Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

December 5, 2008 |Top News

The Census Bureau has issued an Automated Export System broadcast announcing that the Foreign Trade Division is extending the hours of the FTD Call Center to better assist the trade community with questions regarding the Foreign Trade Regulations, AES, and commodity classification. Starting December 1, 2008, the trade may call 1-800-549-0595, Monday through Friday: press 1 for AES and press 3 for Regulations Outreach and Education Branch (ROEB) 7:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time; press 2 for Commodity Analysis Branch (CAB) 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The trade may also submit questions to askaes@census.gov or FTDregs@census.gov, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (AES Broadcast 2008061 is available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)

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1. Foreign Trade Division Extends FTD Call Center Hours

2. WTO Appellate Body Hearing on "Zeroing" Dispute Opened to Public

The World Trade Organization has issued a news release announcing that at the request of the parties (the EC and the U.S.) in the dispute "United States - Continued Existence and Application of Zeroing Methodology" (DS350) the Appellate Body division hearing the appeal has decided to open the oral hearing to public viewing at the WTO headquarters in Geneva. The hearing will begin on December 11, 2008 and could continue on December 12, 2008. (News release, dated 12/01/08, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/dispu350_1dec08_e.htm)

3. Canada's 2009 Veal & Beef TRQ Opened December 3rd

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada has issued a notice informing the public that the 2009 beef & veal tariff rate quota (TRQ) was to be accessible on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008, at 12:00 p.m. EST. (Notice, dated 11-27-08, available at http://www.international.gc.ca/eicb/agric/beef-tariff09-en.asp)

4. EPA Requests Applications for Essential Use Allowances for Ozone-Depleting Substances

The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a notice requesting applications for essential use allowances for calendar years 2010 and 2011. Essential use allowances provide exemptions from the phase-out on production and import of ozone-depleting substances (ODSs). The allowances must be authorized by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer which will meet in 2009. Applications must be submitted to EPA no later than December 31, 2008. (EPA notice, FR Pub 12/01/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-28452.pdf)

5. EPA Proposes Methyl Bromide Critical Use Exemptions and Amounts

The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a notice proposing uses that qualify for the 2009 critical use exemption to the phaseout of methyl bromide as well as the amount of methyl bromide that may be produced, imported, or supplied from existing pre-phase-out inventory for those uses in 2009. Comments must be submitted by December 29, 2008. (EPA proposed rule, D/N EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0009, FR Pub 11/28/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-28328.pdf)

6. PLI to Hold Seminar on Doing Business in India March 4th in San Francisco

The Practising Law Institute will be holding a seminar entitled, Doing Business in India 2009: Critical Legal Issues for U.S. Companies on March 4, 2009 in San Francisco, CA. The program is designed for in-house and outside counsel who advise U.S. companies with respect to their business activities or interests in India, especially involving foreign investment, mergers and acquisitions, project finance, outsourcing, trade regulation, intellectual property protection, litigation or arbitration. (Seminar information available at http://www.pli.edu/product/seminar_detail.asp?id=48412)

7. ITA Manufacturing Council to Hold Open Meeting

The International Trade Administration has issued a notice announcing that the Manufacturing Council will hold an open meeting via teleconference on December 12, 2008. (FR Pub 12/03/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-28723.pdf.)

8. OFAC Designates Five Individuals under Drug Trafficking EO

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a notice publishing the names of five individuals whose property and interests in property have been unblocked pursuant to Executive Order 12978 of October 21, 1995, Blocking Assets and Prohibiting Transactions With Significant Narcotics Traffickers. (FR Pub 12/02/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-28516.pdf)

9. OFAC Identifies Entities Owned/Controlled by the Government of Iran

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has identified the National Iranian Oil Company (aka NIOC), Naftiran Intertrade Company Ltd. (aka NICO), and Naftiran Intertrade Co. Sarl as entities owned or controlled by the Government of Iran. The Iranian Transaction Regulations include an appendix that contains a non-exhaustive list of entities determined by OFAC to be owned or controlled by the Government of Iran. OFAC is adding the above named entities to this appendix. (Press release, dated 11/26/08, available at http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp1299.htm)

10. Basics of Exporting to Europe Webinar

Export.gov has posted information regarding the December 12, 2008 webinar entitled "The Basics of Exporting to Europe: Mastering Logistics and Maximizing Profit, Part 1," which represents the second of a three-part webinar series focused on building business in Europe. (Information available at http://export.gov/eac/show_detail_trade_events.asp?EventID=28578)

11. FDA Posts Enforcement Report for November 26th

The Food and Drug Administration has posted its Enforcement Report for the week of November 26, 2008. The report contains information on actions taken in connection with agency Regulatory activities. (Report, dated 11/26/08, available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ENFORCE/2008/ENF01083.html)

12. DDTC Posts November 2008 Export Licensing Processing Times

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has updated its defense export licensing processing times to include November 2008. (Times, updated 12/01/08, available at http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/metrics/index.html)

13. Updated TWIC Enrollment Center Information

The Transportation Security Administration has updated its Web page listing specific Transportation Worker Identification Credential enrollment center locations. (Updated 12/01/08, available at http://twicinformation.tsa.dhs.gov/twicinfo/schedule.jsp)

14. BTS Releases North American Surface Trade Numbers for Sept 2008

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics has released the North American surface trade numbers for September 2008: trade using surface transportation between the U.S. and its NAFTA partners, Canada and Mexico, was 7.5% higher in September 2008 than in September 2007, reaching $71.8 billion. (Notice, dated 12/01/08, available at http://www.bts.gov/press_releases/2008/bts057_08/html/bts057_08.html)