The Wall Street Journal reports that the Bush administration and Senate Republican leaders are currently pushing for an updated version of the Patriot Act that would expand the ability of law-enforcement agencies to demand business records without a warrant. (WSJ, dated 05/26/05, www.wsj.com )
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted a memorandum to its Web site announcing that the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Trade and Industry has a Web site on the newly established Egypt-Israel Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZs).
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued a notice requesting public comments by June 13, 2005 regarding a "commercial availability" petition it received under the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA) and the U.S.-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) on behalf of Galey and Lord, Inc.:
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has rejected a Section 301 petition filed by members of Congress on the issue of China's currency, noting that this petition is similar to two previously rejected petitions. The USTR states that it believes that China has undertaken the necessary and appropriate steps to prepare for a move to a more flexible, market-based exchange rate system; therefore, a Section 301 action would not be an appropriate or productive way to achieve that goal. (USTR statement, dated 05/27/05, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Spokesperson_Statements/May_27,_2005_Statement_from_USTR_Spokesperson_Richard_Mills_Regarding_a_Section_301_Petition_on_Chinas_Currency_Regime.html)
The Wall Street Journal reports that despite the threat of steep tariffs and other trade barriers, retailers are still flocking to China to buy garments. Some hope to buy before more protectionist barriers kick in on some clothing categories. Others plan to source in China during "window periods," the time after one safeguard quota ends, and another on the same category begins. The article adds that foreign buyers should have more room to buy from China in 2006, as quotas imposed in 2006 would be calculated from a larger 12-month base, due to the sharp rise in imports during the first five months of 2005. (WSJ, dated 05/27/05, www.wsj.com )
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has submitted to Congress the Administration's fifth of eight annual reports, entitled "2005 Comprehensive Report on U.S. Trade and Investment Policy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa and Implementation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)."
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued a notice requesting public comments by June 9, 2005 regarding a "commercial availability" petition it received under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the U.S.-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) from Columbia Sportswear Company:
MSNBC reports that more than 200 members of the House of Representatives are co-sponsoring a bill that would tighten and codify existing sanctions on Iran, bar subsidiaries of U.S. companies from doing business in Iran and cut foreign aid to countries that have businesses investing in Iran. The Senate is also considering a more limited version of this bill. (MSNBC Pub 05/16/05, available at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7869442/print/1/displaymode/1098/)
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued a notice stating that, effective June 6, 2005, certain textile and apparel articles from Senegal are eligible for duty-free treatment under the "handloomed, handmade, or folklore articles" provisions of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
The Journal of Commerce reports that registration will begin in May for shippers wishing to participate in a test of PierPass in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, although full implementation of the program will be delayed until late June or early July (from a June 1 target date). PierPass, which will charge an extra $20 per TEU for cargo moving through terminal gates during weekday hours, is an effort to shift more cargo movements to nights and weekends to reduce peak-hour traffic. (JoC, dated 04/18/05, www.joc.com)