Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. China Threatens Sanctions on 4 U.S. Defense Firms for Taiwan Arms Sales

2. China Announces Preliminary AD Duties of 43-105.4% on Chicken Products from U.S.

China's Ministry of Commerce has issued its preliminary affirmative determination that certain chicken products from the U.S. are being dumped and causing substantial damage to China's domestic industry. According to the ruling, the margin of dumping ranges from 43.1% to 80.5%, and is 105.4% for companies that did not respond. (Press release, dated 02/08/10, available at http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/newsrelease/significantnews/201002/20100206779594.html)

3. ITA Announces Clean Energy Missions to China, Indonesia

TheITAhas announced business development missions to ChinaonMay 15-21, 2010 and Indonesiaon May 23-25, 2010, which will focus on helping U.S. companies already doing business in China andIndonesia to increase their current level of exports and business interests, as well as help other U.S. companiesto enter these markets,in support ofgreen jobs in the U.S.

4. ICE Release on Sentencing of Firm That Distributed Tainted Pet Food Ingredient

Immigration and Customs Enforcement reports that a Chinese national and her husband were sentenced to 3 years probation and a $5000 fine each for distributing a tainted ingredient which caused thousands of pets to die in 2007. The court also ordered their company, ChemNutra Inc., to pay a $25,000 fine. The court noted that a $24 million settlement in a related civil suit was reached in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey. (News release, dated 02/05/10, available at http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/1002/100205kansascity.htm)

5. DOJ Arrests Taiwan Exporter on Exporting Dual Use Items to Iran

The Justice Department announced that Yi-Lan Chen, aka "Kevin Chen," 40, a Taiwan passport holder, was arrested on Feb. 3, 2010, on charges of illegally facilitating the purchase and export of various dual use goods from the U.S. to Iran by way of Taiwan and Hong Kong, for Iran's missile program. (Press release, dated 02/04/10, available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/February/10-nsd-125.html)

6. DOT Announces Web Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems

The Department of Transportation has announced a meeting by Web conference of the Intelligent Transportation Systems Program Advisory Committee (ITSPAC) on February 24, 2010, from 3-4 p.m. The ITSPAC was created to advise the Secretary of Transportation on all matters relating to the study, development, and implementation of intelligent transportation systems. (FR Pub 02/098/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-2649.pdf)

7. Commerce Targets Buildings for Energy Savings, Notes China Investment

In remarks before the Renewable Energy Technology Conference 2010, Commerce Secretary Locke stated, among other things, that buildings account for 40% of U.S. energy consumption, and that Obama's 2011 budget proposal would enable the government to develop best practices and standards for carbon-neutral buildings. He also stated China is investing over $12 million an hour in clean energy and efficiency, which is $9 billion a month. (Speech, posted 02/05/10, available at http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/SecretarySpeeches/PROD01_008899)

8. NHTSA Announces Dorel Recall of Maxi Cosi Child Restraint System

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in cooperation with Transport Canada and Dorel Juvenile Group announced a recall involving certain Maxi-Cosi Mico infant child restraint systems manufactured by Dorel Juvenile Group, due to attachment difficulties between the infant carrier and the base. (Press release, dated 02/05/10, available at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.f2217bee37fb302f6d7c121046108a0c/?javax.portlet.tpst=1e51531b2220b0f8ea14201046108a0c_ws_MX&javax.portlet.prp_1e51531b2220b0f8ea14201046108a0c_viewID=detail_view&itemID=6a9adb0990b96210VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRD&pressReleaseYearSelect=2010)

9. NHTSA Opens Formal Investigation into 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced that it is opening a formal investigation of the Toyota Prius Hybrid model year 2010 to look into allegations of momentary loss of braking capability while traveling over an uneven road surface, pothole or bump. The Office of Defects Investigation has received 124 reports from consumers, including four reports alleging that crashes occurred. (Press release, dated 02/04/10, available at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2010/dot2210a.htm)

10. U.S.-Canada Announce Joint Shiprider Pilot for Olympic Games Security

The Department of Homeland Security Secretary and the Canadian Minister of Public Safety have announced a new Shiprider pilot project designed to bolster cross-border security operations in the waters of Puget Sound and off the Pacific Coast before and during the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. The project enables the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the U.S. Coast Guard to cross-train, share resources and personnel and utilize each others' vessels in the waters of both countries. (DHS press release, dated 02/03/10, available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1265230674954.shtm.)

