The International Trade Administration is asking for comments by May 3 on stakeholder priorities to be addressed in the Obama administration’s implementation of the Doing Business in Africa Campaign. The campaign, announced in November 2012, will assist U.S. businesses in identifying and seizing opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa to promote trade and investment with Africa. The ITA is asking for feedback on, among other things, how to help businesses find opportunities and trade in Africa; which countries and/or sector opportunities should be highlighted; and what information could the government provide about African trade and commercial opportunities.
The International Trade Administration's Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee will meet May 1 in its first session under the group's new charter. The committee will discuss federal advisory committee service in general, and select subcommittees and nominees for the chair and vice chair. Public seating is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Members of the public wishing to attend the meeting must pre-register by April 26 to obtain clearance into the building. Copies of CINTAC meeting minutes will be available within 90 days of the meeting.
The International Trade Administration’s Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee scheduled two meetings April 26 and May 14 to kick off its recently renewed charter. At the April 26 meeting (here), which will begin at 10 a.m. ET, the committee will discuss the creation of subcommittees and the types of issues they will focus on. The meeting will be by teleconference only, and requests to attend are due by April 24. At the second meeting (here), set for May 14 at 9 a.m., the committee will further discuss the subcommittee structure, and review the status of the Environmental Export Initiative. Requests to attend are due by May 3.
U.S firms must report data on certain contracts for the sale of defense articles and services and information on offsets transactions by June 15, the Bureau of Industry and Security said. U.S. firms are required to report information on contracts for the sale of defense articles or defense services to foreign countries or firms that are subject to offsets agreements exceeding $5 million in value. Offsets are compensation practices required as a condition of purchase, in government-to-government or commercial sales of defense articles or services. U.S. firms are also required to report information on offsets transactions completed in performance of existing offsets commitments, for which offsets credit of $250,000 or more has been claimed from the foreign representative. The Department of Commerce releases an annual report to Congress with a summary of this information. Firms should report data from 2012 contracts, the Bureau said.
The Bureau of Industry and Security's Emerging Technology and Research Advisory Committee (ETRAC) will hold a partially public meeting on April 25-26. The Committee advises the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration on emerging technology and research activities, including those related to deemed exports. The meeting will be at the Herbert Hoover Building, 14th Street N.W., Washington D.C. beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET both days. Those wishing to attend via teleconference should email Yvette.Springer@bis.doc.gov by April 18. There are also a limited number of seats available for the public session.
The International Trade Administration said it will lead a legal services trade mission to China Sept. 16-18. According to the ITA, the mission will introduce law firms without a presence in China to the Chinese market, market U.S. legal services to Chinese companies and individuals, and raise awareness about the U.S. legal and business climate to Chinese companies interested in doing business in the U.S. market. The trade mission will stop in Beijing and Shanghai. Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and end by Aug. 16. The ITA will begin reviewing applications on a rolling basis beginning April 15.
The National Marine Fisheries Service issued final regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to port construction and operations related to liquified natural gas imports. The specific rules are for the Port Dolphin Deepwater Port in the Gulf of Mexico, for the period of about June 2013 through May 2018, it said.