On February 28, 2006, President Bush issued Proclamation 7987 to amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), etc., to implement the U.S. - Dominican Republic -Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) for El Salvador.
President Bush has issued Proclamation 7981 in order to reinstate Liberia's duty-free benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program. In addition, the President has determined that Liberia should be designated as a least-developed beneficiary developing country (LDBDC).
The Wall Street Journal reports that as China's trade clout grows, its manufacturers are increasingly running afoul of Western anti-trust law in products from Vitamin C (where half a dozen civil antitrust suits have been filed against Chinese manufacturers) to magnesite - a mineral used in steel production. According to the article, these anti-trust accusations are the result of Chinese companies forming alliances to raise prices - a effort to stave off dumping accusations. (WSJ, dated 02/10/06, www.wsj.com )
On February 15, 2006 and February 16, 2006, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Rob Portman testified before the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee regarding the Bush Administration's 2006 trade agenda.
The International Trade Commission (ITC) has released its report entitled The U.S. Oman Free Trade Agreement: Potential Economywide and Selected Sectoral Effects.
The standard Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program (i.e., A, A*, and A) is scheduled to expire for non-African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) beneficiarycountries on December 31, 2006.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a notice announcing the availability of grant funding under the fiscal year (FY) 2006 Border Enforcement Grant (BEG) program. According to the FMCSA, this is a discretionary grant program that provides funding for carrying out border commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safety programs and related enforcement activities and projects. Entities and states that share a land border with another country are eligible to receive grant funding. Applications must be sent no later than March 15, 2006. (FR Pub 01/31/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-1155.pdf)
The Washington File reports that the U.S. and South Korea will open negotiations on a comprehensive bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) to remove tariff and nontariff barriers and expand trade between the countries. The talks are expected to begin in or around May 2006 after a consultation period. (Washington File Pub 02/03/06, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/usinfo/Archive/2006/Feb/02-508129.html)
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued two notices announcing that the reviews of intellectual property protection in Brazil and Pakistan have been closed. These reviews were carried out as part of the USTR's 2005 Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Country Eligibility Practices Review (country practices review).
According to a press release from the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and USTR sources, duty-free benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program have been reinstated for Ukraine effective January 23, 2006.