The State Department announces a public meeting on of its Advisory Committee on Private International Law on September 15, 2010 on the work of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Working Group on International Arbitration and Conciliation regarding transparency in investor-State arbitration.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control is publishing the names of two newly-designated entities and seven individuals in Iran, Lebanon, and Syria whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13224, “Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism,"effective on August 3, 2010.
Commerce Secretary Locke on August 5, 2010 announced his appointment of 24 members to the 2010 Manufacturing Council. The Council, which is directed by the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, was established in 2004 and recently re-chartered to increase its membership from 15 to 25 members. The Secretaries of Labor, Energy and Treasury have also been added as ex officio members of the Council to better collaborate on the cross-cutting issues the Council will address. Locke's remarks available here.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announces meetings in Madison, WI, Atlanta, GA, and Pasco, WA, to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to offer their input on the new framework being developed for animal disease traceability. The meetings will be held on August 18, 20, and 24, 2010, respectively.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced on August 5, 2010 that more than $5.1 million in Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) funds have been granted to five organizations to aid in diesel emissions reductions in EPA Region 7. The funds are part of $64 million allocated nationwide this fiscal year through DERA’s grant program. Through DERA, EPA provides support for retrofits, engine upgrades, vehicle replacements, idle reduction, cleaner fuels and financing for clean technologies for trucks, buses, and non-road equipment. One recipient is the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association of Grain Valley, Mo., which will receive a $1 million grant to implement a project with a total cost of more than $2.3 million. Through the project, approximately 300 emission-cutting auxiliary power units (APUs) will be installed in long-haul diesel trucks operating in EPA Regions 6 and 7. (Region 7 includes Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and nine tribal nations. Region 6 includes Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and 66 tribal nations.)
Export.Gov is announcing that the Commerce Department will hold a conference on Measuring Services Trade Data and Information on September 14, 2010 in Washington, D.C. Discussions will cover areas for improvement and innovation in the collection and dissemination of data. Policy leaders from the Bureau of Census, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, as well as private sector innovators in the services information arena will be in attendance.
The U.S. Delegate has issued a report on the 33rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) held July 5-9, 2010, in Geneva, Switzerland. The Delegate states that the results of the meeting were mixed from the perspective of the United States. The Commission made key decisions on the adoption of Codex standards, approval of new work, and operating policies and procedures that were consistent with U.S. positions. Discussions occurred on strategic issues including the participation of developing countries in the work of Codex, the future of the Codex Trust Fund, and the operation of the Codex Secretariat. See source link for more details from the U.S. Delegate. The full report of the 2010 Session can be found in ALINORM 10/33/REP on the Codex Web site, www.codexalimentarius.net.
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued two notices that either reissue or revoke an ocean transportation intermediary (OTI) license, as follows:
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a notice that lists those applying for ocean transportation intermediary licenses as a non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC), ocean freight forwarder (FF) or NVOCC/FF OTI, as follows:
FSIS has provided updated information for the export of U.S. meat and poultry to the following countries: