Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

September 17, 2009 |Top News

1. USTR Receives Over 500 Comments on Pending Colombia/Korea FTAs

U.S. Trade Representative Kirk announced that USTR has received more than five hundred responses to requests for public comment on the pending free trade agreements that have been negotiated with Colombia and the Republic of Korea. (Press release, dated 09/15/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2009/september/ustr-receives-public-comments-concerning-pending)

2. USTR Kirk Selects Strickler as Textiles Assistant USTR

USTR Kirk announced that Gail Strickler has been selected as the new Assistant USTR for Textiles. Strickler will be responsible for supervising negotiations affecting textile and apparel products, advising Ambassador Kirk on textile and apparel trade policy matters and working to expand the industry's access to foreign markets. (Press release, dated 09/14/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2009/september/us-trade-representative-ron-kirk-selects-gail-st)

3. LA Working to Eliminate CTP Pre-Payment Obligation for Most Importers and Exporters

The Port of Los Angeles, along with the Port of Long Beach, is working with its terminal operators to implement a plan to eliminate the claiming process for cargo carried by clean trucks. The change, which would take effect later this year, would require cargo claiming and pre-payment only from cargo owners who are still using trucks that do not meet 2007 emission standards. (News release, dated 09/11/09, available at http://www.portoflosangeles.org/newsroom/2009_releases/news_091109_ctp.asp)

4. China's MOFCOM Calls Higher Toy Standards Abroad Protectionist, But Toy Exports Are Still Up

China's Ministry of Commerce states that higher technical and safety standards demanded by foreign export markets for toys and frequent recalls may be working as trade protection. However, MOFCOM also notes that toy exports totaled $600 million in July, a new high within the year after June's $400 which it attributes to the increased tax rebate for toy exports (which has been 15% (from 13%) since June 1, 2009). This has reduced costs and spurred local toy companies to export. (News release, posted 09/16/09, available at http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/newsrelease/commonnews/200909/20090906519490.html)

5. LA Also Working to Eliminate CTP Pre-Payment Obligation for Most Importers/Exporters

6. DHS OIG Issues Reports on Contracting, Security Programs

The Department of Homeland Security has posted the following reports from its Office of the Inspector General:

OIG-09-94 - DHS Contracts Awarded Through Other Than Full and Open Competition During Fiscal Year 2007 (dated 09/15/09, available at http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_09-94_Aug09.pdf)

OIG-09-92 - Evaluation of DHS' Security Program and Practices For Its Intelligence Systems for Fiscal Year 2009 (dated 09/10/09, available at http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_09-92_Jul09.pdf.)

7. Millennium Challenge Corp IDs Eligible Countries

The Millennium Challenge Corporation has published a report that identifies countries that are ''candidate countries'' for Millennium Challenge Account assistance during FY 2010. The report to Congress on the selection criteria is available here. (FR Pub 09/16/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-22306.pdf)

8. U.S. Signs Millennium Corporation Compact with Senegal

The State Department has posted a press release on the signing of the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact with Senegal. The press release notes that this is the first MCC compact signed under President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton. (State Department press release, dated 09/16/09, available at http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/09/129268.htm.)

9. Outcome of the 4th Plenary of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia

The State Department has posted a press release that summarizes the key outcomes of the recent 4th Plenary of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. (Press release, dated 09/16/09, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/sept/129267.htm)

10. ITA Issues Final CV Determinations on Ni-Resist Piston Inserts from Argentina, Korea

On September 15, the International Trade Administration announced its affirmative final determination in the countervailing duty investigation on imports of Ni-resist piston inserts from Argentina, and its negative final determination in the countervailing duty investigation on imports of piston inserts from Korea. (Fact Sheet, posted 09/15/09, available at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/download/factsheets/factsheet-piston-inserts-cvd-final-091509.pdf)

11. BIS Fines Foreign Affiliates of Texas Company $176,000 for Unlawful Exports

The Bureau of Industry and Security is announcing that five foreign subsidiaries of Thermon Manufacturing Company, a San Marcos, Texas-based firm, have agreed to pay a total of $176,000 in combined civil penalties to settle allegations that they participated in unlicensed exports and reexports of heat tracing equipment to Iran, Syria, Libya and listed entities in India, in violation of the Export Administration Regulations. Thermon Manufacturing voluntarily disclosed the violations to BIS. (Press release, dated 09/15/09, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/news/2009/bis_press0915_2009.htm)

12. BIS Announces Taiwan and California Companies Settle for $410,000

The Bureau of Industry and Security announced today that Foxsemicon Integrated Technologies, Inc. of Taiwan has agreed to a $250,000 civil penalty to settle allegations that it committed thirty-one violations of the Export Administration Regulations related to the unlicensed export of pressure transducers from the U.S. to China. In a related matter, Foxsemicon LLC, of a San Jose, Calif., a wholly-owned affiliate of FITI, agreed to a $160,000 civil penalty to settle allegations that it aided and abetted FITI's violations. FITI designs and manufactures components and systems used in the manufacture of semiconductor wafers and flat panel screens. (Press release, dated 09/15/09, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/news/2009/bis_press09152009.htm)

13. Film Executive Found Guilty of Paying Bribes to Thai Official for Film Festival Contracts

The Justice Department reports that Gerald Green and Patricia Green, Los Angeles-area film executives, were found guilty of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and money laundering laws of the United States, as well as substantive violations of the FCPA and U.S. money laundering laws in relation to a bribery scheme that enabled the defendants to obtain a series of Thai government contracts, including valuable contracts to manage and operate Thailand's yearly film festival. (Press release, dated 09/14/09, available at http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2009/September/09-crm-952.html)

14. Certain Trading with the Enemy Act Authorities for Cuba Continued

The President has issued Determination 2009-27 that the continuation of certain authorities under the Trading With the Enemy Act for one year with respect to Cuba is in the national interest of the U.S. As a result, the President is continuing until September 14, 2010 the exercise of those authorities with respect to Cuba as implemented by the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515. (FR Pub 09/16/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-22408.pdf)

15. BIS Emerging Technology and Research Advisory Committee Meeting

The Bureau of Industry and Security is holding a partially open meeting of the Emerging Technology and Research Advisory Committee (ETRAC) on October 1, 2009, in Washington, D.C. Agenda items include Deemed Export control methodology. The open portion of the meeting will be accessible via teleconference to 20 participants. (FR Pub 09/16/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-22300.pdf)

16. State Dept Designates Two North Korean Entities

Effective September 3, 2009, the State Department is designating two North Korean entities, the General Bureau of Atomic Energy (GBAE) and Korea Tangun Trading Corporation pursuant to Executive Order 13382, ''Blocking Property of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators and Their Supporters.'' (FR Pub 09/16/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-22307.pdf)

17. USDA Issues Latest U.S. Agricultural Trade Data

USDA has issued a table that summarizes the latest U.S. agricultural trade statistics (July 2009), using the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce. (Data, updated 09/10/09, available at http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/FATUS/MonthlySummary.htm)

18. FAS Issues Commodity and Market Intelligence Reports

Oilseeds: Record Early-Season Sales Bode Well for 2009/10 U.S. Soybean Exports

Cotton: Will the United States Maintain Gains in China?

India Peanuts: Production Estimated Lower Due to Insufficient Southern Rainfall

Wheat: Prices Plummet as Exporter Stocks Remain Plentiful and Import Demand Returns to Trend