Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
In his weekly address, President Barack Obama announced the appointment of Dr. Margaret Hamburg as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, as well as the creation of a new Food Safety Working Group to coordinate with agencies and senior officials to advise the President on improving coordination throughout the government, examining and upgrading food safety laws, and enforcing laws that will keep the American people safe. In addition, the President also announced that the Department of Agriculture will close a loophole to prevent diseased cows from entering the food supply and the government will invest in the FDA to substantially increase the number of food inspectors and modernize food safety labs. (White House statement, dated 03/14/09, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Weekly-Address-President-Barack-Obama-Announces-Key-FDA-Appointments-and-Tougher-Food-Safety-Measures/.)
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1. President Announces FDA Appointments, Add'l Food Safety Measures
2. Obama Met With Brazil's President, Discussed Ethanol and Other Issues
On March 14, 2009, President Obama met with Brazil's President Lula regarding a variety of issues, including the global financial crisis, climate change, etc. President Obama noted that the issue of Brazilian ethanol coming into the U.S., which has been a source of tension between the U.S. and Brazil, is not going to change overnight, but as the U.S. and Brazil continue to build exchanges of ideas, commerce, and trade around the issue of biodiesel, over time this source of tension can get resolved. (White House blog, dated 03/14/09, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/03/14/president-obama-a-wonderful-meeting-of-the-minds/.)
3. Hearing on Nomination of Locke to be Secretary of Commerce
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold a full committee hearing Wednesday, March 18, 2009 on the nomination of Governor Gary Locke to be the Secretary of Commerce. (Press release, dated 03/13/09, available at http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=f822d9fe-99a1-49eb-b051-3b785717ccfa&Month=3&Year=2009.)
4. Continuation of National Emergency with Respect to Iran
President Obama has issued notice that he is continuing for one year the national emergency declared in 1995 (by Executive Order 12957) and annually renewed thereafter, with respect to Iran, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat actions and policies of the Government of Iran. (Noitce,FR Pub 03/13/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5691.pdf)
5. ITC EDIS Not Available March 26-29th, Temporary Forms Must be Used
The International Trade Commission is notifying all users of its Electronic Document Information System (EDIS) that the system will not be available for use from 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2009, until 6:00 a.m. on Monday, March 30, 2009. All paper filings will be accepted in accordance with applicable rules. A temporary Docket Cover Sheet must be submitted with filings while EDIS is shut down. (ITC notice, FR Pub 03/13/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5468.pdf)
6. ITA Issues Notices on Two Trade Missions
The International Trade Administration has issued notices on the following trade missions: (1) Aerospace Supplier Development Mission to Montreal, May 5-6, 2009; and (2)Executive Trade Missionto Santiago, Chile, and Lima Peru, June 1-5, 2009. (ITA notices, FR Pub 03/13/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5516.pdf)
7. FDA Issues Guidance for Manufacturers on Peanut-Derived Product
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a "Guidance for Industry: Measures to Address the Risk for Contamination by Salmonella Species in Food Containing a Peanut-Derived Product As An Ingredient," which recommends that manufacturers obtain any peanut-derived ingredient only from suppliers who use production processes that have been demonstrated to adequately reduce the presence of Salmonella species (Salmonella spp.), or that they ensure that their own manufacturing process would adequately reduce the presence of Salmonella species. (FDA notice, dated 03/12/09, available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2009/NEW01972.html)
8. OFAC Issues General License for Certain Cuban Transactions
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued and posted on its Web site a general license for visits to close relatives in Cuba in response to section 621 of the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009. This general license authorizes persons subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. to travel to Cuba to visit close relatives for an unlimited period of time once every 12 months and to engage in travel-related transactions at the "maximum per diem rate" in effect at the time of travel, as established by the State Department. (OFAC license information, dated 03/11/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20090311.shtml)
9. OTEXA Announces Ukraine Introducing Temporary Surcharge on Imports
The Office of Textiles and Apparel has announced that the Ukraine Government notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) that it was introducing a temporary surcharge on imports. A temporary surcharge of up to 13 percent will be applied to the customs value of imported goods, except for critical imports. Imports subject to the surcharge cover a wide range of products, including knit fabric, apparel (including fur and leather), footwear, headwear, home furnishing and other made-up textile products, and textile floor covering. The surcharge is effective for six months, beginning March 7, 2009. (OTEXA notice, dated 03/12/09, available at http://web.ita.doc.gov/otexa/hotiss.nsf/7bfa72c94f543da685256e5b00498a4d/114583e49ab2968985257577006129bc?OpenDocument)
10. FSIS Announces Recall of Chicken Drink Products Ineligible for Import
The Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a press release announcing that Khong Guan Corporation, a Union City, California establishment, is recalling approximately 2,858 pounds of chicken drink products that were ineligible for import to the U.S. FSIS is recalling these products because it could not be determined that the poultry ingredients used in the chicken drink products were prepared under inspection as required by federal regulations or under a foreign inspection system determined to be equivalent by FSIS. (FSIS press release, dated 03/12/09, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_009_2009_Release/index.asp)
11. FDA Updates Compliance References, Regulatory Procedures Manual
The Food and Drug Administration announced that it has updated its Compliance References page and has issued an updated March 2009 Regulatory Procedures Manual.
12. FSIS Updates Eligible Foreign Establishments
The Food Safety and Inspection Service has updated its list of eligible foreign establishments in Israel, Spain, and Poland, certified to export meat, and/or to the U.S. (Countries are hyperlinked.)
