U.S. Trade Representative Kirk met with Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma on June 22 to review progress on the U.S.-India bilateral trade agenda. The two agreed to continue to work together to meet the objectives set out in the Framework for Cooperation on Trade and Investment (signed on March 17, 2010) and to enhance opportunities for bilateral trade and investment . In addition, Kirk urged India to address longstanding impediments, such as investment caps, agricultural market access barriers, high tariffs, intellectual property rights, and the need for continuing regulatory streamlining and transparency.
U.S. Trade Representative Kirk and Deputy USTR Marantis met with members of the Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee (TEPAC). They were joined by Environmental Policy Agency Administrator Jackson as the group discussed trade issues with regard to the environment. The Committee’s agenda included a summary of the latest Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations in San Francisco, a discussion of the current status of the World Trade Organization Doha Round talks, climate change developments, and USTR’s expectations for the 2011 APEC meetings.
The International Trade Administration announces the establishment of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee to advise the Commerce Secretary on the development and administration of programs and policies to expand the competitiveness of the U.S. renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors. ITA requests membership nominations by July 30, 2010.
The Department of Defense has issued an interim rule, effective June 23, 2010, to implement revisions to DOD Directive-Type Memorandum 09-019, “Policy Guidance for Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI), which revises the description of communications security material that is “proscribed information.” Comments are due by August 23, 2010.
The Drug Enforcement Administration requests comments on its proposed revised 2010 aggregate production quotas for controlled substances in schedules I and II of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Comments are due by July 23, 2010.
The State Department announces its designation of Doku Umarov, and other aliases, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist pursuant to Section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224.
On June 22, 2010, the White House Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator issued the Administration’s “2010 Joint Strategic Plan on Intellectual Property Enforcement.”
The International Trade Administration issued its quarterly update to its annual list of foreign government subsidies on articles of cheese subject to an in-quota rate of duty that were imported during the period January 1 through March 31, 2010.
The Fish and Wildlife Service announces a 90-day finding that a petition to list the Honduran emerald hummingbird (Amazilia luciae) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 may be warranted and is initiating a status review. FWS requests comments on its finding by August 23, 2010.
The State Department announces three Shipping Coordinating Committee meetings on July 7, July 28, and August 18, 2010 to prepare for the upcoming sessions of the International Mobile Satellite Organization Assembly; the International Maritime Organization Subcommittee on Stability and Load Lines and on Fishing Vessels Safety; and the IMO Facilitation Committee.