USITC Releases Report Concerning Whether Certain Textile and Apparel Articles from Nepal are Import Sensitive - U.S. International Trade Commission
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today released a public version of its confidential report on whether certain textile and apparel articles from Nepal are import sensitive.
The investigation, Nepal: Advice Concerning Whether Certain Textile and Apparel Articles Are Import Sensitive, was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
The USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, submitted a confidential version of the report to the USTR on September 29, 2016. The USTR requested that the USITC issue a public version of the report containing only the unclassified sections, with any business confidential information deleted.
As requested, the USITC provided advice on the likely impact on U.S. imports, competing U.S. industries, and U.S. consumers of providing duty free treatment for the following 66 HTS 8 digit subheadings from Nepal:
Certain luggage articles and attaché cases:
4202.11.00, 4202.12.20, 4202.12.40, 4202.12.60, 4202.12.80
Certain handbags:
4202.21.60, 4202.21.90, 4202.22.15, 4202.22.40, 4202.22.45, 4202.22.60, 4202.22.70, 4202.22.80, 4202.29.50, 4202.29.90
Certain pocket goods: 4202.31.60, 4202.32.40, 4202.32.80, 4202.32.95
Certain travel, sports and similar bags, backpacks, and other containers:
4202.91.00, 4202.92.08, 4202.92.15, 4202.92.20, 4202.92.30, 4202.92.45, 04202.92.60, 4202.92.90, 4202.99.90
Certain carpets and other textile floor coverings (rugs):
5701.10.90, 5702.31.20, 5702.49.20, 5702.50.40, 5702.50.59, 5702.91.30, 5702.91.40, 5702.92.90, 5702.99.15, 5703.10.20, 5703.10.80, 5703.90.00, 5705.00.20, and 6308.00.00
Certain shawls, scarves, headbands, and blankets:
6117.10.60, 6214.10.10, 6214.10.20, 6214.20.00, 6214.40.00, 6214.90.00, and 6301.90.00, and 6117.80.85, 6217.10.85
Certain hats: 6504.00.90, 6505.00.08, 6505.00.15, 6505.00.20, 6505.00.25, 6505.00.30, 6505.00.40, 6505.00.50, 6505.00.60, 6505.00.80, 6505.00.90, 6506.99.30, 6506.99.60
Certain gloves: 4203.29.50, 6216.00.80
Nepal: Advice Concerning Whether Certain Textile and Apparel Articles Are Import Sensitive, (Investigation No. 332-558, USITC publication 4640, Sept/Oct 2016) is available on the USITC's Internet site at https://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub4640.pdf.
USITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the House Committee on Ways and Means, or the Senate Committee on Finance. The resulting reports convey the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subjects investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the USITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigation reports are subsequently released to the public, unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.
Issuance of Designated Port Exception Permits for Import at Non-Staffed Ports - Fish & Wildlife Service
Background: Service regulations under 50 C.F.R. Part 14 allow for the issuance of a permit authorizing importation and exportation of wildlife at one or more ports not otherwise authorized when certain criteria are met. The issuance criteria for the Designated Port Exception Permits (DPEP) include the availability of a Service officer.
As the Service moves forward with implementation of the International Trade Data System (ITDS) and begins to pilot the FWS Import Message Set submitted through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), it is critical that our wildlife inspectors be staffed at ports of clearance to process shipments and function effectively in this new single window environment.
Action: Effective immediately, the Service will no longer issue DPEP’s to authorize a non-staffed port when the applicant is required to file a CBP entry for any import activity.
OCEAN Alliance Will Become Effective Monday, October 24, 2016 - Federal Maritime Commission
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has concluded its review of the proposed OCEAN Alliance, FMC Agreement No. 012426, allowing it to become effective on Monday, October 24, 2016.
Today’s announcement follows an exhaustive review process by the Commission that thoroughly examined all aspects of the proposed agreement to assure that competition in the ocean transportation industry would not suffer. Commissioners and Commission staff extensively engaged filing counsel on a number of issues, and took advantage of the opportunity allowed for under the law to issue a Request for Additional Information, which necessitates the filing of further documentation in support of the application.
The OCEAN Alliance is comprised of COSCO Shipping, CMA CGM, Evergreen Marine, and Orient Overseas Container Line Limited (OOCL). Agreement members are now permitted to share vessels; charter and exchange space on each other’s ships; and, enter into cooperative working arrangements in international trade lanes between the United States and ports in Asia, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Canada, Central America, and the Caribbean.
"The Commission worked very hard to balance the needs of not only the OCEAN Alliance applicants, but all other parties involved in the intermodal supply chain, with the ultimate goal of safeguarding competition in international oceanborne common carriage, with the American shipping public foremost in mind. The Agreement going into force represents a consensus of what will allow OCEAN Alliance carriers to achieve efficiencies without harming the marketplace," noted Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Mario Cordero. "I applaud both Commission staff and the filing parties for not only their hard work, but the professional manner in which they addressed matters raised during the review process."
