U.S. Trade Representative Kirk recently presided at a ceremony on Capitol Hill today heralding the 10th Anniversary of the enactment of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference program. Ambassador Kirk was joined by several past and present Members of Congress who played key roles in the drafting, passage and implementation of AGOA. (Notice, posted 05/12/10, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/blog/2010/may/united-states-trade-representative-ron-kirk-celebrates-10th-anni)

The Department of Energy is extending the comment period to May 17, 2010 on its proposed rule and preliminary technical support document on energy conservation standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps. (D/N EE-2008-BT-STD-0006, FR Pub 05/14/10, available at http://www.federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-11571_PI.pdf)

The Department of Energy has issued a final rule, effective June 1, 2010, which implements the Compliance and Certification Management System, which will be the preferred mechanism for submitting compliance and certification reports; allows compliance and certification reports to be submitted via email; etc. (D/N EERE-2010-BT-CRT-0017, FR Pub 05/14/10, available at http://www.federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-11584_PI.pdf)

The Department of Energy has issued a determination that energy conservation standards for non-Class A external power supplies are technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in significant energy savings; therefore, DOE is initiating the process of establishing energy conservation standards for these products. (D/N EERE-2009-BT-DET-0005, FR Pub 05/14/10, available at http://www.federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-11592_PI.pdf)

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announces a closed meeting on May 19, 2010, in which the staff will brief the Commission on various compliance matters. (CPSC notice, FR Pub 05/14/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-11728.pdf)

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has issued a proposed rule to amend certain test protocols and standards, etc. to enhance the integrity of inner packagings or receptacles of combination packagings containing liquid hazardous material by ensuring they remain intact in air transportation. Comments are due by July 13, 2010. (D/N PHMSA-07-29364(HM-231A), FR Pub 05/14/10, available at http://www.federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-11384_PI.pdf)

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a proposed rule to, among other things, provide for the importation of Hass avocados from Mexico into Puerto Rico under the same current systems for U.S. import from Michoacán, Mexico, which include orchard certification, trace back labeling, port-of-arrival inspection, etc. Comments are due by July 13, 2010. (D/N APHIS-2008-0060, FR Pub 05/14/10, available at http://www.federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-11598_PI.pdf)

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the U.S. is focused on three significant policy areas for the Western Hemisphere: trade and energy security, public security, and inequality and immigration during her May 12, 2010 remarks at the 40th Washington Conference on the Americas. (Remarks, dated 05/12/10, available at http://www.america.gov/st/business-english/2010/May/20100512162128dmslahrellek0.7731134.html?CP.rss=true)

The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN report:

The International Trade Commission has launched an investigation to assess the U.S. export and import effects of three free trade agreements, entitled Selected Sectoral Effects of the U.S. FTAs with Chile, Singapore, and Australia, as requested by the U.S. Trade Representative.