The Bureau of Industry and Security issued a final rule, effective July 8, 2008, which amends the Export Administration Regulations to, among other things, implement the understandings reached at the April 2008 plenary meeting of the Australia Group (AG)1.
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has issued a press release containing a statement by Committee Chairman Dingell and Chairman of the Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee Rush, commending the Consumer Product Safety Commission's import safety strategy. (See ITT's Online Archive or 07/03/08 news, 08070307, for BP summary of CPSC import safety strategy.) (Press release, dated 07/02/08, available at http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110nr309.shtml.)
On June 26, 2008, the Senate passed its version of H.R. 802, the Maritime Pollution Prevention Act, which would require the Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency to prescribe regulations to implement vessel air emission standards and requirements that are outlined under Annex VI to the MARPOL Convention. The House passed its version of H.R. 802 on March 26, 2007. (Senate Commerce Committee press release, dated 06/27/08, available at http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=82f3560a-d664-42ec-82af-87a9d0ab0fec&Month=6&Year=2008.)
The International Trade Administration frequently issues notices on antidumping and countervailing duty orders, investigations, etc. which Broker Power considers to be "minor" in importance as they concern actions that occur after an order is issued, neither announce nor cause any changes to an order's duty rates, scope, affected firms, or effective period, etc.
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission will hold an open public hearing on July 16, 2008 in Washington, D.C. to address "Research and Development and Technological Advances in Key Industries in China. (Notice, FR 06/26/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-14533.pdf.)
President Bush has issued a proclamation lifting the application of the Trading with the Enemy Act (TWEA) with respect to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and notified Congress of his intent to rescind North Korea's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. These actions were taken following North Korea's submission of a declaration of its nuclear programs, which will now be subject to verification.
Treasury Secretary Paulson will attend a day of meetings hosted by theMexican Finance Minister on Tuesday to discuss regional finance and economic issues. (Treasury Dept. press release, HP-1045, dated 06/19/08, available at http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp1045.htm)
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a press release announcing that it has added an antiboycott compliance training module to its BIS Online Training Room, its online training program for exporters.
On June 12, 2008, the House Oversight and Government Committee reported an amended H.R. 5912, a bill to amend 39 USC to make cigarettes and certain other tobacco products nonmailable, and for other purposes. (Congressional Record, dated 06/12/08, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r110:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20080612)
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective June 16, 2008, amending the Export Administration Regulations and the Commerce Control List to reflect changes to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Annex that were agreed to by MTCR member countries at the November 2007 Plenary in Greece.