The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has posted USTR Kirk's remarks, as prepared for delivery, for the Retail Industry Leaders Association Logistic Conference. Among other things, Kirk stated that the USTR is currently seeking to resolve outstanding issues on the Colombian, Korean, and Panamanian Free Trade Agreements in an effort to move those forward at the appropriate time. (Remarks, posted 02/24/10, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/speeches/transcripts/2010/february/remarks-ambassador-ron-kirk-retail-industry)
The Commerce Secretary released data for January 2010 indicating that retail sales increased 0.5 percent from December, exceeding the 0.3 percent increase expected by the private sector. Retail sales rose 7.6 percent at an annual rate in the fourth quarter, following a gain of 6.4 percent in the third quarter. (Press release, dated 02/12/10, available at http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/PROD01_008908)
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has rescheduled to the afternoon of February 16, 2010, its open meeting on unblockable drains and minimum state requirements for grants that had been scheduled for February 10, 2010. (CPSC calendar available at http://www.cpsc.gov/calendar.html.)
USTR Kirk and Deputy USTR Sapiro recently concluded their two-day visit to Mexico. The two sides discussed the mutual importance to the U.S. and Mexican economies of using trade to create jobs and improve competitiveness. In an earlier meeting, the Ambassadors and Secretary Ruiz Mateos discussed topics including the North American Leaders Summit; bilateral trade issues such as transportation, tuna and intellectual property; the environment, and the Doha Round of world trade negotiations. (Press release, dated 02/09/10, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2010/february/united-states-trade-representative-ron-kirk-concl)
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a final rule, effective February 3, 2010, to amend its regulations for Executive Order 13405, "Blocking Property of Certain Persons Undermining Democratic Processes or Institutions in Belarus," under which sanctions have been in place since June 16, 2006.
In January 2010, the Bureau of Industry and Security updated its Freight Forwarder Guidance, to include new and revised information on the responsibilities of the forwarding community, routed and non-routed export transactions, and mitigating risk.
On January 29, 2010, the Senate passed S. 2799, the "Comprehensive Iran Sanction, Accountability, and Divestment Act" by a voice vote without amendment. The bill, which is the result of bipartisan negotiations between Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd (D) and Ranking Minority Member Richard Shelby (R), would strengthen existing sanctions against Iran, as well as imposing significant new restrictions on imports from Iran.
The Secretary General of the World Customs Organization has announced that the theme for International Customs Day on January 26, 2010, and for the year 2010, will be "Customs and business: improving performance through partnerships". The Secretary General called on all stakeholders to make a commitment to work more closely together, redouble their efforts to secure international co-operation, and take bold initiatives aimed at simplification, speed, flexibility, predictability, effectiveness and fairness of procedures. (Announcement, dated 01/19/10, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/speeches/default.aspx?lid=1&id=196)
At the meeting of the World Trade Organization's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on January 19, 2010, a panel was established regarding the U.S. measures restricting imports of tires from China. The DSB also established a panel to review the Philippines tax regime on spirits, as requested by the European Union. (News release, dated 01/19/10, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news10_e/dsb_19jan10_e.htm)
1. World Economic Forum Releases "Global Risks 2010"