Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Food and Drug Administration, in collaboration with the University of Arkansas, is announcing a public workshop entitled "Food Labeling Workshop," which is intended to provide information about FDA food labeling regulations and other related subjects to the regulated industry, particularly small businesses and startups. The workshop will be held on August 12-13, 2008 in Fayetteville, AR. (FR Pub 06/03/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-12301.pdf)
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1. FDA to Hold Food Labeling Workshop
2. NIST to Hold Open Pre-Consortium Meeting
The National Institute of Standards and Technology invites interested parties to attend a pre-consortium meeting on June 13, 2008 in Gaithersburg, MD. The goal of the meeting is to evaluate industry interest in creating a NIST/industry consortium focused on the characterization and modeling of the surface and interface of polymeric materials and composites. (FR Pub 06/03/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-12362.pdf)
3. BIS Discusses Export Control/Transshipment Issues with Singapore
Senior Bureau of Industry and Security officials met with their counterparts from Singapore to discuss ongoing bilateral engagement and future cooperation in addressing transshipment and other export control issues. BIS officials welcomed Singapore's recent adoption of the expanded control list and conveyed its interest in continuing to enhance collaboration on export control enforcement and other related matters. (Press release, dated 05/30/08, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/news/2008/mancuso_london_05292008.htm)
4. Ag Secretary Forecasts $108.5 Billion in Agriculture Exports for FY 2008
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Schafer announced an updated quarterly forecast for U.S. agricultural exports - expected to reach a record $108.5 billion for fiscal year 2008. This upward revision is a $7.5 billion increase from February's previous record forecast and $26.5 billion above the final 2007 exports. (Press release, dated 05/30/08, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/PressRelease/pressrel_dout.asp?PrNum=0094-08)
5. PHMSA to Hold Public Meeting on UN Session
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has issued a notice announcing that it will hold a public meeting on June 18, 2008 in Washington, DC in preparation for the 33rd session of the United Nation's Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods to be held June 30-July 9, 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland. (FR Pub 06/02/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-12060.pdf)
6. U.S.-China ESR Commission to Hold Public Hearings
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has issued a notice announcing that it will hold open public hearings on June 18-19, 2008 in Washington, DC to address access to information and media control in China, and the Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and China regarding prison labor products, respectively. (FR Pub 06/02/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-12152.pdf)
7. President's Export Council to Hold Teleconference Meeting
The International Trade Administration has issued a notice announcing that the President's Export Council will hold a meeting via teleconference to deliberate draft letters of recommendation and their draft final report to the President on June 25, 2008. (FR Pub 06/02/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-12165.pdf)
8. FDA Makes $1 Million Available for Safe Produce Research
The FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) has issued a notice announcing the availability of approximately $1.0 million in research funds for fiscal year 2008 to be used to support research efforts to advance the safe transportation and preparation of produce, etc. Applications for grants are due within 90 days of June 2, 2008. (FR Pub 06/02/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-12159.pdf)
9. MARAD Announces its Arctic Transportation Conference
The Maritime Administration will be holding its Arctic Transportation Conference on June 5, 2008 in Washington, DC. This conference will focus on the development of the Arctic Region as an emerging and valuable alternative ocean highway that will provide shorter travel distances for much of the world's international trade and commerce and help relieve existing vessel congestion at the two major inter-ocean canals. (Conference information available at http://www.marad.dot.gov/pdf/AGENDA%20-%20Arctic%20Transportation%20Conference%20June%205%202008.pdf)
10. OFAC Updates Its SDN List
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has updated its Specially Designated Nationals List to add four individuals, two entities, and make changes to the listing for the Kurdistan Workers' Party. (SDN update, dated 05/30/08, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20080530.shtml)
11. U.S., Kenya Negotiate an Open-Skies Agreement
The Department of Transportation has issued a press release announcing that the U.S. and Kenya have negotiated an Open-Skies agreement. The agreement, whose terms will be observed immediately, is the 20th U.S. Open-Skies agreement with an African nation, and Kenya is the 92nd U.S. Open-Skies partner worldwide. (DOT 76-08, dated 05/30/08, available at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot7608.htm)
12. EU Appeals WTO Panel Decision on Hormone-Treated Meat Dispute
The European Commission has issued a press release announcing that the European Union has appealed elements of the March 31, 2008 World Trade Organization panel decision on the U.S. and Canadian sanctions imposed on EU exports in retaliation for EU restrictions on the import of hormone-treated meat. The EU disagrees with the panel's finding that it did not consider the new EU hormones directive to comply with the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. (EC press release, dated 05/29/08, available at http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/respectrules/dispute/pr290508_en.htm)