Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

January 31, 2008 |Top News

American Shipper reports that according to former U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner, Robert Bonner, if the import-export industry gets behind the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to upgrade cargo security, it may have a chance to get Congress to reverse course on its mandate to require every ocean container to be scanned overseas by 2012. (Bonner is now a homeland security consultant and principal with the Sentinel HS Group, headed by former aide Brian Goebel.) (American Shipper, dated 01/24/08, www.americanshipper.com)

Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article

Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.

Start My Free Preview Log In To My Account

1. Former CBP Commissioner Tells Trade to Back DHS Cargo Security Efforts
2. Canada and Peru Sign Free Trade Agreement

The International Herald Tribune reports that Peru and Canada have signed a free trade agreement. Peru is the second nation in South America to sign an FTA with Canada, joining Chile, which signed its agreement in 1997. (IHT, dated 01/27/08, available at http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/01/26/business/LA-FIN-Peru-Canada-Trade.php)

3. Warehouses, Distribution Centers Increasingly Feature "Green" Designs

The Journal of Commerce reports that the desire to maintain environmentally friendly facilities is affecting warehouse and distribution center designs, with companies such as Staples, Costco, and Wal-Mart increasingly installing solar panels, skylights, ventilation fans instead of air conditioning, etc. (JoC, dated January 2008, www.joc.com)

4. CARB Claims CA's Tailpipe Standards More Effective Than Energy Bill's

The California Air Resources Board has released the technical report used in its lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for denying the state a waiver to allow California to regulate its own tailpipe emissions. According to CARB, the study proves that California's standards are more effective at reducing greenhouse gas emissions than the newly passed federal energy bill. (See ITT's Online Archives or 01/10/08 news, 08011099 2, for BP summary of 15 states joining California in its lawsuit.) (CARB notice, posted 01/02/08, available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/lispub/rss/displaypost.php?pno=1005)

5. CBP Chicago Pipeline* on Centralized Examination Station*

U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Port of Chicago has issued a Pipeline to advise the importing community that the selection process for a Centralized Examination Station (CES) in the Port of Davenport, IA - Moline and Rock, Island, IL - located in Milan, IL is open; and to provide guidelines for the application process. (Pipeline 08-03, dated 01/23/08, available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)

6. WTO Posts Its Report on International Trade Statistics for 2007

The World Trade Organization has posted its report on international trade statistics for 2007, which provides comprehensive, comparable and up-to-date statistics on trade in merchandise and commercial services for an assessment of world trade flows by country, region and main product groups or services by category. (WTO Report available at http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/statis_e/its2007_e/its2007_e.pdf)

7. WTO Releases Report on the 60th Anniversary of GATT/WTO

The World Trade Organization has released its World Trade Report on the 60th anniversary of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and its successor, the WTO. This year's World Trade Report provides an in-depth look at the GATT and the WTO - their origins, achievements, the challenges they have faced, and what the future holds. (WTO Report available at http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/anrep_e/world_trade_report07_e.pdf)

8. OFAC Unblocks 6 Entities Under Drug Trafficking EO

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice publishing the names of six entities whose property and interests in property have been unblocked, pursuant to Executive Order 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 January 17, 2008. (OFAC Notice, FR Pub 01/25/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/25jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-1261.pdf)

9. BIS Denies Certain Export Privileges for Juan Sevilla

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued an Order denying certain export privileges until December 5, 2011 against Juan Sevilla and related persons JS Engineering and Cientec, S.A. for activities related to the unauthorized sale and export to Iran of a United Computer Inclusive Hydraulic Floor Model Testing Machine without the required validated export license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control. (FR Pub 01/25/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/25jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/08-293.pdf)

10. BIS' Transportation and Related Equipment TAC to Meet

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a notice announcing that the Transportation and Related Equipment Technical Advisory Committee will hold a partially closed meeting on February 6, 2008 in Washington, DC. The agenda for the public session of this meeting includes working group reports on various topics and comments from the public. (FR Pub 01/25/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/25jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-1294.pdf)

11. FSIS Held Open Meeting on Codex Session on Natural Mineral Waters

The Food Safety and Inspection Service held a public meeting on January 16, 2008 in Washington DC. The meeting provided information on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 8th Session of the Codex Committee on Natural Mineral Waters of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) which will be held in Lugano, Switzerland on February 11-15, 2008. (FSIS notice, D/N FSIS-2007-0047, FR Pub 01/11/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-310.pdf)

12. Various Agencies Seek Comments on Information Collections

Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):

Agency	Information Collection	Comments Due/Status
APHIS 1	Swine Health Protection	02/28/08
APHIS 2	CWD in Cervids; Payment of Indemnity	02/28/08
APHIS 3	Importation of Fruits and Vegetables	02/28/08
FDA 1	Draft Guidance for Industry: Substantiation for Dietary Supplement Claims Made Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act	03/28/08
FDA 2	Exports: Notification and Recordkeeping Requirements	03/28/08