Trade ministers concluded their World Trade Organization meeting, declaring that they want to try to conclude the Doha Round talks quickly and agreeing to extend existing "moratoriums" on electronic commerce and intellectual property. (The ministers extended their agreements to not charge import duties on electronic transmissions and to not bring "non-violation" IPR cases to the WTO dispute settlement process.) (News release, dated 12/02/09, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news09_e/mn09a_02dec09_e.htm)
According to multiple press reports, agents with the Fish & Wildlife Service executed a search warrant at Gibson Guitar Corp's Nashville guitar plant on December 1, 2009 and seized various items, including an endangered form of rosewood from Madagascar. Andrew Ames, spokesman for the Justice Department, confirmed the raid but declined further comment. Gibson Guitar Corp. could be the first U.S. company to face prosecution under the Lacey Act Amendments.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued an interim final rule, effective November 23, 2009, which amends certain sections of the Sudanese Sanctions Regulations (SSR) and the Iranian Transactions Regulations (ITR) to clarify its policy for issuing one-year licenses to export agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices to Sudan and Iran. C
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a final rule, effective November 23, 2009, amending the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations (31 CFR Part 594) to add the definition of the term "financial, material, or technological support," as used in these regulations.
Members of the International Longshoremen's Association, AFL-CIO on November 17, 2009 ratified a two-year Master Contract extension -to September 30, 2012 - that calls for raises in pay, begins to bridge the gap for lower-tiered ILA workers, eliminates the container royalty cap and addresses the issues of jurisdiction and new technology. The ILA represents some 65,000 waterfront employees on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, the Great Lakes, major U.S. rivers, Eastern Canada, and Puerto Rico. (ILA 11/17/09 press release available at http://www.ilaunion.org/news_contract_ratified.html )
According to China's Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, AQSIQ and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission signed a Joint Announcement at the recent U.S.-China Consumer Product Safety Summit in which the U.S. expressed its intent to introduce a series of policies and activities in the following months to stress the responsibilities of U.S. importers as members of the supply and distribution chain, including stressing procedures to ensure product quality during manufacture and before entering the market such making sure foreign producers fully understand the requirements of U.S. government on the products. (News release, dated 11/12/09, available at http://english.aqsiq.gov.cn/NewsRelease/NewsUpdates/200911/t20091112_130452.htm)
The Department of State has posted Secretary Clinton's November 11, 2009 remarks at the APEC Conference. Clinton noted that the U.S. has engaged the Burmese authorities in high-level dialogue to advance the goals of democratic reforms and human rights. She added that U.S. sanctions will remain in place until the U.S. sees meaningful progress in key areas. Clinton added that officials discussed a wide range of economic and foreign policy issues, especially expanding trade and ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth. (Remarks, dated 11/11/09, available at http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/11/131796.htm)
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a final rule, effective November 9, 2009, on its Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines that apply to persons subject to the requirements of U.S. sanctions statutes, Executive orders, and regulations.
At a meeting of the World Customs Organization Secretary General and CBP Acting Commissioner Ahern in late October, CBP officials confirmed the (full) entry into force on January 26, 2010 of the Importer Security Filing (10+2 data) requirements. The WCO Secretary General raised members' continued concerns about U.S. 100% scanning requirements by 2012, noting that the Globally Networked Customs concept could facilitate the risk management approach advocated by the WCO. (Report, posted 10/28/09, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/speeches/?v=1&lid=1&cid=2&id=176)
On November 5, 2009, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano announced the final deployment of non-intrusive scanning equipment to detect radiation emanating from materials used in nuclear devices at all Northern border land ports of entry. This project was completed ahead of schedule, and finished on Oct. 29 at the Trout River, N.Y., port of entry. (Press release, dated 11/05/09, available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1257454349707.shtm.)