Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Journal of Commerce reports that CBP officials state that government agencies will begin to use the International Trade Data System (ITDS), which is an integral part of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), in late 2006. The article notes that a prominent would-be ITDS user, the Coast Guard, has begun talking with the ITDS development team. In addition, the article notes that Treasury Department officials state that agencies are beginning to see the value of seeing the data online as it's being collected at the border. (JoC dated 01/02/06, www.joc.com.)
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. Government Agencies Will Begin to Use ITDS in Late 2006
2. Taiwan Reopens Market to U.S. Beef
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has issued a press release announcing that Taiwan will resume trade in U.S. boneless beef from animals less than 30 months of age. According to the FAS press release, Taiwan's announcement closely follows the recent reopening of several other major Asian markets to beef in Hong Kong, Japan and Korea. (FAS, PR 0012-06, dated 01/25/06, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/PressRelease/pressrel_dout.asp?PrNum=0012-06.)
3. Inspector Error Led to Recent Japan Ban of U.S. Beef
The Washington File reports that the failure of a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspector to fully understand Japan's import requirements for veal was the primary reason Japan halted accepting all U.S. beef. In addition, the Washington File article notes that the meat processor was also at fault and has been taken off USDA's list of approved beef exporters. (Washington File Pub 01/25/06, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/usinfo/Archive/2006/Jan/25-77393.html.)
4. AMS Announces Section 610 Reviews for Potato Plan & Mushroom Order
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has issued two notices announcing that it is conducting a review of: (1) the Potato Research and Promotion Plan (Potato Plan), and (2) the Mushroom Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order (Mushroom Order) under the criteria contained in Section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. According to AMS, the purpose of these reviews is to determine whether the Potato Plan and Mushroom Order should be continued without change, amended, or rescinded (consistent with these programs' objectives) in order to minimize the impacts on small entities. Written comments for both reviews must be received by February 13, 2006. (Potato Notice - D/N FV-05-711, FR Pub 12/14/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-7332.pdf Mushroom Notice - D/N FV-05-710, FR Pub 12/14/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-7336.pdf
5. U.S.-China Economic & Security Review Commission to Hold Hearing
The U.S.-China Economic & Security Review Commission (Commission) has issued a notice announcing that it will hold a public hearing on February 2-3, 2006 in Washington, DC. The hearing is designed to assist the Commission in fulfilling its mandate to identify major challenges facing the Chinese leadership, how these challenges manifest themselves in a growing frequency of public protests, how China's state bureaucracies are responding to the protests, and what actions the U.S. is taking or should be taking as a consequence of these challenges. (FR Pub 01/25/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-931.pdf)
6. APHIS Proposes to Allow Importation of Certain Peppers from Korea
The Animal and Plan Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a proposed rule which would allow the importation into the continental U.S. of peppers from Korea. As a condition of entry, the peppers would have to be grown in approved insect-proof, pest-free greenhouses and packed in pest-exclusionary packinghouses. In addition, the peppers would have to be safeguarded against pest infestation during their movement from the production site to the packinghouse and from the packinghouse to the continental U.S. Written comments are due on or before February 27, 2006. (D/N 05-068-1, FR Pub 12/29/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-8028.pdf)
7. BIS Denies Export Privileges of Zhan Gao and Related Persons
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a notice announcing that it has revoked the export privileges of Zhan Gao and certain related persons for a period of 10 years. According to BIS, Gao was convicted of two felonies in connection with exporting 80 microprocessors to China without obtaining the required license from BIS. (FR Pub 12/20/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-24234.pdf)
8. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| APHIS | Requirements for Recognizing the Animal Health Status of Foreign Regions | 03/07/06 |
| FDA | Voluntary Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Manuals for Operators and Regulators of Retail and Food Service Establishments | 01/23/06 |
| APHIS | National Animal Identification System | 10/31/05 |
| APHIS | Voluntary \"Do Not Sell\" List of Invasive Plant Species | 11/28/05 |
| FDA | Guidance for Requesting an Extension to Use Existing Label Stock After the Trans Fat Labeling Effective Date of January 1, 2006 | 01/23/06 |
(APHIS Health Information Collection, FR Pub 01/06/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-89.pdf.)
(FDA Hazard Information Collection, FR Pub 12/22/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-7644.pdf.)
(APHIS Animal Information Collection, FR Pub 09/29/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-19453.pdf.)
(APHIS Voluntary Information Collection, FR Pub 09/29/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-19453.pdf.)
(FDA Label Information Collection, FR Pub 11/22/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-23040.pdf.)