Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

November 7, 2008 |Top News

The Port of Long Beach has issued a news release stating that despite a requested injunction by the Federal Maritime Commission against the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to invalidate portions of the ports' Clean Trucks Programs, the Port of Long Beach is confident in its legal position and will continue to move ahead with its initiative to ban and replace dirty diesel trucks that pollute the region. (News release available at http://www.polb.com/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=475&targetid=1)

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1. Long Beach Continues With Its CTP, Despite FMC Lawsuit

2. EC Publishes 2009 Version of the Combined Nomenclature

According to the European Union's Taxation and Customs Union Web site, the European Commission has published the 2009 version of the Combined Nomenclature. (Information, posted 10/31/08, available at http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/index_en.htm)

3. AMS Launches Country of Origin Labeling Listserv

The Agricultural Marketing Service has issued a news release announcing that it has launched a Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) listserv. The listserv will notify subscribers of significant additions to the all inclusive, information-packed COOL Web site. (AMS No. 218-08, dated 11/04/08, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateU&navID=&page=Newsroom&resultType=Details&dDocName=STELPRDC5073528&dID=102954&wf=false&description=USDALaunchesCountryofOriginLabelingListserv&topNav=Newsroom&leftNav=&rightNa)

4. Florida Company to Pay $180,000 Civil Penalty for EAR Violations

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a press release announcing that Marysol Technologies Inc. of Clearwater, FL, agreed to pay a $180,000 civil penalty to settle allegations that it committed nine violations of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) when it exported laser equipment to China, India, Belarus, and Russia without the required export licenses. (Press release, dated 11/04/08, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/news/2008/bis_press11042008c.htm.)

5. California Company to Pay $192,000 Civil Penalty for EAR Violations

BIS has issued a press release announcing that Maxim Integrated Products, Inc., a semiconductor manufacturer based in Sunnyvale, CA, has agreed to pay a $192,000 civil penalty to settle allegations that it committed 34 violations of the EAR involving the export and reexport of national security-controlled integrated circuits and related components to China, Estonia, Russia, and the Ukraine as well as deemed export violations involving Iranian and Chinese nationals. (Press release, dated 11/04/08, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/news/2008/bis_press11042008b.htm.)

6. Houston Company to Pay $30,000 Civil Penalty for EAR Violations

BIS has issued a press release announcing that American Rice, Inc. of Houston, TX, has agreed to pay a $30,000 civil penalty to settle allegations that it violated the antiboycott provisions of the EAR. BIS's Office of Antiboycott Compliance alleged that during the years 2002 through 2006, in connection with fifteen transactions involving the sale of U.S. origin goods to the UAE, American Rice, Inc. failed to report in a timely manner its receipt of a request to engage in a restrictive trade practice or boycott. (Press release, dated 11/04/08, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/news/2008/bis_press11042008.htm.)

7. FSIS Updates Residue Violator Alert List

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has updated its Residue Violator Alert list. This list contains the names and addresses of those parties responsible for repeat drug, pesticide, or chemical violations in animals presented for slaughter. It is updated monthly. (List available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Residue_Violators_List.pdf.)

8. FMCSA Posts Supplemental Document for HOS Interim Final Rule

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a notice advising the public that it is placing in the public docket an additional document concerning hours of service (HOS) for commercial motor vehicle drivers. FMCSA published an interim final rule on this issue on December 17, 2007. (D/N FMCSA-2004-19608, FR Pub 11/04/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-26198.pdf)

9. FTZB Notices

The following Foreign Trade Zone Board notices were published:

FTZ 119 - Minneapolis, MN - Application for Expansion/Reorganization and Expansion of Manufacturing Authority, Subzone 119B Uponor, Inc. (Polyethylene Tubing)

FTZ 163 - Ponce, Puerto Rico - Application for Expansion Correction

FTZ 57 - Charlotte, NC - Application for Expansion

(FR Pub 11/04/08, hyperlinked)

10. FDA Posts Enforcement Report for October 29th

The Food and Drug Administration has posted its Enforcement Report for the week of October 29, 2008. The report contains information on actions taken in connection with agency regulatory activities. (Report, dated 10/29/08, available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ENFORCE/2008/ENF01079.html)

11. DHS Signs Visa Waiver Program Interim Declaration with Romania

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a news release announcing that the U.S. signed a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) declaration with Romania on November 3, 2008. The security enhancements outlined in the declaration continues Romania's progress on the path toward visa-free travel to the U.S., and possible designation as a VWP member. (Dated 11/03/08, available at http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1225731352223.shtm)

12. WTO Arbitrator Sets Implementation Period in U.S.-Mexico Steel Dispute

The World Trade Organization released, on October 31, 2008, the report of an arbitrator regarding the reasonable period of time for the U.S. to implement the recommendations and rulings of the Dispute Settlement Body in the case "US - Final Anti-Dumping Measures on Stainless Steel from Mexico" (DS344). (Report, dated 10/31/08, available at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/344_15_arb_e.pdf)

13. OFAC Publishes Enforcement Information for November 3, 2008

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice announcing the following enforcement information for November 3, 2008:

Entity	Penalty	Action/Violation/Alleged Violation
Myers Industries, Inc. (OH)	$16,250	A foreign subsidiary of Meyers made an unlicensed sale of goods in which Cuba or a Cuban national had an interest, in violation of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations
Center for Cross Cultural Study, Inc. (MA)	$15,000	Transferred funds to Cuba in connection with its operation of semester abroad programs on behalf of various licensed U.S. colleges and universities, in violation of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations
Priceline.com, Incorporated (CT)	$12,250	Foreign subsidiaries of Priceline provided travel-related services in which Cuba or Cuban nationals had an interest by arranging hotel reservations for Cuban nationals without an OFAC license, in violation of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations

(OFAC notice available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/civpen/penalties/11032008.pdf)

14. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recalls

The CPSC has published notice of the following voluntary recalls:

Product	Company	Release
Krylon \"Outdoor Spaces\" UV Fabric Protector	The Sherwin-Williams Co. (OH)	09-036
Toy Xylophones	King Import Warehouse (TX)	09-037
\"Mini-Televisor\" Toys	OKK Trading (CA)	09-038

(Recall list available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerelnov08.html.)

15. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports

The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:

Australia FAIRS Export Certificate Report: Export Certificate Report

Bahrain FAIRS Country Report: Annual

Bosnia-Hercegovina FAIRS Export Certificate Report: Annual

Bulgaria Grain and Feed: Grains and Oilseeds Market Update

Canada Agricultural Situation: This Week in Canadian Agriculture: Issue 32

Colombia Grain and Feed: Colombia Announces Import TRQ for Paddy Rice at Zero Duty

EU-27 Wine: Grubbing-up scheme oversubscribed

Guatemala FAIRS Export Certificate Report: Annual

India FAIRS Product Specific: Proposed Amendments to Plant Quarantine Order with Provisions for Imports of Wood

India FAIRS Product Specific: GOI Further Extends GEAC Approval for Processed Food Derived from Living Modified Organisms