Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
Washington Trade Daily reports that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff handed over the government's responsibility for co-directing the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection and Related Functions (COAC) to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). According to the article, COAC's February 9, 2006 meeting was co-chaired by Acting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Deborah Spero, while previous meetings had been co-chaired by an assistant secretary of DHS. (Washington Trade Daily, dated 02/10/06, www.washingtontradedaily.com.)
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1. CBP, Not DHS, to Co-Chair COAC With Treasury Department
2. U.S.-EU Open Skies Agreement Depends on Adoption of DOT Aviation Rule
The State Department's Washington File reports that U.S. officials are urging Congress not to block a proposed regulatory change intended to allow more foreign investment in U.S. airlines, noting that U.S.-European Union (EU) transport liberalization depends on it. According to the article, the EU has made a U.S.-EU open skies agreement conditional on adoption of a Department of Transportation proposed rule intended to expand opportunities for foreign citizens to invest in U.S. carriers and participate in their management. (Washington File, dated 02/08/06, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=February&x=20060208172228SAikceinawz0.29974&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html.)
3. NITL Sponsors Importer & Service Provider Survey on C-TPAT
Shipper's NewsWire reports that the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) is sponsoring a survey to get feedback from importers and their service providers about Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT). The survey is available at http://survey.lbjlivewire.com/index.php?sid=3. (Shipper's NewsWire 02/10/06, www.americanshipper.com)
4. EU Expected to Conduct Progress Review by Sept. 2007 on Possible WPM Debarking Requirement
The Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) has issued a notice announcing that in conjunction with its decision to delay until January 1, 2009 the implementation of a requirement that wood packaging material (WPM) be made from debarked wood, the European Union (EU) is expected to conduct a progress review by September 2007. FAS explains that the EU's delay is intended to allow the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) time to evaluate the merits of the debarking requirement. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/02/06 news, 06020205, for BP summary of the EU's delayed implementation of this requirement.)(FAS notice, dated 02/09/06, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/scripts/gd.asp?ID=146176763)
5. Coast Guard's Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee & Hazardous Cargo Subcommittee Public Meetings
The Coast Guard issued a notice announcing that the Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC) and its Hazardous Cargo Transportation Security Subcommittee (HCTS) were expected to meet to discuss various issues relating to the marine transportation of hazardous materials in bulk. The meetings were scheduled for February 7-9, 2006. (USCG-2006-23670, FR Pub 01/26/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-960.pdf.)
6. U.S. to Begin Issuing New, Secure Passport Cards in 2006
The Washington File reports that the U.S. anticipates issuing a new, secure passport card for land border crossings by the end of 2006, as an alternative to the traditional passport book. According to the press release, the new passport cards will meet the proposed documentation requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. (Washington File Pub 01/19/06, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/gi/Archive/2006/Jan/20-138318.html)