Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the International Trade Administration have initiated a joint review of the Industry Trade Advisory Committee component of the trade advisory committee system, and are seeking public comments and suggestions on the appropriate scope of representation on the ITACs. Comments are due by May 25, 2010. (D/N 100416189-0189-01, FR Pub 04/27/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-9650.pdf)

2. CPSC Again Postpones Vote on “15 Month”, Component Testing Rules

The Commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission have again postponed their vote on the draft proposed “15 Month” rule on testing and labeling and the related draft proposed rule on component testing. The vote is now scheduled for May 5, 2010 (from April 28, 2010). (Calendar available at http://www.cpsc.gov/calendar.html)

3. CPSC to Vote on Revisions to Public Database FR Notice

The Commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission are scheduled to vote by April 30, 2010 on a revised "Paperwork Reduction Act" section of a Federal Register notice announcing a proposed rule on a publicly available consumer product safety database. The changes implement Commission amendments approved during its March 31, 2010 vote to issue the proposed rule. (Vote sheet, dated 04/23/10, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia10/brief/praCPSRMS_draft.pdf)

4. CPSC Issues Final Interpretive Rule on Unblockable Pool Drains

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a final interpretive rule on the term “unblockable drain” as used in the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act to prevent drain entrapment and child drowning in swimming pools and spas. (FR Pub 04/27/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-8160.pdf)

5. DOJ Announces 35 New Positions to Combat IP Crime

The Justice Department has announced the appointment of 15 new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions and 20 FBI Special Agents to combat domestic and international intellectual property crimes. These new positions are part of the department’s continued commitment to combat IP crimes here at home, and abroad. The new AUSA positions will be part of the department’s Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (CHIP) program. (News release, dated 04/26/10, available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/April/10-dag-480.html)

6. White House IP Coordinator Gives Update

White House Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator Espinel gave an update on the Administration's efforts to protect intellectual property on World Intellectual Property Day (April 26). Among other things, the Department of Homeland Security announced that its multi-agency IPR Center is creating partnerships with 70 federal, state and local law enforcement in 22 cities to collaborate on IP enforcement actions. (Notice, posted 04/26/10, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/04/26/world-intellectual-property-day)

7. OFAC Updates List of Authorized Providers for Certain Services to Cuba

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has updated its list of authorized providers of air, travel, and remittance forwarding services to Cuba. OFAC periodically and routinely updates the names and addresses of the Service Providers for the benefit of the public. (List, dated 04/19/10, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/cuba/cuba_tsp.pdf)

8. OFAC Releases Enforcement Information for April 23

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued its civil penalties enforcement information for April 23, 2010. (Notice, dated 04/23/10, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/civpen/penalties/04232010.pdf)

9. EU-U.S. Re-launch Development Talks, Focus on Food Security, Climate Change

The European Union Delegation to the U.S. has announced that the EU-US dialogue on development was re-launched on April 25, 2010, and the two sides agreed on three areas for cooperation in the next two years: food security, climate change, and millennium development goals. (News release, dated 04/25/10, available at http://www.eurunion.org/eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3714&Itemid=58)

10. EU Responds to Canadian Questions About It Export Refunds

The World Trade Organization circulated European Union responses to questions by Canada regarding its export refunds, such as whether the EU anticipates that its "high levels of export refunds will continue in the future." The EU stated that it sets export refunds within the volumes agreed in the Uruguay Round and will not go beyond those limits. (Notice, posted 04/26/10, available at http://docsonline.wto.org/DDFDocuments/t/g/scmq2/EEC62.doc)

11. EU Official Journal Notices Involving Trade for April 27, 2010

In the April 27, 2010 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union, the following trade-related notices were posted:

• Commission Regulation establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables;
• Council Decision renewing restrictive measures against Burma/Myanmar.

12. EC Posts Proposals on Certain Preferential Rules of Origin

The European Commission has posted proposals for a European Council Decision on the:

• conclusion of the regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin;
• signature of the regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin; and
• position to be taken by the EU within the Joint Committee on trade and cooperation between the European Community and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) on the amendment of Article 15 (7) of Protocol 3 to that Agreement concerning the definition of the concept of "originating products," etc.

13. 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/prerelapr10.html)

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. 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:

• 99-19: Food Products Due to the Presence of Salmonella
• 99-14: Raw Agricultural Products for Pesticides
• 99-08: Processed Foods for Pesticides
• 99-04: Manufacturers of Low Acid Canned Foods and Acidified Foods
• 89-04: Devices From Firms That Have Not Met Device GMP’s
• 53-17: Cosmetics Due to Microbiological Contamination
• 45-02: Foods Containing Illegal and/or Undeclared Colors
• 16-129: Seafood Products Due to Nitrofurans
• 16-120: Fish/Fishery Products from Foreign Processors (Mfrs.) Not in Compliance with Seafood HACCP
• 16-12: Frog Legs
• 12-10: Cheese Due to Microbiological Contamination
• 80-04: Surgeon's and Patient Examination Gloves
• 16-124: Aquaculture Seafood Products Due To Unapproved Drugs

16. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports

The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:

• China - Oilseeds and Products Annual
• Vietnam - Rice Price -- Weekly: 2010
• Italy - Agricultural News for Italy and the EU -- March 2010: Agriculture in the News
• Thailand - Rice Price -- Weekly: Weekly Rice Price Update
• India - Sugar Annual: 2010
• Argentina - Sugar Annual: 2010
• Mexico - GOM Considers Continued Application of Compensatory Duties: Livestock and Products, Policy and Program Announcements, Trade Policy Monitoring
• Taiwan - April 20 Update on Taiwan's 2010 Rice CSQ Tender: Grain and Feed
• Tunisia - Grain and Feed Annual: Tunisia 2010 Grain and Feed Annual Report
• Hong Kong - U.S. Seafood Exports Affected by New Certification Requirements: Agriculture in the News, Fishery Products, Market Development Reports, Poultry and Products, WTO Notifications, Sanitary/Phytosanitary/Food Safety, Policy and Program Announcements
• Russian Federation - African Swine Fever: Pet/Disease Occurrences, Livestock and Products
• Japan - Partners in Agriculture - Sweet Corn and Sushi readings: ATO ACTIVITIES reports
• Egypt - Sugar Annual: Sugar Annual Report
• Philippines - Sugar Annual: Annual
• EU-27 - Sugar Annual: 2010
• China - Sugar Annual
• India - Weekly Highlights and Hot Bites No. 16: Agriculture in the News
• Mexico - Greenhouse and Shade House Production to Continue Increasing: Tomatoes and Products, Food Security, Vegetables
• Dominican Republic - Exporter Guide Annual