Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Washington File reports that Democratic lawmakers say the Bush administration needs to enforce U.S. trade laws more forcefully and negotiate more equitable trade deals to address the U.S. trade deficit and protect the welfare of U.S. workers. The article adds that during a February 14, 2007 hearing, Democratic members of the Ways and Means Committee, joined by some Republicans, expressed frustration over what they perceive as the administration's inability to address the growing U.S. trade deficit and unfair competition from other countries. (Washington File Pub 02/14/07, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=February&x=20070214160027saikceinawz0.398266)
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1. Democrats Call for "Fundamental Shift" in U.S. Trade Policy
2. Agriculture Specialists Find it Tough to Fit in with CBP's Culture
American Shipper reports that a Government Accountability Office (GAO) survey found that agriculture specialists are finding it difficult to fit in with U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP's) culture. According to the survey, the agriculture specialists do not receive the respect they deserve from their counterparts at CBP's port offices. (Prior to March 2003, agriculture specialists were part of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).) (GAO report on the views of agriculture specialists, GAO-07-209R, dated November 14, 2006, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07209r.pdf; American Shipper Pub February 2007, www.americanshipper.com)
3. FTC to Hold "Rebate Debate" Public Workshop on April 27, 2007
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has posted a notice to its Web site announcing that it will host a free public workshop on April 27, 2007, in San Francisco, California, to discuss the issues surrounding the use of mail-in rebates by manufacturers and retailers. The workshop will gather representatives from consumer groups, industry, academia, and government to debate the costs and benefits of rebates from all perspectives. (FTC notice, dated 01/31/07, available at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/01/rebate.htm)
4. OFAC Unblocks 5 Individuals, 1 Entity Under Narcotics EO
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued a notice publishing the names of five individuals and one entity whose property and interests in property have been unblocked pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 12978, "Blocking Assets and Prohibiting Transactions With Significant Narcotics Traffickers," and whose names have been removed from the list of Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers on February 2, 2007. (FR Pub 02/14/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-2568.pdf
5. USDA's Commodity Credit Corp. Issues New Procedures on Commodities Procurement for Foreign Donation
The Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) has issued a final rule, effective February 12, 2007, which adopts new procedures to be used by the CCC in the evaluation of bids in connection with the procurement of commodities for foreign donation. CCC is amending the existing regulations to provide for the simultaneous review of commodity and ocean freight offers when evaluating lowest-landed cost options in connection with the procurement of commodities for foreign donation. (RIN 0560-AH39, FR Pub 02/12/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-619.pdf)
6. OFAC Publishes Enforcement Information for February 2, 2007
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued a notice announcing the following enforcement information for February 2, 2007:
| Entity/Individual | Penalty | Action/Violation/Alleged Violation |
|---|---|---|
| Vesper Corporation | $23,800 | Export to Cuba and Iran without an OFAC license or outside the scope of its license |
| Tyco Valves & Controls Middle East, Inc. | $450,905 | Export of goods from outside the U.S. to Iran without an OFAC license or outside the scope of its license |
| Encore Medical, L.P., successor by merger to Chattanooga Group, Inc. | $3,241 | Export of physical therapy equipment to Iran by exporting without a license and routing sales to Iran through Belgium and Australia |
| EMD Chemicals, Inc. | $8,250 | Export of goods to Iran without an OFAC license or outside the scope of its license |
| Individual | $765 | Dealing in Cuban-origin cigars, in which Cuba or a Cuban national had an interest |
| Individual | $10,250 | Travel-related transactions related to a trip to Cuba as well as for failing to respond to OFAC's Requirement to Furnish Information |
(OFAC notice available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/civpen/penalties/02022007.pdf)