Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. DHS Secy & Mexican Counterpart Sign Border, Aviation Security Arrangements

2. Value of China Textile Exports Up 89% from 12 Months Ago

China's Customs Administration reports that the export value of textile and apparel in China reached US$12.64 billion in February 2010, up 89.3% from the same month last year but down 18.8% month on month. Comparative exports for the first half of 2010 may be higher than the second half, due to the relatively low base figure in the first half of 2009, a possible RMB rise, and higher labor costs. (News release, dated 03/22/10, available at http://www.hktdc.com/info/mi/a/cbn/en/1X06PSI6/1/China-Business-News/China-s-textile--garment-exports-up-89-3--in-February.htm)

3. EU Finds 10% of Children's Garments Violate Drawstring Standard

The European Union has concluded a two year market surveillance exercise on children's clothes with cords and drawstrings which found 1 in 10 items in breach of EU safety requirements. Therefore, the EU reminds manufacturers, importers, etc. that cords and drawstrings in children clothes must comply with the European standard EN 14682:2007 or provide an equivalent level of safety. (Press release, dated 03/23/10, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/342&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)

4. CITES Adds Certain Reptiles, Amphibians to Its Lists, Rejects Red Corals

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora agreed to include several reptiles and amphibians from Central America and Iran in its lists, some of which are in demand for the international exotic pet trade (e.g. certain iguanas, tree frogs, salamanders, and newts). Delegates defeated motions to list certain red and pink corals; such corals are used in jewelry. (Press release, dated 03/24/10, available at http://www.cites.org/eng/news/press_release.shtml)

5. USDA Names New Members to Highbush Blueberry Council

USDA Secretary Vilsack announced the appointments of four producers, an importer, an exporter, a public member, and their alternates to serve on the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council. (News release, dated 03/19/10, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateU&navID=&page=Newsroom&resultType=Details&dDocName=STELPRDC5083425&dID=128887&wf=false&description=USDANamesMemberstotheU.S.HighbushBlueberryCouncil&topNav=Newsroom&leftNav)

6. USDA Names New Members to Potato Board

USDA Secretary Vilsack announced the appointments of 23 producer members, 3 importer members and one public member to serve on the National Potato Promotion Board for the term beginning March 1, 2010, and ending Feb. 28, 2013. (News release, dated 03/19/10, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateU&navID=&page=Newsroom&resultType=Details&dDocName=STELPRDC5083423&dID=128880&wf=false&description=USDANamesMemberstotheNationalPotatoPromotionBoard&topNav=Newsroom&leftNav)

7. DOE Announces Meeting, Proposed Rule on Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts

The Department of Energy will hold a public meeting on April 26, 2010 in Washington, DC to discuss and receive comments on the product classes it plans to analyze to establish energy conservation standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts, etc. DOE is also requesting comments by June 8, 2010 on a proposed rule to revise its test procedures for fluorescent lamp ballasts, available here. (D/N EERE-2007-BT-STD-0016, FR Pub 03/24/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-6373.pdf)

8. ITA Announces April 8 Travel and Tourism Board Meeting

The International Trade Administration announces that the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board will hold an open meeting on April 8, 2010 in Washington, DC to discuss topics related to the travel and tourism industry. (FR Pub 03/24/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-6403.pdf)

9. ITA Requests Comments on Effect of Propane Council

The International Trade Administration is seeking public comment on whether the operation of the Propane Education and Research Council, in conjunction with the cumulative effects of market changes and Federal programs, has had an effect on residential, agricultural, process and non-fuel users of propane. Comments are due by April 21, 2010. (FR Pub 03/24/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-6532.pdf)

10. OFAC Unblocks One Individual Under Terrorism EO

The Office of Foreign Assets Control is removing ZIA, Mohammad, from the list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons whose property and interests in property have been blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13224, "Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism," effective March 2, 2010. (FR Pub 03/24/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-6408.pdf)

11. OFAC Publishes Names of Blocked Persons Under Kingpin Act

The Office of Foreign Assets Control is publishing the names of 15 individuals and 8 entities whose property and interests in property have been blocked pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, effective March 18, 2010. (FR Pub 03/24/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-6410.pdf)

