The International Trade Administration has issued a press release announcing the publication of Trade Finance Guide: A Quick Reference for U.S. Exporters, its first trade finance guide targeted to small and medium-sized U.S. enterprises. The guide is available at http://trade.gov/media/publications/abstract/trade_finance_guide2007desc.html and through ITA's Trade Information Center and network of domestic Export Assistance Centers and overseas posts. (ITA press release, 04/12/07, available at http://trade.gov/press/press_releases/2007/tfc_041207.asp.)
The State Department has issued a press release announcing that the U.S. and China have reached agreement in principle to amend their bilateral air services agreement to allow expanded air service between the countries. The new phased agreement, expected to receive final approval by the two governments soon, would add 10 new daily passenger flights that U.S. carriers may operate to certain Chinese cities, allow unlimited U.S. cargo flights to any point in China and allow an unlimited number of U.S. cargo carriers to serve the market as of 2011, andcommit the U.S. and China to launch Open Skies negotiations in 2010, etc. (State Dept press release, 05/23/07, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2007/may/85432.htm)
Senators Max Baucus and Chuck Grassley have issued press releases praising the decision of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to classify the U.S. as a "controlled risk" country with regard to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). In light of the findings, the Senators urged Korea, Japan and China to remove their restrictions on U.S. beef. (Press releases, 05/22/07, available at http://finance.senate.gov/press/Bpress/2007press/prb052207a.pdf and http://finance.senate.gov/press/Gpress/2007/prg052207a.pdf )
U.S. News and World Report states that a 'perfect storm is brewing' as protectionists in both parties could join to press for trade legislation punishing China for running a $200 billion-plus surplus with the U.S. The momentum comes both from those who worry about China's weak currency, and those who fret about China as a potential military threat. (dated 06/04/07, www.usnews.com )
The Department of Commerce has issued a press release outlining the Bush Administration's legislative proposal to strengthen the Bureau of Industry and Security's enforcement authority over dual-use export controls (i.e., for those items with both civil and military applications) through renewal and strengthening of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (EAA). Commerce states that the proposed Export Enforcement Act of 2007 (EEA 2007) would give BIS enhanced tools in the fight against terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.
The President has issued a memorandum to the Secretary of State which, among other things, determines and certifies that U.S. government-funded transfers and commercial exports of certain defense articles and services necessary for the Southern Sudan Security Sector Reform Program are essential to the national security interests of the U.S. (Presidential Determination No. 2007-17, FR Pub 05/09/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-2319.pdf)
According to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the European Commission decided on March 29, 2007 to extend until 2008 the validity date of the ecological criteria for various product groups including: televisions, textiles, refrigerators, washing machines, tissue paper, and dishwasher detergent. The eco-labeling scheme, depicted by a flower logo, is voluntary and aimed at promoting the sale of products determined by independent bodies to have a reduced environmental impact. (HKTDC article, dated 04/20/07, available at http://www.tdctrade.com/alert/eu0708d.htm?w_sid=194&w_pid=703&w_nid=&w_cid=&w_idt=1900-01-01&w_oid=166&w_jid=)
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective May 7, 2007, which amends the Commerce Control List at 15 CFR Part 774 to reflect changes to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Annex that were agreed to by MTCR member countries at the October 2006 Plenary.
The Journal of Commerce reports that in late 2006, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach adopted a Clean Air Action Plan that sets ground rules for marine terminal and intermodal rail development. The article notes that the environmental impact reports scheduled for release in 2007 indicate that the ports' near-term priorities are the expansion of on-dock rail capacity, enlargement of existing marine terminals and the lengthening of vessel berths. (JoC, dated 01/29/07, www.joc.com.)
Shippers' NewsWire reports that four Chinese shipper groups say member ocean carriers of four conferences are already running afoul of a new Chinese government mandate requiring conferences to be transparent in their assessment of non-rate-based charges. The shipper groups allege that the ocean carriers have violated the mandate by severely increasing terminal handling charges (THCs) at South China ports. Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association is claiming that shipping lines are arbitrarily imposing THCs at Sri Lankan ports and have failed to clarify the breakdown of the charges or attend discussions regarding the charge increases. (SNW, dated 04/23/07, www.americanshipper.com)