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US – BIS issues rule on voluntary self-disclosures and revised notice of the institution of administrative enforcement proceedings

By 1 Min Read

On August 9, 2013. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published in the Federal Register a final rule [Docket No. 120207107-3621-02] that requires that the final, comprehensive narrative account required in voluntary self-disclosures (VSDs) of violations of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) be received by the Office of Export Enforcement (OEE) within 180 days of OEE’s receipt of the initial VSD notification. The rule also authorizes the use of delivery services other than registered…

US – CBP releases schedule for completing its modernized trade processing system in ACE

By 2 Mins Read

On August 8, 2013, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released a schedule for completing core trade processing capabilities in its Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) by the end of calendar year 2016. ACE consolidates, automates, and modernizes border processing and when complete, will provide a single access point to connect the trade community with CBP and Partner Government Agencies. CBP’s plan for completing core trade processing capabilities was developed after extensive consultation with internal and…

US – Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees requests ITC investigation of India’s trade practices

By 1 Min Read

On August 2, 2013, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) and Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-Mich.) requested the US International Trade Commission (ITC) investigate India’s unfair trade practices that discriminate against US exports and investment. Noting in a letter that US exports to India are low given the size of its market, the congressional leaders asked the ITC to detail…

USTR, Secretary of Agriculture announce extension of EU Beef MOU

By 1 Min Read

On August 1, 2013, USTR and Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack announced that the European Union (EU) will continue to provide US beef producers with significant access, at zero duty, to the EU market for high-quality beef produced from non-hormone-treated cattle. The United States and the European Union are planning to extend for two years Phase 2 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in 2009 in connection with the United States’ long-running dispute with the…

Canada imposes beef import levy

By 1 Min Read

On July 30, 2013, the Agriculture Minister and Canada Beef Chair announced that an amendment to the Beef Cattle Research, Market Development and Promotion Levies Order will see the current levy of $1 per head of cattle for beef marketed in Canada applied to importers. The levy will provide new investments in research and market development for Canada’s beef industry.

WTO and World Bank to develop services trade database

By 2 Mins Read

On 6 August 2013, the WTO announced that the WTO and the World Bank have agreed to jointly develop and maintain a database on trade in services, an area that is becoming increasingly important and yet for which little information is publicly available. The joint database covers various sectors in more than 100 countries, such as financial, transportation, tourism, retail, telecommunications, and business services, including law and accounting. The data will be presented in four…

US – USTR “vetoes” ITC decision excluding certain Apple products

By 3 Mins Read

On August 3, 2013, the US Trade Representative (USTR) wrote a letter to the Chairman of the US International Trade Commission (ITC) and advised him that, based on delegated authority from the President, he has disapproved on policy grounds the ITC’s determination to exclude certain Apple products from importation into the United States. On June 4, 2013, the ITC determined that Apple Inc. (Apple) had violated Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as…

US – APHIS develops web-based Lacey Act declaration tool

By 2 Mins Read

On August 5, 2013, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the development of a new electronic Lacey Act Plant and Plant Product Declaration (PPQ Form 505) submission tool called the Lacey Act Web Governance System (LAWGS). LAWGS is an online tool that will allow filers to submit Lacey Act Declarations (PPQ Form 505) electronically without needing to mail in a paper declaration. This tool will also allow filers to save commonly used…

EU Customs detain €1 Bn worth of fake goods at EU border in 2012

By 2 Mins Read

On 5 August 2013, the EU Commission announced that EU Customs detained almost 40 million products suspected of violating intellectual property rights (IPR) in 2012, according to the Commission’s annual report on customs actions to enforce IPR. Although this is less than the 2011 figure, the value of the intercepted goods is still high, at nearly €1 billion. Today’s report also gives statistics on the type, provenance and transport method of counterfeit products detained at…

US – CBP announces partnerships for new and expanded services

By 2 Mins Read

On August 2, 2013, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that it has made preliminary selections for five new public-private partnerships and is continuing progress on an additional existing project. These six projects in California, Florida and Texas are designed to support growth in cross-border trade and travel. The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 allows CBP to create a reimbursable fee agreement program to increase CBP’s ability to provide new or enhanced…