Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
Shippers' NewsWire reports that a federal appeals court has struck down current regulations on the number of hours truckers can work over a consecutive period in any week, stating that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration had not properly explained the reasons for the hours of service rules, which were issued in August 2005. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has said that it would seek a stay of the ruling. (SNW, dated 07/25/07, www.americanshipper.com)
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1. Court Strikes Down Trucking Hours Rule
2. Radiation Detector Program Delayed, GAO Finds DHS May Have Misled Congress
The Washington Post reports that a $1.2 billion program to deploy new radiation monitors to screen trucks, cars and cargo containers at borders and ports for signs of nuclear devices has been delayed by questions over whether Department of Homeland Security officials misled Congress on their detection rates, which auditors from the Government Accountability Office found ranged from 17-50% (DHS had reported a 95% detection rate). GAO officials said that its auditors would release a report about the monitors in August. (Washington Post, dated 07/20/07, available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/19/AR2007071902615.html)
3. U.S.-China ESRC to Hold Public Hearing on Safety of Chinese Imports
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has issued a notice announcing it will hold an open public hearing July 31, 2007 in Washington, DC. The hearing, entitled''Access to Information in the People's Republic of China,'' will examine the U.S.'s ability to assure the safety of Chinese imports and is the sixth in a series of public hearings to collect input from leading experts on the economic and national security implications of the U.S. trade and economic relationship with China. (FR Pub 07/18/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-13927.pdf)
4. BIS Notes Company Interest in China Validated End-User Program
According to a question and answer article in The Journal of Commerce, the Bureau of Industry and Security's undersecretary explained that interest in BIS' new validated end-user (VEU) program is real and BIS is talking to several dozen companies about the program. (JoC, dated 07/02/07, www.joc.com)
5. Additional $375,000 for AGOA Sanitary-Phytosanitary Capacity Building
The State Department has issued a press release announcing that an additional $375,000 will be allocated for the U.S.-Africa Sanitary-Phytosanitary Capacity Building Program within the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Diversification Fund. The program seeks to partner with African scientists and scholars to promote development of sound agricultural science policy, teaching and research techniques; improve sanitary-phytosanitary capacity building within Africa; overcome major barriers to trade for African crops being imported into the U.S.; etc. (Press release 2007/612, dated 07/19/07, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2007/88713.htm)
6. State Department, USDA Issue Report and Update on Avian Influenza
The State Department has issued a press release announcing the Homeland Security Council's first year progress report on the National Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza, which notes the significant accomplishments of the State Department on all issues for which it is lead or co-lead under this plan. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a fact sheet of updated information on avian influenza low pathogenic H5N1 vs. highly pathogenic H5N1. (State Dept. No. 2007/605, dated 07/18/07, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2007/88657.htm) (USDA Release No. 0296.06, dated 07/23/07, available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.retrievecontent/.c/6_2_1UH/.ce/7_2_5JM/.p/5_2_4TQ/.d/1/_th/J_2_9D/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?PC_7_2_5JM_contentid=2006%2F08%2F0296.xml&PC_7_2_5JM_parentnav=LATEST_RELEASES&PC_7_2_5JM_navid=NEWS_RELEASE7_2_5JM)
7. OFAC Updates Individuals/Entities for Various Sanctions Programs, Etc.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a final rule, effective June 14, 2007, which (1) reflects the addition or removal from appendix A to 31 CFR Chapter V, since it was last published, of the names of individuals and entities subject to the various economic sanctions programs administered by OFAC, and (2) provides updated identifying and clarifying information for certain individuals and entities included in the appendix. OFAC also amends the notes to the appendices to 31 CFR chapter V to reflect the revisions to appendix A and changes in the status of several programs. (FR Pub 07/24/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-13199.pdf)
8. FMCSA Announces Appointments to Board Governing the UCRA
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a notice announcing reappointment of the five State representatives of the Board of Directors, which governs the Uniform Carrier Registration Agreement (UCRA) as authorized by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) effective beginning on June 1, 2007. The notice also announces the replacement of one Board who retired. (FR Pub 07/19/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-13946.pdf)