Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. USTR Statement on Conclusion of Recent ACTA Meeting

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has posted the statement from USTR spokeswoman Carol Guthrie on the recent conclusion of the 5th round of negotiations for the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) that was held in Rabat on July 16 and 17, 2009. Participants in this meeting agreed that the next round will be hosted by the Republic of Korea in November 2009. With regard to the progress of negotiations, participants confirmed their intention to conclude the agreement as soon as possible in 2010. (Press Release, dated 07/20/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2009/july/statement-ustr-spokeswoman-carol-guthrie-anti-counte-0)

2. USTR Trade Policy Fact Sheets

A Foundation for Success

A Level Playing Field for American Workers

Breaking Down Barriers to Trade

3. U.S. and India Sign Technology Safeguards Agreement, Etc.

The U.S. and India have signed a Technology Safeguards Agreement and associated side letters pertaining to the use of U.S.-licensed components on spacecraft launched from Indian facilities. In addition, India announced its agreement to End Use Monitoring arrangements for high technology military sales between India and the U.S. (Press release, dated 07/20/09, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/july/126229.htm.)

4. ASEAN Foreign Ministers Issue Joint Statement at Meeting

The Foreign Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) who met at the 42nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting from July 19-20 2009 in Thailand have issued a joint statement on certain economic and political issues. (Statement, dated 07/20/09, available at http://www.aseansec.org/PR-42AMM-JC.pdf)

5. Export.gov Information on Taiwan GPA Opportunities for U.S. Exporters

Taiwan became the 41st member of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement on July 15, 2009. The American Institute in Taiwan has posted to Export.gov materials to help U.S. exporters understand the opportunities of Taiwan's accession to the GPA. (Notice, available at http://www.buyusa.gov/taiwan/en/taiwan_gpa.html)

6. Administration Announces CEOs Selected for U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum

U.S. Commerce Secretary Locke announced the U.S. private sector participants selected for the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum, which is being held on July 20-21 in Washington, D.C. The Forum is made up of 20 CEOs from the U.S. and Brazil, and meets twice a year. (Press Release, dated 07/15/09, available at http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/PROD01_008187)

7. Treasury Announces Sanctions of Mexican Drug Lords

On July 20, 2009, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated four drug cartel leaders as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act). The four individuals designated today are leaders of the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas, groups that are responsible for much of the violence taking place in Mexico. (Press release TG-220, dated 07/20/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/tg220.htm.)

8. State Dept Designates N. Korean Entity as WMD Proliferator

Effective June 30, 2009, the State Department is designating one North Korean entity, Namchongang Trading Corporation, pursuant to the authority in Executive Order 13382, ''Blocking Property of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators and Their Supporters.'' (FR Pub 07/20/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-17192.pdf)

9. National Emergency for Former Liberian Regime of Charles Taylor Continued

The President has issued a notice announcing that because the actions and policies of certain persons connected to the former Liberian regime of Charles Taylor continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the U.S., the national emergency declared on July 22, 2004, and the measures adopted on that date to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond July 22, 2009. (Notice, dated 07/16/09, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Notice-from-the-President-to-Congress-Concerning-Liberian-President-Taylor/.)

10. July 2009 "CITES World" Focuses on Electronic Permitting

CITES World, the official newsletter of the Parties, has issued its July 2009 issue on electronic permitting. Topics covered in the issue include (1) Expediting electronic exchange of permit data among CITES Authorities - a pilot project, (2) IATA e-freight: Taking the paper out of air cargo, etc. (Notice, available at http://www.cites.org/eng/news/newsletter.shtml)

11. CITES Issues Guide on Preventing Illegal Trade in Falcons and Hawks

The Government of Canada and the Falcon Enforcement Task Force of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has issued a new guide on preventing the illegal trade in falcons and hawks. (Press Release, dated 07/08/09, available at http://www.cites.org/eng/news/press_release.shtml)

12. Canada Gazette Notice on Initiation of AD Investigation of Certain Steel Plate from Ukraine

In the July 18, 2009 edition of the Canada Gazette, the Canada Border Services Agency posted its already announced initiation of an investigation into the alleged injurious dumping of hot-rolled carbon steel plate and high strength low alloy steel plate from the Ukraine. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal also posted a notice on its initiation of a preliminary injury investigation which is available here. (Notice, dated 07/18/09, available at http://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2009/2009-07-18/html/commis-eng.htmlf101)

13. Canadian Int'l Trade Tribunal Determines Furniture Claim Invalid

In the July 18, 2009 edition of the Canada Gazette, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal posted a notice on its July 6, 2009 determination that a complaint filed by Global Upholstery Co. Inc. (Global), of Downsview, Ontario regarding the provision of office furniture was not valid. (Notice, dated 07/07/09, available at http://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2009/2009-07-18/html/commis-eng.htmlf104)

14. State Dept Corrects Typographical Error in ITAR

The Department of State is correcting, effective July 20, 2009, a typographical error contained in an April 24, 2009 correction regarding a revision to Category XII(c) of the United States Munitions List. The April correction language in the note after paragraph (c) erred by using the term hold'' instead of hole.'' This document corrects that error by utilizing the correct term hole.'' (FR Pub 07/20/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-16798.pdf)

15. APHIS Updates Animal Product PPQ Manual

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a July 16, 2009 updated version of the Plant Protection and Quarantine Animal Product Manual. This Manual provides the background, procedures, and regulatory actions to enforce the regulations governing the import and export of animals, animal products, and animal by-products. (Manual, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/apm.shtml)

16. APHIS Updates Israel Pepper and Tomato Growers List

APHIS has issued a July 14, 2009 updated list of Approved Pepper and Tomato Growers in Arava, Israel for export to the USA. (List, dated 07/14/09, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/israel_grower-arava_pepper_and_tomato.pdf)

17. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recalls

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has published notice of the following voluntary recalls:

(CPSC recalls available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prereljul09.html)

18. FSIS Updates Lists of Foreign Firms Eligible to Export Meat to USA

Germany (July 17, 2009)

Italy(July 17, 2009)

New Zealand (July 15, 2009)

19. FSIS Updates List of U.S. Firms Eligible to Export Meat to China

China (updated for pork casings exported to China, July 17, 2009)

20. Revised FDA Import Alerts

The Food and Drug Administration has posted revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:

Devices w/o Approved PMA's or IDE's and Other Devices Not Equivalent or No 510K

Cosmetics Due To Microbiological Contamination

Processed Products For Pesticides

Foods Containing Illegal and/or Undeclared Colors

Seafood Products Due to the Presence of Salmonella

21. Agency Seeks Comments on Information Collections

Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):

Agency Information Collection Comments Due

(Information collection notices are hyperlinked to agency name.)