The International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued a notice announcing that, following receipt of a request from the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), it has instituted an investigation under 19 USC 3804(f) regarding the potential economy wide and selected sectoral effects of the proposed U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The Washington Trade Daily (WTD) reports that the AFL-CIO has filed a Section 301 petition with the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) urging bilateral negotiations with China to correct what it believes are China's inadequate labor practices and laws. The AFL-CIO asserts that these practices and laws are tantamount to unfair trade practices. (WTD Pub 03/17/04, www.washingtontradedaily.com)
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release and fact sheet announcing that on March 15, 2004, the U.S. and the Dominican Republic concluded negotiations integrating the Dominican Republic into the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release announcing that on March 15, 2004 the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), providing a forum for the two countries to examine ways to expand bilateral trade and investment. (Press Release 04-18, dated 03/15/04, available at http://www.ustr.gov/releases/2004/03/04-18.pdf)
The International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued a notice announcing that, following receipt of a request from the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), it has instituted an investigation regarding the probable economic effect of the proposed U.S.-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and expects to provide its classified report to the USTR by August 19, 2004.
The State Department has issued a press release announcing that the U.S. has signed an Open Skies civil aviation agreement with Madagascar. According to the press release, this agreement provides for open routes, capacity, frequencies, designations, and pricing, as well as opportunities for cooperative marketing agreements, including code-sharing. The press release also states that the agreement includes all-cargo seventh freedom rights, allowing airlines to perform international cargo operations with no connection to their homeland. (State Department press release, dated 03/10/04, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2004/30328.htm.)
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice requesting written comments by April 22, 2004 concerning the establishment of a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel (DSP) to examine various measures relating to the U.S. antidumping (AD) duty order on gray portland cement and cement clinker (cement) from Mexico.
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued a notice requesting public comments by March 26, 2004 regarding a "commercial availability" petition it received under the U.S.-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) from Dillard's, Inc. and BWA, Inc.:
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice requesting written comments by April 6, 2004 regarding the establishment of a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel concerning measures of the European Communities (EC) affecting the approval and marketing of the products of agricultural biotechnology (biotech products).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted a notice to its Web site stating that effective February 25, 2004, hand-loomed fabrics of the cottage industry, hand-made cottage industry products made of hand loomed fabrics and traditional handicraft textile products that are entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after February 25, 2004 are eligible for Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) duty-free treatment provided that proper requirements are met.