Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
After adopting numerous amendments, on September 14, 2004 the Senate passed its version of H.R. 4567, the fiscal year (FY) 2005 appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/08/04 news, 04070810, for BP summary of the June 18, 2004 passage by the House of Representatives of its own version of H.R. 4567.) (Congressional Record dated 09/14/04, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/r108/r108d14se4.html.)
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1. Senate Passes its Version of FY 2005 DHS Appropriations Bill
2. Maersk Sealand to Impose Security Surcharge of $6 Per Container
The Journal of Commerce Online reports that Maersk Sealand, citing the cost of complying with the International Ship and Port Facility (ISPS) Code, will be imposing a "carrier security surcharge" of $6 per container effective October 2, 2004. In addition to the "carrier security surcharge," the article states that Maersk Sealand states that origin and/or destination "terminal security" charges will be passed on separately, as these charges are verified as reasonable. According to the article, several terminals have already indicated that they will soon introduce ISPS charges, collected from the shipping lines. (JoC Online, dated 09/07/04, www.joc.com.)
3. WTO Members Agree to Launch Negotiations on WTO AD/CV Rules, Etc.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has issued a press release announcing that its members at the Doha Ministerial Conference agreed to launch negotiations in the area of "WTO Rules." According to the WTO, these negotiations will relate to topics such as Article VI of the GATT 1994 (the Antidumping Agreement), the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, and, in this context, the WTO disciplines on fisheries subsidies, and WTO provisions applying to regional trade agreements. (WTO Press Release, dated 09/01/04, available at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/rulesneg_e/rulesneg_e.htm)
4. U.S. and Uruguay Conclude Bilateral Investment Treaty
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced that the U.S. and Uruguay have concluded negotiations for a U.S.-Uruguay Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), which is expected to strengthen investment and trade ties between the two countries and lead to better protection for U.S. investments in Uruguay. (USTR press release, dated 09/07/04, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2004/September/United_States,_Uruguay_Conclude_Bilateral_Investment_Treaty.html)
5. Manufacturing Council to Hold September 21, 2004 Meeting
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice stating that The Manufacturing Council will hold a full Council meeting to discuss topics related to the state of manufacturing on September 21, 2004 in Pittsburgh, PA. (FR Pub 09/09/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-20495.pdf).
6. FMC Lists Applicants for OTI Licenses
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a notice stating that the following companies have filed applications for license as non-vessel-operating common carrier-ocean (NVOCC), ocean freight forwarder (FF) or NVOCC/FF ocean transportation intermediaries (OTIs):
NVOCC-OTIs
Tradewinds International LLC (NJ)
All-In Freight Int'l Inc. (NY)
Holiday Shipping (GA)
Dean & Associates Freight System (NY)
Shanghai City Union Logistics (CA)
Transcom Express, Inc. (NJ)
Consolidated Logistics LLC (FL)
TUG Logistics (Miami) Inc. (FL)
Superior Transportation L.L.C. (NJ)
Pacific Shipping Corp. (CA)
Cody Cargo Corp. dba Armada International Logistics (NC)
Grandwin Management, LLC (CA)
Seabound Freight, LLC (FL)
Air Sea Containers, Inc. (FL)
Hwa-Wei Yang dba Ea-Land Shipping (CA)
FF-OTIs
La Primavera Cargo Express Corp. (NY)
Bergen Logistics LLC (NJ)
MK Shipping Inc. (TX)
Domicilio Expreso Dominicano (NY)
FLS-USA Forwarding, Ltd. (TX)
NVOCC/FF-OTIs
Air Parcel Express, Inc. AKN by APX, Air Parcel Express, Inc. (FL)
Cap Worldwide, Inc. (TX)
Master Air Corp. (FL)
SNS Shipping, Inc. (NY)
Quisqueya Cargo Express, Inc. (NY)
Accel Product Company dba Accel International (IN)
Uniwide Cargomovers & Travel, Inc. (CA)
Just Cargo, LLC dba Just Cargo Lines (FL)
Concert Group Logistics, LLC (IL)
Ambrit-USA Inc. (FL)
Seaboard Solutions, Inc. (FL)
Awilda Shipping, Inc. (NY)
XCC Logistics, Inc. (FL)
(FMC notices (FR Pubs 09/01/04 and 09/10/04) available at: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-19973.pdf, and http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-20474.pdf)