Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Washington Post reports that U.S. manufacturers are increasingly exporting goods that do not meet domestic safety standards, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Among the types of substandard goods exported in 2006 were toys, lighters, fireworks, clothing, chemicals, carpets and pacifiers, which were shipped to Belgium, Ireland, New Zealand, Colombia, the Czech Republic and the Philippines. (Washington Post, dated 09/01/07, available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/31/AR2007083101877.html)
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1. U.S. Manufacturers Increasingly Exporting Goods of Substandard Safety
2. New Law Authorizes UAE to Ban or Restrict Certain Imports, Exports
The Emirates News Agency reports that the United Arab Emirates President has issued a federal law which authorizes the UAE to ban or restrict the importing, exporting or re-exporting of any commodity for reasons related to safety, public health, environment, natural resources, national security or for reasons related to the UAE's foreign policy, taking into account certain existing restrictions, including international treaties. (Emirates News Agency, dated 09/01/07, available at http://www.wam.org.ae/servlet/Satellite?c=WamLocEnews&cid=1188290221292&p=1135099400295&pagename=WAM%2FWamLocEnews%2FW-T-LEN-FullNews)
3. ATA Files for 8-Month Stay of Appeals Court's Truck HOS Decision
The American Trucking Association has issued a press release announcing that on September 6, 2007 it submitted a motion asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for an 8-month stay of its mandate to eliminate the 11-hour daily driving limit and 34-hour restart provisions of the Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations citing "serious disruption to trucking operations." The July 24 court decision that vacates the two HOS provisions goes into effect September 14, 2007 unless otherwise ordered. (ATA press release, with link to the motion and its addendums, dated 09/07/07, available at http://www.truckline.com/NR/exeres/127883C1-7376-46DC-9F87-C18813D636E9.htm)
4. CBP Chicago to Only Email Pipelines Beginning October 1st
U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Port of Chicago has issued a Pipeline announcing that effective October 1, 2007 it will only distribute its Pipelines electronically (via email) and will no longer distribute paper copies via mail. Attached to the Pipeline is a form to be completed and mailed in to the Port of Chicago for inclusion on the list to receive Pipelines electronically. CBP Chicago sources state that those who were not previously on the mailing list are able to join by filling out this form. (Chicago Pipeline 07-34 (with attachment form), dated 08/16/07, available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)
5. U.S. and Mexico to Each Allow 100 Companies to Participate in Cross Border Trucking Pilot by End of Year
MSNBC reports that the U.S. and Mexico are both poised to give permission to the respective 100 Mexican/100 U.S. firms participating in the U.S.-Mexico Cross Border Trucking Pilot by the end of 2007. The one-year pilot program began on September 6, 2007. (MSNBC, dated 09/06/07, available at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20625369/)
6. New C-TPAT Demurrage Benefit May Not Greatly Help Importers
American Shipper reports that a lead member of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC) was quoted as stating that a recent U.S. Customs and Border Protection policy change designed to reduce demurrage charges for Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) members does not provide much benefit as the importer still needs to keep the container seals intact until CBP lifts the hold on the entire shipment. (American Shipper, dated 09/05/07, www.americanshipper.com)
7. U.S. Agricultural Exports Expected to Reach Record Levels Due to FTAs, Etc.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a press release announcing a record $79 billion forecast in fiscal year 2007 agricultural exports and, for FY 2008, USDA forecasts exports to reach $83.5 billion. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns stated that trade agreements are having a huge impact and if Congress ratifies the recently signed free trade agreements with Colombia, Korea, Panama and Peru, U.S. producers will have increased access in important markets. (USDA press release, dated 08/31/07, available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2007/08/0235.xml)
8. TSA to Hold Public Meeting on Secure Flight Program Proposed Rule
The Transportation Security Administration has issued a notice announcing that it will hold a public meeting on September 20, 2007 in Washington, DC regarding its recently published "Secure Flight Program" proposed rule. (See ITT's Online Archives or 09/05/07 news, 07090599 8, for BP summary of the proposed rule.) (D/N TSA-2007-28572, FR Pub 09/05/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-17607.pdf)
9. OFAC Blocks Property of Nine Individuals Under Drug Trafficking EO
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice publishing the names of nine newly-designated individuals and entities whose property and interests in property are blocked, effective August 30, 2007, pursuant to Executive Order 12978, "Blocking Assets and Prohibiting Transactions with Significant Narcotics Traffickers." (FR Pub 09/07/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-4361.pdf)
10. DHS Proposes to Exempt Certain Portions of APIS From Privacy Act
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a proposed rule to amend its regulations to exempt certain portions of the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) from one or more of the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 because of criminal, civil, and administrative enforcement requirements. (D/N 2007-0053, FR Pub 08/23/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-15966.pdf)