Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
In its March 27, 2008 issue of ShippersNewsWire, American Shipper reported that some truckers were talking about a one-day shutdown across the nation on April 1, 2008 due to the cost of fuel and their inability to pass along fuel surcharges. Industry officials are questioning how widespread this effort to grab the attention of lawmakers might be. (AS, dated 03/27/08, www.americanshipper.com )
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1. Some Truckers May Strike on April 1st
2. China Customs Agents Auditing Wine Importers
Yahoo! Finance reports that Shanghai, China customs agents have detained a major wine import executive as part of a broad review of the industry, and Shanghai customs officials confirmed that an "audit" of wine importers is under way, as some wine importing companies are suspected of falsifying prices. (Yahoo! Finance, dated 03/31/08, available at http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080331/china_customs_crackdown.html?.v=1)
3. World Faces Challenge of Depleting Food Supplies in 21st Century
Reuters reports that the world is facing a major challenge of ensuring food supplies for the 21st century, with drought, a declining dollar, a shift of investment money into commodities and use of farm land to grow fuel. Population growth and the growing wealth of China and other emerging countries are also factors. (Reuters, dated 03/31/08, available at http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2533909020080331)
4. CBP Miami Seminars on Reimbursable Billing for Agricultural Inspections
CBP's Port of Miami has issued an Information Bulletin announcing that it will conduct four seminars on April 1 and 2, 2008 regarding reimbursable billing for agricultural inspection services requested on overtime, which begins May 11, 2008. (Information bulletin available by emailing BP at documents@brokerpower.com)
5. House Members Urge Administration to Address China's Currency
Congressional Quarterly reports that 15 members of the House Ways and Means Committee, including Chairman Rangel and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Levin recently sent a letter to the Bush administration saying it must use all the tools at its disposal to address China's protracted, large-scale intervention in the foreign exchange markets to maintain an undervalued currency. Among other things, the members want to see the administration restrict China's voting power in the International Monetary Fund unless it commits to refrain from currency manipulation. (Congressional Quarterly, dated 03/27/08, available at http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=cqmidday-000002693279)
6. ADM Sues Five Major U.S. Railroads for Fixing Fuel Surcharges
Cargo News Asia reports that five major U.S. railroads are being sued on allegations of violating anti-trust laws in fixing their fuel surcharges. Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), one of the world's largest agribusiness companies and a major rail customer, claimed it had paid more than US$250 million in fuel surcharges since 2003. The lawsuit doesn't say the surcharges are illegal, but accuses the railroads of illegally acting in concert. (Cargo News Asia, dated 03/27/08, available at http://www.cargonewsasia.com/secured/article.aspx?id=20&article=15947®ister=yes)
7. NAPPO Posts its March 2008 Newsletter, Announces Annual Meeting
The North American Plant Protection Organization has posted its March 2008 newsletter, which, among other things, announces that the 32nd annual NAPPO meeting will take place from October 20-24, 2008 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. (NAPPO newsletter available at http://www.nappo.org/Newsletter/2008/March/Misc/Newsletter-3-08-e.htm )
8. DHS OIG Report on Nominating Individuals to Terrorist Watchlist
The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General has released its report entitled, "The DHS Process for Nominating Individuals to the Consolidated Terrorist Watchlist." (DHS OIG report no. OIG-08-29, dated February 2008, available at http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_08-29_Feb08.pdf )
9. ITA's Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee to Hold Open Meeting
The International Trade Administration has issued a notice announcing that its Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee will be holding an open meeting on April 18, 2008 in Washington DC to discuss updated negotiations in the World Trade Organization's (WTO's) environmental goods and services trade liberalization, trade issues concerning China, drafting of a recommendation paper, and other committee priority items. (ITA notice, FR Pub 03/31/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-6466.pdf)
10. FMC Lists OTI Reissuances, Revocations and Applications
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued three notices that either reissue ocean transportation intermediary (OTI) licenses, revoke OTI licenses, or list those applying for OTI licenses as a non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC), ocean freight forwarder (FF) or NVOCC/FF OTI, as follows:
| Golden Egg Warehouse Logistics (CA) |
FMC notice (applications) (FR Pub 03/26/08) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-6159.pdf
FMC notices (reissuances & revocations) (FR Pub 03/26/08) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-6158.pdf