Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. Customs Authorization Legislation Introduced in the Senate

2. DHS to Invest $1.157 Billion in Radiological Detection Equipment

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a press release announcing the award of Advanced Spectroscopic Portal (ASP) program contracts totaling $1.157 billion to enhance the detection of radiological and nuclear materials at U.S. points of entry. According to DHS, these new systems will enhance current detection capabilities by more clearly identifying the source of detected radiation through spectroscopic isotope identification. (DHS press release, dated 07/14/06, available at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=5738)

3. China's Ministry of Commerce to Curb Illegal Export of Textiles

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) reports that China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has issued a circular to alert domestic companies about the pitfalls of exporting textile products to the U.S. and the European Union (EU) using fake certificates of origin. According to the article, pursuant to certain memorandums with the U.S. and EU on textile trade, the agreed trade volume for the following year will be slashed to penalize the whole industry if these illegal practices are carried out. (TDC dated 07/13/06, available at http://garments.tdctrade.com/content.aspx?data=garments_content_en&contentid=634703&SRC=IN_ChiMaiHk&w_sid=194&w_pid=679&w_nid=10354&w_cid=634703&w_idt=1900-01-01&w_oid=156)

4. State Dept Fact Sheet on U.S. Arms Control Compliance/Enforcement and the UN Program of Action for Small Arms/Light Weapons

The State Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs has issued a fact sheet regarding U.S. arms control compliance and enforcement and the United Nations (UN) program of action for small arms and light weapons. This fact sheet provides illustrative case summaries of export violations involving small arms and light weapons, recent arms brokering convictions, and examples of the successful use of end-use monitoring to thwart the illicit trade involving small arms and light weapons. (Fact sheet, dated 07/03/06, available at http://www.state.gov/t/pm/rls/fs/68550.htm.)

5. USDA Issues FY 2005 Agricultural Trade Update on State Exports

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has posted to its Web site its "U.S. Agricultural Trade Update: State Exports." According to the document, California and Iowa remained the top U.S. agricultural exporting states in fiscal year (FY) 2005. (USDA update FAU-114-01, dated 06/30/06, available at http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/erssor/trade/fau-bb/text/2006/fau11401.pdf.)

6. CBP Announces Meeting of Airport and Seaport Inspections User Fee Advisory Committee

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that the CBP Airport and Seaport Inspections User Fee Advisory Committee will meet in open session on August 22, 2006 in Washington, DC. CBP states that since seating is limited, all persons attending this meeting must provide notice, preferably by close of business on August 8, 2006. (FR Pub 07/10/06 available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-10751.pdf)

7. BIS Denies Certain Export Privileges and Imposes Civil Penalty for Prohibited and Unlicensed Export Activities

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued an Order denying certain export privileges for fifty years and imposing a civil penalty of $330,000 on Ihsan Medhat Elashi (aka I. Ash, aka Haydee Herrera, aka Abdullah Al Nasser, aka Samer Suwwan, aka Sammy Elashi) for activities involving the export to certain countries in the Middle East of computer equipment and software from the U.S. in violation of orders temporarily denying his export privileges and without the required licenses. (D/N 05-BIS-14, FR Pub 07/10/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-6022.pdf)

8. APHIS Issues Notice of Availability of Its BSE Analysis

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a notice advising the public that an analysis of the prevalence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, also called mad cow disease) in the U.S. has been prepared by APHIS and is available for review. (D/N APHIS-2006-0047, FR Pub 05/03/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-6728.pdf.)

9. EPA Makes New Information Related to SNAP Program Available

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a notice announcing that it is making available to the public new information related to a November 4, 2005 proposed rule under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. The SNAP program reviews alternatives to Class I and Class II ozone depleting substances and approves the use of alternatives which reduce the overall risk to public health and the environment. Comments were due by June 26, 2006. (See ITT's Online Archives or 11/14/05 news, 05111420, for BP summary of EPA November 4, 2005 proposed rule.) (FR Pub 05/26/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-8177.pdf.)

10. New Advisory Committee on Intelligent Transportation Systems Established

The Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Acting Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is establishing an advisory committee to advise the Secretary on carrying out the Department of Transportation's Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Program. Interested parties are invited to submit comments on the issues to be discussed, and submit the names of organizations and participants to be considered for representation on the committee. Comments or nominations for membership on the committee were due by June 2, 2006. (D/N FHWA-2006-24307, FR Pub 05/03/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-6687.pdf.)

11. FWS Issues Three Notices on Bald Eagles

The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has issued three notices regarding bald eagles, which announce that it is extending the comment period on (1) the proposed rule re-opening the public comment period on the proposal to remove the bald eagle from the List of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife under the Endangered Species Act; (2) the proposed rule to establish a regulatory definition of "disturb" under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act; and (3) the draft National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines. Comments were due by June 19, 2006. (FR Pubs 05/16/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-4606.pdf, http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-4607.pdf, and http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-4605.pdf.)

12. FSIS to Hold Public Meeting on Updated BSE Risk Assessment Model

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a notice announcing the availability of an updated Harvard Risk Assessment of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). The revised model evaluates the impact of measures implemented after the discovery of a BSE-positive cow and recommendations made by an international BSE panel. The public meeting on this updated risk assessment will be held on July 25, 2006 in Washington, DC. (D/N FSIS-2006-0011, FR Pub 07/12/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-10928.pdf)

13. President Determines Swaziland is Eligible to Receive Certain Defense Articles & Services

On June 19, 2006, the President issued Determination No. 2006-16 in order to announce the eligibility of the Kingdom of Swaziland to receive defense articles and defense services under the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act. (FR Pub 06/26/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-5717.pdf)