The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced that the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2009 went into effect on June 29, 2010. ATF is currently working to publish an interpretive rule on this new PACT Act.
The Federal Trade Commission has issued a final rule which makes final amendments to the lamp labeling requirements in the Appliance Labeling Rule. FTC also seeks further comment on several issues for consideration in any subsequent rulemaking. Certain testing, reporting, and sampling requirement amendments under 16 CFR 305.8 will become effective August 18, 2010. All other amendments will become effective July 19, 2011. Comments are due by September 20, 2010.
On July 14, 2010, the American Apparel & Footwear Association sent comments to the International Trade Commission for use in the development of its report to Congress on the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA). In its submission, AAFA addressed two issues it says are critical to the continued success of ATPA. The first is AAFA’s firm belief in the need to keep Peru in the program. Second, AAFA strongly believes that Ecuador’s continuation of so-called Balance of Payments safeguard measures not only violates international trade obligations, but also flies in the face of both the letter and spirit of ATPA.
Export.gov is announcing a Commerce Department executive-lead Energy and Infrastructure Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia. The mission will introduce U.S. energy and infrastructure suppliers to end-users and prospective partners from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A senior-level Department official will lead a trade mission to Riyadh and Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, December 6-8, 2010. An optional one-day stop in Jeddah for companies in the aviation sector is planned for December 5, 2010. Registration for this trade mission is due by September 15, 2010.
U.S. Trade Representative Kirk commented on the International Trade Commission's new report on small and medium-sized enterprises. According to Kirk, the report shows that SMEs have a relatively smaller export role in the U.S. than in Europe, identifies top export barriers reported by U.S. SMEs, and can help guide U.S. trade policy efforts to boost SME exports.
Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Sapiro discussed the U.S. - Brazil trade relationship with members of the Council on Foreign Relations on July 15, 2010. The event, entitled “Brazil’s Role in the Global Economic System,” was part of CFR’s Global Brazil Initiative and sought to explore Brazil’s rising global economic aspirations, trade agenda, and role in multilateral economic institutions.
The Treasury Department has designated Anwar al-Aulaqi, a key leader for al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a Yemen-based terrorist group pursuant to Executive Order 13224 for supporting acts of terrorism, which freezes any assets Aulaqi has under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in any transactions with him.
On June 3, 2010, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the Agricultural Marketing Service signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the enforcement responsibilities of each agency with respect to the labeling and advertising of alcohol beverages produced under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 and for other purposes.