The State Department announces meetings on July 8 and August 11, 2010 of the International Telecommunication Advisory Committee to start preparations for the 2010 Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the 2011 ITU Radiocommunication Sector World Radiocommunication Conference Preparatory Meeting.

Wrapping up the administration’s first trade mission to the Caribbean, Commerce Department senior adviser and Deputy Chief of Staff Rick Wade stressed that geographical proximity and shared historical and cultural ties make the Dominican Republic and Jamaica prime destinations for U.S. goods and services. Wade led a 10-company U.S. trade mission to the region to promote export opportunities June 13-19.

On June 16, 2010, the Transporation Department's Office of Inspector General issued its report on actions needed to advance the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). OIG conducted this review at the request of the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Subcommittee on Aviation, who asked that we examine the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) progress toward the NextGen transition. Our report addresses (1) key actions needed to successfully implement NextGen, (2) FAA and partner agencies’ progress in leveraging resources and budgets, and (3) FAA’s efforts to engage the private sector in shaping NextGen policy issues.

The Transportation Security Administration has issued a notice stating that effective August 1, 2010, 100% of cargo flown on passenger aircraft originating in the U.S. must be screened as mandated by the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007.

On June 21, 2010, officials of the U.S. and Switzerland signed an enhanced Open Skies Air Transport Agreement, replacing the previous agreement signed in 1995. The new agreement entered into force upon signature. The new agreement includes all of the essential elements of Open Skies and adds the right for airlines of both countries to operate all-cargo flights to third countries without a connection to the home country. In addition, the new agreement extends to Swiss airlines the opportunity to compete under the “Fly America Act” for certain U.S. government civilian agency-funded passenger and cargo traffic between the United States and Switzerland and between non-U.S. points.

Starting in mid-2011, the Federal Trade Commission states that consumers shopping for light bulbs will notice new labeling on packaging designed to help them choose among the different types of bulbs on the market -- traditional incandescent bulbs, and newer high-efficiency compact fluorescent (CFL) and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. The new labels will enable consumers to save money by selecting the most efficient bulbs that best fit their lighting needs.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has posted its response to a question it received regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Customs procedures. According to the questioner, research consistently shows that a significant barrier to increased international trade by small businesses is the opaque and expensive problem of Customs procedures, documentation and duties. They asked what the Administration will do to help make the export/import process via the Posts and express carriers faster, cheaper and easier for small business? The USTR responded by saying that it plans to address the customs-related issues identified as part of customs cooperation group of the TPP negotiations. In keeping with its objective to make the TPP a 21st century agreement, USTR plans to discuss ways that it could further facilitate international trade and increase the transparency of customs procedures, including for outbound and express shipments.

The following export control and compliance training outreach events are listed on the Bureau of Industry and Security's updated training schedule:

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has announced that the second round of negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement ended in San Francisco, CA on June 18, 2010 with TPP negotiators making “significant, positive progress” during the talks.

The State Department, World Health Organization, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recently issued the following travel warnings, travel alerts, country specific information sheets, and disease outbreak-related information: