International Trade Reporter: Current Reports Index-Summary

ICELAND

– EFTA

See EUROPEAN FREE TRADE ASSOCIATION (EFTA)

– Trade policy, U.S. relations, Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement signed, 97

IMPORT TRENDS

– Steel, Census Bureau reports, Nov. 2008, 12; Dec. 2008, 151; Jan. 2009, 273; Feb. 2009, 414; March 2009, 572; April 2009, 735; May 2009, 1061; July 2009, 1196; Aug. 2009, 1278; Sept. 2009, 1463

INDIA

– Agriculture, Senate Finance Comm. leaders request ITC report on U.S. access to Indian markets, 78; ITC investigation into effects of tariff and nontariff measures, In Brief, 255
– Balance of trade, nation to miss export target for FY2009 due to global economic downturn, commerce minister says, 325
– Bilateral agreements

– – Canada, economic partnership talks, 164; Canada launches public consultations on potential agreement, 391
– – Chile FTA, governments begin discussions on negotiations, 422
– – Kazakhstan reaches market access agreement as part of WTO accession bid, 74
– – South Korea FTA, government signs landmark trade deal, 1132
– – U.S. investment treaty, negotiations to begin soon, senior official says, 884

– Budget, government proposes interim FY2009 budget with increased spending on military and domestic development programs, 251
– Commodity matchbooks, preliminary determination (ITA), 758; final affirmative ruling, 1441
– Doha Round, government reiterates commitment to restarting negotiations, 1058
– Dumping statistics, government reports quadrupling in number of new probes in last half of 2008, 452
– Export controls, Validated End-User program, GE India to become first company from India to participate in program, 852; BIS formally extends program to include GE India, 926
– Export financing

– – Ex-Im Bank MOU with business association, In Brief, 885
– – Reliance Indus. to stop selling gasoline to Iran, reports welcomed by Sherman (D-Cal), 79

– Food safety standards, U.S. FDA opens offices in New Delhi and Mumbai to improve safety and quality of imports, 100
– Foreign investment

– – Air transportation, government considering proposal to allow foreign airlines to invest in Indian carriers, 189
– – Total investment, Cabinet approves more uniform calculation guidelines, 250

– Harmonization of standards, government and U.S. launch joint conformance cooperation program, 326
– HEDP, final dumping determination (ITA), 392; material injury determination (ITC), 493
– Intellectual property, EU dispute over generic medicines seized in Netherlands erupts over WTO obligations, 185; NGOs call on WHO and WTO to prevent seizure of legitimate shipments, 271; Brazil claims increasing number of cases involving seizure of shipments in transit through Netherlands, 329; Brazil and India protest continued seizures by EU authorities, 779
– Matchbooks, preliminary determination of subsidies (ITA), 460
– Prestressed concrete steel wire strand, AD/CVD sunset reviews, In Brief, 362
– Safeguards, government increases number of new investigations, drawing complaints from China, 253
– Taxation, special economic zones to receive upfront exemptions on internal services taxes, 788
– Trade policy

– – Africa, incentives for exports announced as part of 5-year plan, 1205
– – European Union

– – – Cold-rolled stainless steel products, government imposes temporary antidumping duty, 588
– – – Wines and spirits, EU broadens WTO complaint challenging levy on imported products, 648

– – Former Soviet republics, incentives for exports announced as part of 5-year plan, 1205
– – Global trade barriers, government sets up mechanism to investigate barriers with major partners, 711
– – Hopes for reforms and economic stimulus soar as new government sworn in, 746
– – Latin America, incentives for exports announced as part of 5-year plan, 1205
– – Safeguards, government notifies WTO of further decisions to impose provisional measures to protect domestic industries, 819
– – U.S. relations

– – – Cold-rolled stainless steel products, government imposes temporary antidumping duty, 588
– – – Copyright enforcement, Kirk asks for improvements and better investment climate, 1474
– – – Ex-Im Bank loan guarantees supporting refinery construction by firm with ties to Iran could jeopardize other vital national interests, Sherman (D-Cal) says, 10

INDONESIA

– Bilateral agreements, U.S. TIFA, talks called “tough” but making progress on illegal logging, licensing rules, and restrictions on imports, 676
– Chemicals, U.S. PET resin industry voices concern over GSP competitive need limitations for imports, 325
– Coated paper, union and 3 paper firms file AD/CVD cases, 1333; Levin (D-Mich) says decision to file case about enforcing trade rules, 1334
– Fair trade in legally harvested forest products, U.S. jointly convenes first Asia-Pacific Regional Dialogue, 1206
– Infrastructure, government looking to development projects to support domestic demand and export growth, 1363
– Mining, U.S. and EU jointly raise concerns about additional restrictions on mine operator activities, 1434
– Movies, U.S. criticizes recent restrictions on importation and copying of films, 420

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

– Disclosure, China noncommittal on Japanese calls for easing rules, 783
– Privacy, FTC settles with 6 firms accused of falsely claiming compliance with EU-U.S. data transfer program requirements, 1391
– Tariffs, U.S. accuses EU of undermining WTO agreement through restrictive interpretation of accord, 635
– Testing, USTR welcomes Chinese elimination of security and certification mandates for commercial products, 614

INFRASTRUCTURE

– Aid for Trade Initiative helping developing countries make improvements, World Bank report says, 914
– Broadband projects, ARRA provisions could cause problems for companies seeking NITA grants, 736; DOC to waive ARRA obligation, 874
– Public water supply

– – ARRA Buy American provisions delaying projects, utility and business officials say, 809; Oberstar (D-Minn) prods EPA about implementation of waiver provisions, 1058; EPA revises conditions for waivers, 1088
– – Budget, FY2010 appropriations

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 3183

– Trade policy

– – Indonesia looking to development projects to support domestic demand and export growth, 1363
– – Sub-Saharan Africa, conditions hamper exports, ITC says, 686

INSPECTIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS

– Cargo screening

See CARGO SCREENING

– Countervailing duties investigations, status of agency actions, 167; 295; 429; 589; 721; 861; 1045; 1176; 1298; 1481
– Dumping investigations

– – China reports continued rise in number of new antidumping probes targeting foreign imports, WTO says, 1250
– – U.S., status of agency actions, 167; 295; 429; 589; 721; 861; 1045; 1176; 1298; 1481

– Intellectual property, §337 investigations

See SECTION 337

– Seafood, Russia agrees to mutual inspections with U.S. regulators, 379

INSURANCE

– Dumping, domestic producers may seek damages against firms for allegedly negligent issuance of customs surety bonds on certain imports from China (CIT), 553
– Export financing, Ukraine moves to abandon plans to create state-owned export insurance entity, 1160
– Market access, Kirk flags level playing field for U.S. providers in Japan as area of concern, 925
– Nontariff measures impeding U.S. property and casualty insurers, In Brief, 610

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

– ACTA

– – Negotiations, EU hosts 4th meeting in Paris to discuss international cooperation, enforcement practices, and infringement on Internet, 8; European Parliament urges release of related documents, 416; USTR releases summary of current state of negotiations, 472; USTR to move forward with negotiations, 806; fifth round of talks takes place in Morocco, 994; sixth round of talks to include digital environment enforcement, 1383
– – Public access to information, 2 interest groups drop FOIA suit seeking disclosure of documents (D.D.C.), 890

– Berne Convention implementation violates First Amendment rights of parties using copyrighted foreign works that had lapsed into public domain (D. Colo.), 557
– Bilateral agreements

– – ARIPO-U.S. cooperation plan, In Brief, 1372
– – Chile-Peru FTA, Peruvian government implements agreement that excludes IPR chapter, 288
– – Israel-U.S. FTA, USTR denies petition seeking suspension under IPR protection rules, 936

– Brand names, Chinese WTO dispute panel, USTR soliciting public comments, In Brief, 255
– Competitiveness, 2009-2010 Global Report, U.S. no longer world's most competitive economy, WEF says, 1278
– Copyright protection

