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.
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 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.
On June 6, 2006, the House of Representatives passed 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.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release announcing that on February 14, 2006, the USTR unveiled the results of a top-to-bottom review of U.S.-China trade policy at a news conference.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release and fact sheet stating that the U.S. and Peru have completed a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA). USTR Portman noted that as many products from Peru already enter the U.S. market duty-free under the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), this FTA with Peru will level the playing field and make duty-free treatment a two-way street.