Washington Trade Daily reports that on March 13, 2007, the Senate passed S. 4, a bill to implement recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission. According to the article, S. 4 would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to come up with a plan that will eventually result in 100% scanning of all U.S.-bound containers. (The House-passed version of this legislation, H.R. 1, would establish deadlines for 100% scanning. See ITT's Online Archives or 01/11/07 news, 07011110, for BP summary of H.R. 1, as passed by the House.) (WTD dated 03/14/07, www.washingtontradedaily.com.)
American Shipper reports thatwhile the Commerce and Homeland Security departments hash out the details of the proposed mandatory electronic filing of export information via the Automated Export System, exporters and freight forwarders are concerned whether U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is prepared for the significant changes to U.S. export control practices. The article states that exporters and forwarders are worried that unprepared CBP inspectors in the port offices will cause undue stress in penalties and cargo holds. The article adds that it is critical that CBP has a policy that goes across the board and that one port is not doing more enforcement than another. (American Shipper Pub February 2007, www.americanshipper.com)
The Washington File reports that Democratic lawmakers say the Bush administration needs to enforce U.S. trade laws more forcefully and negotiate more equitable trade deals to address the U.S. trade deficit and protect the welfare of U.S. workers. The article adds that during a February 14, 2007 hearing, Democratic members of the Ways and Means Committee, joined by some Republicans, expressed frustration over what they perceive as the administration's inability to address the growing U.S. trade deficit and unfair competition from other countries. (Washington File Pub 02/14/07, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=February&x=20070214160027saikceinawz0.398266)
Shippers' NewsWire reports that a Treasury Department source urges importers and their customs brokers to pressure agencies that have been slow to embrace the new government-wide International Trade Data System (ITDS), which is being developed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to provide a single window for trade documentation filing and information sharing, because delays will continue in getting entry clearance for shipments. (Shippers' NewsWire, dated 02/26/07, available at www.americanshipper.com)
According to a column in The Journal of Commerce, professionals predict that the Los Angeles/Long Beach ports will be virtually gridlocked by the end of 2010, as local voters and politicians have decided that the environment and infrastructure are all but maxed out. (JoC, dated 01/15/07, www.joc.com )
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has issued a press release which reports that the WTO General Council has resumed its Doha negotiations fully across the board, and that political conditions are now more favorable for the conclusion of the Doha Round of WTO talks than they have been for a long time. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/26/06 news, 06072699 1, for BP summary of the earlier collapse of the Doha negotiations.) (WTO press release, dated 02/07/07, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news07_e/gc_dg_stat_7feb07_e.htm)
The State Department's Washington File reports that President Bush has asked Congress to renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA, also known as "fast track"), which expires on July 1, 2007. According to the article, TPA allows the President to negotiate trade agreements and then send them to Congress for an up-or-down vote without amendment and on a strict timetable. The article notes that the Administration would have to submit any agreement covered by the existing TPA by April 2, 2007. (Washington File dated 01/31/07, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=January&x=20070131160754FJreffahcS0.9970667.)
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued a notice containing enforcement information for January 5, 2007. In this notice, OFAC provides instructions on obtaining information on the civil penalty process for enforcement actions. In addition, OFAC details final agency penalty notices for an entity for violations of the Libyan Sanctions Regulations, as well as a final agency penalty for an individual with travel-related transactions to Cuba. (OFAC notice, released 01/17/07, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/civpen/penalties/01172007.pdf)
The International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued a press release announcing that David Beck has been designated as Director of the ITC's Office of Tariff Affairs and Trade Agreements (OTATA). As the OTATA Director, Beck will oversee the maintenance and publication of the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). (ITC press release no. 07-004, dated 01/08/07, available at http://www.usitc.gov/ext_relations/news_release/2007/er0108ee1.htm)
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced the availability of its interim environmental review of the proposed U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and is requesting comments by January 16, 2007 on the review. The USTR's review is available at www.ustr.gov/Trade_Sectors/Environment/Environmental_Reviews/Section_Index.html. (USTR notice, FR Pub 12/14/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-21316.pdf.)