The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice announcing that it has determined not to initiate an investigation regarding a Section 301 petition filed by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) which addressed workers' rights in China.

The Journal of Commerce (JoC) reports that the Clinton-era Marine Transportation Policy (MTS) has become the springboard the still developing SEA-21, a Department of Transportation initiative that could address intercoastal shipping, inland waterways, congestion, security, and the U.S.' capacity to handle rapidly growing volumes of containerized imports. JoC reports that at this time, federal officials are not disclosing many details of SEA-21. (JoC Pub 04/05-11/04, www.joc.com)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a notice announcing that at the request of the Government of Canada it is extending until July 13, 2004 the comment period regarding all aspects of its interim final rule on prior notice of imported food shipments.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued an interim rule, effective February 4, 2004, which amends its regulations to prohibit or restrict the importation of certain birds, poultry, and bird and poultry products from regions that have reported the presence of the H5N1 subtype of highly pathogenic avian influenza (avian flu).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a notice, dated May 6, 2004, listing the ruminant-derived products from Canada for which it will issue import permits.

The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued a proposed rule which would adjust the regulations governing the trade of tuna and tuna-like species in the North and South Atlantic Ocean to implement recommendations adopted at the 2002 and 2003 meetings of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT).

On May 3, 2004, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced the results of its 2004 "Special 301" annual report on intellectual property rights (IPR) protection.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule, effective June 4, 2004, which amends 7 CFR Part 319.37-8(e) in order to add orchids of the genus Phalaenopsis from Taiwan only to the list of plants that may be imported in an approved growing medium subject to specified growing, inspection, and certification requirements.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a proposed rule which would amend its nursery stock regulations at 7 CFR Part 319 to allow the importation of small lots of seed under an import permit with specific conditions, as an alternative to the current phytosanitary certificate requirement.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a proposed rule which would institute new requirements for persons who use sampling services and private laboratories in connection with imported food subject to an FDA enforcement action, such as refusal of imports, product seizure, or issuance of an injunction.