The Federal Maritime Commission’s spring 2022 regulatory agenda includes a new mention of a proposed rule that could revise and clarify certain Shipping Act requirements. The rule would specifically propose to “modernize outdated requirements” and clarify existing ones associated with the filing of ocean common carrier and marine terminal operator agreements. The FMC plans to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking in August with a comment period ending in September and a final rule in December.
The Fish and Wildlife Service is issuing a final rule reclassifying the smooth coneflower (Echinacea laevigata), a perennial herb native to Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The listing includes a 4(d) rule for this species that prohibits importation and exportation without a permit.
The Fish and Wildlife Service on July 5 released a final rule listing the Canoe Creek clubshell (Pleurobema athearni), a freshwater mussel species endemic to a single watershed in north-central Alabama, as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. New import and export restrictions set by the agency’s final rule take effect Aug. 5.
The Federal Maritime Commission on June 27 completed its “server maintenance” on several of its systems, which began experiencing problems earlier this month (see 2206140012). The FMC said its e-monitoring system, electronic reading room and certain forms are now available for use.
The Federal Maritime Commission on June 24 alerted industry that certain provisions of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act took immediate effect when the bill became law on June 16 (see 2206160064). Some of the provisions that already took effect involve demurrage and detention invoices, which apply to “all charges and invoices over which the Commission has existing jurisdiction,” the FMC’s general counsel said in a memo. The FMC said “parties with questions related to their obligations should consult with their legal counsel.”
David Johanson, the International Trade Commission's chair from June 2018 to June 2020, resumed that position June 17, the ITC announced. He succeeds Jason Kearns, whose term expired June 16. Johanson, the senior Republican on the commission, became chair "by operation of law in the absence of a Presidential designation," the ITC said. He has been on the commission since 2011 after being nominated by President Barack Obama.
More than 120 business executives this week urged congressional leadership to “act urgently” to pass the Bipartisan Innovation Act, which is currently in conference. The bill is “critical” to the U.S. economy and would help strengthen domestic manufacturing and supply chains, said a June 15 letter signed by the leaders of major technology firms, electronics manufacturers, semiconductor companies and others. “Our global competitors are investing in their industry, their workers, and their economies, and it is imperative that Congress act to enhance U.S. competitiveness,” the letter said. “We call on Congress to act promptly to achieve a bipartisan agreement that can be passed and signed into law.” Signers include CEOs of Adobe, Uber Technologies, Alphabet, GlobalFoundries, IBM, TSMC and Lockheed Martin.
Several Federal Maritime Commission systems are unavailable for use during required maintenance, including its e-monitoring, electronic reading room and certain forms, the FMC said June 13. The commission specifically said its Common Carrier Tariff and MTO Schedule Registration Automated Form FMC-1 is unavailable, as is its Application for License as an Ocean Transportation Intermediary Automated Form FMC-18. The FMC said the systems will be “electronically inaccessible to the public” until the maintenance is complete, but the FMC may be able to provide certain information via email. For e-monitoring lreports purposes, the FMC said industry should send monitoring reports, meeting minutes or other documents to tradeanalysis@fmc.gov and “cc (copy) the economist who is assigned to the agreement. Once the system is back online, we will ask you to submit the materials directly in the system.”
A German think tank specialist in semiconductors' value chain vulnerabilities told the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission he's concerned that the policy focus on bringing more production back to either the EU or the U.S. won't achieve its aims because policymakers aren't sure what those aims are.
The World Trade Organization must renew the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions (see 2205190049) at the ministerial conference in Geneva next week, said John Neuffer, CEO of the Semiconductor Industry Association. In a June 9 SIA blog post, Neuffer said the moratorium is at “serious risk” from some WTO members who are in favor of the increased tax revenue the duties could bring.