Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

May 8, 2009 |Top News

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a notice announcing that it has prepared an evaluation of the animal health status of Suffolk and Norfolk Counties, England, relative to the H5N1 subtype of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Comments are due by June 8, 2009. APHIS press release available here. (D/N APHIS-2009-0015, FR Pub 05/07/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-10630.pdf)

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1. APHIS Evaluation on H5N1 Status of Suffolk, Norfolk Counties in England

2. U.S., Canada and Mexico Issue Joint Statement on H1N1 and Trade

The U.S., Canadian and Mexican heads of their respective Departments of Agriculture have issued a joint statement urging the international community not to use the outbreak of the H1N1 human influenza as a reason to create unnecessary trade restrictions and that decisions be made based on sound scientific evidence. They reiterated that H1N1 human influenza viruses are not spread by food. (Release No. 0154.09, dated 05/06/09, available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/05/0154.xml)

3. FMC Meets with Pacific Coast Brokers and Forwarders

The Federal Maritime Commission held an industry briefing on May 4, 2009 with the Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Associations on current issues affecting West Coast freight forwarding and the non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC) industry, such as current global trade conditions; re-emergence of container space shortages for export cargoes; the impact of new Automated Export System reporting requirements; and carrier practices with respect to freight forwarder compensation. (Notice, dated 05/06/09, available at http://www.fmc.gov/speeches/newsrelease.asp?SPEECH_ID=277)

4. USDA Submits Proposed Rule to OMB on Voluntary Labeling Program for Designated Biobased Products

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for its review a proposed rule on a "USDA Certified Biobased Product" label for use on biobased products meeting certain criteria, and to establish the labeling program. (Notice, available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoReviewSearch;jsessionid=0a65171430d61e042c787db44803b93493ddb3e8688f.e38Nch4NbhuNa40LahuTc30Qbx0Ke6fznA5Pp7ftolbGmkTy)

5. FSIS Submits ANPR to OMB on Voluntary Natural Claims for Meat and Poultry Products

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has submitted to OMB for its review an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding conditions under which FSIS will permit the voluntary claim "natural" to be used on the labeling of meat and poultry products. (Notice, available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoReviewSearch;jsessionid=0a65171430d61e042c787db44803b93493ddb3e8688f.e38Nch4NbhuNa40LahuTc30Qbx0Ke6fznA5Pp7ftolbGmkTy)

6. Chinese Executive Arrested for Allegedly Importing Honey Illegally

The Justice Department reports that a Chinese executive of a honey manufacturer in China was arrested in Los Angeles on federal charges for allegedly conspiring to illegally import honey that was falsely identified as coming from the Philippines to avoid U.S. anti-dumping duties. (Notice, dated 05/06/09, available at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2009/pr0506_01.pdf)

7. OFAC Removes 4 Individuals from SDN List

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has updated its Specially Designated Nationals List to remove four individuals. (List, dated 05/06/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20090506.shtml)

8. FSIS Posts Updated Meat/Poultry/Egg Inspection Directory

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has posted an updated "Meat, Poultry and Egg Product Inspection Directory," a listing of establishments that produce meat, poultry, and/or egg products regulated by FSIS. (Directory, dated 05/04/09, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/MPI_Directory_Establishment_Name.pdf)

9. FSIS Posts Revised Export Requirements for China, Russia, UAE, Etc.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has posted updated export requirements for China, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Russia, Honduras, and Azerbaijan. The requirements for Honduras were updated to remove all restrictions on pork and pork products. The other countries' requirements contained updates to their pork and pork products restrictions.

10. Canada Initiates Expiry Review of AD/CV Duties on Steel Fasteners from China and/or Taiwan

The Canada Gazette reports that the Canadian International Trade Tribunal will initiate an expiry review of its findings concerning (1) the dumping of certain carbon steel and stainless steel fasteners originating in or exported from the China and Taiwan and the subsidizing of such products originating in or exported from China, and (2) the dumping of certain stainless steel fasteners originating in or exported from Taiwan. (Notice, dated 04/22/09, available at http://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2009/2009-05-02/html/commis-eng.htmlf113)

11. WTO Reports Increase in New AD Investigations for Last Half of 2008

The World Trade Organization reports that during July 1 to December 31, 2008, the number of initiations of new anti-dumping investigations showed a 17% increase compared with the corresponding period of 2007. On a yearly basis, there were 208 initiations of new anti-dumping investigations in 2008, as compared to 163 in 2007 and 202 in 2006. (Notice, dated 05/07/09, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres09_e/pr556_e.htm)

12. China Reports on Signing of Trade and Investment Agreements with U.S.

The Economic and Commercial Counselor's Office of the Chinese Embassy states that on May 1, 2009, Chinese and U.S. firms signed 32 trade and investment contracts worth some 10.6 billion U.S. dollars. The companies signing deals included China Mobile, Lenovo, Amway, Cisco, Dell, Emerson, EMC, Ford, Freescale and Hewlett-Packard. The Office also notes that the U.S. Trade Representative met with visiting Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming in Washington, D.C. on April 27, 2009. (Notice, dated 05/07/09, available at http://us2.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/chinanews/200905/20090506226391.html)

13. China Proposes New Textile Floor Covering Labeling Rules, Seeks Comments

The Office of Textiles and Apparel has announced that the Standardization Administration of China has proposed a new National Standard for the "Direction for Use and Labels for Carpets" applicable to imports into China of certain textile floor coverings. Interested parties may provide comments on the proposed standard via the World Trade Organization Enquiry Point until June 29, 2009. (Notice, dated 05/05/09, available at http://web.ita.doc.gov/otexa/hotiss.nsf/7bfa72c94f543da685256e5b00498a4d/68151f3b904f3324852575ad004aa38f?OpenDocument)