The House Ways and Means Committee's Trade Subcommittee has issued an advisory requesting that all Members that plan to introduce tariff legislation or miscellaneous corrections to the trade laws do so by Thursday, April 28, 2005, in order that they be included in the forthcoming opportunity for public comment on these bills.
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued three notices requesting public comments by March 24, 2005 regarding three "commercial availability" petitions it received under the U.S.-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) on behalf of B*W*A of New York, NY:
The European Apparel and Textile Organization reports that EURATEX, acting on behalf of the European Apparel and Textile Industry, made formal application to the Commission and member-states to apply the special textile safeguard clause to 12 categories of textile and apparel products imported from China, including category 5 (jerseys and pullovers), category 6 (trousers and shorts of wool, cotton or manmade fiber), category 7 (women's or girls' blouses), etc. The release reports that China's own export data was used in making its unanimous decision to apply for relief. (EATO, dated 03/10/05, available at http://www.euratex.org/download/publications/pressreleases/china-safeguardmarch-10-2005.doc.en.html )
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a request for comments on behalf of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) with regard to the interim environmental review of the proposed U.S.-Andean Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The interim environmental review is available at http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Trade_Agreements/Bilateral/Andean_FTA/asset_upload_file27_7305.pdfand comments should be received by April 15, 2005 to inform negotiations (comments received thereafter will be used in the development of the final agreement). (FR Pub 03/0/3/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-4153.pdf)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a draft of its fiscal year (FY) 2005-2010 Strategic Plan: Securing the Frontline.
The International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued its report for investigation numbers NAFTA-103-7 and NAFTA-103-8 concerning proposed modifications to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rules of origin for five types of textile articles.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued its QBT containing its implementation and processing instructions for Mauritius' portion of the "Third Country" sublimit for eligible apparel from lesser-developed AGOA beneficiary countries.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release announcing that on February 28, 2005, the U.S. reached an agreement with the European Union (EU) ensuring market access for U.S. brown (husked) rice exports to the EU.
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued a notice announcing the 2004/2005 quantity of apparel imported from Mauritius, made from any fabric/yarn, that is eligible to receive duty-free treatment1 under the AGOA pursuant to HTS 9819.11.12.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice announcing the product petitions that are accepted for further review in the 2004 Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Annual Review.