Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
Port Security News reports that in test cases at the Los Angeles and Chicago international airports, Transportation Security Administration screeners failed 75% and 60% of the time, respectively, to find fake small bomb parts (some the size of pen caps) that were smuggled onboard airplanes. However, in San Francisco, where screeners work for a private company, the failure rate was 20%. (Port Security News, dated 10/22/07, available at http://portsecuritynews.com/news/templates/registered.asp?articleid=1790&zoneid=1)
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Export Compliance Daily combines U.S. export control news, foreign border import regulation and policy developments into a single daily information service that reliably informs its trade professional readers about important current issues affecting their operations.
1. TSA Airport Screeners Fail to Find Bomb Parts in Covert Tests
2. Coast Guard Seeks Streamlined Risk-Based Maritime Security Measures
American Shipper reports that one of the goals of the U.S. Coast Guard is to encourage lawmakers to generate streamlined, risk-based security measures which adequately cover the country's diverse spectrum of marine cargo handling without stretching agency resources or generating industry confusion over multiple rulemakings. (American Shipper, dated 10/16/07, www.americanshipper.com)
3. Bush Seeks Compromise with Congress on Trade Deals
The Washington Post reports that Secretary Rice has indicated that the administration is ready to walk the halls of Congress and find common ground to pass trade agreements with Peru, Panama and Colombia, and later with South Korea. (The Washington Post, dated 10/10/07, available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/09/AR2007100902241.html)
4. Import Ban on Burmese Products Renewed for Another Year
According to a Congressional Research Service report, Public Law 110-52 has been enacted to renew the import ban on Burmese products contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act for another year (until July 27, 2008). These sanctions may be renewed for a maximum of six years after the date of enactment (until 2009). (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/26/07 news, 07072615, for BP summary of Congress' adoption of the resolution to renew the Burma import ban.) (CRS report, dated 10/02/07, available at http://www.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34196_20071002.pdf)
5. USTR Will Not Initiate Section 301 Investigation on Canadian Film Subsidies
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a statement that the USTR has accepted an interagency committee's recommendations and decided not to initiate a Section 301 investigation in response to a petition alleging that Canadian subsidies on the filming of U.S.-produced television shows and theatrical films within Canada were inconsistent with Canada's obligations under the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. (USTR statement, dated 10/19/07, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2007/October/Statement_from_Gretchen_Hamel,_Deputy_Assistant_USTR_for_Public_Media_Affairs,_regarding_a_Section_301_Petition_on_Canadian.html)
6. APHIS Places Temporary Ban on Imports of Poultry, Live Birds, Hatching Eggs from Saskatchewan, Canada
In response to positive test results of an H7N3 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus in a breeder farm in Saskatchewan, Canada, the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service has placed a temporary ban on the importation of poultry and commercial shipments of live birds, hatching eggs and unprocessed (not fully cooked) avian products from Saskatchewan until additional epidemiological information becomes available. (APHIS announcement, dated 10/02/07, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/sa_hunter10-2007.pdf)
7. CITA Cancels Meeting on DR-CAFTA Availability Request for Fleece Fabric
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has issued an electronic notice that it has cancelled its meeting scheduled for October 25, 2007 regarding Perry Manufacturing Company's recent DR-CAFTA commercial availability request for certain fleece fabrics because Texpasa S.A. and Elcatex S.A. de C.V. have withdrawn their responses with offers to supply. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/24/07 news, 07102499 6, for BP summary of the announcement of the meeting.) (CITA notice, dated 10/24/07, available by emailing BP at documents@brokerpower.com)
8. CBP Chicago Pipeline on Modification of PEAs, Termination of SILs
U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Port of Chicago has issued a Pipeline regarding CBP's modification of the Post-Entry Amendment Processing test and the termination of the Supplementary Information Letter program. Among other things, the Pipeline states that CBP terminated the SIL policy effective September 20, 2007. (See ITT's Online Archives or 08/22/07 news, 07082205, for BP summary announcing the modification of the PEAs and termination of the SILs.) (Pipeline 07-37, dated 10/18/07, available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)
9. TTB Proposes to Amend Mandatory Labeling Regs for Alcoholic Beverages
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has issued a proposed rule to amend its regulations regarding the mandatory labeling requirements for alcoholic beverages. The proposed regulatory changes would permit alcohol content to appear on other labels affixed to the container rather than on the brand label as currently required. Comments must be received on or before November 13, 2007. (FR Pub 09/11/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-17909.pdf)
10. APHIS to Issue Permits for Importation of Certain Baby Corn from Kenya
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection service has issued notice advising the public of APHIS' decision to begin issuing permits for the importation into the continental U.S. of husked, silk-free baby corn from Kenya, based on the findings of a pest risk analysis. (D/N APHIS-2007-0100, FR Pub 10/19/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-20677.pdf)