The Treasury Department has announced the designation of 37 front companies based in Germany, Malta, and Cyprus and five Iranian individuals for being owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and its affiliates. This action, taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13382, targets IRISL's complex network of shipping and holding companies and executives and further exposes Iran's use of its national maritime carrier to advance its illicit weapons of mass destruction (WMD) program and to carry military cargoes.
The Commerce Department has posted comments by Secretary Locke at the 2010 District Export Council (DEC) Conference, in which he discusses the new DEC-100 pilot program which asks the DECs to work with an additional 2-to-5 export companies under the President's National Export Initiative (NEI). Locke also discusses Commerce efforts to help U.S. companies reach new markets, grow their businesses, and hire new workers in order to expand exports.
The Department of Defense is adopting as final, without change, the interim rule that amended the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to incorporate increased thresholds for application of the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement and the Free Trade Agreements, as determined by the U.S. Trade Representative. (See ITT's Online Archives or 06/07/10 news, 10060737, for BP summary.)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a final rule, effective November 29, 2010, which amends the regulations for the importation of Hass avocados originating in Michoacán, Mexico, into the U.S. by adding the option to ship avocados to the U.S. in bulk shipping bins when safeguarding is maintained from the packinghouse to the port of first arrival in the U.S. and by making it clear that the avocados may be shipped by land, sea, or air. APHIS is also amending the regulations to allow avocados from multiple packinghouses that participate in the avocado export program to be combined into one consignment.
Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Sapiro and Moroccan Minister of Foreign Trade Maazouz met in Marrakesh on October 26, 2010, during the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa. The meeting focused on how the U.S. and Morocco can energize the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement in a way that is mutually advantageous for both countries.
The National Marine Fisheries Service announces the availability of a five-year review of the U.S. Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata), in which NMFS recommends that it remain listed as endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA).
The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final rule, effective November 29, 2010, which amends specific provisions in the 2009 Final Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting rule to correct certain technical and editorial errors that have been identified since promulgation and to clarify and update certain provisions that have been the subject of questions from reporting entities. These final changes include additional information to better or more fully understand compliance obligations, corrections to data reporting elements so they more closely conform to the information used to perform emission calculations, and other corrections and amendments.
The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has announced the launch of its newly redesigned website, ICE.gov which features the latest ICE news information, an enhanced media/image gallery, and in-depth information about the ICE Office of Homeland Security Investigations and the Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations. Users can also subscribe to receive e-mail alerts on topics ranging from human smuggling to document and benefit fraud.
The Justice Department announced that SB Pharmco Puerto Rico Inc., a subsidiary of GlaxoSmithKline, PLC (GSK), has agreed to plead guilty to charges relating to the manufacture and distribution of certain adulterated drugs made at GSK’s now-closed Cidra, Puerto Rico, manufacturing facility. The resolution includes a criminal fine and forfeiture totaling $150 million and a civil settlement under the False Claims Act and related state claims for $600 million.