Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. GAO Report on IP Enforcement

2. EU AD Duty on China, Vietnam Shoes Expires Oct 2008, Could be Extended

China's Textile and Economic Information Web site reports the antidumping duty on Chinese and Vietnamese leather shoes that was imposed by the European Union beginning in October 2006 is set to expire in October 2008. However, Italy has already urged the EU to extend the AD measure. (CTEI, dated 03/18/08, available at http://news.ctei.gov.cn/e_show.asp?xx=6331)

3. MTS Systems Corp. Fined $400,000 for Export Violations

The Bureau of Industry and Security has posted a press release reporting that MTS Systems Corp., of Eden Prairie, Minnesota pleaded guilty and was sentenced in connection with submitting false export license applications to the Commerce Department involving proposed shipments to India. MTS Systems Corp. was sentenced to two years probation and a $400,000 fine. (Press release, dated 03/13/08, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/pdf/031308.mts-plea.pdf)

4. DOT, EC Launch Joint Research Project on Airline Alliances

The Department of Transportation has issued a press release announcing that DOT and the European Commission have launched a new joint research project aimed at deepening their understanding of how alliances have affected competition in transatlantic markets and the potential impact of the new U.S.-EU Air Transport Open Skies Agreement set to begin this month. (DOT press release 39-08, dated 03/18/08, available at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot3908.htm.)

5. UK Association Seeking to Reduce Reliance on Airfreight for Organics

Pacific Shipper reports that the United Kingdom's Soil Association, which verifies the organic credentials of 70% of the UK's organic produce market, is seeking to impose stringent standards on all organic produce flown into the U.K. (Pacific Shipper, dated Spring 2008, http://www.pacificshipper.com/)

6. UK Group Says Vietnam Furniture Industry is Using Illegal Logs

The Environmental Investigation Agency, based in the United Kingdom, has issued a press release announcing that Vietnam is operating as a center for processing large quantities of unlawfully-logged timber from across Indochina, threatening some of the last intact forests in the region. EIA states that undercover investigations conducted by it and the Indonesian non-governmental organization, Telapak, have revealed that numerous Vietnamese furniture factories are using illegal logs from the vanishing forests of Laos. (EIA press release, dated 03/19/08, available at http://www.eia-international.org/cgi/news/news.cgi?t=template&a=447&source=)

7. ITC Adds Patent Claim to Limited Exclusion Order on DVD Players, Etc.

The International Trade Commission has issued a correction of a limited exclusion order, which excluded from entry certain DVD players and recorders and certain products containing same by Dongguan GVG Digital Products Ltd. and GVG Digital Technology Holdings Ltd., in order to additionally exclude claim 16 of U.S. Patent No. 5,870, 523 from entry. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/22/08 news, 08022225, for BP summary of the limited exclusion order.) (Inv. No. 337-TA-603, FR Pub 03/20/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-5609.pdf)

8. BIS Corrects CCL Overview and Country Chart

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a notice correcting the Commerce Control List Overview and the Country Chart in 15 CFR Part 738, in Supplement No. 1, on page 244, to add an "X" in the entry for Tonga under the heading CC3. (BIS notice, FR Pub 03/19/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/08-55506.pdf.)

9. OFAC Designates Future Bank B.S.C. under WMD Executive Order

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice announcing the name of one newly-designated entity - Future Bank B.S.C. of Bahrain, and all branches worldwide - whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to pursuant to Executive Order 13382 of June 28, 2005, "Blocking Property of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators and Their Supporters." (OFAC notice, FR Pub 03/19/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-5479.pdf.)

10. TSA Re-establishes Aviation Committee, Seeks Applications

The Transportation Security Administration has issued a notice announcing the reestablishment of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee and requests applicants for appointment to ASAC. Comments on the reestablishment of this committee or applications for membership are due by April 18, 2008. (TSA notice, FR Pub 03/19/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-5469.pdf.)

11. DHS Signs VWP Agreements with Slovakia, Hungary, and Lithuania

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a press release announcing that it has signed a Visa Waiver Program Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with Slovakia, Hungary, and Lithuania. The security enhancements outlined in the agreements put all three countries on track for visa-free travel to the U.S., and potential designation as VWP members later in 2008. (DHS press release, dated 03/17/08, available at http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1205782432579.shtm.)

12. Egypt, Vietnam Ratify the Revised Kyoto Convention

The World Customs Organization has issued a press release announcing that on January 8, 2008, Egypt and Vietnam acceded to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (revised Kyoto Convention) which is regarded as a blueprint for modern and effective Customs procedures in the 21st Century. (WCO press release, dated 01/11/08, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/press/?v=1&lid=1&cid=5&id=149.)

13. APHIS to Issue Permits for Importation of Certain Korea Dropwort Leaves

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a notice advising the public of its decision to begin issuing permits for the importation of dropwort leaves with stems from South Korea into the continental U.S. subject to the requirements specified in the risk management analysis, effective March 20, 2008. (D/N APHIS-2007-0143, FR Pub 03/20/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-5651.pdf)

14. FTZB Notice

The Foreign Trade Zone Board has issued the following notice:

Review of Sourcing Change, Foreign-Trade Subzone 43D, Perrigo Company, Allegan, Michigan (Ibuprofen Products)

(Doc. 3-2007, FR Pub 03/20/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-5665.pdf)

15. 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 03/12/08) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-4916.pdf