GSP Review of Bangladesh Recognizes Progress, Urges that More be Done on Worker Safety and Rights
Office of the United States Trade Representative / http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2015/January/GSP-Review-of-Bangladesh-Recognizes-Progress-Urges-More-Done-Worker-Safety
Washington, D.C. – A USTR-led interagency review has concluded that while Bangladesh has made progress over the last year to address fire and building safety issues in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector, further progress is needed, including to address serious worker rights issues, before reinstatement of Bangladesh’s trade benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) can be considered. President Obama suspended Bangladesh from GSP in June 2013 based on Bangladesh’s failure to meet statutory eligibility requirements related to worker rights.
“We urge the government to complete remaining factory inspections as soon as possible to prevent recurrence of workplace tragedies such as those that occurred in 2012 and 2013,” said United States Trade Representative Michael Froman. “There is more work to do, building on the collaboration between the government of Bangladesh, private sector stakeholders, and the International Labor Organization, to address the concerns about factory safety in the apparel sector. We also urge the government to accelerate its efforts to ensure workers’ rights and to take measures to address continuing reports of harassment of and violence against labor activists who are attempting to exercise their rights.”
The Administration recently concluded a USTR-led interagency review of progress by the government of Bangladesh in implementing the GSP Action Plan, which provides a basis for the potential reinstatement of GSP trade benefits. The review found that there has been progress in some important areas, particularly with respect to fire and building safety issues. Under the general supervision of the Bangladesh government, over 2,000 initial safety inspections of factories have been completed in the RMG sector over the last year, most by teams organized by private sector initiatives led by North American and European brands and retailers. These inspections resulted in the closure of at least 31 factories, the partial closure of 17 additional factories, and the identification of needed remedial measures in hundreds more. The government is responsible for the inspection of several hundred more factories and has hired additional inspection teams to carry out and sustain the inspection effort.
The review also found that further progress is needed in several key areas under the Action Plan. In particular, urgent progress is needed to fairly and systematically address reports of unfair labor practices and to advance and implement needed legal reforms. The U.S. Government is concerned about continuing reports of harassment and violence against union activists seeking to establish new unions or to exercise their legal rights. There has also been little progress in advancing the labor law reforms called for in the Action Plan, including changes to ensure that workers are afforded the same rights and protections in Export Processing Zones as in the rest of the country.
In addition to engaging regularly with the government of Bangladesh, the U.S. Government is also closely coordinating with the European Union, the International Labor Organization (ILO) and other international partners under the July 2013 Sustainability Compact on worker rights and factory safety in Bangladesh.
BACKGROUND
The President’s June 2013 decision to suspend Bangladesh’s trade benefits under the GSP program resulted in U.S. imports of GSP-eligible products from Bangladesh becoming ineligible for duty-free treatment. In 2012, the total value of U.S. imports from Bangladesh under GSP was $34.7 million; the top GSP imports from Bangladesh included tobacco, sports equipment, porcelain china, and plastic products. Legal authorization for duty-free treatment for all countries under GSP expired on July 31, 2013. The Obama Administration supports Congressional action to reauthorize the GSP program at the earliest opportunity.
The U.S. Government provides assistance through the Department of Labor (DOL), the Department of State, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for programs that support the strengthening of worker rights and safety in Bangladesh. For example, DOL is providing technical assistance to help the government of Bangladesh better enforce fire and building safety standards and to train workers’ organizations to more effectively identify and report violations and propose and monitor remediation efforts. The Department of State is supporting programs that seek to strengthen the capacity of trade unions to recruit new members, form legally-registered, plant-level unions and bargain with employers to improve working conditions for RMG sector workers, and increase the participation and skills of women to be active organizers and leaders of workers’ organizations. USAID’s civil society strengthening initiatives include the Global Labor Program, which works in Bangladesh to strengthen capacity of independent, democratic trade unions and labor NGOs to engage in social dialogue, participate in policy debates, and promote access to justice for workers. USAID also supports human rights and counter-trafficking in persons initiatives that promote the rights of migrant workers and vulnerable populations.
The review was conducted by the USTR-chaired GSP Subcommittee of the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee, which includes representatives of the Departments of State, Labor, Commerce, Agriculture, and the Treasury, as well as the U.S. Agency for International Development.
FTC Seeks Comment on Fair Packaging and Labeling Act Rules
Federal Trade Commission/ http://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2015/01/ftc-seeks-comment-fair-packaging-labeling-act-rules
The Federal Trade Commission is proposing amendments to its rules under the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA).
Enacted in 1967, the FPLA requires that certain products carry labels identifying the contents, source, item quantity, and other information to help consumers compare products.
In March 2014, the FTC sought public comment on the FPLA rules as part of its systematic review of all current FTC rules and guides. In response to comments received, the Commission proposes amendments to the rules, including modernizing the place-of-business listing requirement to incorporate online resources and eliminating obsolete references to commodities advertised using the terms “cents off,” “introductory offer,” and “economy size.” The agency also proposes to revise the rules to incorporate a more comprehensive metric chart.
Product categories exempt from FTC regulations under the FPLA are meat products, poultry, tobacco products, drugs under the Food and Drug Administration’s jurisdiction, alcoholic beverages, commodities subject to the Federal Seed Act, and any commodity subject to packaging or labeling requirements imposed under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, or certain provisions of the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act. In addition, the FTC has specifically listed numerous products that are not subject to the FPLA.