– – Bahamas to restore protections for U.S. pay TV content, 1366
– – Chinese writers' group challenges Google for scanning and posting books online without permission, 1469
– – EU data official urges against “three strikes” approach to enforcement in telecommunications reform package, 275; European Comm'n to establish single market for licensing for online distribution, 1159; European Parliament to back off demands for court order before cutting off internet access, 1464
– – France approves controversial law giving special judicial authority power to cut off internet access of illegal downloaders, 1465
– – Statistics, U.S. industries continue to outperform rest of economy, report finds, 1093
– – Taiwan adopts “three strikes” approach to countering online infringement, 578

– Counterfeiting

– – ACTA negotiations, interest groups criticize USTR for failure to release sufficient information about ongoing talks, 636
– – China pledges further cooperation and enforcement against fake goods, 751
– – Curtailing demand as important as efforts to stop supply, conference attendees say, 608
– – G-8, ICC calls on leaders to increase cooperation, 811
– – Global experts recommend strategies to “manage” instead of eradicating practice, 210
– – Pro IP Act enforcement provisions, attorney questions likely impact, 316
– – Semiconductors, 6 producers meet to discuss issues, 1287

– Dispute resolution, WIPO to set up office in Singapore to handle certain activities, 1125
– Enforcement of IPR

– – Canada needs to address serious inadequacies in IPR regime, Sherman (D-Cal) says, 584
– – China, U.S. renews concerns about rules for trademarks, pharmaceutical patents, and internet piracy, 1468; Locke says more work needed, 1469
– – Climate change, WIPO chief insists existing rules not barrier to mitigation and abatement technology dissemination, 1092
– – Coordination, Pres. Obama names Espinel to be first IP czar under Pro-IP Act, 1314
– – CRS updates report, 776
– – Innovation, protections important for U.S. development of energy and climate-related technologies, witnesses tell House hearing, 1057
– – Overseas personnel, GAO report lists agencies involved in protecting and enforcing Pro IP Act, 315
– – Taiwan removed from watch list of countries failing in rights protection, 100
– – U.S. complaint against China, WTO publishes final dispute panel ruling, 158; U.S. hails ruling but China sees “broad affirmation” of regime, 402; former USTR official raises issue of adequacy of TRIPs, 454; U.S. and China agree on WTO deadline for implementation of ruling, 923; Kirk claims “clear win” for U.S. products and exporters, 1129; China files appeal, 1286; Kirk says U.S. must do better job of enforcing IPR in China, 1352; U.S. files counter-appeal against part of ruling on publications and audiovisual products, 1393; ruling could open China's mobile music download market to foreign competitors, 1394

– Generic medicines, EU dispute with Brazil and India over shipments seized in Netherlands erupts over WTO obligations, 185; NGOs call on WHO and WTO to prevent seizure of legitimate shipments, 271; Brazil claims increasing number of cases involving seizure of shipments in transit through Netherlands, 329; Brazil and India protest continued seizures by EU authorities, 779
– Genetic resources, traditional knowledge, and folklore, WIPO members endorse compromise on protection, 1354
– Global economic crisis affecting China's system of IPR litigation, former chief justice says, 453
– Global Index 2009 ranks U.S. in top tier for competitiveness except for trademarks, 668
– Green innovation

– – Climate change, U.S. Chamber of Commerce praises lawmakers' interest in protection, 1459
– – Compulsory licensing likely to cause job losses in certain technology sectors, U.S. Chamber of Commerce says, 1350
– – IDEA, interest groups and companies form coalition to protect IP rights, 702

– Influenza virus samples, WHO members agree to continue negotiating sharing agreement, 737
– Monsanto patents and royalties dispute, Argentine court dismisses government suit but government to continue to litigate, 165
– Patents

– – Applications, WIPO reports slower growth in number of international applications, 213
– – China

– – – Enforcement policy, practitioners receive guidance on prosecution and enforcement after effective date of “Third Amendment,” 279
– – – Examinations, officials attend international meeting for first time, 710

– – Cooperation treaty, WIPO considers improvements while rejecting U.S. call for new accord, 669
– – European Union

