Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

Reuters reports that a World Trade Organization official recently stated that the global credit crunch will slow down growth in world trade net year, although it is too early to quantify the decline. (Reuters, dated 12/04/07, available at http://africa.reuters.com/business/news/usnBAN448214.html)

3. Senate Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on Expected HOS Interim Final Rule

eTrucker reports that a Senate subcommittee will hear testimony December 12, 2007 on the soon-to-be-published Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration interim final rule on hours of service. In July, a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling vacated key aspects of the 2005 hours rule, sending it back to the FMCSA for more work. (eTrucker, dated 12/05/07, available at http://www.etrucker.com/apps/news/article.asp?id=65090)

4. Bush Administration Plans to Cut Some Port Security Grants Next Year

Logistics Management reports that the Associated Press obtained White House budget documents indicating that the Bush administration plans to eliminate several homeland security grant programs next year, some of which focus on port security. (LM, dated 12/04/07, available at http://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/CA6509395.html?industryid=48466)

5. Kazakhstan Calls Off Its Demand for U.S. Export Declarations

American Shipper reports that the Kazakhstan government has called off its demand for copies of U.S. export declarations to accompany shipments entering the Central Asian country. (AS, dated 12/05/07, www.americanshipper.com)

6. CBP LA Public Bulletin Has New Subscription Email Address

U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Port of Los Angeles has sent an email announcing that it is changing the email address for its Public Bulletins. Those who wish to receive the Public Bulletins via email must send and email message to CBPLABULLETIN@cbp.dhs.gov, with "subscribe" in the subject line. Those who received this message directly from CBPLA BULLETIN are still on the mailing list and do not need to send a request. (Port of LA's email, received 12/06/07, available by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)

7. TSA Updates Its FY 2008 TWIC Quarterly Deployment Plan

The Transportation Security Administration has posted to its Web site an updated version, as of November 29, 2007, of its fiscal year 2008 quarterly deployment plan for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). (Deployment plan, as of 11/29/07, available at http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/twicquarterlydeploymentschedule.pdf)

8. FSIS Updates Lists of Plants Certified to Export Meat, Etc. to U.S.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has updated its lists of eligible foreign establishments certified to export meat, poultry, and/or egg products to the U.S. for the following countries: Mexico, Chile, New Zealand, and Canada. (Lists, updated 12/03/07 - 12/06/07, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Eligible_Foreign_Establishments/index.asp)

9. OFAC Designates 9 Individuals, 13 Entities, Changes Listing Under Kingpin Act

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice publishing the names of nine additional individuals and thirteen additional entities whose property and interests in property have been blocked pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. OFAC is also publishing a change to the listing of one previously designated individual. (FR Pub 12/05/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-5920.pdf)

10. BIS Updates Legal Authority Citations for the EAR

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective November 30, 2007, updating the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) legal authority citations for the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to replace citations to the President's Notice of October 27, 2006 - Continuation of Emergency Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction with the President's Notice of November 8, 2007 on the same subject; replace public law citations with United States Code citations; and remove outdated citations and to add one previously omitted citation. Note that this final rule makes no changes to the text of the EAR. (D/N 071114706-7725-01, FR Pub 11/30/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-23249.pdf)

11. Recent CPSC Press Releases on Recalls

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued separate press releases (dated 10/01/07 - 10/31/07) announcing that the following companies, in cooperation with the CPSC, are voluntarily recalling the products listed below. Due to the large number of recalls, this is Part V of a multi-part series of summaries. (Press releases available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prereloct07.html)