The Department of Energy is setting new energy efficiency standards for residential clothes washers that, if they take effect as planned, will require compliance in 2028, it said in a direct final rule published March 15.

The Drug Enforcement Administration permanently placed 2-methyl AP-237, a synthetic drug that acts like an opioid, in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, in a final rule released March 14. New registration, labeling, record-keeping, and import and export requirements under the final rule take effect April 15.

The U.S. ambassador to Canada and the Canadian ambassador to the U.S. said trade cooperation between the two countries -- each is the other's top trading partner -- is crucial, but their tone on the NAFTA replacement was slightly different.

The Department of Energy is setting new energy efficiency standards for consumer clothes dryers that will require compliance in 2028, it said in a direct final rule published March 12.

The American Apparel and Footwear Association called on President Joe Biden to help restart labor contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance, in a letter dated March 12. The labor contract covering East Coast and Gulf Coast ports expires at the end of September, and the negotiations have been stalled since March 2023, the AAFA said.

The International Trade Commission is beginning a Section 201 safeguard investigation on possible injury to domestic industry by imports of fine denier polyester staple fiber, it said in a notice released March 12.

Former President Donald Trump defended his proposal to increase tariffs on all imports by 10% (see 2308290005), saying it would incentivize American and foreign companies to build factories in the U.S. instead of other countries.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is removing the Florida golden aster (Chrysopsis floridana), a "short-lived perennial," from the Endangered Species List, it said in a final rule released March 4. An FWS review indicated that “threats to the species have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species has recovered and no longer meets the definition of an endangered or threatened species," the agency said. The delisting takes effect April 4.

Three domestic manufacturers filed a petition Feb. 28 asking the International Trade Commission to conduct a Section 201 safeguard investigation on imports of polyester staple fiber.

The Federal Maritime Commission added Hede (Hong Kong) International Shipping and removed COSCO Shipping Lines (Europe) from its list of controlled carriers, the agency said in a Feb. 26 notice.