The Commission vote approving the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was 5-0. It is available on the FTC’s website and as a link to this press release and will be published in the Federal Register soon. Instructions for filing comments appear in the Federal Register Notice. Comments must be received on or before March 30, 2015. All comments received will be posted on the FTC’s website. (FTC File No. R411015; the staff contact is Megan Gray, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-3408, mgray@ftc.gov).
Port Sees Third-Busiest Year Ever
Port of Long Beach / http://www.polb.com/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=1405&TargetID=1
Cargo container trade climbed 1.3 percent in 2014, indicating continued economic growth for the U.S. and bringing the Port its third-busiest year ever behind the peak years of 2006 and 2007.
Last year’s overall volume rose to 6,820,806 TEUs or twenty-foot equivalent units. Imports increased 1.8 percent to 3,517,514 TEUs, exports declined 5.9 percent to 1,604,394 TEUs, while empties rose 8.2 percent to 1,698,898 TEUs. Empty containers are sent overseas to be loaded with cargo.
For December 2014 alone, the Port moved 567,237 TEUs through the harbor, a 2.6 percent decrease compared to December 2013. Imports dropped 5.1 percent to 276,516 TEUs. Exports fell 11.2 percent to 131,496 TEUs. Empties rose to 159,225 TEUs, an increase of 11.5 percent.
Port officials attributed the growth in 2014 overall to strong relationships with the shipping industry.
“This is the third straight year that imports have climbed. We could not have achieved our third-busiest year in our history without the support from our longtime business partners,” said Jon Slangerup, Port of Long Beach Chief Executive.
The Port of Long Beach continues to invest long term and is now five years into a decade-long, $4 billion program to modernize its facilities.
Defining Moments (Trade Terms and Practices, Briefly Defined): Antidumping Investigation
United States International Trade Commission/ http://www.usitc.gov/press_room/featured_news/defining_moments_trade_terms_and_practices_briefly.htm
Antidumping Investigation: Investigations conducted by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the USITC under the U.S. antidumping law, Title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1673 et seq.), almost always on the basis of a petition filed with Commerce and the USITC on behalf of a domestic industry. If Commerce determines that the subject goods are being sold in the United States at less than fair value (dumped), and the Commission determines that a U.S. industry is materially injured or threatened with material injury or that the establishment of any industry is materially retarded by reason of such sales at less than fair value, Commerce will issue an antidumping duty order that imposes an antidumping duty on such imports in an amount equal to the margin of dumping.
USITC Makes Determination in Five-Year (Sunset) Review Concerning Barium Carbonate From China
US International Trade Commission / http://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2015/er0120ll328.htm
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty order on barium carbonate from China would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.
As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determination, the existing order on imports of this product from China will remain in place.
All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative.
Today’s action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on this five-year (sunset) review.
The Commission’s public report Barium Carbonate from China (Inv. No. 731-TA-1020 (Second Review), USITC Publication 4518, February 2015) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the review.
The report will be available after February 23, 2015. After that date, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp
BACKGROUND
The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.
The Commission’s institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other information. Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review. If responses to the USITC’s notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.
The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews. Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission’s prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the review, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.
The five-year (sunset) review concerning Barium Carbonate from China was instituted on August 1, 2014.
On May 9, 2014, the Commission voted to conduct a full review. Commissioners David S. Johanson, Meredith M. Broadbent, F. Scott Kieff, and Rhonda K. Schmidtlein concluded that the domestic group response for this review was adequate and that the respondent group response was inadequate, but that circumstances warranted a full review. Commissioners Irving A. Williamson and Dean A. Pinkert concluded that the domestic group response for this review was adequate and that the respondent group response was inadequate, and voted for an expedited review.
A record of the Commission’s vote to conduct a full review is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.
CBP Cincinnati Seizes Heroin Concealed in Piston Parts
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/2015-01-16-000000/cbp-cincinnati-seizes-heroin-concealed-piston-parts
CINCINNATI – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) participated in inspection operations that led to the discovery of more than $484,000 in heroin.
Officers working express consignment operations in Cincinnati recently seized more than 11 pounds of heroin when a shipment manifested as pistons arrived at the facility for processing. The shipment originated in Dubai and was destined for delivery to Canada.
The shipment was submitted for further physical inspection and x-ray examination, which resulted in the discovery of anomalies within the pistons. Officers drilled a hole in one of the items that revealed heroin concealed within. The heroin seized has an approximate street value of more than $484,000.
In December 2014, CBP officers in Cincinnati seized more than $200,000 of heroin when a shipment manifested as a baby playpen was inspected.
“This heroin seizure is a testament to the continued dedication and persistence by all of our officers to keep these dangerous and deadly narcotics off the streets and out of our international communities,” said Port of Cincinnati Director Richard L. Gillespie.
The Drug Enforcement Administration classifies heroin as a schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Heroin is considered a highly-addictive drug and the most rapidly acting of the opiates. Please see the DEA Heroin Fact Sheet for more information.
CBP routinely conducts inspection operations on passengers and air cargo searching for narcotics, currency, weapons and other prohibited or illicit products. Inspecting international parcels for dangerous and illicit products also remains a CBP enforcement priority.
For more on CBP’s border security mission at our nation’s ports of entry, please visit the At Ports of Entry page.