After three months of review, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 6 became the third business group this week (see 1601050033 and 1601040026) to publicly endorse the Trans-Pacific Partnership. But the agreement also picked up another public detractor, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, who said TPP could hurt auto jobs in the U.S. Opinions vary on timing for a TPP vote, though several staffers on Capitol Hill said a vote isn’t expected in the near future. Officials from the 12 nations involved in the pact hope to sign the agreement, confirming TPP’s exact wording, in February.
The National Advisory Committee for Labor Provisions of U.S. Free Trade Agreements will meet to discuss the implementation of labor provisions of free trade agreements and identification of the committee’s priority countries and issues for 2016, the Labor Department’s Office of Trade and Labor Affairs said in a notice (here). The meeting will take place 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
The Energy Department is amending energy efficiency standards for ceiling fan light kits, in a final rule (here). Compliance with the amended standards is required for all ceiling light kits manufactured or imported into the U.S. beginning Jan. 7, 2019.
The Defense Department, General Services Administration and National Aeronautics and Space Administration are adjusting procurement thresholds according to a pre-determined formula under relevant trade agreements, as it does every two years, it said (here). The new thresholds take effect Jan. 1. On Dec. 15, the U.S. Trade Representative published new procurement thresholds 1512140014. The revised thresholds are for application of the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement and the Free Trade Agreements, they said. The Defense Department similarly adjusted its defense procurement thresholds in a separate final rule (here).
The Defense Department, General Services Administration and National Aeronautics and Space Administration are adding Montenegro and New Zealand to the list of World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement countries in the Federal Acquisition Regulations, in a final rule (here). The two countries joined the agreement in July and August, respectively, with the U.S. Trade Representative exempting them from “Buy American” provisions shortly thereafter. The joint final rule, which takes effect Jan. 31, also lists Montenegro as a party to the Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft.
The Energy Department issued a final rule Dec. 30 amending current energy efficiency test procedures for commercial prerinse spray valves (here). The new procedures will be mandatory for all product testing starting June 27.
The Energy Department issued a final rule Dec. 24 amending current energy efficiency test procedures for ceiling fan light kits (here). The new procedures will be mandatory for all product testing starting June 21.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Dec. 23 finalized new regulations that allow for the filing of required import documentation in electronic format (here). The agency had issued an interim final rule in September adding an electronic filing option to language in the NHTSA regulations that require a “written statement” or imply the submission of a paper document (see 1509030021). NHTSA said it got no comments on the new provisions.
The State Department is accepting applications from members of the public who want to volunteer to serve on its Advisory Committee on International Postal and Delivery Services (IPoDS) (here). Members are appointed by the assistant secretary of State for international organization affairs, and the committee advises State on U.S. foreign policy related to international postal services and other international delivery services, among other matters.
The Energy Department is amending energy efficiency test procedures for certain categories of small, large, and very large air-cooled commercial package air conditioners and heating equipment, in a final rule (here). The new procedures will be mandatory for all testing conducted on or after Dec. 19, 2016.