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Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

April 28, 2010 by Karen Marzullo|Top News

1. ITA, USTR Request Comments on Trade Advisory Committee System

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the International Trade Administration have initiated a joint review of the Industry Trade Advisory Committee component of the trade advisory committee system, and are seeking public comments and suggestions on the appropriate scope of representation on the ITACs. Comments are due by May 25, 2010. (D/N 100416189-0189-01, FR Pub 04/27/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-9650.pdf)

2. CPSC Again Postpones Vote on “15 Month”, Component Testing Rules

The Commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission have again postponed their vote on the draft proposed “15 Month” rule on testing and labeling and the related draft proposed rule on component testing. The vote is now scheduled for May 5, 2010 (from April 28, 2010). (Calendar available at http://www.cpsc.gov/calendar.html)

3. CPSC to Vote on Revisions to Public Database FR Notice

The Commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission are scheduled to vote by April 30, 2010 on a revised "Paperwork Reduction Act" section of a Federal Register notice announcing a proposed rule on a publicly available consumer product safety database. The changes implement Commission amendments approved during its March 31, 2010 vote to issue the proposed rule. (Vote sheet, dated 04/23/10, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia10/brief/praCPSRMS_draft.pdf)

4. CPSC Issues Final Interpretive Rule on Unblockable Pool Drains

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a final interpretive rule on the term “unblockable drain” as used in the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act to prevent drain entrapment and child drowning in swimming pools and spas. (FR Pub 04/27/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-8160.pdf)

5. DOJ Announces 35 New Positions to Combat IP Crime

The Justice Department has announced the appointment of 15 new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions and 20 FBI Special Agents to combat domestic and international intellectual property crimes. These new positions are part of the department’s continued commitment to combat IP crimes here at home, and abroad. The new AUSA positions will be part of the department’s Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (CHIP) program. (News release, dated 04/26/10, available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/April/10-dag-480.html)

6. White House IP Coordinator Gives Update

White House Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator Espinel gave an update on the Administration's efforts to protect intellectual property on World Intellectual Property Day (April 26). Among other things, the Department of Homeland Security announced that its multi-agency IPR Center is creating partnerships with 70 federal, state and local law enforcement in 22 cities to collaborate on IP enforcement actions. (Notice, posted 04/26/10, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/04/26/world-intellectual-property-day)

7. OFAC Updates List of Authorized Providers for Certain Services to Cuba

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has updated its list of authorized providers of air, travel, and remittance forwarding services to Cuba. OFAC periodically and routinely updates the names and addresses of the Service Providers for the benefit of the public. (List, dated 04/19/10, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/cuba/cuba_tsp.pdf)

8. OFAC Releases Enforcement Information for April 23

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued its civil penalties enforcement information for April 23, 2010. (Notice, dated 04/23/10, available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/civpen/penalties/04232010.pdf)

9. EU-U.S. Re-launch Development Talks, Focus on Food Security, Climate Change

The European Union Delegation to the U.S. has announced that the EU-US dialogue on development was re-launched on April 25, 2010, and the two sides agreed on three areas for cooperation in the next two years: food security, climate change, and millennium development goals. (News release, dated 04/25/10, available at http://www.eurunion.org/eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3714&Itemid=58)

10. EU Responds to Canadian Questions About It Export Refunds

The World Trade Organization circulated European Union responses to questions by Canada regarding its export refunds, such as whether the EU anticipates that its "high levels of export refunds will continue in the future." The EU stated that it sets export refunds within the volumes agreed in the Uruguay Round and will not go beyond those limits. (Notice, posted 04/26/10, available at http://docsonline.wto.org/DDFDocuments/t/g/scmq2/EEC62.doc)

11. EU Official Journal Notices Involving Trade for April 27, 2010

In the April 27, 2010 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union, the following trade-related notices were posted:

12. EC Posts Proposals on Certain Preferential Rules of Origin

The European Commission has posted proposals for a European Council Decision on the:

13. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recalls

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has published notice of the following voluntary recalls:

Product: ReasonCompanyRelease #
Children's hooded sweatshirts with drawstrings: Strangulation HazardPolar Bear Gift Shop (AK)10-204
Rechargeable Batteries sold with Portable DVD/CD/MP3 Players: Fire HazardCoby Electronics Corp. (NY)10-205

(CPSC recalls available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerelapr10.html)

14. Agency Seeks Comments on Information Collections

Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):

Agency Information Collection Comments Due

APHISClassical Swine Fever Status of Chile and Cut Flowers from Countries with Chrysanthemum White Rust05/14/10
FDAExport of Medical Devices-Foreign Letters of Approval05/17/10
CBPCustoms-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT)05/17/10

(Information collection notices are hyperlinked to agency name.)

15. Revised FDA Import Alerts

The Food and Drug Administration has posted revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:

16. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports

The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports: