Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
On July 29, 2008, WTO Director-General Lamy announced that ministers have failed in their effort to agree on blueprint Doha agreements in agriculture and industrial products. Out of 20 topics, convergence was reached on18 but the gaps could not narrow on the 19th - the special safeguard mechanism in farm products for developing countries. Nevertheless, the results represent twice or three times more than has been achieved in any previous multilateral negotiation, and this collapse does not mean the end of the Doha Round. (WTO release, dated 07/29/08, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/meet08_summary_29july_e.htm)
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1. WTO Doha Talks Collapsed on Day 9
2. Homeland Security Committee Reports Bill on Unclassified Info
The House Homeland Security Committee reported H.R. 6193, a bill to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and administer policies, procedures, and programs to promote the implementation of the Controlled Unclassified Information Framework applicable to unclassified information that is homeland security information, terrorism information, weapons of mass destruction information and other information within the scope of the information sharing environment established under section 1016 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 USC 485), with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-779). (Congressional Record, dated 07/28/08, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r110:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20080728)
3. President Continues Emergency Regarding Export Control Regs
On July 23, 2008, President Bush continued for one year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13222 in light of the expiration of the Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended. (FR Pub 07/25/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/08-1467.pdf)
4. BIS Proposes to Implement Additional Protocol Regulations
The Bureau of Industry and Security issued a proposed rule to implement the provisions of the Protocol Additional to the Agreement Between the U.S. and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the Application of Safeguards in the U.S. (the "Additional Protocol"). The Additional Protocol is an agreement between the U.S. and the IAEA to allow monitoring and reporting of certain civil nuclear fuel cycle-related activities. Comments must be received by August 25, 2008. (D/N 08021265-8693-01, FR Pub 07/25/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-16815.pdf)
5. DEA Finalizes Interim Rule Controlling the Chemical NPP
The Drug Enforcement Administration its finalizing its April 2007 interim rule, without change, that controlled the chemical N-phenethyl-4-piperidone (NPP) as a List I chemical under the Controlled Substances Act. (D/N DEA-299-F, FR Pub 07/25/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-17034.pdf)
6. APHIS Seeks Comment on Int'l Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standard-Setting Activities
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is informing the public of the international standard-setting activities of the World Organization for Animal Health, the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention, and the North American Plant Protection Organization, and soliciting public comment on the standards to be considered. (D/N APHIS-2008-0063, FR Pub 07/28/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-17216.pdf)
7. President Issues EO on Blocking Additional Persons in Zimbabwe
On July 25, 2008, President Bush issued an Executive Order blocking property of additional persons undermining democratic processes or institutions in Zimbabwe. (White House press release, dated 07/25/08, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/07/20080725-5.html)
8. OFAC Designates 1 Individual, 17 Entities under Zimbabwe EO
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice publishing the names of seventeen newly-designated entities and one individual whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to the July 25, 2008 Executive Order "Blocking Property of Additional Persons Undermining Democratic Processes or Institutions in Zimbabwe." (FR Pub, dated 08/01/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-17647.pdf)
9. Software Counterfeiter Sentenced to Four Years in Prison
Immigration and Customs Enforcement reports that an Oregon man, Jeremiah Joseph Mondello, was sentenced to four years in prison for selling counterfeit computer software with a retail value of more than $1 million, and for aggravated identity theft and mail fraud. (ICE, dated 07/23/08, available at http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0807/080723washington.htm)
10. GAO Report on Need to Improve Passport Operations
The Government Accountability Office released its report entitled "State Department: Comprehensive Strategy Needed to Improve Passport Operations." (GAO-08-091, dated July 2008, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08891.pdf)
11. TSA Posts TWIC Quarterly Deployment Plan
The Transportation Security Administration posted its latest (as of July 24, 2008) Transportation Worker Identification Credential quarterly deployment plan. (Update as of 07/24/08 available at http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/twicquarterlydeploymentschedule.pdf)