Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a press release stating that it has lowered the national threat level for the mass transit portion of the transportation sector from Code Orange, or "high," to Code Yellow or "elevated." According to the release, this change took effect at 8:00 pm local time on August 12, 2005, at the discretion of state and local authorities. Concurrently, the release states that the Coast Guard lowered the Maritime Security level for large passenger ferries from level two to level one, which corresponds to Code Yellow. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/08/05 news, 05070899 1 for BP summary on July 7, 2005 raising of threat levels.) Press release, dated 08/12/05, available at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4726 )
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1. DHS Lowers National Threat Level for Mass Transit Sector
2. Timeline for Ratification of DR-CAFTA by Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica, Etc.
According to The Journal of Commerce, Nicaragua's chief negotiator for DR-CAFTA expects Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic to approve the DR-CAFTA within 60 days, with ratification by Costa Rica taking as long as two years. As a result, the chief negotiator expects DR-CAFTA to formally go into effect for all but Costa Rica by January 2006. (JoC, 08/08/05, www.joc.com )
3. EC Proposes to Raise Limit on Blocked Imported Pullovers from China
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) reports that the European Commission and member states have reached an agreement on imports of pullovers that were in transit from China when the quota closed. The EU's proposal to China would borrow 9% of the 2006 quota in order to release the stranded goods. (HKTDC, dated 08/03/05, available at http://www.tdctrade.com/alert/eu0516.htm )
4. Disease-Related Trade Restrictions Shaped Animal Products Markets
According a synopsis of an August 2005 report by the USDA's Economic Research Service, disease outbreaks and related trade restrictions that affected U.S. animal product markets and exports in 2003 continued to constrain markets in 2004, and shape the forecast for 2005, with the U.S. cattle and beef markets most affected. (USDA ERS, 08/05/05, http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/LDP/Aug05 )
5. President Delegates Certain AGOA, Section 1337 Authorities to USTR
In a press release dated July 12, 2005, President Bush delegated to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) the functions and authorities assigned to the President under Section 9 of the AGOA Acceleration Act (19 USC 3701 note) regarding the conduct of a study on development and capacity building in each eligible sub-Saharan African country. (Release dated 07/12/05, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/07/20050712-14.html )
President Bush has also assigned to the USTR the functions of the President under 19 USC 1337(j)(1), (j)(2), and (j)(4) regarding the 60-day approval/disapproval of International Trade Commission (ITC) determinations of Section 1337 violations. (FR Pub 07/26/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-14889.pdf )
6. Various Agencies Seek Comments on Information Collections
Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):
| Agency | Information Collection | Comments Due |
|---|---|---|
| APHIS | Domestic Quarantines | 09/01/05 |
| CPSC | Notification Requirements for Coal and Woodburning Appliances | 09/19/05 |
| CPSC | Information Collection Requirements for Sound Levels of Toy Caps | 09/19/05 |
| FMC | Application for Certificate of Financial Responsibility/Form FMC-131 | 08/17/05 |
| FMC | Controlled Carriers | 08/17/05 |
| FMC | Marine Terminal Operator Schedules and related Form FMC-1 | 08/17/05 |
| FMC | Carrier Automated Tariff Systems and Related Form FMC-1 | 08/17/05 |
| FMC | Service Contracts and Related Form FMC-83 | 08/17/05 |
| ITC | USITC Survey Regarding Outstanding section 337 Exclusion Orders | 08/05/05 |
| ITA | Petition Format for Requesting Relief Under U.S. Antidumping Duty Law | 08/31/05 |
| ITA | Mission/Exhibition Evaluation ITA-4075P | 08/11/05 |
| ITA | Application for and Export Trade Certificate of Review ITA-4093P | 08/11/05 |
(APHIS Information Collection, FR PUB 08/02/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-15230.pdf )
(CPSC Coal Information Collection, FR PUB 07/20/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-14200.pdf )
(CPSC Toy Information Collection, FR PUB 07/20/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-14201.pdf )
(FMC Information Collections, FR PUB 07/18/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-14040.pdf )
(ITC Information Collection, FR PUB 07/06/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-13235.pdf )
(ITA AD Information Collection, FR PUB 08/01/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-4083.pdf )
(ITA Mission Information Collection, FR PUB 07/12/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-13596.pdf )
(ITA Export Information Collection, FR PUB 07/12/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-13597.pdf )