Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

The National Association of Manufacturers responded to Defense Secretary Gates’ April 20, 2010 speech on the Administration’s export control reform proposals by stating that it supports a single control list and a unified information technology platform, but other near- and medium-term reforms, as well as a single agency, are needed. (Notice, dated 04/20/10, available at http://www.nam.org/Communications/Articles/2010/04/Manufacturers-Encouraged-Export-Control-Changes.aspx)

2. EC Comments on Release of ACTA Negotiation Text

The European Commission announced that it welcomes the release of a text by the negotiating parties of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement which shows that the overall objective of ACTA is to address large-scale infringements of intellectual property rights which have a significant economic impact, not to limit civil liberties or harass consumers. (Press release, dated 04/21/10, available at http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=552&serie=337&langId=en)

3. ITA Posts Comments on Prospective v. Retrospective AD/CV Systems

The International Trade Administration has posted comments by 38 companies and organizations regarding prospective and retrospective antidumping and countervailing duty systems in preparation of a report to Congress, including American Apparel, the Steel Manufacturers Association, and Vietnam's Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (See ITT’s Online Archives or 03/31/10 news, (Ref: 10033145), for BP summary of the ITA’s initiation request for comments.) (Comments, posted 04/21/10, available at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/download/rvp/cmts-20100420/rvp-cmt-20100420-index.html)

4. ITA Initiates AD/CV Investigations on China Aluminum Extrusions

The ITA has issued a fact sheet announcing its initiation of antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on aluminum extrusions from China. If the International Trade Commission makes an affirmative injury determination, the ITA will be scheduled to make its CV and AD preliminary determinations in June and September 2010, respectively. (Fact sheet, dated 04/21/10, available at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/download/factsheets/factsheet_prc-alum-extr-ad-cvd-init-042110.pdf)

5. Comments on C-TPAT Online Application Info Collection

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a notice extending the comment period until May 17, 2010 on an existing information collection, the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism on-line application. CBP states that it is submitting the information collection to the Office of Management and Budget in order to extend, without change, the expiration date of the previously approved collection. (CBP notice, FR Pub 04/15/10) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-8597.pdf.)

6. USTDA Flyer on its Int'l Business Partnership Program for Exports

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency has issued a flyer on its launch of an International Business Partnership Program, which is designed to support the National Export Initiative by bringing procurement officials to the U.S. to develop relationships with U.S. companies necessary to spur increased exports to emerging economies. (Flyer, posted 04/21/10, available at http://www.ustda.gov/news/pressreleases/2010/US/IBPPBrochure.pdf)

7. BIS IT, Transportation Committees to Meet on Export Controls

The Bureau of Industry and Security's Information Systems Technical Advisory Committee and Transportation and Related Equipment TAC will hold partially open meetings on May 5, 2010 in Washington, DC. The agendas for the open sessions include working group reports on applicable export controls.

8. EC Lists Coordinators of Bilateral Trade Issues

The European Commission's Trade Directorate has posted the names of its Coordinators of bilateral trade issues. The list is organized by country and region. (List, dated 04/21/10, available at http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2009/august/tradoc_144247.pdf)

9. EC's Public Consultation on GSP Available Online Until May 31, 2010

The European Commission has issued a reminder that its public consultation on the EU's Generalized System of Preferences is available online until May 31, 2010. (Notice, posted 04/21/10, available at http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2010/april/tradoc_146031.pdf)

10. 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:

· 45-07: Food Products Containing Illegal Undeclared Sweeteners

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

11. APHIS Agricultural Clearance PPQ Manual Updated

On April 19, 2010, APHIS updated the Manual for Agricultural Clearance. The manual provides CBP personnel working at airport and maritime locations with the guidelines, directions, and policy for clearing carriers and passengers/crew and controlling garbage and cargo. (Manual, updated 04/19/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/mac.shtml)

12. 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:

• Taiwan (Revised April 16, 2010)
• Russia (Revised April 20, 2010)
• Dominican Republic (Revised April 20, 2010)

13. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports

The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:

• India - Oilseeds and Products Update: Quarterly Update -- March 2010
• Japan - Oilseeds and Products Annual: 2010 Update (soybean, rapeseed, soybean meal, rapeseed meal, fish meal, soybean oil, rapeseed oil and sunflower seed oil)
• Bangladesh - Cotton and Products Annual: 2010
• South Africa - Sugar Annual: The report discusses sugar production and demand in South Africa
• Zimbabwe - Sugar Annual: The report describes sugar production and demand in Zimbabwe
• Vietnam - Rice Price -- Weekly: 2010
• Nigeria - Sugar Annual: Sugar Imports to Resume Strong Growth
• El Salvador - Sugar Annual
• China - Poultry and Products Semi-annual: 2010
• China - Chinese Government Purchases Pork to Support Local Prices: Livestock and Products
• Guatemala - Sugar Annual
• Mexico - Mexico Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards New Food: FAIRS Subject Report, Policy and Program Announcements, Retail Food Sector, Trade Policy Monitoring, Agriculture in the Economy
• Mexico - Cotton and Products Annual: 2010 Cotton Production Forecast to Increase
• Caribbean Basin - Caribbean Tourism Begins to Rebound: Agriculture in the Economy, Market Development Reports, Competitor
• Paraguay - Oilseeds and Products Annual: 2010

14. Agency Seeks Comments on Information Collections

Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):

Agency Information Collection Comments Due

(Information collection notices are hyperlinked to agency name.)

15. CBP Accredits/Approves Firms as Commercial Gauger and/or Laboratory

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued notices stating that it has accredited and approved the following companies as a commercial gauger and/or laboratory for petroleum and petroleum products, organic chemicals and vegetable oils, and to test petroleum and petroleum products for customs purposes, in accordance with 19 CFR 151.12 and 151.13, on the effective dates listed (see individual notice for dates of next triennial inspections):

(CBP notices, FR Pub 04/06/10, hyperlinked to date)

16. 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:

FMC notice (FR Pub 04/07/10) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-7893.pdf