Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. WCO Dedicates 2010 to Customs-Business Partnerships

2. 7th Round of Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement to be Held Jan. 26-29th

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry has announced that the 7th round of negotiations for the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) will be held at the division-head level in Mexico on January 26 to 29, 2010. Issues on the agenda include the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the digital environment, civil enforcement, border measures, and the transparency of the negotiations. The U.S. is expected to participate. (Press release, dated 01/19/10, available at http://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/data/20100119_02.html)

3. DHS Secretary Discusses Enhancing Int'l Aviation Security with European Counterparts

On January 21, 2010, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano traveled to Spain to meet with her European counterparts regarding ways to bolster international aviation security measures and standards. (Press release, dated 01/21/10, available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1264099539740.shtm)

4. BIS Announces Feb. 3rd Public Meeting on Defense Trade Reporting Requirements

The Bureau of Industry and Security is announcing that it will hold a public meeting on February 3, 2010 in Washington, DC for organizations interested in learning about the changes in the reporting requirement for U.S. firms engaged in offsets in defense trade, pursuant to its December 23, 2009 final rule which updated and provided clarification with regard to the information U.S. firms are required to submit each year to BIS to support BIS' preparation of its annual report to Congress on offsets in defense trade. (D/N 100111018-0020-01, FR Pub 01/22/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-1207.pdf)

5. FTC Terminates Regulatory Review on Smokeless Tobacco

The Federal Trade Commissionhasterminated the regulatory review of its regulationsimplementing the Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act of 1986 (Smokeless Tobacco Act), effective December 3, 2009. Givenlegislative and likely regulatory changes, FTC has determined that it would be more appropriate for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to consider the issues raised. FTC's request for comments on its termination of regulatory review is available here. (FR Pub 01/22/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-1041.pdf)

6. ITA Initiates AD/CV Investigations on Drill Pipe from China

The International Trade Administration has issued a fact sheet announcing the initiation of antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on drill pipe from China. If the International Trade Commission determines that there is a reasonable indication that imports from China are materially injuring, or threatening material injury to, the domestic industry, the investigations will continue, and the ITA will make its preliminary CV determination in March 2010 and its preliminary AD determination in June 2010. (Fact sheet, dated 01/21/10, available at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/download/factsheets/factsheet-prc-drill-pipe-init-012110.pdf)

7. OFAC Names 4 Blocked Individuals, 1 Entity Pursuant to Narcotics Traffickers EO

The Office of Foreign Assets Control is publishing the names of four individuals and one entity whose property and interests in property have been unblocked pursuant to Executive Order 12978, Blocking Assets and Prohibiting Transactions With Significant Narcotics Traffickers. (FR Pub 01/22/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-1181.pdf)

8. Some of California's Toxics in Packaging Exemptions Expired Jan. 1, 2010

California's Department of Toxic Substances Control has issued a fact sheet for manufacturers and suppliers of packaging and packaging components to describe recent changes to California's laws intended to reduce and eliminate heavy metals in packaging and packaging components. Specifically, on January 1, 2010, some of the exemptions under California's Toxics in Packaging Prevention Act expired. (Fact sheet, dated December 2009, available at http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/ToxicsInPackaging/upload/Toxics-in-Packaging-Expiration-of-Exemptions.pdf)

9. California ARB Reaffirms Commitment to National Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Standard

The California Air Resources Board has issued a statement in response to inaccurate reports that California may pull out of an agreement regarding the development of greenhouse gas standards for vehicles. CARB states it is fully committed to the agreement, and to working with the EPA and the Department of Transportation to develop the rule. (News release, dated 01/20/10, available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/2010/statement_from_mary.pdf)

10. WCO Announces Second Regional Office in UAE

The World Customs Organization has inaugurated the second WCO Regional Office in United Arab Emirates for Capacity Building for the North of Africa, Near and Middle East region. The second office is in Abu Dabbi, while the first office, which opened in 2007, is in Dubai. The ROCB will focus on the revised Kyoto Convention, SAFE Standards, and other WCO programs. (Report, posted 01/21/10, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/speeches/?v=1&lid=1&cid=2&id=198)

11. WCO Announces Inauguration of Customs-Private Sector Observatory in Morocco

The World Customs Organization has issued a press release on the inauguration of the Customs-Private Sector Integrity Observatory in Morocco. The Observatory will collect and analyze information on corruption, develop proposals to improve integrity and undertake periodic reviews of the situation. (Press release, posted 01/20/10, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/speeches/?v=1&lid=1&cid=2&id=197)

12. Canada Publishes New Guide for Non-Food "Made in Canada" Labeling

Canada'sCompetition Bureauhas published enforcement guidelines on"Product of Canada" and "Made in Canada" claims for non-food products. The document will take effect July 1, 2010 and replace the previous guide to "Made in Canada" claims. The new guide introduces a distinction between "Product of Canada" claims, which will be subject to a higher threshold of Canadian content (98%), and "Made in Canada" claims which will remain subject to a 51% threshold of Canadian content. In both cases, the last substantial transformation of the product must have occurred in Canada. Guidelines available here. (Notice, dated 12/22/09, available at http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/03176.html)

13. CBSA Posts Statement of Reasons for Preliminary AD Determination of Certain Insulation Board from U.S.

Canada Border Services Agency has issued the Statement of Reasons for its January 6, 2010 preliminary affirmative antidumping determination regarding certain faced rigid cellular polyurethane-modified polyisocyanurate thermal insulation board from the U.S. (Statement of Reasons, dated 01/21/10, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/sima-lmsi/i-e/ad1386/ad1386-i09-pd-eng.html)

14. 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:

15. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Report

The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN report: