The Manufacturing Council will hold an open meeting Sept. 28 at 9:30-11:30 a.m. to hear and deliberate on proposed recommendations to be presented by the Workforce Development subcommittee. The council members will also summarize all recommendations adopted throughout their 2010-2012 appointment term in a final presentation to the Secretary of Commerce. Those wishing to attend should register by Sept. 21, 2012.

The deadline for applications to participate in the International Trade Administration's Infrastructure Business Development Mission to Indonesia and Vietnam has been changed to Sept. 21 (from Aug. 31), said the ITA. Due to summer holidays, additional time is needed to allow for additional recruitment and marketing in support of the mission, it said.

The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Sept. 7:

The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Sept. 6:

The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Sept. 5:

The supply chain for textiles and apparel is increasingly global and now includes North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa and the Asia Pacific region, the International Trade Administration's Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) said in an export guide published Sept. 4. Last year saw an increase in total textile and apparel exports of over $22.4 billion, up from $19.7 billion in 2010, it said. As foreign markets rebound and seek to up their purchases of textiles and apparel, U.S. companies have an opportunity to expand internationally, it said. The report highlights the 15 largest export markets for U.S. sales of yarns, fabrics and finished products to mills, processors, assemblers and consumers. It also provides economic and trade information for each market, and detailed data on export trends and processes. The guide also profiles the five fastest-growing markets for U.S. textile and apparel exports.

The International Trade Administration is asking for comments by Nov. 5 on its proposed “request for a textile and apparel safeguard action on imports from Korea” information collection. The U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KFTA) provides that an interested party in the U.S. domestic textile and apparel industry may file requests for safeguard actions on imports from Korea with the Committee. If as a result of the reduction or elimination of a customs duty under the KFTA, a Korean textile or apparel article is being imported into the U.S. in such increased quantities as to cause serious damage or threat of damage to a U.S. industry, the U.S. can suspend further reduction in customs duties or increase duties on the imported article from Korea.

The International Trade Administration said it issued an Export Trade Certificate of Review to Colombia Poultry Export Quota, Inc. Aug. 14. a Federal Register notice scheduled for Sept. 4 summarizes the conduct for which certification has been granted.

The International Trade Administration is seeking comments on the Commercial Availability Provision of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, it said in a Sept. 4 Federal Register notice. Comments are due by Nov. 4 to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230, or JJessup@doc.gov.

The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Aug. 30: