Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
Shippers NewsWire reports that at the recent 2004 Trade Symposium, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Bonner told reporters that CBP is ready to take the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) to the next level by offering "C-TPAT Plus," as an incentive for low-risk shippers to do more. According to the article, CBP security programs and confidence in certain shippers has evolved to the point that a "green lane" is now feasible. (SNW dated 01/14/05, www.americanshipper.com .)
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1. CBP Comissioner Talks About C-TPAT Plus, Green Lane
2. DHS Directive to Employees on Sharing Sensitive Information
According to the Federal Times, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a directive that employees and contractors share sensitive but unclassified information only with those having a need to know it. The 13-page directive informs employees on how to handle, store, and disseminate such sensitive but unclassified information. (Federal Times, dated 12/06/04, available at http://federaltimes.com/index.php?S=537895 )
3. Vietnam Expects Agreement Eliminating EU's Quotas on Vietnam to Enter into Force in February 2005
The Vietnamese Ministry of Trade (MOT) has posted documents to its Web site which provide details of the European Union (EU)-Vietnam market access agreement, which eliminates EU quotas on Vietnamese exports of textiles and clothing from January 1, 2005 on. According to MOT, when the new market access agreement enters into force, which is expected in February 2005, quotas will be suspended with immediate effect and without any qualifications. (MOT information on EU-Vietnam agreement available at http://www.mot.gov.vn/en/News.asp?kind=1 )
4. BIS Corrects Final Rule on Australia Group Changes
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a correction to its December 29, 2005 final rule that amended the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to implement the understandings reached at the June 2004 plenary meeting of the Australia Group (AG) and through a subsequent AG intersessional decision. Specifically, BIS is correcting a typographical error in the description of the AG-related license requirements in the EAR, as well as an error in the amendatory language for ECCN 2B351, which controls certain toxic gas monitoring systems and dedicated detectors therefore. (See ITT's Online Archives or 01/05/05 news, 05010545, for BP summary of BIS final rule.) (BIS correction, D/N 041221359-5005-02, FR Pub 01/13/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-719.pdf .)
5. U.S. Extends Visa Validity for Chinese Business and Tourist Travelers
The State Department has issued a press release announcing that beginning January 15, 2005, eligible Chinese nationals who wish to visit the U.S. temporarily for business (B-1) or tourism (B-2) will be issued visas that are valid for 12 months and multiple entries. The previous maximum validity for U.S. visas issued for these purposes was six months and for multiple entries. (State Dept press release, dated 01/12/05, available at www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2005/40818.htm .)
6. ITA Announces ETTAC Will Hold Open Meeting on February 11, 2005
The International Trade Administration (ITA) states that the Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee (ETTAC) will hold an open meeting on February 11, 2005 in Washington, DC, to discuss Tsunami Relief efforts and how environmental technologies companies can assist with the efforts, among other things. (FR Pub 01/18/05, available at http://frwebgate4.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=06359628373200&WAISaction=retrieve )
7. Exporters' Textile Advisory Committee to Hold Open Meeting
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice announcing that the Exporters' Textile Advisory Committee will hold an open meeting on March 16, 2005 in Los Angeles, CA. (FR Pub 01/18/05, available at http://frwebgate1.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=0638799185200&WAISaction=retrieve )
8. ITA Issues Annual List of Foreign Subsidies on Articles of Cheese
The International Trade Administration (ITA), in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, has prepared its annual list of foreign government subsidies on articles of cheese subject to an in-quota rate of duty that were imported during the period October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2004. The ITA states that it will incorporate additional programs and information to the list as information develops. (FR Pub 01/18/05, available at http://frwebgate6.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=063994402657000&WAISaction=retrieve )
9. Foreign-Trade Zones Board Actions
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board (FTZB) has issued the following notices of recent FTZB actions:
| FTZ applicant/grantee | Company or action |
| Port of Portland, OR (FTZ 45) | Request for special-purpose subzone status for the inkjet cartridge manufacturing facility of Epson Portland Inc. (EPI), in Hillsboro, Oregon. |
| Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board, TX (FTZ 39) | FTZ Board grants authority for subzone status at the helicopter engine repair and manufacturing facility of Turbomeca U.S.A., in Grand Prairie, TX, subject to FTZ Act and regulations. |
FTZB notices (FR Pub 01/18/05, available at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html )