Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. Federal Government to Close Mid-Day on Christmas Eve

2. ICE Announces $26 Million in Counterfeits Seized as Part of "Holiday Hoax" Operation

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Government of Mexico conducted a joint operation "Holiday Hoax" in 41 cities, Puerto Rico and Mexico, which seized tons of counterfeit holiday ornaments, DVDs, CDs, clothing, electronics, cosmetics, phones, and pharmaceuticals worth $26 million in retail prices. The operation targeted counterfeiters and trademark pirates, their distributors, associates, shippers, warehouses, salespersons, and vendors. Seven persons were arrested and charged in New York and Texas. Mexico seized 255 tons of counterfeit products during parallel operations. (News release, dated 12/14/09, available at http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0912/091214washingtondc.htm)

3. U.S. and Brazil Hold 4th Session of Economic Partnership Dialogue

On December 14, 2009, high-level representatives of the U.S. Department of State and the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Federative Republic of Brazil met in Washington, DC, for the fourth session of the U.S.-Brazil Economic Partnership Dialogue (EPD). The U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs and Brazilian Under Secretary-General for Economic and Technological Affairs led their respective delegations. The EPD provides a platform to advance a broad range of economic policy issues, including bilateral issues and U.S.-Brazil economic cooperation in third countries. (Press release, dated 12/16/09, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/dec/133722.htm.)

4. CPSC Announces Settlement with Children's School Supply Retailer Over Products with Lead Paint

The CPSC has announced a provisional settlement agreement and $25,000 civil penalty for Excelligence Learning Corporation, d/b/a Discount School Supply, over certain paint brushes, play mats and growth charts that bore paint containing excessive amounts of lead, that were imported during 2004 - 2007 and sold to schools, childcare centers, and directly to consumers. (FR Pub 12/16/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-29943.pdf)

5. WCO Reports on December 2009 Revenue Management Conference

The World Customs Organization's Revenue Management Conference was held on December 10-11, 2009 in order to discuss ways to ensure fair, efficient, and effective revenue collection by Customs administrations in light of the global financial crisis. All speakers underlined the importance of strategy (improving trader compliance, facilitating legitimate trade by reducing administrative burdens, and incorporating risk management into Customs controls) and leadership to provide for continuity in reforming Customs administrations. (Report, posted 12/14/09, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/speeches/?v=1&lid=1&cid=2&id=191)

6. FWS Issues 90-Day Finding on 192 Species in Southwest U.S.

The Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a 90-day finding on 192 species from a petition to list 475 species in the southwestern U.S. as threatened or endangered. For 125 of the 192 species, the petition did not present substantial information indicating that listing may be warranted. However, substantial information has been provided for 67 of the 192 species. FWS is therefore initiating a status review of the 67 species to determine if listing is warranted. Comments are due by February 16, 2010. (D/N FWS-R2-ES-2008-0130, FR Pub 12/16/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-29699.pdf)

7. Treasury Designates Sinaloa Cartel Members Under Kingpin Act, Etc.

The Treasury Department has issued a press release announcing that on December 15, 2009, its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated two Mexican nationals and one Colombian national as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers (SDNTs) for providing material support to the drug trafficking activities of the Sinaloa Cartel. OFAC also designated two Mexican companies and two Colombian companies as SDNTs. This action, pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act), prohibits U.S. persons from conducting financial or commercial transactions with these entities and individuals and freezes any assets the designees may have under U.S. jurisdiction. (Press release, dated 12/15/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/tg444.htm)

8. CBSA Posts Revisions to its Customs Tariff, Info on Recommended Amendments to HS

Canada Border Services Agency has posted December 15, 2009 revisions to its Customs Tariff. CBSA also notes that information regarding the recommended amendments to the 2012 Harmonized System is now available on the World Customs Organization website. CBSA states that it is important to note that these recommended amendments remain subject to reservations by HS Contracting parties until early January 2010. (Notice, posted 12/15/09, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/menu-eng.html)

9. European Court Rules Against 6 Members for Not Paying Duties on Arms Imports

The European Commission's Taxation and Customs Union has announced that the European Court of Justice has declared that six Member States have infringed EU law by not paying customs duties payable on imports of armaments and material for civil and military use. Court press release is available here. (Notice, posted 12/15/09, available at http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/index_en.htm)

10. Foreign Trade Zone Actions and Announcements

FTZ 33. Application for Temporary/Interim Manufacturing Authority: Pittsburgh, PA

FTZ 238. Dublin, VA, Application for Subzone: VF Corporation (Apparel, Footwear, and Luggage Distribution), Martinsville, VA

11. Updated List of Instructions and U.S. Plants for Exporting Meat and Poultry to Foreign Countries

FSIS has provided updated information for the export of U.S. meat and poultry to the following country:

Canada (December 11, 2009)

12. 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:

Food Products Due to the Presence of Salmonella

Manufacturers of Low Acid Canned Foods and Acidified Foods

13. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports

The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:

Turkey TMO Sets Next Grain Export Tender for December 17: Grain and Feed

Mexico Auction of Permits to Import Dairy Preparations for December 18: Dairy and Products, Trade Policy Monitoring

India Weekly Highlights and Hot Bites No. 50: Agriculture in the News

Canada This Week in Canadian Agriculture Issue 31: Agriculture in the News

China National Dairy Standard - B6: FAIRS Subject Report

Russian Federation Fresh Deciduous Fruit Annual: 2009

Israel Two New Laws Regulating Spirits Sales and Consumption: FAIRS Subject Report

Indonesia Coffee Semi-Annual: Semi Annual 2009

China National Dairy Standard - Antibiotics: FAIRS Subject Report

France French government provides 1.7 billion Euros to French farmers: Agricultural Situation

Spain-Italy EU-27 Stone Fruit Annual: 2009

14. 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):

Agency Information Collection Comments Due

(Information collection notices are hyperlinked to agency name.)

15. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recalls

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

(CPSC recalls available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prereldec09.html)