The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) lifted the 100% tariff sanctions imposed on Ukraine, citing the govt.’s attempts to improve its legislative framework to protect intellectual property rights (IPR). The clampdown had been in place since 2002 on about $75 million worth of Ukrainian exports to the U.S. In July, the Ukrainian parliament adopted an important set of amendments to strengthen the country’s licensing regime and embolden antipiracy enforcement efforts. USTR is also conducting a Special 301 out-of-cycle review to focus on Ukraine’s IPR enforcement and consider the country’s status as a “priority foreign country” and its eligibility for “generalized system of preferences” benefits. The Business Software Alliance applauded the move.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a final rule, effective December 28, 2005, which amends the regulations at 10 CFR Part 110 pertaining the export and import of radioactive materials. The amendments implement recent changes to the nuclear and radioactive material security policies of both the NRC and the Executive Branch.
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has posted to its web site updated preliminary textile and apparel import data for 2005, which now covers the 2005 period from late April 2005 through July 16, 2005.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recently posted to the Pilot Bond Centralization Program section of its Web site a July 8, 2005 guidance document entitled "Latest News and Developments." According to CBP, this document provides information about the Pilot Bond Centralization Program and current issues, policies, and procedures for processing bond applications.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a notice announcing that it will hold a public meeting on August 24, 2005 in Riverdale, MD to introduce, and obtain feedback on, one portion of its proposed ePermits system.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recently posted to the Pilot Bond Centralization Program section of its Web site a July 8, 2005 guidance document entitled "Latest News and Developments." According to CBP, this document provides information about the Pilot Bond Centralization Program and current issues, policies, and procedures for processing bond applications.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a proposed rule to amend 7 CFR Part 319 in order to establish specific requirements for the importation of cut flowers that are hosts of chrysanthemum white rust1 (CWR) from regions where the disease is known to occur, etc.
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) cited a U.K. study and the FCC’s UWB order to reiterate its call for the Commission to “reconsider, rescind and re-study” its BPL rules adopted last Oct. The FCC had held in its UWB order, the ARRL said, that a “reasonable reading” of Sec. 301 of the Communications Act would limit licensing to “any apparatus which transmits enough energy to have a significant potential for causing harmful interference.” In a citation filed with the FCC, the league said the agency can’t authorize BPL, although it’s an unintentional radiator, because of “acknowledged and substantial interference potential to licensed users.” The ARRL argued that in permitting unlicensed Part 15 devices such as BPL, the FCC’s main obligation is to establish a emission level low enough that devices “will predictably not interfere” with licensed services. Citing studies by U.K.’s telecom regulator Ofcom, the league said BPL’s small market share in the U.K. compared with DSL and cable is attributable to signal leakage.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a proposed rule which would amend the irradiation treatment regulations at 7 CFR Parts 301, 305, 318 and 319 in order to revise certain approved doses for irradiation treatment of imported fruits and vegetables.
(Preliminary June Data Added)