Archive for November, 2008

SUMMARY: To help prevent terrorist weapons from being transported to the United States, vessel carriers bringing cargo to the United States are required to transmit certain information to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) about the cargo they are transporting prior to lading that cargo at foreign ports of entry. This interim final rule requires both importers and carriers to submit additional information pertaining to cargo to CBP before the cargo is brought into the United States by vessel.

Changes to the rules of origin for 24 product groups under the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement (UCFTA) would have little or no economic effect on U.S. production and trade, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) said today
The ITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, made the finding in its report Probable Economic Effect of Certain Modifications to the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement Rules of Origin, which was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). The ITC released the report today.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - Goods valued at more than $909 billion crossed the U.S. border in trade with Canada and Mexico in 2007, 4.9 percent higher than the previous record set in 2006, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) (Table 1).

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will conduct a review to identify yarns, fabrics, and other textile and apparel inputs that can be produced competitively in beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries through new or increased investment or other measures. The ITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will deliver its report, Sub-Saharan African Textile and Apparel Inputs: Potential for Competitive Production, to the House of Representatives' Committee on Ways and Means, the Senate Committee on Finance, and the Comptroller General by May 15, 2009.

WASHINGTON DC – United States Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab announced today that China has agreed to eliminate discriminatory restrictions on how U.S. and other foreign suppliers of financial information services do business in China, which the United States had challenged in a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute brought earlier this year.

BRUSSELS – With trade flows across the Atlantic worth around $2.15 billion (€1.7 billion) every day, EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton and US Trade Representative Susan Schwab met in Brussels today to renew their commitment to the early conclusion of the world trade talks and discuss a number of bilateral trade issues, including beef hormones, poultry, and REACH.

DHL, the world's number one international logistics and express service provider, today announced a repositioning of its U.S. Express business. Beginning January 30, 2009, DHL's U.S. Express business will focus entirely on its international offerings and will discontinue its domestic-only air and ground services. However, the company will retain a strong international presence and capability in the U.S. going forward.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) today released a public version of its confidential report on the probable effect of proposed modifications of the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement (USAFTA) rules of origin for certain yarns.

The report, Viscose Rayon Staple Fiber: Probable Effect of Modification of U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement Rules of Origin, was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).