The Office of Textiles and Apparel reports that a revised version of the Chinese textile care labeling code using symbols became effective on March 1, 2009. The revisions bring China's standard into alignment with the international care label standard ISO 3758. (Notice, dated 06/17/09, available at http://web.ita.doc.gov/otexa/hotiss.nsf/7bfa72c94f543da685256e5b00498a4d/442effa40e66e049852575d8004b80f2?OpenDocument)
In response to a question about the Buy American policy posed at a press conference in Canada, Secretary of State Clinton stated that the Buy American provision is not being enforced in any way that is inconsistent with U.S. international trade obligations. She acknowledged the concerns that there may be elements of the international trade obligations or absences of agreements that should be looked at so that the U.S. can promote more procurement and other kinds of trade interactions and assured Canadian officials that the U.S. will take a very close look at that. (Press briefing, dated 06/13/09, available at http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/06/124717.htm.)
The U.S.-China Business Council has posted a press release noting that despite the global economic downturn, 85% of congressional districts increased their exports to China in 2008. The council also posted a mapthat shows U.S. exports to China by state and district (must scroll down). (Press Release, dated 06/11/09, available at http://www.uschina.org/public/documents/2009/06/congressional-district-exports.html)
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a final rule, effective June 10, 2009, amending the Sudanese Sanctions Regulations to expand the scope of an existing authorization of certain imports and to authorize the importation of certain transshipped goods or services into the U.S. by the regional Government of Southern Sudan and its employees.
The International Trade Data System website has posted U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP's) proposal for addressing Participating Government Agency concerns regarding third party sharing, that was included as part of the May 7, 2009 ITDS Legal Policy meeting. (Proposal, available at http://www.itds.gov/linkhandler/itds/toolbox/library/resource_documents/third_party_agent.ctt/third_party_agent.pdf)
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a press release announcing the release of application guidance for more than $500 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) preparedness grants for fire station construction, port and transit security - funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This includes $150 million for the Port Security Grant Program and $150 million for the Transit Security Grant Program. (DHS press release available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1243604359686.shtm.)
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a final rule, effective May 28, 2009, to amend its regulations for Executive Order 13400, "Blocking Property of Certain Persons in Connection With the Conflict in Sudan's Darfur Region," under which sanctions have been in place since April 27, 2006.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a technical amendment to an interim final rule in order to change the effective date for replacement of the current Guam Visa Waiver Program with a new Guam-Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands Visa Waiver Program and the establishment of six ports of entry in the CNMI to November 28, 2009 (from June 1, 2009). (D/N USCBP-2009-0001; CBP Dec. No. 09-14, FR Pub 05/28/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-12345.pdf)
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a final rule, effective May 28, 2009, to amend its regulations for Executive Order 13413, "Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo," under which sanctions have been in place since October 30, 2006.
The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and the Canadian Public Safety Minister issued a joint statement during their meeting at the U.S.-Canada border. The joint statement addresses the Canada-U.S. Framework for the Movement of Goods and People Across the Border During and Following an Emergency. (DHS press release, including link to framework, dated 05/27/09, available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1243434829897.shtm.)