Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. USTR Concludes Visit for 8th Annual AGOA Forum

U.S. Trade Representative Kirk concluded his three-day visit to Nairobi, Kenya for the 8th Annual AGOA Forum. While in Nairobi for the AGOA Forum, Ambassador Kirk chaired a plenary on the "Possible Effects of Global Challenges on AGOA: Laying the Groundwork for the Next Wave of Growth and Beyond" and a roundtable for Trade Ministers on critical issues, including a way forward in the Doha Round of multilateral negotiations. He also held several bilateral meetings and participated in the launch of negotiations for a U.S. - Mauritius Bilateral Investment Treaty with Secretary of State Clinton. (Press Release, dated 08/06/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2009/august/ambassador-ron-kirk-concludes-visit-nairobi-kenya-8)

2. USTR in Ethiopia to Discuss Bilateral Trade Relations

USTR Kirk has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to meet with senior Ethiopian officials as well as other stakeholders to discuss U.S.-Ethiopia bilateral trade relations as well as Ethiopia's bid for accession to the World Trade Organization. (Press Release, dated 08/06/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2009/august/ambassador-ron-kirk-arrives-addis-ababa-ethiopia)

3. Port of Chicago Issued Updated Directory

U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Port of Chicago has issued a Pipeline providing an updated telephone directory for the port. (Pipeline 09-17, dated 08/07/09 available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)

4. Guidance for Industry on Pharmaceutical Components at Risk for Melamine Contamination

The Food and Drug Administration is announcing the availability of a guidance for industry entitled ''Pharmaceutical Components at Risk for Melamine Contamination.'' Comments are due by October 6, 2009, or at any time. (D/N FDA-2009-D-0354, FR Pub 08/07/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-18952.pdf)

5. CPSA Updates Handbook on CPSIA for Sellers of Used Products

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has updated its handbook on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 for resale stores and product resellers (i.e., sellers of used products). (Handbook, dated August 2009, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/thrift/thrguid.pdf)

6. FDA Posts Import Refusal Report for July

The Food and Drug Administration has posted the Import Refusal Report for July 2009. This report covers import refusals involving FDA-regulated products, including cosmetics. The IRR is generated from data collected by FDA's Operational and Administrative System for Import Support (OASIS) and is updated monthly. (Report, updated 08/06/09, available at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/ImportRefusals/ir_byCountry.cfm?DYear=2009&DMonth=7)

7. July 1 List of Current AD and CV Orders

The International Trade Administration has posted an Excel spreadsheet containing information as of July 1, 2009 on all current antidumping and countervailing duty orders. Posted information includes country, date of order, general product group, and tentative case grouping, etc. A separate link provides the product scope of the order. (Notice, posted 07/15/09, available at http://info.usitc.gov/oinv/sunset.nsf/AllDocID/96DAF5A6C0C5290985256A0A004DEE7D?OpenDocument)

8. OFAC Unblocks Specially Designated National of Colombia

The Office of Foreign Assets Control is publishing the name of one Colombian citizen whose property and interests in property had been unblocked, effective July 30, 2009, pursuant to Executive Order 12978, Blocking Assets and Prohibiting Transactions With Significant Narcotics Traffickers. (FR Pub 08/07/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-18928.pdf)

9. OFAC Releases Enforcement Information for August 6th

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued its civil penalties enforcement information for August 6, 2009. (Information, dated 08/06/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/civpen/penalties/08062009.pdf)

10. FSIS Public Meeting to Prepare for Codex Meeting on Fish and Fishery Products

The Food Safety and Inspection Service, Food and Drug Administration, and Department of Health and Human Services, are sponsoring a public meeting on September 2, 2009 in College Park, Maryland to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 30th Session of the Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which will be held in Morocco from September 28 to October 2, 2009. (D/N FSIS-2009-0024, FR Pub 08/07/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-18926.pdf)

11. OMB Withdraws Two FDA Prerules on Food Labeling

The Office of Management and Budget has withdrawn two Food and Drug Administration prerules on food labeling with respect to nutrient content claims, definitions of free, low, reduced, less, and light nutrient content claims for the carbohydrate content of food. (Notices, posted 08/05/09, available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoDetails?rrid=117300 and http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoDetails?rrid=117301)

12. DOE Sends Final Rule to OMB on Beverage Vending Machines

The Department of Energy is seeking approval from OMB for its final rule to establish an energy conservation standard for refrigerated bottled or canned beverage vending machines. (Notice, posted 08/06/09, available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=200904&RIN=1904-AB58)

13. DEA Sends Final Rule to OMB on Supply Chain Information from Ephedrine Importers

The Justice Department's Drug Enforcement Administration is requesting OMB approval for a final rule on the collection from ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine importers all known information on the chain of distribution of the chemical, from the manufacturer to the importer. (Notice, posted 08/03/09, available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=200904&RIN=1117-AB07)

14. ATI and OPIC Partner to Boost AGOA's Impact on SMEs

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the African Trade Insurance Agency, Africa's only multilateral trade and political risk insurer, have concluded an agreement that will provide micro-, small and medium-sized companies in Africa access to increased technical assistance and foreign direct investment. (Press Release, dated 08/06/09, available at http://www.opic.gov/news/press-releases/2009/pr080609)

15. WCO Announces 2009 PICARD Conference for September 2009

The World Customs Organization is holding its "Partnership in Customs Academic Research and Development" Conference in Costa Rica September 28-30, 2009, in order continue the dialogue between Customs and the Academic world. To date, a set of PICARD professional standards for operational and strategic managers have been developed. (Notice, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/event_picard2009presentation.htm)

16. Presentations from June 2009 TTB Expo Posted

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has posted the presentations and other information from its June 20009 TTB Expo held in Northern Kentucky. (Notice, available at http://www.ttb.treas.gov/expo09/index.html)