Immigration and Customs Enforcement reports that more than $3 million in counterfeit goods have been seized by ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2010 in the Port of Savannah. Besides seizure, CBP's strategic approach to IPR enforcement includes audits of infringing importers, and cooperation with international trading partners, industry and other government agencies. 14,841 seizures of counterfeit and pirated goods with a total domestic value of $260.7 million occurred in FY 2009.
On June 8, 2010, Office of Management and Budget Director Orszag sent memoranda to the heads of executive departments and agencies asking them to trim their FY 2012 discretionary budgets and identify low-priority programs and high risk information technology projects, etc.
The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has posted a report entitled "End-Use Monitoring of Defense Articles and Defense Services Commercial Exports FY 2008," which describes actions taken by the Department of State during fiscal year 2008 to implement the “Blue Lantern” end-use monitoring program.
The International Trade Administration has issued a fact sheet announcing its affirmative preliminary determination in the countervailing duty investigation of drill pipe from China.
The Federal Highway Administration has issued a press release announcing that has launched a new web-based tool, FPMweb, to pinpoint freight congestion.
The Bureau of Industry and Security has announced that it will be holding its Annual Update Conference on Export Controls and Policy on August 31 - September 2, 2010 in Washington, DC.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has posted notice to the motor carrier industry and the public of regulatory guidance and policy changes regarding the retention of supporting documents and the use of electronic mobile communication/tracking technology in assessing motor carriers’ and commercial motor vehicle drivers’ compliance with the hours of service regulations. According to FMCSA, this change in policy will take effect 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register. Written comments are due by July 9, 2010.
Commissioner Nord of the Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a statement expressing disappointment that the other Commissioners do not want to use a portion of CPSC's unallocated FY 2010 funds for a cost-benefit analysis of the recently issued proposed rule on testing and labeling pertaining to product certification. Commissioner Northup also blogged expressing regret that the unused funds were not returned to the Treasury.
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing and Services Lamb-Hale highlighted the importance of supply chain efficiency in supporting the President’s National Export Initiative at the June 4, 2010 opening of a new cement plant in Bloomsdale, Mo., which will make the material needed to build the roads, buildings, and other structures that will make the U.S. productive.