Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a press release announcing the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-Mexico Consultative Committee on Agriculture on May 8, 2007. The trading partners discussed the January 1, 2008 deadline for full implementation of the remaining provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement, technical assistance projects in Mexico, pending farm legislation, biotechnology, and other issues. (USTR press release, dated 05/08/07, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2007/May/US,_MEXICAN_OFFICIALS_DISCUSS_TRADE_ISSUES_IN_CONSULTATIVE_COMMITTEE_ON_AGRICULTURE.html)
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. U.S./ Mexico Discuss January 1, 2008 Full NAFTA Implementation, Etc.
2. GAO Reports on DHS Plan to Reduce Redundant Background Checks
The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to eliminate redundancies in its many programs requiring background checks. The report recommends that the DHS plan to reduce redundant checks include steps, time frames, budget requirements, cost/benefit analysis, internal and external agency communication, etc. (GAO-07-756, dated April 2007, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07756.pdf)
3. GAO Addresses Need for DHS Operation Centers' Enhanced Collaboration
The Government Accountability Office has issued a letter to certain Congressional committees which states that DHS multi-agency operation centers would benefit from taking further steps to enhance collaboration and coordination, specifically those that operate 24/7/365, which are: U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Air and Marine Operations Center and National Targeting Center, the Transportation Security Administration's Transportation Security Operations Center, and the National Operations Center-Interagency Watch. (GAO-07-686R, dated 04/05/07, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07686r.pdf)
4. OFAC Blocks Property of Three Entities Under WMD Executive Order
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice publishing the names of three newly-designated entities, effective February 16, 2007, whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13382, "Blocking Property of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators and Their Supporters." (FR Pub 05/07/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-8674.pdf)
5. DHS Seeking Applications for Appointment to HSINAC
The Office of Operations Coordination at the Department of Homeland Security has issued a notice announcing that it is requesting individuals who are interested in serving on the Homeland Security Information Network Advisory Council (HSINAC) to apply for appointment. Applications must be received on or before June 22, 2007. (FR Pub 05/08/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-8739.pdf)
6. Coast Guard is Seeking Applications for Appointment to Membership on the CTAC
The Coast Guard has issued a notice announcing that it is seeking applications for appointment to membership on the Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC). Applications must be received on or before August 31, 2007. (USCG-2007-28034, FR Pub 05/09/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-8856.pdf)
7. FMC Lists OTI Applications
The Federal Maritime Commission has issued one notice listing those applying for Ocean Transportation Intermediary licenses as a non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC), ocean freight forwarder (FF) or NVOCC/FF OTI, as follows:
| Applications |
| NVOCC OTI applicants: |
| Jordan River Moving & Storage, Inc. (WA) |
| Jury Trans, Inc. (FL) |
| ABC Service Network, Inc. (CA) |
| Stellar Shipping Inc. (NY) |
| New Victory International Logistics, Inc. (CA) |
| Smart Freight Corp. (NY) |
| NVOCC/FF OTI applicants: |
| Pacific Export Cargo Corp. (CA) |
| SOSA SVCES Corporation Inc. (FL) |
| Air Trans Marine Inc. (FL) |
| FF OTI applicants: |
| Global Shipping Company LLC (OH) |
| A.C. International Holdings, Inc. (FL) |
| Phoenix Freight Inc. dba Door to Door Services (NJ) |
| Shockwavecargo LLC dba Shockwavecargo (NJ) |
FMC notice (FR Pub 05/09/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-8887.pdf
8. Various Agencies Seek Comments on Information Collections
Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):
| Agency | Information Collection | Comments Due |
|---|---|---|
| APHIS | Importation of Fruits and Vegetables | 06/09/07 |
| AMS | National Organic Program | 06/09/07 |
| ITA | Implementation of Tariff Rate Quota Established Under the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 for Imports of Certain Cotton Woven Fabrics | 05/31/07 |
| BIS | Thermal Imaging Camera Reporting | 06/15/07 |
| EPA 1 | Pre-Manufacture Review Reporting and Exemption Requirements for New Chemical Substances and Significant New Use Reporting Requirements for Chemical Substances | 07/09/07 |
| EPA 2 | Safer Detergent Stewardship Initiative (SDSI) Program | 07/09/07 |
| FCC | Commercial Availability of Navigation Devices | 06/08/07 |
| TSA | Aviation Security Infrastructure Fee (ASIF) Records Retention | 07/09/07 |
| Treasury 1 | Terminal Operator Report (Form 720-TO) | 06/08/07 |
| Treasury 2 | Carrier Summary Report (Form 720-CS) | 06/08/07 |
APHIS & AMS Information Collection (FR Pub 05/09/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-8874.pdf
ITA Information Collection (FR Pub 05/09/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-8834.pdf
BIS Information Collection (FR Pub 05/09/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-8836.pdf
EPA 1 Information Collection (FR Pub 05/09/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-8941.pdf
EPA 2 Information Collection (FR Pub 05/09/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-8944.pdf
FCC Information Collection (FR Pub 05/09/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-8902.pdf
TSA Information Collection (FR Pub 05/09/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-8818.pdf
Treasury 1 & 2 Information Collection (FR Pub 05/09/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-8881.pdf