The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a final rule, effective May 21, 2008, which adds two requirements designed to enhance the collection of statistics related to importations and exportations of rough diamonds subject to the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS).1
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has published its third Biennial Report of Licensing Activities pursuant to the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (TSRA).
At the April 2008 National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America's Annual Conference, U.S. government officials discussed the Automated Export System (AES) and other export related issues.
Senate Finance Chairman Baucus recently criticized Korea's decision to again delay lifting Korea's ban on U.S. beef products. According to press reports, Korea will delay implementation of a new protocol struck by the U.S. and Korean governments last month, which would have resumed U.S. beef exports to Korea and ended Korea's 5-year ban on U.S. beef products. (Finance Committee press release, dated 05/14/08, available at http://finance.senate.gov/press/Bpress/2008press/prb051408a.pdf)
At the April 2008 National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America's Annual Conference, an Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) official discussed a variety of export-related issues. Highlights of her remarks include the following points:
On May 15, 2008, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee ordered favorably reported with amendments S. 2997, a bill to reauthorize the Maritime Administration (MARAD), and for other purposes. (S. 2997 details available at
On May 15, 2008, the Senate passed the conference version of H.R. 2419, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act (the "Farm Bill") by a vote of 81 yeas to 15 nays, which is more than the 2/3 majority needed to override the President's expected veto. The House also passed the conference version of H.R. 2419 on May 14, 2008 by a veto-proof margin. (Conference version of H.R. 2419 available at http://www.rules.house.gov/110/text/110_hr2419_confrpt.pdf; Joint explanatory statement available at http://www.rules.house.gov/110/text/110_hr2419_jes.pdf.)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued an ABI CSMS message and posted a Web site notice on new requirements for rough diamonds subject to the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme.
On May 14, 2008, the House of Representatives passed the conference version of H.R. 2419, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act (the "Farm Bill") by a vote of 318 yeas to 106 nays, which is more than the 2/3 majority needed to override the President's expected veto. The Senate began its consideration of the H.R. 2419 conference report on May 14, 2008. If the President vetoes the measure, it would still become law if both the House and Senate each override his veto by a two/thirds majority. (Conference version of H.R. 2419 available at http://www.rules.house.gov/110/text/110_hr2419_confrpt.pdf; Joint explanatory statement available at http://www.rules.house.gov/110/text/110_hr2419_jes.pdf.)
The Census Bureau has issued a press release announcing that the U.S.' international deficit in goods and services decreased to $58.23 billion in March 2008 from $61.7 billion (revised) in February, as imports decreased more than exports. (Census press release, dated 05/09/08, available at http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/Press-Release/current_press_release/ft900.pdf)