The Journal of Commerce reports that the Port of Charleston has announced that it will shut down operations on August 30, 2006 at noon, ahead of Tropical Storm Ernesto. The article states that vessel operations will stop by midnight, July 30, 2006, and that the port anticipates being closed all day July 31, 2006 and opening September 1, 2006, weather permitting. The article also states that on July 29, 2006, the Coast Guard closed major ports in South Florida ahead of Tropical Storm Ernesto. (JoC dated 08/29/06, www.joc.com.)
The U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel's (USA-ITA's) August 8, 2006 Customs Overview contains an article on boycotts which state that although the Arab League boycott of Israel is the principal boycott of interest, the anti-boycott laws apply to any boycott that is not sanctioned by the U.S. The article also states that emphasis on the anti-boycott laws has come up in the context of recent Commerce Department enforcement actions, noting that even if one does not comply with a boycott-related request, failure to report the request is a violation. (See today's ITT, 06082415, for BP summary of BIS' proposed antiboycott penalty guidelines.(USA-ITA Customs Overview, dated 08/08/06, www.usaita.com.)
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a proposed rule to amend 15 CFR Part 764 in order to set forth BIS policy concerning voluntary self disclosures of violations of 15 CFR Part 760 (Restrictive Trade Practices or Boycotts) and violations of 15 CFR Part 762 (Recordkeeping) that relate to 15 CFR Part 760.
The Journal of Commerce reports that Kansas City Southern Railway is expanding its operations in Mexico, connecting the Port of Lazaro Cardenas with Laredo, Texas. Union Pacific Railroad is considering a connection from a yet-to-be established port at Punta Colonet to the Texas border. In addition, BNSF Railway is considering establishing a partnership with a Mexican railroad as ports on that country's Pacific Coast look to become gateways for U.S. imports. (JoC, dated 07/03/06, www.joc.com )
The Bureau of Industry (BIS) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) have issued press releases announcing export violations (and/or alleged violations) committed by companies or individuals, and the actions taken by BIS, the Department of Justice or U.S. federal courts (see press releases for additional details):
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a final rule which amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to reflect a maximum $50,000 civil monetary penalty for violations of the EAR during periods when the EAR are continued under the Export Administration Act (EAA) of 1979, as amended, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), as amended, or other statutory authority.
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued an Order denying certain export privileges for a period of six years to MUTCO International for activities involving the export of toxins to North Korea that were subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). (D/N 05-BIS-20, FR Pub 07/05/06 available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-5986.pdf)
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has released a statement applauding the repeal of the 'Step 2' cotton export subsidy program. The 'Step 2' program was repealed August 1, 2006 by the Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2005. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/10/06 news, 06021005, for BP summary of the repeal of the 'Step 2' program.) (USTR press release, dated 08/02/06, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2006/August/Schwab_Applauds_Formal_Repeal_of_Step_2_Cotton_Program.html.)
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has announced that it will hold open meetings on August 15, 17, 21, and 22, 2006 in various locations for companies, organizations, and individuals that have an interest in understanding the U.S.' revised policy for exports and reexports of dual-use items to the People's Republic of China (PRC) as presented in BIS' July 6, 2006 proposed rule.
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a final rule, effective July 31, 2006, which amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to reflect changes to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Annex agreed to at the September 2005 Plenary in Madrid, Spain. In addition, this final rule's amendments also reflect a change to make one additional missile technology (MT) controlled item available for certain license exceptions.