Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. Senate Confirms Nominations of DHS and Agriculture Secretaries

Janet Napolitano to be Secretary of Homeland Security

Thomas Vilsack to be Secretary of Agriculture

(Congressional Record, dated 01/20/09, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r111:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20090120)

2. OTEXA to Host Free Webinar on Textile, Apparel Programs

The Office of Textiles and Apparel has announced that it will hold a free webinar on February 5, 2009 entitled "U.S. Textile and Apparel Trade Programs in a Post-Quota World." Topics include OTEXA's functions; OTEXA's role in trade programs affecting the textile, apparel, footwear, leather and travel goods industries; major trade agreements; current trade issues; and the resources OTEXA offers the trade community. (Information and registration available at http://web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/eamain.nsf/6e1600e39721316c852570ab0056f719/c4ef97d40864a42c8525750d00630d3d?OpenDocument)

3. House Ways & Means Chair Says Peru FTA Should Not be Certified Until Issues Resolved

The House Ways and Means Committee has posted a news release announcing that Chairman Rangel and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Levin urged the U.S. Trade Representative to "resist setting any artificial deadline" for entry into force of the U.S.- Peru free trade agreement, citing outstanding obligations that have not been met. (News release, dated 01/14/09, available at http://waysandmeans.house.gov/News.asp?FormMode=release&ID=844)

4. TSA Submits TWIC Card Reader Final Rule to OMB for Review

The Transportation Security Administration sent, on January 8, 2009, its final rule entitled "Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC); Card Reader Requirements" to the Office of Management and Budget for review. (OMB submission available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?ruleID=292540)

5. APHIS Submits Plant Category Proposed Rule to OMB for Review

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service sent, on December 19, 2008, its proposed rule entitled "Importation of Plants for Planting; Establishing a New Category of Plants for Planting Not Authorized for Importation Pending Risk Assessment" to OMB for review (OMB submission available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?ruleID=289520)

6. Senate Finance Leadership Seek ITC Investigation of India Market Access

The Senate Finance Committee has posted a news release announcing that Chairman Baucus and Ranking Member Grassley requested an ITC study of the agricultural market in India including the effects of tariff and non-tariff measures on U.S. agricultural exports. (Finance Committee news release, dated 01/13/09, available at http://finance.senate.gov/press/Bpress/2009press/prb011309i.pdf)

7. APHIS to Open New AQI Port Technology Lab in South Miami

APHIS plans to open a new Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection (AQI) and Port Technology Methods Development Laboratory in South Miami, FL, later this year. Scientists at this new facility will work to develop and validate state-of-the art commodity treatments and port inspection technologies used by APHIS and CBP to ensure that agriculture imports are free of invasive species. (USDA press release, dated 01/14/09, available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/01/0011.xml)

8. FDA Proposes to Revoke Regulations on Yogurt Standards, Etc.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a proposed rule to revoke its regulations on the standards of identity for lowfat yogurt and nonfat yogurt and amend the standard of identity for yogurt in numerous respects. Comments are due by March 31, 2009. (FR Pub 01/15/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-736.pdf)

9. Nanotechnology Coordination Office to Hold Workshop

The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office has issued a notice announcing that it will hold a workshop on February 24-25, 2009 in Bethesda, MD to provide an open forum to discuss the state-of-the-art of the science related to environmental, health, and safety aspects of engineered nanoscale materials in the area of human and environmental exposure assessment. (FR Pub 01/15/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-664.pdf)

10. Agriculture Secretary Names Members to the Mango Board

The Agricultural Marketing Service has posted a news release stating that Agriculture Secretary Schafer announced six appointments to the National Mango Board. The appointees were nominated to fill a domestic producer position, three importer positions for District II, and two foreign producer positions. They will serve three-year terms that began Jan. 1, 2009, and end on Dec. 31, 2011. (USDA, dated 01/14/09, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateU&navID=&page=Newsroom&resultType=Details&dDocName=STELPRDC5074873&dID=106493&wf=false&description=SchaferNamesMemberstotheNationalMangoBoard&topNav=Newsroom&leftNav=&rightNa)

11. ITA Fact Sheet on November Exports, Spotlight on Exports

The International Trade Administration issued its fact sheet on November 2008 export statistics. The fact sheet includes a "trade spotlight" on economic recovery through exports. (ITA fact sheet, released 01/13/09, available at http://www.commerce.gov/s/groups/public/@doc/@os/@opa/documents/content/prod01_007686.pdf )

12. OFAC Updates List of Authorized Air, Travel, Forwarding Services to Cuba

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has posted an updated list of currently authorized carrier service providers, travel service providers, and remittance forwarders to Cuba. (OFAC list, posted 01/14/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/cuba/cuba_tsp.pdf)

13. Freight Transportation Services Index Fell in November 2008

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics announced that the Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) fell 1.4% in November from its October level, falling after a one-month rise. (Press release 01/14/09, available at http://www.bts.gov/press_releases/2009/bts002_09/html/bts002_09.html)

14. Airlines Operating at LaGuardia Have until 2/2 to Inform DOT of Voluntary Cancelled Flights

The Department of Transportation has issued a news release stating that airlines operating at New York's LaGuardia Airport will have until February 2, 2009 to tell DOT which flights they will voluntarily give up in order to reduce congestion at the airport. The final order, issued by DOT's Federal Aviation Administration, puts into action the proposed plan that was submitted for comment in December 2008 for LaGuardia carriers to voluntarily reduce scheduled operations from an average of 75 per hour to 71. The flight reductions must take place by May 31 and will be in effect until October 24, 2009. (DOT, dated 01/14/09, available at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot0709.htm)

15. OFAC Designates Additional FARC Int'l Commission Members

The Treasury Department has issued a news release announcing that OFAC designated three international representatives of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a narco-terrorist organization. (Treasury Department news release, dated 01/14/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp1353.htm)

16. BIS to Hold Export Control Forum

The Bureau of Industry and Security has announced that the fourth annual Export Control Forum will be held on March 16, 2009 in Newport Beach, California. The forum will be followed by concurrent special topics seminars. (BIS posting, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/seminarsandtraining/newport_beach_mar_16_09.htm)

17. VP of LA-Area Company Charged with Smuggling Integrated Circuits to China

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has issued a news release announcing that the vice president of a Hacienda Heights company made his initial appearance in federal court on January 12, 2009 after being arrested over the weekend on charges of exporting high-tech integrated circuits to China in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). (ICE, dated 01/12/09, available at http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0901/090112la.htm)

18. USTR Fact Sheet on Reform Agenda with Japan

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a fact sheet on the reform agenda with Japan. (Fact sheet, dated January 2009, available at http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Fact_Sheets/2009/asset_upload_file842_15274.pdf)

19. Canada Lists Allocation Holders for Softwood Lumber Exports to U.S.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada has posted a notice providing a list of companies that have been granted export allocations for 2009 under the U.S.-Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement of 2006 (SLA 2006). (Notice, dated 01/14/09, available at http://www.international.gc.ca/eicb/notices/ser162-en.asp)

20. FMC Lists OTI Applications

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a notice that lists those applying for OTI licenses as a non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC), ocean freight forwarder (FF) or NVOCC/FF OTI, as follows:

FMC notice (FR Pub 01/14/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-700.pdf