Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. CPSC Schedules July 10 Vote on Whether to Give Industry Add'l 90 Days to File Report on Youth ATV Stay

2. CPSC Issues Status Report on Investigation of Drywall from China

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a status report on its investigation of imported drywall from China. (Report, dated July 2009, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/info/drywall/drywallstatus07092009.pdf)

3. TTB Issues Application Packet for Obtaining Permit to Import Processed Tobacco

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau recently issued new regulations extending its permit requirements to any person who engages in the business of manufacturing or importing processed tobacco. TTB has now issued an application packet for those interested in obtaining a permit to import processed tobacco; however, businesses with a valid TTB permit to import tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, pipe tobacco, roll your own tobacco) need not obtain a separate permit to import processed tobacco. A permit to import tobacco products may be amended to include importation of processed tobacco. (Notice, available at http://www.ttb.treas.gov/applications/tobacco_importer_processed_packet.shtml)

4. EPA Awards More Than $25 Million in Recovery Act Funding to California to Reduce Diesel Emissions

On July 8, 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that it awarded $25,403,971 to replace, repower and retrofit engines in cargo handling equipment, heavy-duty trucks, locomotives, agricultural vehicles, construction vehicles, and buses in metropolitan Los Angeles, the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, San Diego, the San Joaquin Valley, and the Bay Area. The Port of Los Angeles will receive almost $2 million for equipment and vessels, while the Port of Long Beach will receive $4 million for cargo handling equipment. (Notice, dated 07/08/09, available at http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/2dd7f669225439b78525735900400c31/1684243f0fa8aff8852575ed0072b9b8!OpenDocument)

5. NY/NJ Port Authority Receives Grants to Launch Clean Air Strategy

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey received two grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency totaling $9.8 million and another $1.8 million grant from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority to implement the first pieces of a Comprehensive Clean Air Strategy for the Port of New York and New Jersey. A $7 million federal grant will help launch a $28 million program to replace pre-1994 trucks serving the port. The EPA grant money and an additional $21 million incentive fund from The Port Authority of NY & NJ will enable truck owners serving the port to replace their pre-1994 trucks with newer cleaner burning, less polluting vehicles. (Press Release No. 87-2009, dated 07/09/09, available at http://www.panynj.gov/AboutthePortAuthority/PressCenter/PressReleases/PressRelease/index.php?id=1266)

6. CRS Report on FY 2010 DHS Appropriations

The Congressional Research Service has posted a report on the fiscal year 2010 appropriations legislation for the Department of Homeland Security. This report contains a detailed discussion of the Presidents budget request for DHS, but due to time constraints, the text does not include a detailed discussion of the House- or Senate-reported versions of the FY2010 bill. This report will be updated to reflect congressional action. (CRS report available at http://opencrs.com/document/R40642/.)

7. CRS Report on Climate Change, Agriculture, and Congressional Action

The Congressional Research Service has issued a report entitled "Climate Change: The Role of the U.S. Agriculture Sector and Congressional Action." This report discusses, among other things, the extent of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the U.S. agriculture sector, the types of land management and farm conservation practices that can reduce GHG emissions and/or sequester carbon in agricultural soils, etc. (CRS report available at http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL33898_20090619.pdf.)

8. UAE Revises Its Requirements for Meat and Meat Products from U.S.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has revised its information on the export of meat and meat products from the U.S. to the United Arab Emirates that is derived from animals younger than 30 months of age. (Requirements, dated 07/09/09, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/United_Arab_Emirates_Requirements/index.asp)

9. FSIS Amends List of U.S. Plants Eligible to Export Meat and Meat Products to Mexico

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a July 9, 2009 updated list of plants that are eligible to process meat and meat products for export to Mexico. (List, dated 07/09/09, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Frame/FrameRedirect.asp?main=http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OFO/export/lmexico.htm)

10. DOE Proposes Rule on Test Procedures for Metal Halide Lamp Ballast

The Department of Energy has issued a proposed rule to establish metal halide lamp ballast test procedures that manufacturers would use to demonstrate compliance with the metal halide ballast energy conservation standards mandated by the statute. Written comments are due by September 23, 2009. (D/N EERE-2008-BT-TP-0017, FR Pub 07/10/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-15881.pdf)

11. OFAC Adds Individuals, Entities to its SDN List

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has added certain individuals and entities to its Specially Designated Nationals list. (List, dated 07/9/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20090709.shtml)

12. FTZB Grants Authority for Cornell Dubilier Marketing in Liberty, SC

The Foreign Trade Zones Board has issued and order granting authority for South Carolina State Ports Authority, grantee of Foreign-Trade Zone 38, to establish a special subzone for Cornell Dubilier Marketing, Inc. (Electrolytic Capacitors), Liberty, SC. (FR Pub 07/10/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-16389.pdf)