Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
Presstelegram.com reports that a new study shows that the twin ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles would only lose about 1.2% of their annual container throughput if authorities in San Pedro Bay implement their proposed clean-truck program, which would restrict marine terminal access to trucking companies with the cleanest trucks operated by employee drivers, and is awaiting ratification by both port commissions. (Presstelegram.com, dated 09/18/07, available at http://www.presstelegram.com/search/ci_6922630?IADID)
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1. LA/LB Ports Wouldn't Lose Much Cargo in Proposed Clean Truck Program
2. Canadian Study Shows Design Flaws Responsible for Most Toy Recalls
The New York Times reports that a study by two Canadian professors shows that design flaws, not Chinese manufacturing problems, have been the cause of the vast majority of American toy recalls over the last two decades. The study showed that some 76% of the recalls going back to 1988 involved design flaws that could result in hazards like choking or swallowing small parts, while 10% were caused by manufacturing flaws, like excessive levels of lead paint. (New York Times, dated 09/11/07, available at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/11/business/worldbusiness/11paint.html?_r=1&oref=slogin)
3. EU Trade Commissioner Warns That ACP Countries Need To Complete EU Trade Agreements Soon
Yahoo! News reports that European Union Trade Commissioner Mandelsen warned that the 78 African, Caribbean and Pacific-rim (ACP) countries who are struggling to conclude new trade agreements with the EU by the end of the year may end up with less generous trade preferences if agreements aren't initialed soon. The existing agreements giving preferential market access to the ACP countries have to be replaced because the World Trade Organization ruled they were illegal. (Yahoo! News, dated 09/11/07, available at http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070911/bs_afp/euafricacaribbean_070911175725)
4. Panama Allows for Importation of U.S. Cattle of all Ages
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a news release announcing that consistent with international standards, Panama is allowing the importation of U.S. cattle of all ages. Panama had stopped allowing importation of live U.S. cattle after bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was detected in an imported Canadian cow in December 2003. (APHIS news release, dated 09/21/07, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2007/09/panama.shtml)
5. OFAC Changes Information of Previously Designated Individuals/Entities
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice publishing changes, effective September 12, 2007, to the identifying information associated with five individuals and three entities previously designated pursuant to Executive Order 12978, "Blocking Assets and Prohibiting Transactions with Significant Narcotics Traffickers." (OFAC notice, FR Pub 09/18/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-18307.pdf)