Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
Shippers' NewsWire reports that a Treasury Department source urges importers and their customs brokers to pressure agencies that have been slow to embrace the new government-wide International Trade Data System (ITDS), which is being developed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to provide a single window for trade documentation filing and information sharing, because delays will continue in getting entry clearance for shipments. (Shippers' NewsWire, dated 02/26/07, available at www.americanshipper.com)
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
1. Treasury Urges Importers/Brokers to Lobby for ITDS Adoption
2. WCO Prepares New Draft of Security "Framework"
The Journal of Commerce reports that the World Customs Organization (WCO) is planning a new draft of the Framework for Security and Trade Facilitation, to be published in mid-2007. According to the article, the new document changes none of the fundamentals of the framework, which outlines the ways that customs administrations can mutually assure supply-chain security with the fewest impediments to the free flow of legitimate trade. (JoC, 02/05/07, www.joc.com)
3. U.S. Holds Trade & Investment Talks with Largest African Regional Economic Group
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release announcing that on February 14, 2007, U.S. trade and development officials held in-depth discussions with a delegation from the largest African regional economic group - the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). According to the USTR, the meeting included discussions on U.S.-COMESA trade, implementation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha negotiations, trade capacity building activities, infrastructure issues, and investment. (USTR press release, dated 02/14/07, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2007/February/United_States_Holds_Trade_Investment_Talks_with_Largest_African_Regional_Economic_Group.html)
4. OFAC Blocks Property of Two Entities, One Individual Under WMD EO
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued a notice publishing the names of two newly-designated entities and one individual, effective January 9, 2007, whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 13382, "Blocking Property of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Proliferators and Their Supporters." (FR Pub 02/21/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-2880.pdf)
5. OFAC Blocks Property of Three Persons Under WMD EO
OFAC has issued a notice publishing the names of three newly-designated persons, effective January 4, 2007, whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to EO 13382. (FR Pub 02/21/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-2882.pdf)