Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. FSIS Final Rule on Determining Net Weight Compliance for Meat, Poultry Products

2. APHIS Establishes Regulations to Restrict Movement, Importation of Certain Fish

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued an interim rule, effective November 10, 2008, establishing regulations to restrict the interstate movement and importation into the U.S. of live fish that are susceptible to viral hemorrhagic septicemia, a highly contagious disease of certain fresh and saltwater fish. Comments on the interim rule are due on or before November 10, 2008. Comments on the environmental assessment are due on or before October 9, 2008. (D/N APHIS-2007-0038, FR Pub 09/09/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-20852.pdf)

3. DTAG to Hold Open Meeting

The State Department has issued a notice announcing that the Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG) will hold an open meeting on October 21, 2008 in Washington, DC. (Public Notice 6345, FR Pub 09/09/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-20912.pdf)

4. ETRAC to Hold Open Meeting

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a notice announcing that the Emerging Technology and Research Advisory Committee (ETRAC) will hold an open meeting on September 23, 2008 in Washington, DC. (FR Pub 09/09/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-20904.pdf)

5. 2nd Afghanistan Int'l Carpet Fair Scheduled for October 26 - 30

The International Trade Administration has issued a notice announcing that it is organizing the second U.S. carpet trade mission to Kabul, Afghanistan for the Afghanistan International Carpet Fair on October 26 - 30, 2008. (FR Pub 09/09/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-20917.pdf)

6. DHS Secretary Discussed Infrastructure, 100% Scanning

The Department of Homeland Security has posted Secretary Chertoff's recent remarks at the Brookings Institute on U.S.' critical infrastructure. Among other things, Chertoff discussed reducing U.S. critical infrastructure vulnerability and stated that the 100% scanning of U.S.-bound cargo before it is loaded onto ships, in reality, is quite impossible. A fact sheet was also posted. (Chertoff's remarks and fact sheet, dated 09/05/08, available at http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/speeches/sp_1220876790967.shtm and http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1220878057557.shtm)

7. GAO Report on U.S. Multinational Corporations and Tax Rates

The Government Accountability Office has issued its report entitled "U.S. Multinational Corporations: Effective Tax Rates Are Correlated with Where Income Is Reported." Senate Finance Committee leadership commented on the report, which found that the number of foreign operations of U.S. companies is increasing, with the largest companies paying the lowest effective tax rates, and more income being reported in lower tax rate jurisdictions outside the U.S. (GAO-08-950, dated August 2008, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08950.pdf; Comments, dated 09/08/08, available at http://finance.senate.gov/press/Bpress/2008press/prb090808.pdf)

8. FMCSA Posts Disaster Relief Info for Drivers and Motor Carriers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration posted to its Web site information to assist motor carriers and drivers in understanding how disasters may affect their transportation operations. (Information available at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency/disaster-relief.htm)

9. FAS Posts U.S. Export Sales as of August 29th

The Foreign Agricultural Service has posted a report on U.S. export sales as of August 28, 2008. FAS also posted weekly a summary report for export sales as of August 28, 2008. (Report available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/export-sales/complete.htm; Summary report available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/export-sales/weeksumm.htm)

10. FAS Posts Market and Trade Data Reports

FAS has posted the following Market and Trade Data Feature Reports:

Raisins: World Markets and Trade - 2008/2009 Forecast Overview

Kenya: Below-Average Corn Output Expected

11. FAS' Global Agriculture Information Network Reports

FAS issued the following GAIN reports:

Peru Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards: Country Report

Peru Biotechnology: Annual

New Zealand FAIRS Country Report: Annual

Malaysia FAIRS Country Report: Annual

Korea FAIRS Country Report: Annual

Italy FAIRS Country Report: Annual

Israel FAIRS Country Report: Annual

Indonesia FAIRS Country Report: Annual

Germany Agricultural Situation: Germany's View on the Current Global Food Situation - Causes and Responses

France FAIRS Country Report: Annual

Egypt FAIRS Country Report: Annual

Ecuador FAIRS Country Report: Annual

China Biotechnology: Annual

Chile FAIRS Country Report: 2008

Brazil Oilseeds and Products: Oilseeds Update - August 2008

Brazil Grain and Feed: Grain Update - August 2008

Australia Cotton and Products: Quarterly Lockup

Australia FAIRS Country Report: Annual

Argentina Biotechnology: Annual Report

Argentina Biotechnology: Argentina, Annual Report

Brazil Poultry and Products: Annual Poultry Report

China Agricultural Situation: Grain and Oilseeds Highlights

Mexico Grain and Feed: Mexico Announces a Tariff Rate Quota on Dry Beans

Mexico Grain and Feed: August Grain and Feed Update

New Zealand Livestock and Products: Beef and Cattle Annual Report

12. WTO Panel Issues Report on Mexico-EC Dispute over Olive Oil

A World Trade Organization dispute panel has issued its report on the EC's complaint concerning Mexico's final countervailing measures on olive oil from the European Communities (DS341). Note that third parties in this dispute include Canada, China, Japan, Norway, and the U.S. (News release, dated 09/04/08, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/341r_e.htm)

13. CBSA Statement of Reasons on Certain Steel Plate from Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Romania

The Canada Border Services Agency has posted its statement of reasons regarding the expiry of the finding made by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal concerning certain hot-rolled steel plate originating in or exported from the Republic of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Romania. (Statement P5-ER-151, dated 09/05/08, available at http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/sima-lmsi/er-rre/rr2008-002/rr2008-002-e08-de-eng.pdf)

14. Canada's 2008-2009 Wheat Products TRQ to be Filled as of September 29th

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada has issued notices informing the trade that the 2008-2009 wheat products tariff rate quota will be filled as of September 29, 2008, and that the "within access commitment" tariff items will be closed. (Notices, dated 09/08/08, available at http://www.international.gc.ca/eicb/agric/wheat-notice4-en.asp and http://www.international.gc.ca/eicb/notices/ser733-en.asp)

15. CBSA Posts Revised D-Memoranda

D17-1-2: Reporting and Accounting for Low Value Commercial Goods (under CAN$1,600) and Goods Eligible for Release Under the Courier Imports Remission Order

D4-3-5: Duty-Free Shop - Inventory Control and Sales Requirements

D4-3-4: Duty-Free Shop - Operational Responsibilities

D4-3-3: Duty-Free shop - Security

D4-3-2: Duty-Free Shop - Licensing

D3-4-5: Highway Cargo - In-Transit Movements

D3-4-2: Highway Cargo - Import Movements

D3-1-6: CBSA Post Audit System

D3-1-5: International Commercial Transportation

D3-1-3: Commercial Importation of Intoxicating Liquors

15. FMC Lists OTI Applications

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued one notice that lists those applying for OTI licenses as a non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC), ocean freight forwarder (FF) or NVOCC/FF OTI, as follows:

FMC notice (FR Pub 08/27/08) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-19867.pdf