Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
According to the State Department's Washington File, on June 21, 2005, U.S. and Vietnamese companies signed a series of major business and operating license agreements. The article states that the agreements, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, involve companies including the Boeing Company, Motorola Incorporated, Unocal International Corporation, and the international arm of the New York Life Insurance Company. (Washington File article, dated 06/22/05, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2005&m=June&x=20050622163750ASesuarK0.6834223&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html.)
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
1. U.S. and Vietnamese Companies Sign Major Business and Operating License Agreements
2. Fed Chairman and Treasury Secretary Warn Against China Trade Sanctions
Reuters reports that the Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan and Treasury Secretary Snow have warned that imposing punitive trade sanctions against China might slow the drive to persuade China to adopt a more flexible currency and will not protect U.S. jobs. The article notes that Greenspan and Snow, clearly worried that spiraling U.S. deficits were driving Congress toward trade action, sought to tamp down the angry mood by pointing out the possible consequences for the U.S. (Reuters article, dated 06/23/05, available at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8331357/.)
3. AMS Proposed Rule on Domestic/Imported Peanut Moisture Standards
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has issued a proposed rule that would change the peanut quality and handling standards to require that domestic and imported peanuts be dried to 18% moisture or less prior to inspection and to 10.49% or less prior to storing or milling, and to require Virginia-type peanuts used for seed to be dried to 18% or less prior to inspection and to 11.49% or less prior to storing or milling. Comments must be received by July 6, 2005. (D/N FV05-996-2PR, FR Pub 06/21/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-12156.pdf)
4. 2nd Annual Forum on Global Customs Compliance to be Held Sept. 21-22
The American Conference Institute will hold its second annual Advanced Forum on Global Customs Compliance on September 21-22, 2005 in Washington, DC. The World Customs Organization (WCO) Secretary General and U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP's) Assistant Commissioner, Office of Regulations and Rulings are the scheduled keynote speakers. Further information available at https://www.americanconference.com.
5. U.S. Extends Visa Validity for Chinese Students & Exchange Visitors
The State Department has announced that beginning June 20, 2005, eligible Chinese nationals who wish to study in the U.S. temporarily as students (F-1), exchange visitors (J-1), or to undertake vocational training (M1) will be issued visas that are valid for 12 months and multiple entries. The previous maximum validity for such visas was six months. (Press release, dated 06/15/05, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2005/47974.htm)