Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
According to The Journal of Commerce Online, the Port of Los Angeles-Long Beach will delay its implementation of the nation's first-ever charge ($20 per TEU) for moving containers during daytime hours to a date in the first quarter of 2005 (rather than November 1, 2004 as originally planned). The article states that the delay is needed due to a shortage of longshore labor and delays in setting up collections by PierPass, the organization established by terminal operators to manage the program. (Joc Online, dated 09/22/04, www.joc.com )
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1. LA Daytime Box Fee Delayed
2. USA-ITA Reports Vietnamese Ministry Official Arrested for Bribery
According to a Textile Development Memo (TDM) issued by the U.S.-Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA), various newspapers are reporting that a deputy director in the Import-Export Department of Vietnam's Ministry of Trade and eight others were arrested during the week of September 6, 2004 charged with accepting bribes in exchange for assurances of providing U.S. quota allocations. (TDM dated 09/21/04, www.usita.com)
3. Editorial on Congress' Inaction on Repealing FSC/ETI Tax Regime
According to a Wall Street Journal editorial, before Congress adjourns for the year, it has at least one bit of urgent business - fix U.S. corporate taxes in order to remove European Union (EU) tariffs that are affecting U.S. exporters. The editorial opines that the increased EU tariffs are hitting more than 1,600 U.S. exports with total sales of nearly $3 billion a year to Europe, noting that in today's fiercely competitive marketplace, an 11% cost difference often amounts to a lost sale, and that once market share is lost, it can be hard to get back. The editorial notes that the Foreign Sales Corporation - Extraterritorial Income Act (FSC-WETI) repeal bill is stalled over multiple demands of members to load it up with special interest tax breaks. (WSJ editorial dated 09/20/04, www.wsj.com)
4. U.S. Files WTO Case Against EU Customs Laws & Regulations
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release announcing that on September 21, 2004 the U.S. is filing a World Trade Organization (WTO) case against the European Union (EU) regarding its customs laws and regulations. (Press release, dated 09/21/04, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2004/September/US_Files_WTO_Case_Against_EU_Over_European_Customs_System.html.)
5. TSA Pledges Money for Explosives Detection Systems at Seattle Airport
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued a press release announcing that it has pledged $6.5 million to offset the cost for explosives detection systems at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. (TSA Press Release dated 09/10/04, available at http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=44&content=09000519800cba9e)
6. CPSC Provisionally Accepts Settlement Over Defective Toy Drumsticks
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has provisionally accepted a settlement agreement with Battat Incorporated containing a civil penalty of $125,000. According to the CSPC, Battat manufactured and distributed approximately 300,000 toys called the "Bee Bop Band Drum Set" which contain defective drumsticks. (CPSC D/N 04-C-0006, FR Pub 09/20/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-21025.pdf)
7. President Continues National Emergency With Respect to Terrorism
On September 21, 2004, the President continued for one year the national emergency with respect to persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism that was originally declared on September 23, 2001. (FR Pub 09/22/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-21484.pdf)
8. AMS Interim Final Rule Relaxes Handling & Import Regulations for Certain Onions, Etc.
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has issued an interim final rule which, among other things, relaxes certain requirements and amends definitions for pearl and cipolline onions under certain AMS import regulations. This interim final rule is effective September 23, 2004 and comments received by November 22, 2004 will be considered prior to the issuance of a final rule. (AMS D/N FV04-958-1 IFR, FR Pub 09/22/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-21238.pdf)
9. Portland, OR CBP Trade Bulletin on Personnel Changes for Commodity Specialist Teams
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of Portland, Oregon has issued a CBP Trade Bulletin which contains a revised list identifying personnel changes on the Commodity Specialist Teams (CSTs), effective September 19, 2004. (Trade Bulletin No. 2004-41, issued 09/15/04, available via fax by emailing documents@brokerpower.com)
10. CBP at JFK Issues Pipeline on New Phone Numbers for Cargo Branch
CBP at the JFK Airport in New York has issued an informational pipeline containing new phone numbers, effective August 30, 2004, for Cargo Branch (CBP Customs and CBP Agriculture) at JFK Airport/Building 77. (Informational Pipeline No. 04-019, dated 08/30/04, available via fax by emailing documents@brokerpower.com)