Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The publication Seaports Industry Update has issued an initial assessment of port conditions in New Orleans, dated August 31, 2005, after the impact of Hurricane Katrina. The initial assessment lists specific wharfs and facilities, with a note from the President and CEO of the Port of New Orleans stating that "The outcome is not good, and it has been aggravated by unexpected flooding following the storm. Yesterday I thought the damage could have been worse, but today I'm not so sure." Seaport Industry Update, dated 08/31/05, available by fax by emailing documents@brokerpower.com )
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1. Seaports Industry Update Initial Port Assessment on Hurricane Katrina
2. Farm Economy Feels the Hit as Katrina Impacts Grain, Soybean, Sugar Trade
The Wall Street Journal reports that Hurricane Katrina has shut down grain-exporting ports around New Orleans for an indefinite period, depressing prices that Midwest farmers are fetching for corn, wheat and soybeans. The article adds that sugar industry officials in Louisiana fear that Katrina may have flattened much of the sugarcane crop, and notes that on Tuesday, President Bush moved to allow more foreign sugar into the country. (WSJ, dated 09/01/05, www.wsj.com )
3. USDA Allows Refined Sugar Early Entry Due to Hurricane Katrina
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a press release stating that due to Hurricane Katrina it is allowing early entry for the refined sugar FY 2006 minimum tariff rate quota (TRQ), which is expected to result in an additional 22,000 STRV available at once to the market, as most is already in the U.S. on bonded warehouse facilities. The release adds that USDA is also releasing some blocked beet stocks. Both actions are in response to the sugar market turmoil created by Hurricane Katrina. (USDA Release No. 0338.05, dated 08/30/05, available at
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2005/08/0338.xml )
4. EC Commissioner Mandelson Announces Measures to Unblock Chinese Textile Products in European Harbors
The European Commisson's Europa publication carries an announcement by Commissioner Peter Mandelson that he has "set on motion procedures to unblock the goods that have been caught" at the border, notably pullovers and trousers. The Commissioner adds that there remain issues to be resolved about whether and how different segments of these unblocked goods should be counted in relation to the agreed quotas, and that he has made proposals on this issue to his Commission colleagues and to member states. (Europa speech, dated 08/29/05, available at http://europa.eu.int/comm/commission_barroso/mandelson/speeches_articles/temp_icentre.cfm?temp=sppm049_en.)
5. FAS Notice on Fees for Dairy Import Licenses for 2006 TRQ Year
USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has issued a notice announcing that, effective January 1, 2006, the fee to be charged for the 2006 tariff rate quota (TRQ) year for each license issued to a person or firm by the USDA authorizing the importation of certain dairy articles which are subject to tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) set forth in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), will be $150 per license. (FAS, FR Pub 09/01/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-17414.pdf )
6. NHTSA Proposed Rule on Child Restraint Systems
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a proposed rule on child restraint system safety, with a specific focus, among other things, on restraints recommended for children who weigh up to 80 pounds. Written comments are due by October 31, 2005. (NHTSA D/N NHTSA-2005-21245, FR Pub 08/31/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-17218.pdf
7. TSA Aviation Security Advisory Meeting
The DHS' Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued a notice announcing a open meeting of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC) on September 22, 2005, in Arlington, VA. Among other things, the meeting will cover status reports on the actions of the Freight Assessment System Working Group, etc. (TSA, FR Pub 09/01/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-17393.pdf )
8. CFSAN Reports on its Progress in Meeting FY 2005 Program Priorities
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted to its Web site its report on progress it is making towards implementing the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition's (CFSAN's) fiscal year (FY) 2005 program priorities. According to the FDA, it has made significant progress toward achieving its goal of completing at least 90% of its "A-list" items by the end of FY 2005. (CFSAN report, dated August 2005, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/cfsan805.html.)
9. FMCSA Withdraws ANRP on Vision Standard for CMV Drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a notice withdrawing its 1992 advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) on the vision standard for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers in interstate commerce. FMCSA states that after reviewing public comments received in response to its ANPR, it believes there is insufficient data to support moving forward with a proposal to change the vision standard at this time. (FMCSA notice, FR Pub 08/29/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-17102.pdf.)
10. Federal Register Publication of 4th Quarter FY 2005 Interest Rates for Overpayments and Underpayments of Customs Duties
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has published the interest rates for the fourth quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2005 for overpayments and underpayments of Customs duties, which are unchanged from the corresponding rates in effect for the third quarter of FY 2005. (See ITT's Online Archives or 06/10/05 news, 05061010, for BP summary of IRS press release announcing the fourth quarter FY 2005 interest rates.) (CBP notice, FR Pub 08/31/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-17247.pdf.)