On March 24, 2010, 74 companies and 37 trade association wrote the leadership of the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees to express their support for the preservation of the First Sale Rule, which allows U.S. importers to value imported merchandise using the "first sale" in a series of transactions as the basis for determining duties on products that come into the U.S.
The International Trade Commission has released the public version of a report requested by the U.S. Trade Representative as part of the 2009 GSP Annual Review on the probable economic effect of possible additions to and removals from the Generalized System of Preferences.
China's Ministry of Commerce reports that China's Premier Wen Jiabao recently said China would keep the yuan exchange rate "basically stable" at an "appropriate and balanced level" this year, and that Commerce Minister Chen has said that China's exchange rate should not be politicized. (Notice, dated 03/11/10, available at http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/counselorsreport/asiareport/201003/20100306815949.html)
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative recently posted to its Web site the President's 2010 Trade Policy Agenda and 2009 Annual Report on the Administration's progress on trade issues and future objectives.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has published a notice announcing the availability of 2009 full calendar year import statistics relating to the Generalized System of Preferences competitive needs limitations (CNLs) for the 2009 GSP Annual Review.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a notice seeking comments by May 3, 2010, on the extension of an existing information collection, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Certificate of Origin.
The Senate Finance Committee has announced that it will hold a hearing on the options for reforming U.S. Preference Programs on March 9, 2010. Testimony will be heard from four witnesses, including one representing labor.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has posted to its Web site the President's 2010 Trade Policy Agenda and 2009 Annual Report on the Administration's progress on trade issues and future objectives.
The Labor Department's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) has issued a notice seeking information on child labor and forced labor in foreign countries as part of its preparation to meet various reporting requirements.
On February 17, 2010, Transportation Secretary LaHood announced Recovery Act awards to fund innovative transportation projects. The TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Grant Program was included in the Recovery Act to spur transportation projects that promise significant economic and environmental benefits, including improvements to roads, bridges, rail, ports, transit and intermodal facilities. (White House, dated 02/17/10, available for http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/secretary-lahood-announces-funding-over-50-innovative-strategic-transportation-proj.)