U.S. implementation of a World Trade Organization ruling on the use of the dolphin-safe label on tuna products doesn't go far enough, said the Campaign for Eco-Safe Tuna. The group said the current dolphin-safe label fails to adequately ensure consumers that no dolphins were harmed in the capture of tuna bearing the label. While the draft regulations proposed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Department of Commerce acknowledge this reality, they don't protect dolphins or provide consumers with accurate information, the campaign said.
Led by decreasing imports of industrial supplies and materials, the U.S. international trade deficit in goods and services decreased to $43 billion in February, according to the Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis. That’s a slight decline from January’s $44.5 billion goods and services deficit, the Bureau reported in its U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services Report for February 2013. Both exports and imports increased for the month, but exports had the upper hand: February exports were $186 billion, around a $2 billion increase over January’s number. February imports increased by $ 0.1 billion. The increase in exports of goods included $1.8 billion in industrial supplies and materials, plus other smaller increases in other goods and automotive vehicles, parts and engines. There was also a $2.6 billion decrease in imports of industrial supplies and materials. In the services category, exports and imports increased by $0.2 billion each.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is hosting a webinar April 3 titled "How to Create and Export Compliance Program for Your Company." The director of the Bureau's Export Management and Compliance Division will discuss the elements of an effective export management and compliance program. The webinar will be from 2-3 p.m. ET. Register (here).
The Bureau of Industry and Security's Sensors and Instrumentation Technical Advisory Committee will hold a partially closed meeting on April 23 at 9:30 a.m. ET in the Herbert C. Hoover Building, Room 6087B, 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C. The Committee advises the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration on technical questions that affect the level of export controls applicable to sensors and instrumentation equipment and technology. The open session will be accessible via teleconference to 20 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. To participate, email Yvette.Springer@bis.doc.gov by April 16.
The Census Bureau and Association of Small Business Development Centers are hosting an Automated Export System Compliance Seminar in Norfolk, Virginia on April 10-11. Census Bureau experts will cover Foreign Trade Regulations filing requirements, commodity classification in Schedule B and AES. The second day will feature a AESPcLink Workshop. Both seminars will be held at the Holiday Inn in Virginia Beach/Norfolk.