Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a proposed rule to allow, under certain conditions, the importation of commercial shipments of fresh papaya from Colombia and Ecuador into the continental U.S. The conditions for the importation of papayas from Colombia and Ecuador include requirements for approved production locations, procedures for packing and shipping, etc. Written comments are due by June 22, 2009. APHIS' press release on the proposed rule is available here. (D/N APHIS-2008-0050, FR Pub 04/21/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-9100.pdf)
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1. APHIS Proposes to Allow Imports of Certain Colombia/Ecuador Papayas
2. APHIS Corrects Final Rule on User Fees for Import/Export Services
APHIS has issued a correction its final rule which adjusts user fees effective April 29. 2009 for import- and export-related services provided for animals, animal products, birds, germ plasm, organisms, and vectors due to increased costs. (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/30/09 news, 09033025, for BP summary of the final rule.) (D/N APHIS-2006-0144, FR Pub 04/21/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-9104.pdf)
3. OFAC Blocks Property of 11 WMD Proliferators
The Office of Foreign Assets Control is publishing the names of 11 newly designated entities whose property and interests in property are blocked as of March 3, 2009 pursuant to Executive Order 13382 of June 28, 2005, "Blocking Property of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators and Their Supporters." (OFAC notice, FR Pub 04/21/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-9055.pdf)
4. Treasury Final Rule on Terrorism Risk Insurance
The Department of the Treasury is issuing a final rule as part of its implementation of amendments made by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007, which extended the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program through December 31, 2014, and made other changes to the program. The final rule adopts without change a 2008 interim final rule on the mandatory availability and disclosure requirements of the program, and is effective May 21, 2009. (See ITT's Online Archives or 09/23/08 news, 08092399 7, for BP summary of the interim final rule.) (RIN 1505-AB93, FR Pub 04/21/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-9007.pdf)
5. Arms Trafficker Sentenced for Plotting to Illegally Import Military Grade Weapons Into U.S.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York reports that Christiaan Spies, a leader of an international arms trafficking operation, was recently sentenced to 20 years in prison for plotting to illegally import shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, anti-tank guided missiles, and other highpowered military weapons into the U.S. for sale. (Press release, dated 04/16/09, available at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/April09/spieschristiaansentencingpr.pdf)
6. Treasury Targets Leader of Group Tied to Al Qaida
The Treasury Department has targeted Al Qaida's support network by designating Abdul Haq, the overall leader and commander of the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Party (ETIP), a terrorist organization designated under Executive Order 13224 for its support to al Qaida. The Office of Foreign Assets Control has also updated its Specially Designated Nationalslist. (Treasury press release, dated 04/20/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/tg92.htm)
7. Japan and Peru Agree to Begin Talks on EPA
According to Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the governments of Japan and Peru have agreed to start negotiations for a Japan-Peru Economic Partnership Agreement. (METI, dated 04/14/09, available at http://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/data/20090414_01.html)
8. Japan Renews and Amends Ban on North Korea Imports
Japan's METI has decided to renew the ban on North Korean imports, which has been in place since October 14, 2006, in accordance with a new Foreign Exchange Law approved on April 10, 2009 which bans North Korean imports, certain intermediary trading, and certain import payments. (METI, dated 04/10/09, available at http://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/data/20090410_01.html)
9. UK Becomes Signatory to Agreements to Combat Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products
The European Commission reports that the United Kingdom has joined the 26 other European Union Member States as a signatory to the 2004 anti-contraband and anti-counterfeit agreement with Philip Morris International (PMI) and the 2007 cooperation agreement with Japan Tobacco International (JTI), so that now all EU Member States are parties to these agreements. (Europa, dated 04/21/09, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/610&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)
10. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports
The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports: