Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
Shippers NewsWire reports that during the week of May 8, 2006, the California Legislature agreed to place on the November ballot a $19.9 billion bond to fund repairs, reduce congestion, and improve port security. According to the article, the bond measure includes $4.5 billion to increase capacity and reduce congestion on key corridors and $3.1 billion to relieve traffic congestion along major trade corridors, improving freight facilities, and enhance the movement of goods from port to marketplace. (SNW dated 05/09/06, www.americanshipper.com.)
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1. California Set to Vote on Transportation Bond Measure in November
- USTR Issues Annual Report on IPR Violations
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice announcing the availability of its annual report on the identification of those foreign countries that deny adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights (IPR), or deny fair and equitable market access to U.S. persons that rely upon intellectual property protection. Among other things, the report identifies priority foreign countries whose acts, policies, or practices have the greatest adverse impact (actual or potential) on the relevant U.S. products, etc. (See ITT's Online Archives or 05/05/06 news, 06050530, for BP summary of the results of USTR's annual report.) (USTR notice, FR Pub 05/08/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-6926.pdf)
3. France Meets U.S. Requirements for E-Passports
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a press release announcing that new digital passports issued by France are compliant with U.S. technical requirements for countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). DHS notes that travelers with e-Passports issued by France will immediately be entitled to enter the U.S. without a visa if they are otherwise eligible for the program; however, individuals holding French passports that are not electronic and issued after October 26, 2005, will continue to require a visa. (DHS press release, dated 05/04/06, available at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=5591.)
4. AMS Interim Final Rule Adjusts Representation on Hass Avocado Board
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has issued an interim final rule which adjusts the number of members on the Hass Avocado Board to reflect changes in the production of domestic Hass avocados in the U.S. and the volume of Hass avocados imported into the U.S. over the 2003, 2004, and 2005 calendar years. Under the interim final rule, the Board will now be composed of seven domestic producer members and alternates and five importer members and alternates (rather than the current composition of eight domestic producers and four importers). Comments received by July 10, 2006 will be considered prior to issuance of a final rule. (D/N FV-06-701-IFR, FR Pub 05/09/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-4316.pdf)
5. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| FDA | Cosmetic Labeling Regulations | 03/20/06 |
| CBP | Guam Visa Waiver Information (CBP Form I-736) | 02/17/06 |
| CPSC | Collection of Information for Children's Sleepwear | 03/27/06 |
(FDA Information Collection, FR Pub 01/18/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-443.pdf)
(CBP Information Collection, FR Pub 1/18/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-423.pdf)
(CPSC Information Collection, FR Pub 01/25/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-848.pdf)
6. Foreign-Trade Zones Board Actions
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board (FTZB) has issued the following notices of recent FTZB actions:
| FTZ applicant/grantee | Company/action |
|---|---|
| Northern Mississippi FTZ, Inc. (FTZ 262) | FTZB has issued an order granting an application for authority to expand FTZ 262 to include two additional parcels at the DeSoto Trade Center in Southaven (DeSoto County), Mississippi. |
| Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority (FTZ 40) | Submission of application requesting manufacturing authority within the general-purpose zone for the manufacturing and warehousing facilities of the DEMAG Plastics Group (DEMAG), located in Strongsville, Ohio. |
| Cleveland-Cuyahoga County (FTZ 40) | FTZB has issued an order granting authority to expand FTZ 40 to include a new site at the Taylor Woods Commerce Park (Site 12, 448 acres) in Lorain County, Ohio within the Cleveland Customs port of entry. |
| Cleveland-Cuyahoga County (FTZ 40) | FTZB has issued an order granting authority to expand FTZ 40-Site 6 to include a new site at the Progress Drive Business Park (Site 6B, 22 acres, 2 parcels) located in Strongsville, Ohio within the Cleveland Customs port of entry. |
| Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority (FTZ 40) | FTZB has issued an order granting authority to expand FTZ 40 to include a new site at the Ashtabula Distribution Center, LLC (Site 11, 29 acres) in Ashtabula, Township, Ohio, adjacent to the Cleveland Customs port of entry. |
| CODEZOL, C.D. (FTZ 163) | Submission of application requesting authority to expand FTZ 163 to a site in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. |
| Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (FTZ 105) | FTZB has issued an order approving a request to construct and repair oceangoing vessels under FTZ procedures within FTZ 105-Site 2 (Quonset Business Park), North Kingstown, Rhode Island. |
| Brattleboro Foreign Trade Zone, LLC (FTZ 268) | FTZB grant of authority to establish an FTZ at sites in the Brattleboro, Vermont area, adjacent to the Springfield Customs port of entry. |
| Triangle J Council of Governments (FTZ 93) | FTZB grant of authority to establish a special-purpose subzone at the cosmetic and personal care products manufacturing and warehousing facility of Revlon Consumer Products Corporation, located in Oxford, North Carolina. |
(FTZ 262, FR Pub 12/30/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-8146.pdf)
(FTZ 40, FR Pub 12/30/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-8143.pdf)
(FTZ 40, FR Pub 12/30/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-8144.pdf)
(FTZ 40 FR Pub 12/30/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-8150.pdf)
(FTZ 40, FR Pub 12/30/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-8137.pdf)
(FTZ 163, FR Pub 12/30/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-8132.pdf)
(FTZ 105, FR Pub 12/30/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-8149.pdf)
(FTZ 268, FR Pub 12/30/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/E5-8147.pdf)
(FTZ 93, FR Pub 01/25/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-674.pdf)