The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:
The Department of Energy has issued notices announcing receipt of and publishing petitions for waiver from specified portions of DOE test procedure for determining the energy consumption of clothes washers from General Electric Company (GE) and Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung). These notices also grant interim waivers of the clothes washer test procedure. Through these notices, DOE also solicits comments with respect to the GE and Samsung petitions by October 25, 2010.
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued two notices that either reissue or revoke an ocean transportation intermediary (OTI) license, as follows:
The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) states that the U.S. and Bahrain convened a meeting of the Subcommittee on Labor Affairs of the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement on September 20, 2010. The subcommittee agreed to a series of cooperative labor activities to assist the Ministry of Labor and improve the enforcement of labor laws in Bahrain.
The American Conference Institute has announced that it will hold its 3rd National Forum on Space and Satellite Export Controls on September 29-30, 2010 in Washington, DC. The Forum will address recent policy developments, plans, and priorities in the field of satellite and space export controls; ITAR restrictions; preventing defense services export violations; meeting DDTC expectations for successful license applications; classifying satellite parts, components, and related technical data; etc. BP subscribers can receive a $200 discount off the standard price by referencing discount code "Broker Power."
Secretary of Commerce Locke has announced open registration for the Fourth Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF) in Atlanta, Georgia on November 14-16, 2010. The event, which brings together private sector and government leaders, will mark the return of the ACF to the U.S. after being hosted in Santiago, Chile in 2009.
On September 17, 2010, APHIS updated its Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Treatment Manual. This Manual serves as an operational guide for selecting and conducting quarantine treatments. The procedures and treatment schedules in this manual are administratively authorized for use by APHIS to prevent the movement of agricultural pests into or within the United States. Listed treatments include chemical treatments such as fumigation with methyl bromide, and nonchemical treatments with heat, cold, or irradiation.
On November 16, 2010, the Office of Textiles and Apparel, will host a free webinar on trade preferences for apparel wholly manufactured or knittoshape in Haiti. The webinar will feature background on the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act of 2006 (HOPE), the Food Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (HOPE II), and the Haiti Economic Lift Program of 2010 (HELP), as well as a question and answer session for webinar participants. Registration for this webinar closes on November 15, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. EST.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative announces a partially open meeting of the Committee of Chairs of the Industry Trade Advisory Committees (ITACs) on October 12, 2010. The agenda for the open portion will be on the draft report on the appropriate scope of viewpoints to be represented on the ITACs. The agenda for the closed portion of the meeting will be the trade policy agenda, including discussion of ongoing negotiations and trade strategies.
On October 21, 2010, the Office of Textiles and Apparel will host a free webinar on the profile of OTEXA and its available resources. The webinar will be geared toward providing university students with background on OTEXA and current textile and apparel programs; the implementation of U.S. textile trade agreements; a discussion of textile and apparel resources; and a question and answer session for webinar participants with Deputy Assistant Secretary Glas and other senior OTEXA staff. Registration closes on October 20, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. EST.