Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

Yahoo! News reports that Nigeria has been suspended from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) for alleged breaches of its provisions on illegal trade in endangered species, which would mean a total ban on imports or exports of every species of fauna and flora covered under the convention. (Yahoo! News, dated 03/20/08, available at http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080320/wl_africa_afp/nigeriacites_080320141540)

3. Trade Deficit Increases, Imports and Crude Oil Prices Hit Record Highs

The Los Angeles Times reports that U.S. Department of Commerce statistics show that the U.S. trade deficit grew to $58.2 billion in January as both imports and crude oil prices hit all-time highs. (LA Times, dated 03/12/08, available at http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-trade12mar12,1,4268948.story)

4. Tariffs on Shoe Imports are Disproportionate and Should be Repealed

According to a World Trade commentary, the tariffs on shoe imports are disproportionate and should be repealed. According to the commentary, shoe tariffs are ten times the average rate, and cheap sneakers face the highest tariffs the U.S. imposes on any manufactured good. (World Trade, dated March 2008, http://www.worldtrademag.com/)

5. Increased Exports to Asia Making Vessel Space Scarce

Pacific Shipper reports that the weak dollar and increased U.S. exports to Asia have made it more difficult for U.S. exporters to find space aboard vessels bound for Asia and to get reefer containers on a timely basis. (Pacific Shipper, dated Spring 2008, http://www.pacificshipper.com/)

6. Port of Columbus Pipeline Notice on Blue Folders for Quota-Class Items

U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Port of Columbus has issued a Pipeline reminding importers and brokers of CBP's policy requiring that quota-class entries be submitted in blue colored folders. (CBP Columbus Pipeline 08-013, dated 03/18/08, available by emailing BP at documents@brokerpower.com)

7. APHIS Reopens Comment Period for Live Animal Transport Proposed Rule

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a notice announcing it is reopening the comment period for its January 2008 proposed rule that would remove the current ambient temperature requirements in the Animal Welfare Act regulations for various stages in the transportation of live animals other than marine mammals, etc. Comments are due by April 17, 2008. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/05/08 news, 08020599 7, for BP summary of the proposed rule.) (D/N 99-014-3, FR Pub 03/18/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-5394.pdf)

8. FMCSA Announces Unified Carrier Registration Open Meeting

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a notice announcing that the Unified Carrier Registration Plan Board of Directors will hold an open Sunshine Act Meeting on April 10, 2008 to continue work in developing and implementing the Unified Carrier Registration Plan and Agreement and other matters properly before the Board. The meeting will take place telephonically. (FMCSA notice, FR Pub 03/18/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/08-1054.pdf)

9. State Dept Designates al-Shabaab as Foreign Terrorist Organization, Global Terrorist

The State Department has issued notices designating al-Shabaab (aka al-Shabab, aka Shabaab, aka the Youth, aka Mujahidin Al-Shabaab Movement, aka Mujahideen Youth Movement, aka Mujahidin Youth Movement, aka MYM, aka Harakat Shabab al-Mujahidin, aka Hizbul Shabaab, aka Hisb'ul Shabaab, aka al- Shabaab al-Islamiya, aka Youth Wing, aka al-Shabaab al-Islaam, aka al- Shabaab al-Jihaad, aka the Unity of Islamic Youth) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. (Public Notices 6136 and 6137, FR Pub 03/18/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-5444.pdf)

10. Foreign-Trade Zone Board Actions

The FTZB has issued the following notices of recent FTZ actions:

FTZ 39 - Dallas/Fort Worth, TX - Application for Subzone, Dal-Tile Corporation, (Flooring and Home Furnishing Products Distribution), Sunnyvale and Mesquite, TX

Approval for Expansion of Authority for Subzone 103A, Imation Enterprise Corp. (Data Storage Products), Wahpeton, North Dakota Area

Approval for Expansion of Manufacturing Authority for Subzone 86D; Tesoro Refining and Marketing Company; (Oil Refinery) Anacortes, WA

Approval of Manufacturing Authority, Within FTZ 26, Atlanta, Georgia, Perkins Shibaura Engines LLC (Diesel Engines)

Expansion of FTZ 185, Culpeper County, VA

Grant of Authority for Subzone Status, Lilly del Caribe, Inc. (Pharmaceutical Manufacturing), Carolina, Guayama and Mayaguez, PR

Grant of Authority for Subzone Status; Eastern Shipbuilding Group; (Shipbuilding); Panama City and Allanton, FL

Grant of Authority for Subzone Status, Candies Shipbuilders, L.L.C. (Shipbuilding), Houma, Louisiana

(FTZB notices available by searching on the March 18, 2008 Federal Register: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a080318c.html)

11. BTS Releases North American Surface Trade Numbers for 2007

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics has issued a press release announcing the release of the North American surface trade numbers for 2007. According to the BTS, trade using surface transportation between the U.S. and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 4.9% higher in 2007 than in 2006, reaching an annual record of $797 billion. (BTS 11-08, dated 03/11/08, available at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/bts1108.htm)

12. WTO Hearings on "Zeroing" Dispute Opened to Public Viewing

The World Trade Organization reports that at the request of the parties in the dispute "United States - Continued Existence and Application of Zeroing Methodology" (DS350), the WTO Panel has agreed to start its second substantive meeting with the parties on April 22, 2008 with a session open to public viewing at the WTO Headquarters in Geneva. (WTO news, dated 03/14/08, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/dispu350_march08_e.htm)

13. FMC Lists OTI Reissuances and Revocations

The Federal Maritime Commission has issued two notices that either reissue Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) licenses or revoke OTI licenses:

FMC notices (FR Pub 03/12/08) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-4919.pdf and http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-4912.pdf