The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective January 15, 2009, which revises the Export Administration Regulations for Iran to, among other things, establish a new license requirement for reexports of items classified under certain Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs), and to impose license requirements on parties who have been listed as proliferators/supporters of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) pursuant to Executive Order 13382.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has posted videos and private sector presentations from separate public meetings both held January 22, 2009 on the effect of the lead content provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) on apparel and books. The participants discussed lead content limits and testing requirements specified by the CPSIA, and industry representatives discussed product testing programs and the results of testing for lead, and provided overviews of industry practices. (CPSC webpage on the "apparel" meeting available at http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/apparel.html and CPSC webpage on the "book" meeting available at http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/publishers.html)
An Administration Law Judge has granted petitions for leave for certain groups (including the ATA), and denied a motion for a stay in the FMC investigation to determine whether certain practices of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach violate Section 10 of the Shipping Act of 1984. (Memorandum, dated 01/22/09, available at http://www.fmc.gov/UserFiles/pages/File/Dkt_08-05_Memo_&_Order_1-22-09.pdf)
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a news release announcing the conclusion of the Special 301 Out-of-Cycle Review for Taiwan. The USTR recognized Taiwan's progress on protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights by removing Taiwan from the Special 301 Watch List. (USTR news release, dated 01/16/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2009/January/asset_upload_file824_15293.pdf)
On January 20, 2009, the Senate confirmed the following nominations:
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration, has issued a final rule, effective March 16, 2009, amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations to prescribe enhanced safety measures for rail transportation of poison inhalation hazard (PIH) materials, including interim design standards for railroad tank cars. (See ITT's Online Archives or 01/08/09 news, 09010825, for BP summary of the Transportation Security Administration's recent extension of certain rail security requirements.) (FR Pub 01/13/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E8-31056.pdf)
On January 15, 2009, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs will hold a hearing to examine the nomination of Janet Napolitano to be Secretary of Homeland Security. (Congressional Record, dated 01/09/09, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r111:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20090109).)
The Justice Department reports that Lloyds TSB Bank plc, a United Kingdom corporation headquartered in London, has agreed to forfeit $350 million to the U.S. and to the New York County District Attorney's Office in connection with violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective January 8, 2009, which amends the Export Administration Regulations to extend the existing license requirements for Burma to persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13464.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Port of Los Angeles has issued a Public Bulletin on several inquiries from the trade community regarding a potential longshore labor disruption at British Columbia, Canada seaports. The bulletin provides guidance to carriers to ensure compliance with advance manifest requirements, as outlined in the Trade Act of 2002, for vessels that are diverted from Canadian ports to U.S. ports to discharge cargo. This bulletin only pertains to vessels directly impacted by the potential labor disruption. (Public Bulletin No. LA09-001, dated 01/06/09, available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)