The International Trade Commission has issued a press release announcing the release of its report entitled, "Certain Textile Articles: Travel Goods of Textile Materials" which covers the years 2005-2006.
Forced Labor
CBP is the primary U.S. agency tasked with combating forced labor in international trade. It is the only agency with legal authority to take enforcement action and prevent entry into domestic commerce of goods produced with forced labor. CBP combats forced labor by issuing Withhold Release Orders (WROs) and Findings, and enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), and Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Goods subject to WROs and Findings, UFLPA, and CAATSA status cannot be entered at any ports of the U.S.
The Labor Department's Bureau of International Labor Affairs has issued proposed procedural guidelines for the development and maintenance of a list of goods from countries produced by child labor or forced labor in violation of international standards.
American Shipper reports that the Coalition for Clean and Safe Ports has produced a report which says that the proposed Southern California trucking program offers sizable savings to the public in the form of lowered health care costs and increased wages for the 16,800 port truck drivers. (American Shipper, dated 08/31/07, www.americanshipper.com and the coalition's report, "The Road to Shared Prosperity," dated August 2007, available at http://www.laane.org/docs/research/The_Road_to_Shared_Prosperity.pdf)
On June 15, 2007, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2638, the fiscal year 2008 appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Transportation Security Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, etc.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a press release announcing that on June 28, 2007, the U.S. and Panama signed the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA).
The Journal of Commerce reports that a working group of the U.N. Commission on International Law (UNCITRAL) was scheduled to meet in New York April 16-27, 2007 to begin the third reading of a draft agreement to cover cargo liability in ocean transportation. The U.S. delegation was seeking input from truckers, railroads, and shippers for both a new agreement and for the political battle to come - when Congress must be persuaded to ratify it. (JoC, 03/05/07, www.joc.com)
The Court of International Trade has dismissed the case, International Labor Rights Fund et. al v.U.S., regarding the use of forced child labor in cocoa imported from the Cote d'Ivoire due to lack of standing.
On March 30, 2007, President Bush notified Congress of his intent to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with Panama.
On October 4, 2006, the President signed into law Public Law (P.L.) 109-295, the conference version of H.R. 5441, the fiscal year (FY) 2007 appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), etc.
On July 13, 2006, the Senate passed its own version of H.R. 5441, the fiscal year (FY) 2007 appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), etc.