The DOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that the Freight Transportation Services Index rose 0.9 percent in March from its February level, rising for the third consecutive month. The March Freight TSI rose 2.6 percent from March 2009, the first year-to-year increase in the freight index since July 2008. (Press release, dated 05/12/10, available at http://www.bts.gov/press_releases/2010/bts022_10/html/bts022_10.html)
U.S. Trade Representative Kirk recently presided at a ceremony on Capitol Hill today heralding the 10th Anniversary of the enactment of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference program. Ambassador Kirk was joined by several past and present Members of Congress who played key roles in the drafting, passage and implementation of AGOA. (Notice, posted 05/12/10, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/blog/2010/may/united-states-trade-representative-ron-kirk-celebrates-10th-anni)
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the U.S. is focused on three significant policy areas for the Western Hemisphere: trade and energy security, public security, and inequality and immigration during her May 12, 2010 remarks at the 40th Washington Conference on the Americas. (Remarks, dated 05/12/10, available at http://www.america.gov/st/business-english/2010/May/20100512162128dmslahrellek0.7731134.html?CP.rss=true)
On May 6, 2010, the State Department updated and extended its travel warning for Mexico in order to inform U.S. citizens traveling to and living in Mexico of concerns about the security situation in Mexico.
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective May 14, 2010, which amends the Export Administration Regulations to update the name of an existing validated end-user in China, and revises its lists of eligible items and facilities.
The International Trade Commission has instituted a section 337 patent-based investigation of certain digital imaging devices and related software, pursuant to a complaint (Inv. No. 337-TA-717).
The International Trade Commission has launched an investigation to assess the U.S. export and import effects of three free trade agreements, entitled Selected Sectoral Effects of the U.S. FTAs with Chile, Singapore, and Australia, as requested by the U.S. Trade Representative.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued updated version of its list of Austria (May 7, 2010) establishments eligible to export meat and poultry to the U.S.
The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:
On April 28, 2010, APHIS updated its Gypsy Moth Program PPQ Manual. This is a prototype of the Gypsy Moth Program Manual. (Manual, updated 04/28/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/domestic/downloads/gypsy_moth.pdf)