Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. WTO Sets up Panels for U.S.-China Tire Dispute, EU-Philippines Spirits Dispute

2. USTR Announces U.S. & Chile FTA Environmental Meeting

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a news release announcing that officials from the U.S. and Chile recently convened the fifth meeting of the Environmental Affairs Council of the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement. At the meeting, officials discussed implementation of the Environment Chapter and how to improve monitoring of implementation and compliance with Chapter obligations. (Press release, dated 01/20/10, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2010/january/united-states-and-chile-hold-fifth-meeting-fta-env)

3. DOJ Announces Guilty Plea for Sale of Counterfeit Chinese Electronics to U.S. Navy

The Justice Department reports that the owner of California MVP Micro, Inc. has plead guilty in connection with the sale of counterfeit integrated circuits to the U.S. Navy. Mustafa Abdul Aljaff, of Newport Coast, California acquired the counterfeit integrated circuits from supply sources in China. DOJ noted that the Semiconductor Industry Association, STMicroelectronics, Inc., Texas Instruments, Inc., Analog Devices, Inc., and National Semiconductor, Inc. assisted in the case, and Customs and Border Protection officers stopped certain of the counterfeit shipments from entering the U.S. (Press release, dated 01/13/10, available at http://www.justice.gov/usao/dc/Press_Releases/2010%20Archives/January/10-010.pdf)

4. FDA Posts Enforcement Report for January 20th

The Food and Drug Administration has posted its Enforcement Report for January 20, 2010. The report contains information on actions taken in connection with agency regulatory activities. (Report, posted 01/20/10, available at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/EnforcementReports/ucm198188.htm)

5. FAS Announces GSM-102 Credit Guarantees for Ag Exports to the Americas

The USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service has announced the availability of credit guarantees for sales of U.S. agricultural commodities under the Commodity Credit Corporation's Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102) for fiscal year 2010 to the Central America region ($30 million), the Caribbean Region ($60 million), and Mexico ($45 million), These guarantees are to cover sales of any of the commodities specified in the GSM list of commodities. Applications are due by 4:00 pm on January 26, 2010. (News release, dated 01/19/10, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/PressRelease/pressrel_dout.asp?Entry=valid&PrNum=0023-10)

6. OFAC Publishes Names of Blocked Individuals, Entities Under Narcotics Traffickers EO

The Office of Foreign Assets Control is publishing the names of 19 newly-designated individuals and 16 newly-designated entities whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive Order 12978, "Blocking Assets and Prohibiting Transactions with Significant Narcotics Traffickers." In addition, OFAC is also publishing the name of one individual who has been re-designated and whose property and interests in property continue to be blocked pursuant to the Order. (FR Pub 01/21/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-1002.pdf)

7. U.S. - Japan "Partners in Agriculture" Website Launched

The Foreign Agricultural Service is announcing the launch of the Partners in Agriculture website at http://www.partners-in-agriculture.org. The site's contents are tailored to accompany the events and spirit of the Partners in Agriculture celebration to take place in Japan, beginning in March 2010. The Partners in Agriculture website is made possible through the work of the American Embassy's Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) in Japan, the U.S. food industry, the State of Iowa, and the Prefecture of Yamanashi. (Notice, dated 01/15/10, available at http://partners-in-agriculture.org/news/news_topics_100115.html)

8. Canada Modifies List of 2010 Allocation Holders for Softwood Lumber Exports to the U.S.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada has modified its 2010 Allocation Holders List for softwood lumber exports to the U.S. (Notice, dated 01/01/10, available at http://www.international.gc.ca/controls-controles/softwood-bois_oeuvre/notices-avis/168.aspx?lang=eng)

9. U.S. and Canada Establish Training Academy to Help Modernize Afghan Customs Service

U.S. and Canadian Ambassadors to Afghanistan and Afghanistan's Minister of Finance joined together for the opening of the Afghan National Customs Academy (ANCA). Established with the support of a number of international donors, the ANCA will assist the Afghanistan Customs Department to develop into a modern customs service. Through the ANCA, 150 to 200 recruits will be trained over the course of 12 months on customs practices. (Notice, dated 01/19/10, available at http://www.afghanistan.gc.ca/canada-afghanistan/news-nouvelles/2010/2010_01_19.aspx?lang=eng)

10. EU Director-General for Trade Advocates Moving Past Global Trade Deadlock

The Washington International Trade Association has posted the remarks of the European Commission Director General for Trade O'Sullivan during a January 20, 2010 WITA function entitled, "Is Trade Policy Stuck?" Among other things, O'Sullivan discussed the reasons behind Washington's distaste for the current World Trade Organization DOHA deal and gave his rationale for moving past the deadlock. (Remarks, dated 01/20/10, available at http://www.wita.org/ht/display/ViewBloggerThread/i/42203/pid/22145)

11. Canada Revises D-Memoranda on Export/Import Permits Act, Economic Sanctions

Canada Border Services Agency has revised the following D Memoranda:

D19-10-3 Revised: Administration of the Export and Import Permits Act (Exportations)

D19-11-1 Revised: Canadian Economic Sanctions

12. 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/prereljan10.html)

13. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Report

The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN report: