Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Washington File reports that the U.S. and South Korea will open negotiations on a comprehensive bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) to remove tariff and nontariff barriers and expand trade between the countries. The talks are expected to begin in or around May 2006 after a consultation period. (Washington File Pub 02/03/06, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/usinfo/Archive/2006/Feb/02-508129.html)
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1. U.S. and South Korea Announce Plans to Negotiate Free Trade Agreement
2. USTR Revokes Ukraine's IPR "Priority Foreign Country" Label, Etc.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice which announces that its out-of-cycle Special 301 review of Ukraine resulted in a finding that the Government of Ukraine has substantially improved its intellectual property rights (IPR) enforcement efforts. As a result, the U.S. is revoking the identification of Ukraine as a priority foreign country and is instead placing Ukraine on the priority watch list. (See ITT's Online Archives or 01/24/06 news, 06012405, for BP summary of the USTR's decision to reinstate GSP duty-free benefits for Ukraine due to its improved IPR enforcement and protection.) (D/N 301-121, FR Pub 02/03/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-1466.pdf)
3. Chicago Pipeline on Change in Policy Regarding Submission of AD Reimbursement Certificate, Etc.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the port of Chicago has issued Pipeline 05-29, dated 12/01/05, entitled "Change in Policy Regarding Submission of Duty Reimbursement Statements for Merchandise Subject to Antidumping and Countervailing Duties," which states that effective October 1, 2005, CBP shall no longer request reimbursement certificates, either upon receipt of the entry or upon receipt of final assessment instructions. (See ITT's Online Archives or 12/06/05 news, 05120605 for BP summary of more detailed CBP headquarters information, which also stated that this policy was applicable to AD cases only.)Chicago Pipeline 05-29, dated 12/01/05, available by fax by emailing documents@brokerpower.com )
4. BIS Again Extends Denial of Export Privileges for Wen Enterprises, Etc.
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has renewed for 180 days the order denying the export privileges of Wen Enterprises, Ning Wen, and Hailin Lin for their participation in the unlicensed export of national security controlled items to China. This is the second time BIS has extended its denial of export privileges for these persons. (See ITT's Online Archives or 11/22/05 news, 05112299 7, for BP summary of Ning Wen's conviction with regard to the above-described exports and links to an earlier BIS notice denying export privileges.) (FR Pub 02/03/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-1003.pdf)
5. ITA to Organize Trade Mission for FIDAE International Air Show 2006 in Chile
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice announcing that it will organize an Aerospace Executive Service (AES) matchmaking trade mission for the FIDAE International Air Show 2006 in Santiago, Chile from March 27-April 2, 2006. The ITA states that the FIDAE International Air Show is Latin America's premier aerospace and defense technology event and notes that the AES mission will include representatives from a variety of U.S. aerospace and defense industry manufacturers and service providers. (FR Pub 01/25/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-899.pdf)
6. Federal Register Announcement of 2nd Edition of Q&A on Records Under Bioterrorism Act
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published in the Federal Register notice of the availability of its guidance "Questions and Answers Regarding Establishment and Maintenance of Records (Edition 2)", which responds to various questions raised about Section 306 of the Bioterrorism Act. (See ITT's Online Archives or 12/02/05 news, 05120225 for BP summary of this guidance regarding prior notice of imported food.)(D/N 2005D-0356, FR Pub 11/22/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-23062.pdf )
7. NHTSA Proposed Rule on Safety Labeling
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a proposed rule that, among other things, would require passenger vehicles to be labeled with safety rating information published by the NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) beginning September 1, 2007. Comments are due by March 31, 2006. (NHTSA D/N NHTSA-2005-23216, FR Pub 01/30/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-827.pdf)