The Washington File reports that, according to a statement by U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Schwab, the Bush administration's trade agenda will remain unchanged as the Democrats take control of the Congress in January 2007. According to the report, Schwab cited World Trade Organization (WTO) talks as the number one issue on the administration's agenda. (Washington File Pub 11/29/06, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=November&x=20061129142632SAikceinawz0.4388086)
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a final rule, effective November 27, 2006, which amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) at 15 CFR Parts 738 and 740 to add "Montenegro" and "Serbia" as separate countries and to establish separate export licensing requirements for Montenegro and Serbia.
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a final rule, effective November 24, 2006, which amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to implement the understandings reached at the June 2006 plenary meeting of the Australia Group (AG). This final rule also updates the list of countries that currently are States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), etc.
The European Commission (EC) has issued a press release announcing that the World Trade Organization (WTO) has recently rejected certain U.S. claims that the European Union (EU's) system of customs administrations is inconsistent with the EU's WTO obligations to ensure uniform administration and prompt review of administrative decisions. The EC notes that the WTO found that the EU's customs administration violated WTO obligations only in one specific case, out of 19 cases brought by the U.S. (IP/06/1557, dated 11/14/06, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/1557&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective November 24, 2006, which amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to implement the understandings reached at the June 2006 plenary meeting of the Australia Group (AG). This final rule also updates the list of countries that currently are States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), etc.
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a final rule, effective November 20, 2006, which amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by imposing new foreign policy export and reexport controls on devices primarily useful for the surreptitious interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications classified under Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) 5A980.
According to Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) sources, the Simplified Network Application Process (SNAP) is being phased out and replaced by SNAP-Redesign (SNAP-R), which sources state is, among other things, more user-friendly and secure than the current SNAP program.
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued supplemental guidance to its July 6, 2006 proposed rule to amend the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by expanding and revising U.S. licensing requirements and licensing policy on exports and reexports of goods and technology to the People's Republic of China (China), etc.
The Washington Trade Daily (WTD) reports that the U.S. government will ask Congress to extend the Andean Trade Preference and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA), which expires on December 31, 2006. WTD explains that the ATPDEA provides trade benefits to Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru. (WTD Pub 10/25/06, www.washingtontradedaily.com)
The State Department has issued a public notice identifying all the countries eligible for trade in rough diamonds under the Clean Diamond Trade Act of 2003 and those participants' respective Importing and Exporting Authorities. According to the State Department, this notice revises the previously published list of October 26, 2005 to include New Zealand. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/28/05 news, 05102899 6, for BP summary of the previously published list.) (Public Notice 5587, FR Pub 10/25/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-17894.pdf)