Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Journal of Commerce reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection will soon announce in the Federal Register that it is eliminating the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) requirement that importer accounts have bond riders and make periodic duty payments, thus opening ACE up to nearly all comers. (JoC, dated 08/29/05, www.joc.com )
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1. CBP May Eliminate ACE Bond Rider, Periodic Payment Requirement for Importers
2. U.S. Looking at Week of September 26 for Next Round of China Talks
According to U.S. government sources, the U.S. and China are considering whether it will be feasible to meet during the week of September 26, 2005 to continue to try to reach a comprehensive agreement on textiles. No location has yet been decided upon. USTR Special Textile Negotiator David Spooner had earlier stated that the U.S. remains optimistic that it can continue to make progress on remaining issues during this next round. (USTR 09/01/05 statement, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2005/September/Statement_of_USTR_Special_Textile_Negotiator_David_Spooner_Regarding_the_Second_Round_of_Textile_Talks_with_the_Chinese_in_Beiji_printer.html )
3. Charter Renewal of Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee
The Coast Guard has issued a notice stating that the Secretary of Homeland Security has renewed the charter for the Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee for two years from July 5, 2005 until July 5, 2007. (CG, D/N USCG-2005-22040, FR Pub 08/10/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-15782.pdf )
4. FDA Educational Workshops in CGMP in Beijing, China
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued notice that it is holding public workshops on current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) in Beijing, China, on December 5-7, 2005 and April 24-26, 2006 in collaboration with Peking University and the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering. (FR Pub 08/31/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-17248.pdf )
5. State "Notice of Interpretation" Regarding Land Border Crossings
The State Department has issued a "notice of interpretation" regarding section 1(a)(vi) of Executive Order 11423 which in 2004 authorized the State Department to issue Presidential permits for "border crossings for land transportation, including motor or rail vehicles, to or from a foreign country, whether or not in conjunction with the facilities." Among other things, the agency has determined that the new "land border crossing" language of section 1(a)(vi) will apply to all new crossings of the international border as well as all substantial modifications of existing crossings of the international border. (P/N 5149, FR Pub 08/08/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-15631.pdf )
6. CBP Final Rule on Technical Amendments to 19 CFR
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a final rule that amends 19 CFR Parts 7, 10, 11, 12, 18, 19, 24, 54, 101, 102, 111, 114, 123, 128, 132, 134, 141, 145, 146, 148, 151, 152, 177, 181, and 191, effective September 7, 2005, by making technical corrections to certain authority citations to reflect amendments to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) effected by the President's December 30, 2003 Proclamation of the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. (CBP final rule, CBP Dec. 05-31, FR Pub 09/07/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-17662.pdf.)
7. State Dept Terminates Statutory Debarment of Orbit/FR
The State Department has issued a notice, effective August 29, 2005, announcing that it has terminated the statutory debarment against Orbit/FR, Inc. The effect of this termination is that Orbit/FR, Inc. and its affiliates may participate without prejudice in the export of defense articles and defense services subject to certain provisions of the Arms Export Control Act, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, and the Consent Agreement. (State Dept Public Notice 5182, FR Pub 09/07/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-17746.pdf.)
8. EPA Issues Proposed and Direct Final Rules to Authorize Methyl Bromide for Certain Critical Uses
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued both a proposed rule and a direct final rule in order to, among other things, authorize use of 610,665 kg of methyl bromide for supplemental critical uses in 2005 through the allocation of additional critical stock allowances. The EPA states that written comments on the direct final rule must be received on or before September 29, 2005, or October 14, 2005 if a hearing is requested. If requested, the hearing will be held on September 14, 2005. (FR Pub 08/30/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-17190.pdf (proposed rule) http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-17191.pdf (direct final rule))
9. Various Agencies Seek Comments on Information Collections
Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):
| Agency | Information Collection | Comments Due |
|---|---|---|
| CBP | Documents Required Aboard Private Aircraft | 10/31/05 |
| CBP | Petition of Remission or Mitigation of Forfeitures and Penalties (CBP Form 4609) | 10/03/05 |
| ITA | Export Assistance Center Internet Web Site Form (ITA-4148P) | 10/31/05 |
| ITA | Watch Duty-Exemption and 7113 Jewelry Duty-Refund Program Forms (ITA-340P, 360P, 361P) | 10/24/05 |
| ITA | Export Trading Companies Contact Facilitation Service (ITA 4094P) | 09/02/05 |
| TSA | Department of Homeland Security-Vulnerability Identification Self-Assessment Tool- Transportation (DHS-VISAT-T) | 09/09/05 |
(CBP Information Collections, FR Pub 09/01/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-17446.pdf )
(ITA Internet Web Information Collection, FR Pub 08/31/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-17290.pdf )
(ITA Watch Information Collection, FR Pub 08/23/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-4591.pdf )
(ITA Export Trading Companies Information Collection, FR Pub 08/03/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-15266.pdf )
(TSA Information Collection, FR Pub 08/10/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-15771.pdf )