The Justice Department announced on July 28, 2010 that a former executive from Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corporation (Chi Mei) has agreed to plead guilty and to serve jail time in the U.S. for participating in a global conspiracy to fix the price of thin-film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels. Wen-Hung “Amigo” Huang is the third person to plead guilty in this conspiracy. Under his plea agreement, which is subject to court approval, Huang will serve 9 months in jail, pay a $25,000 criminal fine and assist the department in its ongoing TFT-LCD investigation. TFT-LCD panels are used in computer monitors and notebooks, televisions, mobile phones and other electronic devices.
The U.S. Council for International Business (USCIB) states that Incoterms® 2010 rules by the International Chamber of Commerce will take effect on January 1, 2011. Shippers, credit executives and others involved in international trade need to familiarize themselves with imminent changes to the global rules governing terminology used in international sales contracts. The USCIB plans a nationwide series of seminars beginning in September to explain the changes.
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a notice announcing the Order revoking the following ocean transportation intermediary (OTI) license is being rescinded:
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:
Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):
The Foreign Trade Zone Board has issued the following notice:
The Federal Maritime Commission announces that a complaint has been filed by Rendezvous International, a garment manufacturerer in Pakistan, against five importers/freight forwarders in New York, which alleges that in certain transactions between Pakistan and New York, the terms of the bill of lading were violated when Respondents released the goods without obtaining the endorsed bill of lading.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking and requests comments on addition or reduction to the list of select agents and toxins in its regulations that have the potential to pose a severe threat to animal or plant health, or to animal or plant products, and on potential reorganization of the list, pursuant to its biennial review under the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002. Comments are due by August 30, 2010.
Deputy USTR Marantis recently went to Malaysia to attend meetings with Malaysian Government officials and business leaders. The government meetings focused on Malaysia's planned market opening in the financial sector. Marantis also addressed implementation of Malaysia's new competition law and efforts to strengthen Malaysia's intellectual property regime. He updated his Malaysian Government counterparts on the Obama Administration's trade policy goals, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership.