On June 22, 2010, the White House Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator issued the Administration’s “2010 Joint Strategic Plan on Intellectual Property Enforcement.”
The Transportation Security Administration has issued a notice stating that effective August 1, 2010, 100% of cargo flown on passenger aircraft originating in the U.S. must be screened as mandated by the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comment by July 30, 2010 on its draft FY 2011-2015 strategic plan, which helps advance Administrator Jackson’s priorities and the mission to protect human health and the environment. Administrator Jackson’s seven priorities are taking action on climate change, improving air quality, protecting America’s waters, cleaning up communities, assuring the safety of chemicals, expanding the conversation on environmentalism and working for environmental justice, and building strong state and tribal partnerships.
On June 21, 2010, officials of the U.S. and Switzerland signed an enhanced Open Skies Air Transport Agreement, replacing the previous agreement signed in 1995. The new agreement entered into force upon signature. The new agreement includes all of the essential elements of Open Skies and adds the right for airlines of both countries to operate all-cargo flights to third countries without a connection to the home country. In addition, the new agreement extends to Swiss airlines the opportunity to compete under the “Fly America Act” for certain U.S. government civilian agency-funded passenger and cargo traffic between the United States and Switzerland and between non-U.S. points.
Wrapping up the administration’s first trade mission to the Caribbean, Commerce Department senior adviser and Deputy Chief of Staff Rick Wade stressed that geographical proximity and shared historical and cultural ties make the Dominican Republic and Jamaica prime destinations for U.S. goods and services. Wade led a 10-company U.S. trade mission to the region to promote export opportunities June 13-19.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has posted its response to a question it received regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Customs procedures. According to the questioner, research consistently shows that a significant barrier to increased international trade by small businesses is the opaque and expensive problem of Customs procedures, documentation and duties. They asked what the Administration will do to help make the export/import process via the Posts and express carriers faster, cheaper and easier for small business? The USTR responded by saying that it plans to address the customs-related issues identified as part of customs cooperation group of the TPP negotiations. In keeping with its objective to make the TPP a 21st century agreement, USTR plans to discuss ways that it could further facilitate international trade and increase the transparency of customs procedures, including for outbound and express shipments.
Starting in mid-2011, the Federal Trade Commission states that consumers shopping for light bulbs will notice new labeling on packaging designed to help them choose among the different types of bulbs on the market -- traditional incandescent bulbs, and newer high-efficiency compact fluorescent (CFL) and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. The new labels will enable consumers to save money by selecting the most efficient bulbs that best fit their lighting needs.
The U.S. Postal Service has issued a final rule, effective August 2, 2010, which revises its mailing standards to treat all cigarettes (including roll-your-own tobacco) and smokeless tobacco products as nonmailable when sent in outbound or inbound international mail.
The State Department announces meetings on July 8 and August 11, 2010 of the International Telecommunication Advisory Committee to start preparations for the 2010 Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the 2011 ITU Radiocommunication Sector World Radiocommunication Conference Preparatory Meeting.
The International Trade Administration's U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service is organizing a Trade Mission to Brazil to tap opportunities in the private and public security areas in Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and Sao Paulo, which will include representatives from a variety of U.S. safety and security equipment firms.