Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
American Shipper reports that antitrust investigators from the U.S. and Europe are coordinating an investigation into possible anticompetitive practices in the international freight forwarding industry. Subpoenas indicated that the investigation was into "ratemaking and surcharge activities." (American Shipper, dated 10/11/07, www.americanshipper.com)
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1. U.S. and EU Investigate Int'l Freight Forwarding Industry Practices
2. Calif. Clean Trucks Program May Cost $1.1 Billion in First Year
The Journal of Commerce reports that the proposed Clean Trucks program at the Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex would require an investment of $1.1 billion in the first year to retrofit 37% of the existing fleet that is eligible for retrofitting and to replace the remaining trucks with model-year 2007 vehicles. (JoC, dated 09/17/07, www.joc.com)
3. House Passes Child Product Safety Notification Bill
On October 9, 2007, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1699, the "Danny Keysar Child Product Safety Notification Act" to require that durable products for babies and children include registration materials for quick notification of parents in the event of a product recall. (H.R. 1699 as passed by the House available at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:h1699eh.txt.pdf.)
4. EU Considers Plan to Abolish Customs Controls for Intra-EU Sea Journeys
The Financial Times reports that the European Union's new maritime strategy contains a plan to abolish customs controls for goods moving between ports in the EU; legislation may be proposed before the end of November. (Financial Times, dated 10/10/07, available at http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6afe6504-7764-11dc-9de8-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1)
5. U.S., South Korea Fail to Agree on Beef Trade
Reuters reports that South Korea and the U.S. failed to narrow differences in talks on expanding U.S. beef imports. At present, South Korea allows only imports of boneless U.S. beef from cattle younger than 30 months and recently temporarily halted imports after finding banned spinal material in a shipment. (Reuters, dated 10/12/07, available at http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2007-10-12T102510Z_01_SEO274616_RTRUKOC_0_US-KOREA-USA-BEEF.xml&WTmodLoc=NewsArt-C2-NextArticle-2)
6. U.S. Government Announces Increase in Illegal Weapons Exports
According to the Associated Press, the federal government recently announced that missile technology, fighter jet parts, night vision goggles, and other U.S. wartime equipment are increasingly being illegally smuggled to potential adversaries, such as China and Iran. (AP, dated 10/12/07, available at http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TERROR_EXPORTS?SITE=ILSPR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT)
7. U.S.-Uruguay Sign Intent Letter for Cooperation in Trade Competitiveness
The Commerce Department has issued a press release announcing that Commerce Secretary Gutierrez and Uruguayan Industry Minister Lepra signed a letter of intent committing the Commerce Department's cooperation with the Government of Uruguay on the issues of innovation and competitiveness following a meeting to discuss ways to promote greater bilateral trade. (Commerce press release, dated 10/08/07, available at http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/PROD01_004194)
8. FSIS Updates Lists of U.S. Plants Eligible to Export Meat to Japan, Russia
The Food Safety and Inspection Service has updated the list of U.S. cold storage facilities eligible to export fresh/frozen beef and beef offal to Japan, the list of U.S. plants eligible to export poultry to Russia, and the list of U.S. plants eligible to export pork to Russia. (Lists, updated 10/10/07, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Export_Information/index.asp)
9. U.S. Commercial Service is Organizing Trade Mission to Sub-Sahara Africa
The International Trade Administration has issued a notice announcing that the U.S. Commercial Service is organizing a trade mission to Sub-Saharan Africa March 3-11, 2008, to help U.S. firms find business partners and sell equipment and services in Accra, Ghana; Lagos, Nigeria; and Johannesburg, South Africa. Targeted sectors include, but are not limited to, energy, health care, information technology, safety and security, and telecommunications. (FR Pub 10/01/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-4835.pdf)
10. DHS Homeland Security Committee Meeting on October 31, 2007
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a notice announcing that its Homeland Security Information Network Advisory Committee (HSINAC) will hold an open meeting on October 31, 2007, in Potomac, MD. (D/N DHS-2007-0069, FR Pub 10/12/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-20174.pdf)
11. OFAC Publishes Enforcement Information for October 5, 2007
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice announcing the following enforcement information for October 5, 2007:
| FTZ 51 (Order No. 1526, FR Pub 10/04/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-19643.pdfFTZ 158 (D/N 28-2007, 29-2007, 30-2007, FR Pub 10/04/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-19658.pdfFTZ 106 (Order No. 1529, FR Pub 10/04/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-19657.pdfFTZ 61 (Order No. 1528, FR Pub 10/04/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-19654.pdfFTZ 38 (D/N T-4-2007 FR Pub 10/03/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-19518.pdfFTZ 219 (D/N 48-2007, FR Pub 10/09/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-19824.pdf |