Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. November 12, 2007 Due Date for ITDS Implementation Plans

2. WTO Rules Against U.S. on Cotton Subsidies

According to the Los Angeles Times, the World Trade Organization has found that the U.S. failed to scrap illegal subsidies paid to American cotton growers, a ruling that could open the door to billions of dollars in Brazilian trade sanctions against the U.S. (LA Times, 10/16/07, http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/africa/la-fi-wto16oct16,1,7636981.story?coll=la-africa )

3. Without Agreement on CA Clean Truck Program, Court Could Decide Fate

Long Beach Press Telegram reports that what began as a noble plan to reduce diesel truck pollution has turned into a political battle between shippers and activists, with industry busy drafting lawsuits that charge port authorities with overstepping their regulatory jurisdiction and federal and state trade laws. (Long Beach Press Telegram, dated 10/12/07, available at http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_7165683?source=rss_emailed)

4. FDA Commissioner, Chinese Officials Meet on Food/Drug Import Safety

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a news release announcing that Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach recently met with leading officials in China, as part of a series of negotiations launched by Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt with Chinese counterparts on the safety of food, feed, drugs and medical devices. (FDA news release, dated 10/12/07, available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01722.html)

5. DOJ Charges Eight in Scheme to Defraud the U.S. Export-Import Bank

The Department of Justice has issued a press release announcing that eight defendants have been charged in connection with an $80 million scheme to defraud the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. in which fraudulent loan transactions occurred between Philippine companies and U.S. lending banks where the Ex-Im Bank acted as guarantor or insurer. DOJ states U.S. exporters did not purchase the goods called for in the loan agreements, and instead misappropriated a majority of the loan proceeds. (DOJ press release, dated 10/11/07, available at http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2007/October/07_crm_811.html)

6. ITA Requests Applications for Int'l Buyer Program for 2009

The International Trade Administration has issued a notice that requests applications and sets forth objectives, procedures and application review criteria associated with support for domestic trade shows by the International Buyer Program, which covers participation for calendar year 2009. Applications must be received by November 30, 2007. (FR Pub 10/01/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-19354.pdf)

7. Justice Department Fact Sheet on Major U.S. Export Enforcement Actions

The Justice Department has posted to its Web site a fact sheet providing a snapshot of some of the major export-related criminal cases and prosecutions handled by the Justice Department in the past year. Included in the list of cases, which is not exhaustive, are: illegal exports of F-4 and F-14 fighter jet components, military night vision goggles and aviation helmets to overseas locations, economic espionage and theft of trade secrets, U.S. military source code to China, etc. (Fact sheet, dated 10/11/07, available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2007/October/07_nsd_807.html)

8. JFK Pipeline Lists Import Specialist Teams and Phone Numbers, Etc.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection's JFK Airport has issued a Pipeline providing an updated list of telephone numbers for teams at Building 77. The list includes updated information for newly-assigned Supervisory Import Specialists that was not available when the July directory Pipeline was issued. The listing, which includes an attachment with a copy of the Commodity Specialist Team assignments by HTS number, is effective immediately. (JFK Airport Pipeline No. 07-010, dated 09/19/07, available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)

9. AMS Amends National List of Allowed, Prohibited Substances to Reflect Organic Board Recommendations

The Agricultural Marketing Service has issued a final rule, effective October 21, 2007, amending the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) regulations to reflect recommendations submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) from November 17, 2005 through October 19, 2006. Among other things, the amendments addressed in this final rule pertain to the continued exemption (use) and prohibition of 168 substances in organic production and handling. (D/N MS-TM-06-0222; TM-04-07FR, FR Pub 10/16/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-20326.pdf)

10. OFAC Blocks Property of 21 Individuals, Entities Under Drug Trafficking EO

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice publishing the names of 21 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 10/16/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-20335.pdf)

11. ITA Issues Export Trade Certificate of Review to East Int'l Holdings, LLC

The International Trade Administration has issued a notice stating that on October 10, 2007 it issued an Export Trade Certificate of Review to East International Holdings, LLC (EIH). The Certificate protects EIH and members identified in the Certificate from specific antitrust actions. (FR Pub 10/16/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-20307.pdf)

12. FMC Lists OTI Revocations

The Federal Maritime Commission has issued a notice that revokes ocean transportation intermediary (OTI) licenses, as follows:

FMC notice (FR Pub 10/03/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-19561.pdf

13. FMC Lists OTI Applications

The Federal Maritime Commission has issued a notice that lists those applying for ocean transportation intermediary (OTI) licenses as a non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC) or NVOCC/ ocean freight forwarder (FF) or NVOCC/FF OTI, as follows:

FMC notice (FR Pub 09/26/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-18975.pdf

14. FMC Lists OTI Reissuances

The Federal Maritime Commission has issued a notice that reissues ocean transportation intermediary (OTI) licenses, as follows:

FMC notice (FR Pub (10/03/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-19560.pdf