corporation's Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102) for fiscal year 2012, for the following countries/regions:
The International Trade Administration's Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee (CINTAC) scheduled a public meeting June 5, 2012. Items on the agenda include discussion of the ITA's Civil Nuclear Trade Initiative update, the Civil Nuclear Trade promotion activities, and a public comment period. The CINTAC was established in response to an identified need for consensus advice from U.S. industry to the U.S. Government regarding the development and administration of programs to expand U.S. exports of civil nuclear goods and services in accordance with applicable U.S. laws and regulations. Public seating is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Members of the public wishing to attend the meeting must pre-register by June 1, 2012 to obtain clearance into the building. Copies of CINTAC meeting minutes will be available within 90 days of the meeting.
The International Trade Administration is seeking comment on any subsidies, including stumpage subsidies, provided by certain countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood lumber products to the U.S. during the period July 1 through December 31, 2011.
The Bureau of Industry and Security scheduled a partially open meeting of its Materials Technical Advisory Committee for May 17, 2012, in Washington, D.C. The Committee advises the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration on technical questions that affect the level of export controls applicable to materials and related technology. During the open session, the committee will hear remarks from BIS senior management, a report on the Composite Working Group and other working groups, a report on regime-based activities, and a discussion on the Role of the Department of Commerce in export of Avian Influenza Virus and related technology. The open session will be accessible via teleconference to 20 participants on a first come, first serve basis. To join the conference, submit inquiries to Yvette Springer at Yvette.Springer@bis.doc.gov by May 10, 2012.
The Bureau of Industry and Security said it will hold a partially open meeting of its Materials Processing Equipment Technical Advisory Committee on May 22, 2012, in Washington, D.C. The Committee advises the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration on technical questions that affect the level of export controls applicable to materials processing equipment and related technology. During the open session, the committee will hear presentations of papers and comments by the public, discussions on results from the last, and proposals for the next Wassenaar Meeting, and a report on proposed a recently issued changes to the Export Administration Regulations. The open session will be accessible via teleconference to 20 participants on a first come, first serve basis. To join the conference, submit inquiries to Yvette Springer at Yvette.Springer@bis.doc.gov by May 10, 2012.
The State Department issued a proposed rule to revise USML Category V (explosives and energetic materials, propellants, incendiary agents, and their constituents) to remove catchall categories, narrow the articles controlled on the USML, to make this list of items more positive, and address multilateral obligations. At the same time, BIS is proposing the creation of four new 600 series ECCNs to control articles removed from Category V that would instead be controlled by the CCL. The State Department is also not proposing any tiering at this time.
A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the International Trade Administration posted to U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Web site as of May 1, 2012, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching on the listed CBP message number at http://addcvd.cbp.gov.
Mexico's Diario Oficial of April 30, 2012, lists notices from the Secretary of the Economy as follows: