Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. Trade Deficit Increased in March 2009

2. Commerce Issues March 2009 Export Fact Sheet

The Commerce Department has issued a fact sheet containing U.S. export statistics for March 2009, which contains an export overview and trade spotlight on the largest export markets for U.S. goods year-to-date through March 2009. (Fact Sheet, dated 05/12/09, available at http://www.commerce.gov/s/groups/public/@doc/@os/@opa/documents/content/prod01_007971.pdf)

3. Freight Transportation Services Index Fell 3.3% in March from Feb.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has issued the March 2009 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI), which states, among other things, that the TSI fell 3.3% in March from its February level, falling to its lowest level in more than six years. (TSI, available at http://www.bts.gov/press_releases/2009/bts023_09/html/bts023_09.html)

4. Canada's Announces 2009 Updates to Export and Import Commodity Codes Handbook

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada has announced 2009 updates to its Handbook of Export and Import Commodity Codes. (Handbook, available at http://www.international.gc.ca/controls-controles/report-rapports/list_liste/handbook-manuel/index.aspx?lang=eng)

5. WTO Extends Developing Countries' Waiver to Provide Preferential Treatment to LDCs

On May 12, 2009, the World Trade Organization's Council for Trade in Goods approved a ten-year extension to a WTO waiver allowing developing countries to provide preferential tariff treatment to products of least-developed countries (LDCs) without being required to extend the same tariff treatment to other WTO members. The decision now goes to the General Council for adoption. (Notice, dated 05/12/09, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news09_e/good_12may09_e.htm)

6. WCO and SECI Center Meet to Enhance Cooperation

At the invitation of the World Customs Organization's Secretary General, the Director of the SECI Center (Southeast Europe Cooperative Initiative Regional Center for Combating Trans-border Crime) visited the WCO Secretariat on May 8, 2009. During the visit, the Secretary General stated the WCO would continue to support regional initiatives under the SECI umbrella in the fight against any type of crime. Both parties agreed to assign coordinators to maintain regular contacts in order to develop further cooperation. (Notice, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/home_wco_topics_epoverviewboxes_epsecicentervisit.htm)

7. EU and Latin American Leaders of Rio Group Issue Joint Statement

European Union and Latin American leaders of the Rio Group issued a joint statement resulting from their recent ministerial meeting. Among other things, the statement discusses finishing the WTO Doha Round negotiations, energy policy, etc. (Statement, available at http://www.eu2009.cz/en/news-and-documents/press-releases/joint-statement-eu-_-rio-group-22289/)

8. USDA, HHS Post Secretaries' Comments at Food Safety Session

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Health and Human Services have posted USDA Secretary Vilsack and HHS Secretary Sevelius' comments at the recent food safety working group listening session. (USDA Release No. 0164.09, dated 05/13/09, available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/05/0164.xml and HHS release, dated 05/13/09, available at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/05/20090513a.html)

9. CPSC Announces Expansion, Modernization of Its Testing Facility

Acting Chairman Nord of the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that a lease has been signed to expand and modernize the agency's testing facilities. The new facility, located in Rockville, Md., will enhance CPSC's efforts to protect the public from dangerous consumer products and brings scientists and engineers together in one testing facility. According to Nord, a more modern laboratory and testing facility will enhance CPSC's ability to detect and respond quickly to product defects or safety violations. (Release No. 09-216, dated 05/12/09, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09216.html)

10. CPSC Posts May Version of "The Safety Review"

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has posted the May version of its publication, "The Safety Review." (Report, dated, May 2009, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/tsr0509.pdf)

11. FDA Submits to OMB Final Rule on Shell Egg Safety

The Food and Drug Administration has submitted to OMB a proposed rule that would require egg safety measures to prevent the contamination of shell eggs with Salmonella Enteritidis during egg production. This regulatory action will be likely to have international trade and investment effects, or otherwise be of international interest. (Notice, available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoReviewSearch;jsessionid=0a65171430d61cbed41c4f374f26b3a9c64963f31752.e38Nch4NbhuNa40LbhyTahaLc41ynknvrkLOlQzNp65In0)

12. FDA Posts Enforcement Report for May 13th

The Food and Drug Administration has posted its Enforcement Report for the week of May 13, 2009. The report contains information on actions taken in connection with agency regulatory activities. (Report, dated 05/13/09, available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ENFORCE/2009/ENF01107.html)

13. DOE Submits to OMB Proposed Rule on Energy Efficiency of Beverage Vending Machines

The Energy Department has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review its proposed rule to establish an energy conservation standard for refrigerated bottled or canned beverage vending machines. (Notice, available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoReviewSearch;jsessionid=0a65171430d61cbed41c4f374f26b3a9c64963f31752.e38Nch4NbhuNa40LbhyTahaLc41ynknvrkLOlQzNp65In0)

14. OFAC Notice on Unblocking of 4 Colombian Individuals

The Office of Foreign Asset Control is publishing the names of four Colombian individuals who have been removed from the list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List) and whose property and interests in property have been unblocked pursuant to Executive Order 12978, "Blocking Assets and Prohibiting Transactions with Significant Narcotics Traffickers", effective May 6, 2009. (FR Pub 05/14/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-11205.pdf)

15. President Proclaims National Defense Transportation Day and National Transportation Week

The President has issued a proclamation designating May 15, 2009, as National Defense Transportation Day and May 10 through May 16, 2009, as National Transportation Week, as requested by a joint resolution of Congress. (Congress asked that the third Friday in May of each year be proclaimed as "National Defense Transportation Day," and the week during which that Friday falls be designated as ''National Transportation Week.'') (FR Pub 05/14/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-11496.pdf)

16. DDTC Posts April 2009 License Processing Times

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has updated its table of license processing times to include April 2009, which also includes the number cases received, cases closed, and cases open at the end of the month. (Table, dated 05/01/09, available at http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/metrics/index.html)

17. FMC Announces Partially Open Meeting on May 20

The Federal Maritime Commission will hold a partially open meeting on May 20, 2009. Matters to be considered during the open portion of the meeting include public access to the number and type of filings in the FMC's SERVCON System. (Notice, available at http://www.fmc.gov/home/May202009CommissionMeeting.asp)

18. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recalls

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

(Notices, FR Pub 05/13/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-11181.pdf and http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-11179.pdf)