11. CPSC Announces Open Meetings with Industry Stakeholders

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has updated its weekly list of meetings between CPSC and industry stakeholders that are open to the public, unless otherwise stated (partial list):

Stanley Furniture; 02/11/10; to discuss manufacturing process of children's furniture specifically wood cribs, including a courtesy plant tour;

Bassett Furniture; 02/12/10; to discuss manufacturing process of children's furniture specifically wood cribs;

XOS, Inc; 02/18/10; to demonstrate their updated x-ray fluorescent technology equipment to CPSC staff;

American Home Furnishings Alliance & Commissioners Adler, Moore & Tenenbaum; 02/23/10; to discuss furniture issues in consumer product safety;

ExxonMobil; 03/23/10; on cumulative risk assessment of phthalates.

(CPSC calendar, updated 02/03/10, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/calendar.html)

12. CBSA Fact Sheet on Contingency Plan for Highway Mode Commercial Release

The Canada Border Services Agency has issued a fact sheet on procedures for reporting and releasing commercial goods in the highway mode when the CBSA is experiencing a commercial system(s) outage. The procedures outlined in this plan took effect November 30, 2009 and are strictly for use in the highway mode. (Fact sheet, posted 02/05/10, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/media/facts-faits/079-eng.html)

13. CBSA Posts Minutes from Sept 2009 Border Consultative Committee Meeting

The Canada Border Services Agency has posted the minutes from the September 2009 Border Commercial Consultative Committee meeting. Among other things, the committee discussed border threat and risk assessment, eManifest, and NEXUS and Free and Secure Trade (FAST). (Minutes, posted 02/03/10, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/agency-agence/consult/bccc-ccacf/2009-09-29-eng.html)

14. China's Fiber Inspection Agency to Investigate Counterfeit Filling Material, Etc.

China's Fiber Inspection Bureau has issued a notice urging all fiber inspection agencies across the country to crack down on counterfeit products with filling materials from early January to late February, paying special attention to illegal cases and supervision and examination of the quality of cotton-padded clothes, quilts, mattresses. (News release, dated 02/05/10, available at http://english.aqsiq.gov.cn/NewsRelease/NewsUpdates/201002/t20100205_136436.htm)

15. WTO NAMA Negotiating Group Reports Progress on Certain Priority Issues

The World Trade Organization's chairman of the Negotiating Group on industrial goods (NAMA) reports there has been "good discussion" on the priority non-trade-related barriers (autos, electronics, remanufacturing and labeling of textiles, clothing, footwear and travel goods), and the Horizontal Mechanism to prevent and solve disputes, after an intensive "NAMA week". (Notice, posted 02/05/10, available at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/markacc_e/markacc_negoti_e.htm)

16. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports

The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:

Algeria - Grain and Feed Update: Grain Planting Update

Australia - Grain and Feed Update: Grain and Feed Lockup - February 2010

Iraq - Current News on Agriculture and USDA in Iraq: Poultry and Products, Planting Seeds, Livestock and Products, Grain and Feed

Canada - This Week in Canadian Agriculture Issue 03: Agriculture in the News

17. Revised FDA Import Alerts

The Food and Drug Administration has posted revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:

99-19: Food Products Due to the Presence of Salmonella

99-04: Manufacturers of Low Acid Canned Foods and Acidified Foods

89-08: Class III Devices Without Approved PMA's or IDE's and Other Devices Not Equivalent or No 510K

80-04: Surgeon's and Patient Examination Gloves

71-04: Animal Feeds, Other Than Pet Treats, Due to the Presence of Salmonella

45-02: Foods Containing Illegal and/or Undeclared Colors

16-114: Frozen Shrimp Imported by Sigma International, Inc., St. Petersburg, Florida

16-81: Seafood Products Due to the Presence of Salmonella

16-18: Shrimp