Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. U.S. and Canada Joint Statement on Border Emergency Framework

2. Treasury Secretary Geithner to Visit China to Discuss Bilateral Cooperation, Etc.

China's Embassy to the U.S. reports that U.S. Treasury Secretary Geithner will visit China from May 31 to June 2, as a special envoy of President Obama, to discuss the international financial situation, bilateral cooperation in coping with the financial crisis and preparations for the first round of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue. (Notice, dated 05/26/09, available at http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/xw/t564624.htm)

3. CPSC to Vote on Pen Industry Request for CPSIA Lead Content Exclusion

The staff of the Consumer Product Safety Commission has posted for Commission vote by June 2, 2009, a request from the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association (WIMA) for an exclusion from the lead content limits of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). According to WIMA there is no available substitute for this part of a pen, and it would take more than two years to develop possible substitutes. Despite this, CPSC staff recommends that the Commission deny the request, as the CPSIA standard for granting exclusions was not met. (CPSC ballot vote sheet, dated 05/22/09, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia09/brief/wima.pdf)

4. OFAC International Trade Symposium Presentations

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has posted the presentations from its May 15, 2009 International Trade Symposium. (Notice, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/events/materials/presentations.shtml)

5. DDTC Reminder Regarding License Applications for Electro-Glass Products and ITT Night Vision Division

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has issued a reminder regarding license preparation guidelines for transactions involving statutorily debarred Electro-Glass Products and ITT Night Vision Division. (Notice, available at http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/documents/WebNotice_DebarredParties.doc)

6. Treasury Targets Medellin-Based Drug Trafficker

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today designated Medellin-based drug trafficker Pedro Antonio Bermudez Suaza (alias "El Arquitecto") as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker (SDNT) pursuant to Executive Order 12978. OFAC also designated as SDNTs 13 other individuals and 14 entities located in Colombia, Mexico, and Panama. (Press release, TG-147, dated 05/27/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/tg147.htm.)

7. FMC Cancels June 3rd Meeting

The Federal Maritime Commission's meeting scheduled for June 3, 2009 has been cancelled. The FMC's next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on June 24, 2009. (Notice, available at http://www.fmc.gov/home/June32009MeetingCancellation.asp)

8. Miami Bulletin on Protocol for Plant Pest Identification Information

U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Port of Miami has issued an Information Bulletin informing the industry and interested parties of a change in protocol for obtaining plant pest identification information. Effective June 1, 2009, CBP will begin to forward the plant pest identification information list to the industry daily on or about the following times: 0900, 1300, and 1630. The format of the list has been modified; the industry will need to cross reference the "Port Reference Number" on the list with the corresponding Emergency Action Notification number. (Bulletin 09-026, dated 05/27/09, available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)

9. Canada Amends its Beef Cattle Research, Market Development and Promotion Agency Proclamation

Canada has posted in the May 27, 2009 Canada Gazette a proclamation amending the Canadian Beef Cattle Research, Market Development and Promotion Agency Proclamation to repeal Section 5 of the schedule to the Canadian Beef Cattle Research, Market Development and Promotion Agency Proclamation and Subsection 6(3) of the schedule to the Proclamation. (Notice, available at http://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2009/2009-05-27/html/sor-dors134-eng.html)

10. Canada Amends Its Egg Marketing Agency Quota Regulations

Canada has posted in the May 27, 2009 Canada Gazette regulations amending the Canadian Egg Marketing Agency Quota Regulations, 1986. Specifically, Schedule 1 to these regulations titled, "Limits to Quotas for the Period Beginning April 19, 2009 and Ending December 26, 2009", has been replaced.

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

The Office of Textiles and Apparel reports 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 Harmonized Tariff Schedule 59.080.60 (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 05/26/09, available at http://web.ita.doc.gov/otexa/hotiss.nsf/7bfa72c94f543da685256e5b00498a4d/68151f3b904f3324852575ad004aa38f?OpenDocument)

12. WCO Supports Capacity Building in Palestine Customs

At the Stakeholder Conference for the Palestinian Revenue and Customs Economic Development Programme in Ramallah (Palestine) from 24 to 25 May 2009, World Customs Organization Secretary General Mikuriya expressed his full support for the launch of the "Al Siyadeh (Sovereignty)" Program aimed at modernizing Palestine Customs based on WCO standards. (Notice, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/speeches/default.aspx?lid=1&id=144)

13. WTO Director General to Retain 4 Deputy Directors-General

World Trade Organization Director-General Pascal Lamy has informed the General Council that he intends to retain the four deputy directors-general in their current positions during his second WTO term which begins September 1, 2009. (Notice, dated 05/26/09, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news09_e/ddgs_e.htm)

14. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recall

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

(CPSC recall available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerelmay09.html)

15. Revised FDA Import Alerts

The Food and Drug Administration has posted revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:

Devices That Have Not Met Device GMPs

Raw Agricultural Products for Pesticides

16. FSIS Updates Export Requirements for Various Countries

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has posted updated export requirements for certain products from the following countries.

Japan (egg products)- The information regarding ineligible egg products from Minnesota and documentation requirements was updated.

Japan - The information regarding ineligible poultry products from Minnesota and documentation requirements was updated.

Mexico - The information regarding eligible and ineligible poultry/poultry meat products from certain counties in Kentucky was updated.

St. Lucia- The export requirements were updated to state that all fresh and frozen pork are ineligible for import from the U.S. effective April 27, 2009.

Russia - The information regarding certification requirements was updated.

Taiwan - The information regarding eligible/ineligible poultry/poultry products from Illinois and Tennessee was updated.

17. China's AQSIQ Posts Documents

China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) has posted the following documents (text is in Chinese):

List of American Non-Ruminant Feed Producing Facilities Registered by China

Communique on the 2006 National Quality Competitiveness Index of Manufacturing

Joint Announcement No. 917, 2007 of the Ministry of Agriculture and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China

AQSIQ Announcement No.36, 2006, Promulgating the Related Affairs about the Personnel Qualification Examination for National Inspection and Authentication Bodies on Imported and Exported Commodities in 2006

(Documents, available at http://english.aqsiq.gov.cn/)

18. CBP Accredits/Approves Firms as Commercial Gauger and/or Laboratory

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a notice stating that it has accredited and approved the following companies as a commercial gauger and/or laboratory for petroleum and petroleum products, organic chemicals and vegetable oils, and to test petroleum and petroleum products for customs purposes, in accordance with 19 CFR 151.12 and 151.13, on the effective dates listed (see individual notice for dates of next triennial inspections):

(CBP notice, FR Pub 05/21/09, hyperlinked to date)

19. Agency Seeks 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):

(Information collection notices are hyperlinked to agency name.)