Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. Secretary Clinton Met with Mexico's Foreign Minister

2. USTR, Mozambican Minister Discuss Trade and Investment

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk met with Mozambican Commerce and Industry Minister Antonio Fernando to discuss ways to increase trade and investment flows between the two countries. The discussions took place as part of the second high-level meeting under the U.S.-Mozambique Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), signed in 2005. (USTR news release, dated 03/24/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2009/March/asset_upload_file238_15434.pdf)

3. State Department's Burma Policy Review Still Underway

The State Department has posted its response to a question at the March 25, 2009 daily briefing regarding a visit by a State Department official to Burma. According to a State Department spokesperson, the official's visit does not reflect a change in policy or approach to Burma. The spokesperson noted that the Burma policy review, announced by Secretary Clinton, is still underway. (State Department press release, dated 03/25/09, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/03/120873.htm.)

4. DHS' OIG Reports on TSA's Known Shipper Program

The Department of Homeland Security has posted the redacted version of its Office of Inspector General report on the Transportation Security Administration's Known Shipper Program. (Report, OIG-09-35, posted 03/24/09, available at http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIGr_09-35_Mar09.pdf)

5. Coast Guard Final Rule on TWIC and American Samoa

The Coast Guard is issuing a final rule, effective March 26, 2009, regarding TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) in order to amend its definition of secure area to take into account facilities in American Samoa, whose workers are not required to be authorized to work in the U.S. under U.S. immigration law when working there. (Coast Guard rule, FR Pub 03/26/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-6833.pdf)

6. FTC Final Rule on New Generic Fiber Subclass "Triexta"

The Federal Trade Commission has issued a final rule, effective March 26, 2009, which amends its Textile Rules to establish a new generic fiber subclass name and definition within the existing definition of ''polyester'' for a subclass of fibers made from poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT). The amendment establishes the subclass name ''triexta.'' (FTC rule, FR Pub 03/26/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-6633.pdf)

7. OFAC Deletes 5 Entities from SDN List

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has announced the deletion of five entities from its Specially Designated Nationals list. (OFAC notice, dated 03/25/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20090325.shtml)

8. DOT Secretary Announces Funding for GHG, Energy Reduction

Department of Transportation Secretary LaHood announced the availability of $100 million in federal funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 2009 for the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction grant program. (DOT news release, dated 03/25/09, available at http://www.fta.dot.gov/regional_offices_9366.html)

9. ITA Issues February Monthly Steel Fact Sheet

The International Trade Administration has issued its February monthly steel fact sheet. The preliminary data released show that overall steel imports in February 2009 decreased 34.45 percent from January 2009. This change in February's total amount of steel imports was due to a decrease in several categories including standard pipe (-59.12%), line pipe (-49.97%), and oil country goods (-46.87%). (ITA press release, dated 03/24/09, available at http://www.trade.gov/press/press_releases/2009/steel_032409.asp)

10. Port of LA Announces Proposed Fee Increase for A-TCET CES

U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Port of Los Angeles has issued a Public Bulletin announcing a proposed fee increase for the Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team (A-TCET) Centralized Examination Station (CES) at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport and inviting the public to submit comments within 30 days of March 23, 2009. (LA09-011, dated 03/23/09, available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)

11. European Parliament Agrees to Partnership Agreement with Caribbean

The European Parliament gave its assent to the economic partnership agreement between the Cariforum countries (13 Caribbean countries) and the European Union. However, EP members have asked the European Commission to clarify the distribution of funds in the region within the "aid for trade" budget, among other things. (Of the six groups of countries taking part in such negotiations with the EU, the Caribbean region was the only one to sign, in December 2007, a full EPA covering areas such as investment, competition policy, public procurement, current account balances, the environment, social issues, cultural cooperation and greater protection for intellectual property.) (EP press release, dated 03/25/09, available at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/028-52554-082-03-13-903-20090325IPR52553-23-03-2009-2009-false/default_en.htm)

12. European Parliament Members Want FTA with India Signed by 2010

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) would like to see a Free Trade Agreement signed between the European Union and India by the end of 2010. The MEPs, who are reportedly disappointed with the slow pace of negotiations, have called for a conclusion of the FTA to improve market access for goods and services. (The FTA would cover substantially all trade except for public procurement.) (EP press release, dated 03/26/09, available at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/026-52629-082-03-13-903-20090325IPR52628-23-03-2009-2009-false/default_en.htm)

13. EU Web Portal Helps SMEs Understand EU Legal and Tax Issues, Etc.

The European Commission has announced a new 'Your Europe - Business' portal to give small and medium enterprises (SMEs) easy access to information on doing business in European Union Member States. The site helps SMEs take advantage of opportunities to trade and offer their services in the Single Market and answer questions such as: "How to register a company in the Netherlands?" "What permits are needed to sell products now also in Italy?" (EU press release, dated 03/26/09, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/481&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)

14. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recalls

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has published notice of the following voluntary recalls:

(Notices, FR Pub 03/18/09 and 03/25/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5856.pdf and http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-6594.pdf)

19. Various Agencies Seek Comments on Information Collections

Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):

TSA 1 Information Collection (FR Pub 03/20/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-6156.pdf

STATE Information Collection (FR Pub 03/23/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-6318.pdf

FAS Information Collection (FR Pub 03/26/09) available athttp://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-6759.pdf

EDA Information Collection (FR Pub 03/26/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-6489.pdf

TSA 2 Information Collection (FR Pub 03/26/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-6682.pdf

CBP Information Collection (FR Pub 03/25/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-6552.pdf