Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
Delaware Online reports that Delaware Lieutenant Governor John Carney has expressed concerns over the Transportation Workers Identification Credential's cost and extensive criminal background check process, citing them as difficulties for temporary, non-unionized workers and for those with criminal backgrounds who are unable to find any other employment. (Delaware Online, dated 10/16/07, available at http://m.delawareonline.com/news.jsp?key=6993&rc=bz)
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1. TWIC's Expense, Background Checks May Be Difficult for Certain Workers
2. Senator Says Ex-Im Bank Not Screening Potential Projects Enough
Senator Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Finance, has issued a press release stating that a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that he and another requested affirms that the U.S. Export-Import Bank is not screening potential funding projects carefully enough to ensure they don't harm domestic industry, including ethanol. (Senator Grassley press release, dated 10/15/07, available at http://finance.senate.gov/press/Gpress/2007/prg101507.pdf
3. U.S. Ports Advocating Reduced Emissions from Ships
The American Association of Port Authorities has issued a press release announcing that it is advocating new, tougher standards for air emissions from both foreign and domestic ships, including strict limits for certain oxides of sulfur, limits on new engines beginning in 2011, and phased-in requirements for engines built before 2000 to achieve certain oxides of nitrogen reduction starting in 2010. (AAPA press release, dated 10/10/07, available at http://www.aapa-ports.org/Press/PRdetail.cfm?itemnumber=3995)
4. FDA Advisory: Only One Acceptable Source of Imported Puffer Fish
The Food and Drug Administration has posted an industry advisory on puffer fish which states that currently, the only acceptable source of imported puffer fish is from a New York importer, Wako International, who imports the product from processing facilities licensed by the Japanese government to prepare this product using specially trained fish cutters. (FDA advisory, dated 10/17/07, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/ad2puff.html)
5. PHMSA Makes Minor Corrections/Clarifications to HMR Final Rule
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration has issued a correction of a prior final rule that corrected editorial errors, made minor regulatory changes, and clarified certain provisions in the Hazardous Materials Regulations, which makes further minor editorial corrections and clarifications. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/12/07 news, 07101299 12, for BP summary of the earlier final rule.) (D/N PHMSA-2007-29245 (HM-244), FR Pub 10/18/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/Z7-19138.pdf)
6. BIS Corrects License Exception Country Group Reference for North Korea
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a notice correcting Supplement No. 1 to 15 CFR Part 740 (License Exceptions) to add an X under the second column [D: 1] National Security for the Country Group D table for North Korea. (BIS correction notice, FR Pub 10/17/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-55513.pdf)
7. OFAC Unblocks Four Individuals Under Drug Trafficking EO
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice publishing the names of four individuals whose property and interests in property have been unblocked pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 12978, "Blocking Assets and Prohibiting Transactions With Significant Narcotics Traffickers," and whose names have been removed from the list of Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers, effective on October 10, 2007. (FR Pub 10/16/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-20336.pdf)
8. JFK Employees, Others Charged in International Drug Smuggling Scheme
The Drug Enforcement Administration has issued a press release announcing that on October 16, 2007 a complaint was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charging 18 defendants, including 10 employees at John F. Kennedy Airport, for their participation in an international heroin and cocaine importation organization, a drug distribution scheme, and bulk U.S. currency smuggling. (Press release, dated 10/16/07, available at http://www.dea.gov/pubs/states/newsrel/nyc101607.html)