13. MTOs Put Decision to End PierPass Saturday OffPeak Shifts on Hold
Pierpass reports that in response to industry demand, Marine Terminal Operators at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are suspending their decision to end Saturday offpeak shifts in order to evaluate other alternatives. The MTOs interest in ending their Saturday hours was due to a sharp decline in cargo volumes. (MTO press release, dated 01/08/09, available at https://www.pierpass-tmf.org/Documents/OffPeak%20Saturday_final_1%208%2009.pdf)
14. Venezuela Orders National Guard Intervention at Rice Plants, Etc.
USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service reports that on February 28, 2009, President Hugo Chavez ordered the National Guard to intervene in Venezuelan rice processing plants to ensure they produce at full capacity and provide a sufficient amount price-controlled white rice. FAS adds that a recent decree now requires 80 percent of all rice to be sold under controlled prices, a significant shift away from the recent market situation were most rice was sold as flavored or premium at higher prices. (Note that U.S. and Venezuelan press sources subsequently reported that Venezuela took control of a rice plant owned by U.S.-based Cargill on March 3, 2009.) (FAS GAIN report (dated 03/03/09) available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200903/146327414.pdf)
15. EC Imposes Temporary Duties on U.S. Biodiesel it Alleges is Dumped and Subsidized
The European Commission has decided to apply temporary duties starting March 13, 2009 and continuing for four months on imports of U.S. biodiesel. According to European Union Spokesperson for Trade Guellner, this decision was taken on the basis of clear evidence that unfair subsidization and dumping of U.S. biodiesel has taken place, and that this is harming otherwise competitive EU industry, with potentially dire long term effects. At the end of this time, the EC will make a final recommendation to EU member states on whether or not to impose so-called 'definitive' duties in this case, which if imposed would normally last for five years. (EC notice, dated 03/12/09, available at http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/respectrules/anti_dumping/pr120309_en.htm)
16. EC Developed E-learning Course for Business, Customs Officials on SASP
An e-Learning course has been developed by the European Commission under the Customs 2013 Program to help European Union customs officials and economic operators implement Single Authorization for Simplified Procedures (SASP). The training has been developed in collaboration with expert customs officials and trade representatives and is freely available for download. (EC course information available at http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/common/elearning/sasp/index_en.htm)
17. Canada Finds Dumping Likely to Continue for Certain Stainless Steel Round Wire from U.S, Korea, Switzerland, Etc.
On March 12, 2009, Canada Border Services Agency completed the expiry review of its July 30, 2004 findings in Inquiry No. NQ-2004-001, concerning the dumping of certain stainless steel round wire originating in or exported from the U.S, Republic of Korea, and Switzerland and the subsidizing of such product originating in or exported from India. CBSA has determined that the expiry of the findings is likely to result in the continuation or resumption of dumping of the goods from the U.S., Republic of Korea, and Switzerland and the subsidizing of such product from India. (CBSC Review, dated 03/12/09, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/sima-lmsi/er-rre/rr2008-004/rr2008-004-e08-nd-eng.html)
18. Canada Posts 2009 Turkey and Turkey Products Quota Holders List
CBSA has posted its 2009 Turkey and Turkey Products Quota Holders List. (CBSA list, dated 03/11/09, available at http://www.international.gc.ca/controls-controles/prod/agri/turkey-dindon/importers-09-importeurs.aspx?lang=eng)
19. Japan's METI and European Commission Held Workshop on Energy Research
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research held a Workshop on Energy Research and Technological Development from March 6 to 7, 2009. The workshop identified feasible Japan-EU cooperation projects in the areas of photovoltaic power generation, power storage and carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) and adopted the chairperson's summary statement. (METI press release, dated 03/10/09, available at http://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/data/20090310_02.html)
20. WCO PICARD Conference to be Held in Costa Rica in September 2009
The World Customs Organization is announcing that its PICARD conference (Partnership in Customs Academic Research and Development) on cooperation between Customs and the Academic world will be held September 28 - 30, 2009 in San Jose, Costa Rica. (WCO news release, dated, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/event_picard2009presentation.htm)
21. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports
FAS issued the following GAIN reports:
Australia: Livestock and Products Semi-Annual 2009
China: Livestock and Products Semi-Annual Report 2009
Japan: HRI Food Service Sector JAPAN HRI Food Service Sector Report 2009
Russia: Livestock and Products Livestock Semi-Annual Report 2009
Canada: Agricultural Situation This Week in Canadian Agriculture, Issue 9
China: Market Development Reports "A" is for Apple and "C" is for China
China: Agricultural Situation Weekly Hongbao
India Agricultural Situation Weekly Highlights & Hot Bites, 10
Poland: Biotechnology Problems with the draft cultivation law and Poland votes against new GMOs
Thailand: Food Processing Ingredients Sector (Food Ingredients)
Venezuela: Agricultural Situation Rice Plants Controlled
Venezuela: Agricultural Situation Rice Industry News
Vietnam: Agricultural Situation News Summary 3
22. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recalls
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has published notice of the following voluntary recalls:
| Product: Reason | Company | Release |
|---|---|---|
| Hooded sweatshirts with drawstrings: strangulation hazard | Seattle Cotton Works, LLC (WA) | 09-154 |
| Propane (LP) gas: fire and burn hazard | Valero Marketing & Supply Co. (TX) | 09-152 |
| Shakespeare Casting Game and Fishing Kits: lead in paint | Pure Fishing Inc., (SC) | 09-150 |
| Tippmann A-5 Paintball Markers: risk of injury | Tippmann Sports LLC (IN) | 09-153 |
| Kidde XL Fire Extinguishers: failure to operate | Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Inc. (NC) | 09-151 |
(CPSC recalls available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerelmar09.html)