The Earned Import Allowance Program didn’t substantially contribute to a tripling of the value and a fivefold increase in the quantity of imported woven cotton bottoms from the Dominican Republic in 2015, the International Trade Commission said in a yearly report on the program’s effectiveness for certain apparel imports from the country (here). The program isn’t providing as many incentives as intended to boost apparel imports, the ITC said. Five of 12 registered firms are using the program, same as in 2014, the ITC said. The ITC again made the same three recommendations as last year on how to fix the program, which allows duty-free access for Dominican Republic apparel exporters that use U.S. fabric: lowering the two-for-one ratio of U.S. to foreign fabric to a one-for-one ratio; including other types of fabrics and apparel items in the program; and changing the requirement that dyeing, finishing and printing of eligible fabrics take place in the U.S. But the ITC additionally recommended adding countries to the program to facilitate regional integration and create more opportunities in CAFTA-DR countries.
The International Trade Commission on July 27 released its 2015 “Year in Trade” Report, an annual overview of developments in the administration of U.S. trade laws and trade agreements (here).
The Transportation Department will give $17.6 million for Port of Albany (New York) renovations under its Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) VIII Discretionary Grant Program, including replacement of an on-dock warehouse, refurbishment of an outdoor cargo and staging area, and restoration of a port roadway, part of an effort to boost the port’s cargo and lift capabilities, Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., said (here).
The Energy Department is amending energy efficiency test procedures for ceiling fans, it said in a final rule (here). Changes include new test procedures for large-diameter ceiling fans, multi-mount ceiling fans, ceiling fans with multiple fan heads and ceiling fans where the airflow is not directed vertically. Compliance with the new test procedures is required for representations made with respect to the energy use or efficiency of ceiling fans starting Jan. 23, 2017.
The Drug Enforcement Administration proposed 2017 quotas (here) and adjustments to 2016 quotas (here) for the manufacture and import of controlled substances Schedule I and II of the Controlled Substances Act. Substances not listed in the table included in DEA's notice will have a quota of zero. DEA is also proposing 2017 quotas and 2016 quota adjustments for the Schedule I chemicals ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine and pseudoephedrine. Comments are due by Aug. 22.
The National Marine Fisheries Service is proposing to revise its rules on fishing, importation and exportation of toothfish and other Antarctic species, it said (here). The changes come on top of a December proposal to consolidate import permits under the International Fisheries Trade Permit (IFTP) and require filing of the permit data in ACE (see 1512300015). Proposed amendments include new provisions for “first receiver,” separate from the importing “dealer” that must obtain the IFTP, as well as a change in the advance notice deadline for imports of toothfish -- from 15 to 10 working days. Comments are due Aug. 22.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is removing the lesser prairie chicken from the list of endangered and threatened species, in a final rule that takes effect July 20 (here). The southern Plains native had only been listed as threatened and subject to additional import and export restrictions since 2014. An oil industry association and several New Mexico counties successfully petitioned a federal court for an order to delist the species.
The Energy Department on July 18 issued a final rule (here) bringing “miscellaneous refrigeration products,” including devices that maintain higher temperatures than typical refrigerator compartments, such as wine chillers and beverage coolers, under the scope of energy efficiency standards and test procedures for refrigerators. The final rule takes effect Aug. 17, with test procedures set in the final rule becoming mandatory for all representations of energy use on or after Jan. 17, 2017.
The Labor Department’s Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA) accepted for review a petition filed by the AFL-CIO and five Colombian labor organizations alleging that the Colombian government hasn’t complied with labor obligations of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, OTLA said (here). The groups alleged, among other things, that Bogota didn’t adopt rights in the International Labor Organization Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, and hasn’t ensured transparent administrative, judicial=, or labor proceedings (see 1605170036). OTLA is expected to issue a public report to the Secretary of Labor within 180 days, unless circumstances dictate an extension, OTLA said.
The Drug Enforcement Administration will test import and export data submission through the the agency's ACE partner government agency (PGA) message set and the Document Image System (DIS), it said in a notice (here). The pilot can begin as early as Aug. 1, DEA said. The agency will allow for electronic submission of data from eight forms required in importing or exporting: