According to a White House press release, the President has announced his intent to nominate Michael Punke to be the Deputy Trade Representative - Geneva, Office of the United States Trade Representative. (Press release, dated 09/03/09, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/President-Obama-Announces-More-Key-Administration-Posts-9/3/09/.)
The U.S. Trade Representative was due to submit by September 2, 2009, his recommendation to President Obama on whether to grant relief to union workers in the form of additional duties on imported tires from China. Although the President has 15 days to decide the issue, trade sources expect him to make a decision before the deadline. This case is of interest to other industries as it will be President Obama's first Section 421 decision, and it was brought by a union rather than domestic industry. (USW press release, dated 09/02/09, available at http://www.usw.org/media_center/news_articles?id=0382 )
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is issuing a final rule, effective August 26, 2009, on its determinations that certain materials (such as certain paper, wood, ink, textiles) do not exceed the lead content limits specified in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. (See ITT's Online Archives or 08/21/09 news, 09082110, for BP summary detailing the final rule.)(FR Pub 08/26/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-20589.pdf)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Port of Chicago has issued a Pipeline providing notice that effective November 5, 2009 it will no longer accept CBP Form 7501 (entry summary) versions dated prior to June 2009. According to port sources, this November 5th effective date is only for entries filed at the Port of Chicago and could be extended if Headquarters instructs them to push the date out further. (See today's ITT, 09082605, for BP update on the use of the new CBP Form 7501.)(Pipeline 09-18, dated 08/21/09, is available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)
California's Energy Commission has proposed amendments to its Appliance Efficiency Regulations. Among other things, the amendments concern the efficiency of general service fluorescent lamps and general service incandescent lamps. (Amendments, dated November 2008, available at http://www.energy.ca.gov/2008publications/CEC-400-2008-020/CEC-400-2008-020-15DAY.PDF)
CBP has posted updated Excel workbooks containing historical information and fill dates for the following tariff rate quotas:
The Commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission have approved an interim final rule containing the CPSC's interpretation of the statutory and other civil penalty and mitigation factors that may be considered for "knowing" violations of the prohibited acts listed in the Consumer Product Safety Act, the Flammable Fabrics Act, and the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, as amended by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. Commissioner statements are availablehere. In addition, CPSC has approved a notice withdrawing its related July 2006 proposed rule on civil penalty factors. (Interim Final Rule, dated 08/19/09, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/frnotices/fr09/civilpenaltyfactors-draft.pdf)
The International Trade Administration announced an Energy Efficiency Trade Mission to India that will occur on November 16-20, 2009. (FR Pub 08/18/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-19777.pdf)
The White House has posted a joint statement from the U.S., Mexico, and Canada from the recent meeting of the North American Leaders in Mexico. In the joint statement the leaders noted that they are investing in border infrastructure, including advanced technology, to create truly modern borders to facilitate trade and the smooth operation of supply chains, while protecting security. The leaders pledge to cooperate in the protection of intellectual property rights to facilitate the development of innovative economies. (Statement, dated 08/10/09, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Joint-statement-by-North-American-leaders/)
Note that Daily Update on Capitol Hill Trade Actions does not appear in today's issue of International Trade Today. Publication of this feature will resume as new information becomes available.