The International Trade Commission announces that its 2010 report, "Recent Trends in U.S. Services Trade," is available online and in CD and printed form. ITC also invites interested members of the public to furnish information in connection with the 2011 report by October 12, 2010. A press release on the 2010 report is also available here.
The Fish and Wildlife Service is reopening the comment period on its proposed rule to add nine constrictor snakes to the list of injurious reptiles under the Lacey Act, which would prohibit their importation into the U.S., with certain exceptions. Comments are now due by July 30, 2010.
The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has posted the agenda for its July 7, 2010 Defense Trade Advisory Group Plenary Session, which includes working group discussions on the special exemption for the export of components and spare parts in support of previously exported U.S. origin items, and on the policy on the export/re-export of defense articles incorporated into EAR commodities.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a final rule, effective July 1, 2010, which amends Appendix A to 31 CFR Chapter V to reflect the addition to, or removal of persons with whom transactions and dealings are prohibited by various economic sanctions programs, and the addition of Somalia as a sanctions program, etc.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is seeking public comment on a draft revision of the International Atomic Energy Agency's "Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material'' (TS-R-1), which is scheduled for publication in 2012. Comments are due by October 29, 2010.
The International Trade Administration's Manufacturing and Services Unit is launching a series of regional seminar titled “Manufacture America: Rethink, Retool and Rebuild to Support Jobs," which will include information on entering new market segments or new industries, opportunities for exporting, etc. The first seminar will be held in Morgantown, WV on July 13, 2010.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control is publishing the name of one individual in Congo whose property and interests in property have been blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13413, “Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo," effective June 24, 2010.
The National Association of Manufacturers is urging the Export-Import Bank to reverse its recent decision to deny $600 million in loan guarantees for the sale of U.S.-manufacturing mining equipment to an Indian company, Reliance Power Ltd. Export-Import Bank officials say the bank has limited options because a Congressional mandate and past litigation require it to consider environmental factors.
The Justice Department reports that Guillermo O. Mondino, 47, of Miami, pleaded guilty of leading a scheme to defraud the U.S. Export-Import Bank of more than $24 million. According to plea documents, Mondino was the owner of Texon Inc., an exporting company located in Miami. From April 2003 to May 2009, Mondino and others conspired to defraud the Ex-Im Bank by submitting false and fraudulent information to obtain approximately $24 million in loans and to misappropriate certain loan proceeds.