Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

The Wall Street Journal reports that the European Union's (EU's) recent approval of the import and use of a genetically modified corn variety marks the first for a U.S. agricultural biotechnology product since 1998, and only the second for any country's products since EU farm ministers began a de facto moratorium on the approval of biotech crops. (WSJ dated 07/20/04, www.wsj.com.)

3. Recent Survey Reports 36% of Software Used Worldwide is Pirated

A State Department Washington File article reports that a recent Business Software Alliance (BSA) study reveals that 36% of the software in use worldwide is pirated, causing revenue losses of $29 billion in 2003. According to the study, among the individual countries, the highest piracy rates were found in China, Vietnam, Ukraine, Indonesia, Russia, and Zimbabwe and the lowest piracy rates were found in the U.S., New Zealand, Denmark, Austria, and Sweden. (Washington File dated 07/07/04, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=July&x=20040707163956mbzemog8.428591e-02&t=xarchives/xarchitem.html.)

4. Portland, Oregon to Host Steel Identification Seminar

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of Portland, Oregon has issued a CBP Trade Bulletin to announce that a Steel Identification, Classification and Trade Law Seminar will be held in Portland on September 23 - 24, 2004. According to the bulletin, the seminar is presented and sponsored by the U.S. domestic steel industry and hosted and endorsed by CBP. (Trade Bulletin No. 2004-35, issued 07/22/04)

5. House Committee Approves Bill to Repeal Mandatory Origin Labeling for Fresh Foods

American Shipper reports that the U.S. House Agricultural Committee approved legislation (HR 4576) to repeal a mandatory country-of-origin (COOL) labeling rule for fruits, vegetables, meats and seafood, and replace it with a voluntary country of origin labeling program. (American Shipper, dated 07/26/04, ShippersNewsWire@americanshipper.com )

6. CBP Designates Imports for 2004 FINA World Championships as Duty-Free

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced the designation of the 2004 Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) World Championships, an international swimming competition, as a qualifying international athletic event under HTS 9817.60.00. As a result, articles meeting the conditions and requirements in HTS 9817.60.00 that are imported in connection with the 2004 FINA World Swimming Championships, will be entitled to duty-free treatment. (CBP Dec. 04-23, FR Pub 07/28/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-17116.pdf)

7. BIS Final Rule Revokes General Order No. 3 of the EAR

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a final rule, effective July 15, 2004, revoking General Order No. 3 of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). According to BIS, General Order No. 3 had imposed a license requirement for exports and reexports of all items on the Commerce Control List (CCL) destined to or for Shaykh Hamad bin Ali bin Jabir Al-Thani and listed entities related to or controlled by him. BIS' final rule also removes a related provision of the EAR. (D/N 040618189, FR Pub 07/15/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-16012.pdf)

8. Federal Register Publication on Copper Scrap Exports Determination

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has published in the Federal Register its determination, in response to a petition, that neither export monitoring nor export controls on copper scrap and copper-alloy scrap are necessary to carry out the policy set forth in Section 3(2)(C) of the Export Administration Act (EAA). (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/26/04 news, 04072635, for BP summary of BIS' press release announcing this determination.) (D/N 040719211-4211-01, FR Pub 07/26/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-16947.pdf)

9. Recent CPSC Press Releases on Recalls

The CPSC has issued separate press releases (dated 05/05/04-05/27/04) announcing that the following companies, in cooperation with the CPSC, are voluntarily recalling the products listed below: (Press releases available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerelapr04.html)