The Foreign Agricultural Service has issued a July 13, 2010 International Agriculture Trade Report which states U.S. agricultural exports to the European Union are on the rebound. In recent years, exports of agricultural products to the EU have trailed growth in overall U.S. agricultural exports to the world. From 2000 to 2009, U.S. exports to all destinations increased by 90 percent (from $52.7 billion to $96.6 billion); over the same time period exports to the EU increased only 17 percent making it one of the slowest growing markets. However, shipments have been strong through the first seven months of fiscal 2010 and are forecast for the year at $8.3 billion, up 9 percent over last year. Exports over the second half of the year will be influenced by the European financial situation, strength of the dollar, and competitor supplies.
The U.S. and Laos signed a comprehensive Open Skies agreement on July 13, 2010 that will expand and liberalize their bilateral civil aviation relationship. The agreement represents a market-oriented approach to aviation relations. The agreement will facilitate trade and tourism links with Laos and provide new commercial opportunities to airlines of the U.S. and Laos and the traveling public, while preserving aviation safety and security.
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a notice that lists those applying for ocean transportation intermediary licenses as a non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC), ocean freight forwarder (FF) or NVOCC/FF OTI, as follows:
The Bureau of Industry and Security announces that the Information Systems Technical Advisory Committee will hold a partially open meeting on July 28 and 29, 2010. The agenda for the July 28 public session includes discussion of Smart Grid, civil satellite telecommunications, and GPU/CPU/accelerators.
On July 9, 2010, the Foreign Agricultural Service issued four Market and Trade data table reports for cotton, grain, oilseeds, and world agricultural production as a whole.
The International Trade Commission has determined to delegate authority to the Secretary to the Commission to publish notice of the receipt of future complaints under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (patent-based complaints) and to solicit comments relating to the public interest.
The Justice Department states that five men were indicted in Los Angeles on July 9, 2010 by a federal grand jury for their role in a large-scale theft scheme targeting railroad freight cars carrying costly cargo, including flat screen 3D televisions. The indictment capped a two-month investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations and the Union Pacific Railroad Police, with assistance from the sheriff's departments in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Police and the California Highway Patrol.
Secretary of State Clinton gave remarks on July 8, 2010 on the signing and official launch of the U.S. Strategic Partnership Dialogue that was agreed to during Clinton's August 2009 visit to Angola. Work began in November 2009 on energy cooperation, including the development of Angola’s oil and gas resources. In April 2010, the countries signed an air services arrangement, paving the way for increased commerce and air travel between our countries. And just a few weeks ago, the first meeting of the U.S.-Angola Trade and Investment Framework Agreement Council was held in Angola to discuss ways to deepen our trade and expand it beyond the oil sector.
The International Trade Administration's U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service is organizing an Aerospace Supplier Development Mission to China from November 7-17, 2010, which will include representatives from a variety of U.S. aerospace industry manufacturers and service providers, and will introduce these suppliers to end-users and prospective partners.