American Shipper reports that according to homeland security analyst Stephen Flynn, the U.S. will need to enlist the foreign-owned companies that dominate the maritime sector by creating incentives for shipping lines, terminal operators, logistics providers and shippers to do a better job securing the global supply networks they control and understand, if the U.S. is ever to achieve a high level of security. (American Shipper, dated February 2008, www.americanshipper.com)
The Senate Energy and Commerce Committee has issued a press release announcing that its Environment and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee met on February 28th to consider legislation to ban or severely restrict the manufacture and distribution in commerce of asbestos-containing products. Imports of asbestos-containing products would also be prohibited. (Subcommittee press release, dated 02/28/08, available at http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110st133.shtml)
The Senate Finance Committee has issued a press release announcing that Chairman Baucus reiterated to U.S. Trade Representative Schwab in a hearing that successful passage of Trade Adjustment Assistance legislation will take precedence in the Finance Committee over all pending free trade agreements. (Committee press release, dated 03/06/08, available at http://finance.senate.gov/press/Bpress/2008press/prb030608b.pdf)
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a guidance document on the status of entities owned by persons1 whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to an Executive Order or regulations administered by OFAC ("blocked persons").
American Shipper reports that California State Senator Alan Lowenthal (Long Beach) plans to amend his proposed statewide container fee bill to specify more than 140 projects (primarily involving rail-traffic grade separations). The bill, which is expected to move soon, will be Lowenthal's third attempt to pass a $30-per-TEU container fee. (AS, dated 02/29/08, www.americanshipper.com)
According to a Special Quest Edition by Avalon Risk Management, Inc., the primary writers of U.S. Customs bonds met February 21, 2008 to discuss the issue that the surety industry was not consulted prior to the publication of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's January 2nd Federal Register notice on 102, and confirmed that more information must be obtained to understand the true nature of the risk that 102 will create for the surety industry. (Special Quest Edition, dated 02/22/08, available by emailing BP at documents@brokerpower.com)
On February 13, 2008, President Bush signed Executive Order 13460 blocking the property and interests in property of additional persons subject to EO 13338 regarding the national emergency with respect to Syria.
CNN Money reports that Toys "R" Us and Wal-Mart have recently announced new safety standards for their toy suppliers following a wave of recalls in 2007. Manufacturers for the large retailers will have to meet similar standards including significant reductions in lead content found in toy coatings, third-party testing of toys imported into the U.S., and prohibitions on infant products containing phthalates. (CNN Money, dated 02/15/08, available at http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/15/news/companies/toysafety_update/index.htm)
The Bureau of Industry and Security has posted to its Web site a set of links to lists compiled by BIS, the Office of Foreign Assets Control, and the State Department that may be relevant to export and reexport transactions.
The Washington Trade Daily reports that Colombian Trade Minister Luis Guillermo Plata has asked the U.S. to extend trade preferences under the Andean Trade Preference Act, as amended by the Andean Trade Preferences and Drug Eradication Act, until 2009 while congress debates a free trade agreement signed between Colombia and the U.S. (Washington Trade Daily, dated 02/04/08, available at http://www.washingtontradedaily.com/)