Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. California Senator Expected to Move Amended Container Fee Bill

2. DDTC Requires Additional Info for Firearms Exports $1 Million or Higher

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has issued a reminder that additional information is required to be submitted with applications for firearms exports totaling $1 million or higher, as follows: (1) If the end-user is a defense ministry or a law enforcement agency, the applicant must state what will happen to the weapons in their inventory, and provide information on the ultimate end-user and location; and (2) If the end-user is a firearms dealer importing the firearms for commercial resale, the applicant must provide as much information as available regarding the ultimate end-use/end-user. (DDTC, dated 02/25/08, available at http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/firearms_guidelines_notice.htm)

3. EC Authorizes Reduction in Excise Duty on Diesel Fuel for German Ports

The European Commission has issued a press release announcing that it has authorized a reduction in excise duty for Germany on diesel fuel used by port handling companies in line with EC rules on State aid. The rate of excise duty will therefore fall from 47.040 to 6.135 euro cents per litre for these activities. The decision adopted by the EC will enable the German authorities to apply the notified measure when the new guidelines have been published in the Official Journal. (IP/08/322, dated 02/27/08, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/322)

4. Commerce Issues Export Trade Certificate of Review to XCC

The Commerce Department has issued a notice granting an Export Trade Certificate of Review to XCC Exportz Inc. (XCC), effective February 15, 2008. The Certificate protects XCC and persons identified in the Certificate from specific antitrust actions. (Commerce notice, App. No. 07-00005, FR Pub 02/21/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-3253.pdf)

5. ITA Seeks Comments on Whether Certain Countries Offer Reciprocal Aircraft Duties/Tax Exemptions

The International Trade Administration has issued a notice seeking comments on whether the governments of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, or the UK allow or will allow substantially reciprocal customs duties and tax exemptions to aircraft of U.S. registry in connection with international commercial operations similar to those exemptions currently granted to or available to aircraft of those countries by the U.S. Comments are due March 24, 2008. Commerce's decision would be effective March 30, 2008. (ITA notice, FR Pub 02/22/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-3306.pdf)

6. OFAC Designates 15 Individuals, Entities under Narcotics Trafficker EO

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice publishing the names of 15 newly-designated individuals and entities whose property and interests in property are blocked, effective February 12, 2008, pursuant to Executive Order 12978 of October 21, 1995, "Blocking Assets and Prohibiting Transactions with Significant Narcotics Traffickers." (OFAC notice, FR Pub 02/28/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-3778.pdf)

7. Materials Processing Equipment TAC to Hold Partially Open Meeting

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a notice announcing that the Materials Processing Equipment Technical Advisory Committee will hold a partially open meeting on March 13, 2008 in Washington, DC. The agenda for the public session of the meeting will include a report on proposed changes to the Export Administration Regulations and other topics. (BIS notice, FR Pub 02/28/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-3814.pdf)

8. State Dept's ITAC to Hold Open Meetings on Telecommunications

The State Department has issued a notice announcing that the International Telecommunication Advisory Committee will be holding several open meetings in March and April 2008 to prepare for meetings of certain International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) technical Study Groups; the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly 2008 (WTSA 08) and other related meetings of the ITU; and the Organization of American States' Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) Permanent Consultative Committee II (PCC.II). Other meetings to be held in May and June 2008 will be announced in subsequent notices. (Public notice 6099, FR Pub 02/28/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-3815.pdf)

9. FMC Lists OTI Applications

The Federal Maritime Commission has issued a notice listing those applying for Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) licenses as a Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC), Ocean Freight Forwarder (FF), or NVOCC/FF as follows:

FMC notice (FR Pub 02/27/08) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-3674.pdf