The International Trade Data System has posted a presentation providing a global product classification context overview, which was given during the November 11, 2008 Product Information Committee meeting. (Presentation available at http://www.itds.gov/linkhandler/itds/tsn/product_info_comm/gpc_overview.ctt/gpc_overview.pdf.)
The Embassy of China in the U.S. has issued a news release announcing that China hopes for a continuation of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue (SED) mechanism between China and the U.S. While the SED was initiated by Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.S. President George W. Bush in 2006, China hopes the two countries can continue with the meetings as it has become an important platform for the economic leaders of both sides to conduct an in-depth exchange of views on economic and trade relationship. (Embassy of China press release, dated 11/18/08, available at http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/xw/t522696.htm)
1. Agriculture Secretary to Lead U.S. Delegation to Biofuels Conference
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics announced that the Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) fell 2.5% in September from its August level, declining for the second consecutive month. (BTS statistics available at http://www.bts.gov/press_releases/2008/bts053_08/html/bts053_08.html)
The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued a notice requesting comments on the effectiveness of its licensing procedures for the exportation of agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices to Sudan and Iran.
The President has issued a notice announcing that he is continuing for one year that national emergency with respect to Iran that was originally declared by Executive Order 12170. (Notice, FR Pub 11/13/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-27171.pdf.)
The World Customs Organization has posted a press release announcing that on October 22, 2008, Ecuador deposited with the WCO Secretary General its instrument of accession to the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (Harmonized System). This makes Ecuador the 135th Contracting Party to the Harmonized System Convention. (WCO, dated 11/07/08, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/press/default.aspx?lid=1&id=168)
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a press release announcing the completion of Southern Exposure, a full-scale exercise (FSE) marking the culmination of the Southeast Transportation Corridor Pilot (SETCP). The exercise ran from Oct. 23 through Nov. 5, 2008, and was sponsored by the DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO), along with other federal, state, and local participants. The FSE was intended to demonstrate the Southeast region's capabilities to coordinate, communicate, and respond during and after a possible radiological/nuclear threat to the region's interstate highways. (Dated 11/06/08, available at http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1225999813655.shtm)
The Port of Long Beach has issued a news release stating that despite a requested injunction by the Federal Maritime Commission against the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to invalidate portions of the ports' Clean Trucks Programs, the Port of Long Beach is confident in its legal position and will continue to move ahead with its initiative to ban and replace dirty diesel trucks that pollute the region. (News release available at http://www.polb.com/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=475&targetid=1)
The U.S. Commercial Service announced that a European Union REACH webinar will be held on November 6, 2008. There is a $50 fee for this webinar and registration is required. (Webinar information available at https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=9Q15.)