The Energy Department is amending energy efficiency standards for general service lamps, in a final rule (here). The standard adopts a new definition of general service lamps, as follows: a lamp intended to serve in general lighting applications and that has the following basic characteristics: 1) an ANSI base (with the exclusion of light fixtures, LED downlight retrofit kits, and exemptions for specific base types); 2) a lumen output of greater than or equal to 310 lumens and less than or equal to 3,300 lumens; 3) an ability to operate at or between 12 V, 24 V, 100 to 130 V, 220 to 240 V, or 277 V; and 4) no designation or label for use in non-general applications. Products covered by the definition will be subject to a minimum of 45 lumens per watt under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, effective Jan. 1, 2010. Only LED light bulbs currently meet that standard, according to a press release (here) issued DOE when it published the underlying proposal in 2016.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a final rule adopting new regulations on the refusal of entry to animals or other products when the CDC deems it necessary to prevent the spread of disease. Under the final rule (here), CDC may “suspend the entry” of “animals, articles or things” into the U.S. from foreign countries or regions, whenever CDC “determines that such an action is necessary to protect public health.” CDC must specify the animal or product, country or region, and time period covered by the ban. The final rule takes effect Feb. 21.
The International Trade Commission is investigating whether to add to or remove articles from the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), as well as proposed competitive need limitation (CNL) waivers under the program, the ITC said (here). The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on Jan. 5 requested the ITC advise on the probable economic effect on total U.S. imports, on U.S. industries producing similar or directly competitive articles, and on U.S. consumers of the elimination of import duties under GSP for five products (see 1701110040). USTR also requested that the ITC investigate probable economic effects of removing glycine from GSP and granting CNL waivers for seven products using the dollar value limit of $175 million. The ITC said it will provide the requested advice and information for the 2016/2017 GSP review by May 5, after holding a public hearing Feb. 21 and a comment period to last until March 3. The ITC will accept requests to testify at the public hearing through Feb. 3, pre-hearing briefs and statements through Feb. 8, post-hearing briefs and statements through Feb. 27, and all other written submissions through March 3, it said.
President Barack Obama nominated Jason Kearns to be a member of the International Trade Commission, the White House said (here). Kearns previously worked as the top international trade lawyer for the Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee.
The Energy Department is amending energy efficiency standards for ceiling fans, in a final rule (here). Compliance with the new standards is required for ceiling fans manufactured or imported on or after Jan. 21, 2020.
The National Marine Fisheries Service is issuing a final rule (here) to list the blackchin guitarfish (Rhinobatos cemiculus) and common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. New import and export restrictions established by the final rule take effect Jan. 19.
The Energy Department is setting new energy efficiency standards for dedicated-purpose pool pumps, it said in a direct final rule (here). Compliance with the new standards is required beginning July 19, 2021.
President Barack Obama designated Rhonda Schmidtlein the chairman of the International Trade Commission, the ITC announced Jan. 13 (here). Schmidtlein succeeds Irving Williamson, who became chairman in June by operation of law, as Obama did not designate a chairman prior to the expiration of former chairman Meredith Broadbent's term, and Williamson was the senior-most commissioner of a party other than a party of his predecessor, an ITC spokesperson said in an email. Schmidtlein's term as chairman will expire June 16, 2018, and Williamson will continue serving as a commissioner.
The Labor Department Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA) recommended that the U.S. enter bilateral consultations regarding concerns that Colombia is running delays in its labor inspection process, among other issues cited in a DOL trade compliance report (here). OTLA released a report Jan. 11 citing concerns about Colombia’s upholding of obligations under its trade deal with the U.S. In it, the OTLA identifies specific concerns with regard to the Colombian Labor Inspectorate’s ability to ensure that Colombian businesses treat collective bargainers fairly, particularly as the situation pertains to the inspectorate’s ability to travel to rural areas, high staff turnover, inconsistency of national strategy, and a lack of a systematic collection of fines related to collective bargaining and free association rights. AFL-CIO and five Colombian labor organizations on May 16 petitioned the OTLA under the labor and dispute settlement chapters of the Colombia-U.S. Trade Promotion Agreement, claiming the Colombian government had not complied with labor obligations under the agreement (see 1605170036).
The International Trade Commission will begin to accept comments on petitions for duty reductions under the miscellaneous tariff bill (MTB) process on Jan. 11 as planned (see 1701090011), the commission said in an official notice (here). The commission will send preliminary reports to the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees in June, including analysis and recommendations, the ITC said. The commission will send final reports to the committees in August on whether the petitions meet requirements for MTB inclusion and recommended actions. The Senate Finance and House Ways and Means committees will make the final decisions on whether the imported articles will be included in a bill.