Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
According to Shippers' NewsWire, Senator Hutchinson introduced a bill (S. 376) on February 15, 2005, which calls for at least 50% of containers, beginning in 2007, to be equipped with tracking and monitoring technology that can notify authorities that the container has been breeched by terrorists or criminals. The article notes that Hutchinson's bill also calls for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report on how requiring advance submission of purchase orders, shipper's letter of instruction, commercial invoices, letters of credit, certificates of origin, and other transaction information can enhance U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP's) container inspection targeting system. After being introduced, S. 376 was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (SNW dated 03/03/05, www.americanshipper.com.)
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1. Senator Introduces Bill to Require "Smart" Boxes, Etc.
2. Secretary Chertoff Says He is Initiating Comprehensive Review of DHS
In a statement before the House Appropriations Homeland Security Sub-Committee, incoming Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff stated that he is initiating a comprehensive review of DHS' organization, operations, and policies. (Chertoff statement (remarks as prepared), dated 03/02/05, available at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4381)
3. WCO to Hold Information Technology Conference and Exhibition
The World Customs Organization (WCO) will be holding the 2005 WCO Information Technology Conference and Exhibition on April 27-29, 2005 in Istanbul, Turkey. This conference aims to emphasize the role of information and communication technology in bridging the gap between security and facilitation, modernization and traditionalism, transparency and opacity, and developed and developing countries. (WCO fact sheet, available at http://events.wcoomd.org/abouttheconferenceit_fact_sheet.htm.)
4. WCO Briefing on Trade Facilitation and Supply Chain Security
The World Customs Organization (WCO) issued a press release announcing that a briefing session for Ambassadors and senior members of the Brussels diplomatic corps was held on January 24, 2005 which was especially designed to raise awareness on the contribution of the WCO to the WTO negotiations on Trade Facilitation, the WCO's newly adopted Framework on Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade, and the WCO's efforts in the field of Capacity Building for Customs administrations. The WCO press release quotes the WWCO Deputy Secretary General as stating that the WCO contributes to the needs and priorities related to Technical Assistance and Capacity Building with Respect to Trade Facilitation and is developing a Customs Trade Facilitation Self-Assessment Checklist and will provide assistance in conducting the Time Release Study in Member Customs administrations. (WCO press release, dated 01/25/05, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/ie/En/en.html.)
5. DOT Proposes to Award Certain U.S. Carriers New China Flight Rights
The Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a press release announcing that it has proposed to select Continental Airlines and American Airlines as new entrants to the U.S.-China air market. DOT proposes to award both carriers passenger flight rights to specified destinations in China as of March 25, 2005. DOT also proposes to award additional cargo flight rights as of March 25, 2006 to current U.S.-China carriers FedEx, Northwest Airlines, Polar Air Cargo, and UPS. (DOT D/N 32-05, dated 02/22/05, available at www.dot.gov/affairs/dot3205.htm)
6. President Continues National Emergency With Respect to Zimbabwe
On March 2, 2005, President Bush issued a notice continuing for one year the national emergency blocking the property of persons undermining democratic processes or institutions in Zimbabwe. This emergency was originally declared in Executive Order (EO) 13288 on March 6, 2003. (FR Pub 03/04/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-4397.pdf)
7. APHIS Corrects November 30, 2004 Final Rule on Hass Avocados
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a notice correcting an error in the rule portion of its November 30, 2004 final rule to expand the number of States in which fresh Hass avocado fruit grown in approved orchards in approved municipalities in Michoacan, Mexico may be distributed and to allow the distribution of the avocados during all months of the year. (See ITT's Online Archives or 12/17/04 news, 04121725, for BP summary of APHIS' final rule.)(APHIS correction, D/N 03-022-6, FR Pub 02/10/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-2668.pdf.)
8. ITA Corrects January 31, 2005 Notice Initiating AD/CV Administrative Reviews
The International Trade Administration (ITA) is correcting its January 31, 2005 notice initiating antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) order administrative reviews in order to provide additional details (i.e., list of companies) for its listing of the AD duty order on honey from Argentina. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/07/05 news, 05020740, for BP summary of the ITA's January 31,2005 notice.)(ITA correction, FR Pub 02/10/05) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/C5-1731.pdf.)