United States and Japan Commit to Improve and Advance Cross-Border Privacy and Data Flows - U.S. International Trade Administration
TOKYO – Today, U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis Ted Dean met with Secretary General Mari Sonoda of Japan’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PPC) to affirm their agencies' commitment to implement and expand the APEC Cross Border Privacy Rules system designed to protect privacy and increase confidence in cross border data flows. The CBPR system aims to facilitate trade and economic growth through enhancing electronic commerce and strengthening consumer privacy protections across the Asia Pacific region. The PPC’s recent decision to recognize the system as a mechanism for international data transfers in the implementing guidelines for Japan’s amended privacy law marks an important milestone for the development of the APEC CBPR system in Japan.
The Department of Commerce and PPC will meet regularly and work together with stakeholders from both countries to raise awareness of the CBPR and encourage other APEC member economies to participate.
“The CBPR system offers a tremendous opportunity across APEC to protect consumer privacy while facilitating data flows that are critical to trade and economic growth,” Acting Assistant Secretary Dean stated. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Government of Japan to implement and expand the APEC Cross Border Privacy Rules system.”
“The Commission has resolved to advocate for further cooperation with foreign counterparts to enable cross-border transfer of personal information while ensuring the protection thereof. The Commission will work strenuously to ensure the reciprocal and smooth transfer of data, including by promoting the APEC CBPR system. We look forward to continuing to cooperate with the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Government,” Secretary General Sonoda stated.
With Japan joining the United States as fully operational participants in the CBPR system, the continued expansion of the system across APEC countries will further enhance global trade and ensure that consumer privacy and data flows are protected throughout the APEC region. All 21 APEC economies committed to implement the CBPR system at the APEC Leaders’ Summit in Honolulu, Hawaii on November 13, 2011.
More information about the Cross Border Privacy Rules is available via the APEC CBPR website (www.cbprs.org) and APEC Electronic Commerce Steering Group website(http://apec.org/Groups/Committee-on-Trade-and-Investment/Electronic-Commerce-Steering-Group.aspx).
APEC Cross Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) System
The APEC Cross Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) system was developed by participating APEC economies after seeking the views of industry and civil society, to build consumer, business and regulator trust in cross border flows of personal information. The APEC CBPR system requires participating businesses to develop and implement data privacy policies consistent with the APEC Privacy Framework. These policies and practices must be assessed as compliant with the minimum program requirements of the APEC CBPR system by an Accountability Agent (an independent APEC CBPR system recognized public or private sector entity) and be enforceable by law.
Personal Information Protection Commission, Japan
The duties of the Personal Information Protection Commission (PPC) are to pursue securing the proper handling of personal information to protect an individual’s rights and interests while considering the utilization of personal information. The Commission, a collegial decision-making body comprising one chairperson and eight commissioners all of whom are appointed by the Prime Minister with the consent of both Houses of the Diet, decides on and proclaims the state-level intention and opinion on its own. The chairperson and eight commissioners exercise their official authorities independently.
ITA: Press Release - International Trade Commission
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Four Years Later, Lessons Learned from Hurricane Sandy - U.S. Fish & Wildlife
This week marks the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, an event that left a lasting impact on communities across the East Coast. There has been healing and recovery, but Sandy lives on – especially for the many people who are still rebuilding homes or recovering losses. In a blog published today in the Huffington Post, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe notes how Sandy serves as a reminder of the past and an opportunity to move forward "with new hopes and vision for the future."
Read More>>
Leave Chocolate Out of Rover's Celebrations - Food & Drug Administration
Holidays and chocolate seem to go together. For birthdays, Valentines Day, Halloween and Christmas - chocolate is everywhere. But, there is one place chocolate should never be and that's in your dog. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and it can kill them!
Here are the facts:
Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound in the same family as caffeine, and theophylline (an asthma drug). In certain quantities, theobromine is toxic to dogs. In general, the minimum toxic theobromine dose in dogs ranges from 46 to 68 mg/lb. Half the dogs that consume 114 to 228 mg/lb or greater of theobromine will die. Lots of things can play a role in whether your dog will have a toxic reaction including the amount of chocolate your dog ate, your dog's size, and whether your dog happens to be extra-sensitive to theobromine. One of the most important things in chocolate toxicity is the kind of chocolate your dog ate. Different types of chocolate contain different amounts of theobromine. For instance:
- Milk chocolate contains 44 mg of theobromine per oz. (704 mg theobromine/lb milk chocolate)
- Semisweet chocolate chips contain 150 mg/oz. (2400 mg theobromine/lb semisweet chocolate)
- Baking chocolate contains 390 mg/oz. (6240 mg theobromine/lb baking chocolate)
Signs of chocolate toxicity:
Theobromine toxicity can cause a variety of signs ranging from mild to severe. Signs include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Rapid heart rate
- Restlessness
- Hyperactivity
- Urinating more
- Muscle spasms
- Seizures
- Other neurological signs.
If you think your dog has eaten chocolate, call your veterinarian immediately! Only your vet can determine the proper treatment for your pet.