The Department of Commerce is seeking comments on changes to Form BE-30, Ocean Freight Revenues and Foreign Expenses of United States Carriers, and Form BE-37, U.S. Airline Operators’ Foreign Revenues and Expenses. There are two significant changes to the ocean freight revenues survey: (1) A question has been added to collect data on fuel expenses in foreign ports explicitly (fuel expenses are currently reported indistinguishably within total expenses in foreign ports); and (2) The due date for the survey has been changed to 45 days after the end of the calendar quarter (from 50 days). Major changes to the U.S. airline operators' foreign revenue survey include: (a) fuel expenses will be collected separately; (b) two questions have been added to collect data on the number of passengers transported to/from the United States and the revenues associated with these passengers; and (c) the due date for the survey has been changed to 45 days after the end of the calendar quarter (from 50 days). Comments are due by Sept. 11.

The Department of Commerce is seeking comments on changes made to Form BE-6, Foreign Airline Operators’ Revenues and Expenses in the U.S. The form is used to get quarterly data from U.S. offices, agents, or other representatives of foreign airline operators that transport passengers or freight and express to or from the U.S. and whose covered revenues or total covered expenses were $5,000,000 or more during the previous year or are expected to be $5,000,000 or more during the current year. Two changes have been made to the survey: (1) Two questions have been added to collect data on the number of passengers transported to/from the U.S. and the revenues associated with these passengers; and (2) the due date for the survey has been changed to 45 days after the end of the calendar quarter (from 50 days). The rest of the form is unchanged from the prior version. Comments are due by Sept. 11.

The U.S. goods and services deficit was $48.7 billion in May 2012, down $1.9 billion from revised April 2012, according to the U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services Report, released on July 11 by the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The report showed that, as compared to April 2012 levels, exports were up $0.4 billion to $183.1 billion, and imports were down $1.6 billion to $231.8 billion. As compared to May 2011 totals, exports increased by 4.2% and imports by 3.8%. The U.S. trade deficit with China increased to $26 billion in April 2012, from $24.6 billion in April. Statement by Acting Commerce Secretary Blank available here. International Trade Administration fact sheet available here.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is seeking public comment on data and information on the Pre-Authorization Safety Audit (PASA) for Jose Guadalupe Morales Guevara (DBA Fletes Morales) which applied to participate in the Agency's long-haul pilot program to test and demonstrate the ability of Mexico-domiciled motor carriers to operate safely in the U.S. The approval is part of the Pilot Program on NAFTA Trucking Provisions.

The Commerce Department Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements said it's amending the 2012 Tariff Preference Level for Nicaragua to 96,529,059 square meters equivalent to account for the shortfall in meeting the one-to-one commitment for cotton and man-made fiber woven trousers exported from Nicaragua to the U.S., in a Federal Register notice.

The International Trade Administration announced a renewable energy trade mission to the Philippines and Thailand Sept. 17-20 to give U.S. companies a timely and cost-effective way to engage with key stakeholders, government officials and potential partners in an effort to enter the promising Philippines and Thailand markets. Target sectors for potential U.S. exports include biomass/waste-to-energy/biogas, geothermal, hydropower, wind power, and solar power. The mission will include meetings with high-level national government officials, one-on-one meetings with potential partners and industry leaders, briefings on the Philippine and Thailand markets, site visits, and additional meetings with members of the Asia Development Bank, the ITA said. Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and conclude no later than July 13, 2012. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in June 2012 until 10-20 participants are selected.

The International Trade Administration announced an infrastructure business development trade mission to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Jakarta, Indonesia November 11-17 to help participants gain first-hand market knowledge and establish business contacts with senior decision makers. The trade mission will be comprised of representatives from U.S. companies that provide state-of-the-art market services and technology to sectors critical to infrastructure development, including the energy, aviation, environmental technology, and architecture, construction, and engineering sectors. In each city, participants will receive market briefings and meet with key government decision makers and prospective private sector partners during customized, one-on-one meetings, the ITA said. Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and conclude no later than August 31, 2012, by the close of business. Applications will be vetted on a rolling basis starting July 5, 2012 until 15-25 participants are selected.

The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for July 3:

The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for July 2:

The Commerce Department announced a plan to open three more satellite locations of the Patent and Trademark Office in Dallas, Denver, and Silicon Valley. The three locations are in addition to the first satellite office set to open July 13 in Detroit. According to Commerce, the new offices will reduce the backlog of unexamined patents and speed up the overall process.