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:
On March 31, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2009 (PACT Act). The law goes into effect on June 29, 2010. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is currently working to publish an Interpretive Rule, including a request for comments, in the Federal Register. This website will be updated as further developments occur.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued its Spring CMV Safety Belt Newsletter. The newsletter contains information on the International Registration Plan (IRP). IRP is a registration reciprocity agreement among the 48 contiguous U.S., DC, and provinces of Canada, providing for payment of fees on the basis of total distance operated in all jurisdictions.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has posted the prepared remarks of Chief Safety Officer McMurray to the National Association of Small Trucking Companies. McMurray discussed the importance of small trucks, the trucking industry, and safety. McMurray also talked about new enforcement initiatives being undertaken by the FMCSA.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control is publishing the names of two individuals in Peru and Mexico whose property and interests in property have been unblocked pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, effective June 10, 2010.