12. OFAC Publishes Names of Blocked Persons Under Terrorism EO

The Office of Foreign Assets Control is publishing the names of two newly-designated individuals whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13224, "Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism," effective March 18, 2010. (FR Pub 03/24/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-6409.pdf)

13. APHIS Animal Product PPQ Manual Updated

On March 22, 2010, APHIS updated its Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Animal Product Manual. This Manual provides the background, procedures, and regulatory actions to enforce the regulations governing the import and export of animals, animal products, and animal by-products. (Manual, updated 03/22/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/apm.shtml)

14. Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Import PPQ Manual Updated

On March 18, 2010, APHIS updated its Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Import PPQ Manual. The manual lists by country fruits and vegetables that are admissible into the United States. It includes a description of methods for sampling and inspecting selected fruits and vegetables. It also contains pictorial identification guides, and a glossary for common and scientific names of fruits and vegetables. (Manual, updated 03/18/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/fv.pdf)

15. FSIS Updates List of Canada Establishments Eligible to Export Meat & Poultry

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued updated version of its list of Canada (March 23, 2010) establishments eligible to export meat and poultry to the U.S. (List, dated 03/23/10, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Canada_establishments.pdf)

16. FSIS Updates List of Instructions and U.S. Plants for Exporting Meat and Poultry to Foreign Countries

FSIS has provided updated information for the export of U.S. meat and poultry to the following countries:

Russia (Beef) (Revised March 19, 2010)

Indonesia (Revised March 22, 2010)

Canada (Revised March 22, 2010)

Mexico Plant List (Revised March 23, 2010)

17. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Report

The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN report:

Japan - Livestock and Products Semi-annual: 2010 Japanese Beef and Pork Market Outlook

Spain - Exporter Guide: 2010

Thailand - Bangkok Newsletter - March 2010: Agricultural Situation, Market Development Reports

Senegal - New Senegalese Peanut Export Policy: Oilseeds and Products, Trade Policy Monitoring, Agricultural Situation

Australia - Grain and Feed Annual: Grain and Feed Annual Report

Nicaragua -Cochran Faculty Exchange Alumnus Pioneering in Cocoa Research: Agricultural Situation

Vietnam - Rice Price - Weekly: 2010

Kenya - Kenya MY 2011 Corn Supply, Demand & Trade Forecast: Grain and Feed

Thailand - Rice Price - Weekly: Weekly Rice Price Update

China - American Food Festival 2009-Shanghai and Beijing: Retail Food Sector, ATO ACTIVITIES reports, Market Promotion/Competition

Canada - This Week in Canadian Agriculture - Issue 5: Agriculture in the News

Iraq - Grain and Feed Annual

Turkey - Turkey Biotechnology Update: Biotechnology

Mexico - Grain and Feed Annual: Corn Production Forecast to Rebound

18. Foreign Trade Zone Board Actions and Notices

The Foreign Trade Zone Board has issued actions and notices on:

FTZ 260- Reorganization of FTZ under Alternative Site Framework: Foreign Trade Zone 260; Lubbock, TX

19. EC Posts 2008 Trade Statistics

The European Commission's Trade unit has posted the following statistics for 2008 European Union trade:

2008 Statistics Top 20 Countries

2008 Statistics by Country

Top Preferential Imports in 2008

20. Recent Canadian AD/CV Notices

The Canadian government has announced the following antidumping and countervailing duty actions:

Oil Country Tubular Goods: China - The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) found no AD/CV injury for OCTG that are coupling stock, but found AD/CV injury for OCTG that are casing and tubing. The Tribunal excluded pup-joints, welded or seamless, heat-treated or not heat-treated, in lengths of up to 3.66 m (12 feet), from its injury finding.

Certain Steel Plate: China, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Romania and Ukraine - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has instituted a reinvestigation to update normal values and export prices.

21. FMC Lists OTI Applications

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a notice that lists those applying for ocean transportation intermediary licenses as a non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC), ocean freight forwarder (FF) or NVOCC/FF OTI, as follows:

(Notices, FR Pub 03/17/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-5831.pdf and http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-5830.pdf)