The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a notice requesting comments regarding the Commerce Control List in the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) as part of a systematic review of the CCL.
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a notice announcing a tentative agenda of topics for discussion for the public session of the July 30, 2007 meeting of the Deemed Export Advisory Committee (DEAC) in Chicago, IL.
Shiptalk.com reports that on June 28, 2007, members of Congress signed and sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff urging attention to national defense and economic security in the offshore marine sector of the U.S. Among other things, the letter addresses the current rulemaking process by the Coast Guard to require foreign vessels operating on the Outer Continental Shelf to provide security-related information similar to the information they are required to report when they call on a U.S. port. (Shiptalk.com, 07/10/07, available at http://www.shiptalk.com/index.asp?ItemID=2268&rcid=195&pcid=178&cid=195'anch)
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective July 12, 2007, which amends the Export Administration Regulations to add five entities located in Iran to the Entity List in 15 CFR Part 744, Supplement No. 4.
Land Line Magazine reports that officials from the Transportation Security Administration have confirmed that the federal government is delaying implementation of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) until fall. Enrollment for the program was originally to begin in March, and later in July, and now in the fall. TSA officials said that the TWIC delay was necessary to ensure the network behind the system is functional, secure, integrated, sustainable and does not interrupt the free flow of commerce. TSA officials added that they had tested employees for a prototypical TWIC enrollment process that included 4,000 applicants and took several weeks. (Land Line Magazine, dated 07/09/07, available at http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2007/Jul07/070907/070907-01.htm)
The U.S. Trade Representative has issued a statement regarding India's July 3, 2007 announcement that it has withdrawn its "additional duty" on imports of beer, wine, and distilled spirits (alcoholic beverages) stating that withdrawal would be a positive step in addressing U.S. concerns. On June 20, 2007, a World Trade Organization dispute settlement panel was established to consider U.S. claims that the additional duty and a separate extra additional duty on U.S. alcoholic beverage imports exceeded India's WTO "bound" tariff rate of 150%. India announced that it has withdrawn the additional duty on alcoholic beverages, but increased the basic customs tariff on wine from 100 to 150%. (USTR statement, dated 07/06/07, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2007/July/Statement_by_USTR_Susan_C_Schwab_on_Indias_Withdrawal_of_the_Additional_Duty_on_Beer,_Wine_Distilled_Spirits.html)
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a notice, effective July 5, 2007, announcing that it has updated its Unverified List by the addition of three entities.
American Shipper reports that the multibillion-dollar program to cut diesel truck emissions in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach threatens thousands of jobs and may wind up costing CA taxpayers nearly $1 billion. The ports' Clean Truck Plan is also being guided by political efforts to re-regulate and unionize the Southern CA trucking industry. Among other things, the plan, which was scheduled to take effect at the start of 2008, seeks over the next five years to replace or retrofit more than 16,000 drayage trucks that service the ports daily with newer models that run up to 80% cleaner than older models. (American Shipper, July 2007, www.americanshipper.com)
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective June 19, 2007, which amends the Export Administration Regulations at 15 CFR Parts 742, 743, 744, 748, 750 and 758 to revise and clarify U.S. licensing requirements and licensing policy on exports and reexports to China, among other things.
The Journal of Commerce reports that the Transportation Security Administration is close to finishing technical specifications for "touchless" electronic readers for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential. The specifications will provide the details necessary for manufacturers to build readers that would collect information from a TWIC that is held close to the device. The TSA plans to test the readers at ports to control access in secure areas once it has enough enrolled TWIC holders to test. (JoC, dated 06/18/07, www.joc.com)