– – – Bad applications, patent official calls for increased fees to weed out “clutter,” 1284
– – – Enforcement policy, agreement reached on basic setup of special litigation system, 740
– – – International cooperation key to maintaining strength of global system, EPA president tells meeting, 1467

– – Finland and U.S. to cooperate to streamline processing and promote protections, 921
– – Infringement suit in Dubai court sufficient to create subject matter jurisdiction for declaratory judgment action in U.S. (D.D.C.), 1172
– – Russia joins WIPO treaty as part of bid for WTO membership but uses reservation provision, 247
– – U.S. slipping in dominance over total global patent grants, report suggests, 151

– Piracy

– – Films, case studies tend to show connection between counterfeit goods, organized crime, and terrorism, Rand report says, 345
– – House Foreign Affairs Comm. members single out China and Canada for derelictions, 508; Congressional caucus adds 5 countries to 2009 watch list, 775
– – Software, global rate hits 41 percent, BSA study says, 704

– Section 337 investigations

See SECTION 337

– Special 301

See SPECIAL 301

– Trademarks

– – Agendas, interest group offers recommendations to Obama administration, 68
– – Budweiser, trademark agency rejection of application for EU-wide rights justified, ECJ rules, 459
– – Prohibition limits against Cuba

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 1103

– – Statistics, WIPO chief expects economic crisis to slow down international applications, 347
– – “U.S. Customs Service” unregistrable because falsely suggests connection with agency (TTAB), 1009; ruling affirmed on appeal, In Brief, 1106

– World Intellectual Property Organization

See WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION (WIPO)

INTERNATIONAL FINANCE

– Consumer demand, Chinese incomes must rise significantly to reach leading global consumer status, officials say, 1253
– Credit, China's rise as creditor nation should allow greater convertibility of currency, BIS says, 1033
– Currency

See CURRENCY

– Economic interdependency between U.S. and China becoming stronger despite global financial crisis, economists tell conference, 883
– Global crisis

– – “Brute force” to push financial reforms in U.S. and China, Volcker says, 820
– – China increasing U.S. Treasury holdings, official says, 514
– – Japan does not view reversing liberalization as fix, ambassador says, 19
– – OECD forecasts contraction of more than 13 percent for first quarter 2009, 480; report warns against protectionism, 738
– – Power balance tipped after economic meltdown, developing nations tell conference, 1253
– – World Bank economic forecasting team points to signs of trade downturn bottoming out, 667

– Global GDP to contract 1.7 percent this year, World Bank report forecasts, 443
– Government spending, Chinese premier vows to increase to promote continued strong growth, 352
– Imports, China, rise in prices related to global surge in oil and other commodity prices and to currency appreciation, 78
– Regulatory reform

– – China and U.S. must work together to ensure strong and stable economic recovery, Geithner says, 732
– – Europe wants to work with U.S. to make major changes to world finance structures, Sarkozy and Merkel say, 69
– – IMF and other international institutions need reform to reflect rise of other powers than U.S., 750
– – U.S. and trading partners must address underlying causes of global economic downturn before assisting in recovery, McCormick says, 12

– Status, aggressive Chinese government moves to gain more power, 452

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION (ITC)

– Annual trade overview for 2008, In Brief, 1095
– Budget, FY2010 appropriations, board requests 10 percent increase to help meet expected increase in §337 and AD/CV cases, 311
– DeFilippo designated director of Investigations Office, In Brief, 1260

INTERNET

– Electronic Document Information System (EDIS), ITC upgrade, In Brief, 494
– Gambling

– – Commercial operation restrictions, member state rules justified if designed to fight fraud and crime, ECJ rules, 1201
– – Frank (D-Mass) to seek repeal of Bush administration rules, 191
– – U.S. online gambling ban, EU protests as violating WTO rules but will seek negotiated solution first, 450; EU claims justification to take action even if U.S. GATS commitments withdrawn, 814

– Games of skill, Menendez (D-NJ) introduces measure to license, regulate, and tax certain online games, 1120
– Green Dam filter, Locke and Kirk urge China not to move forward with proposed mandate for new computers, 881; China to delay requirement, 922; computer firms in China begin installing censorship software, 1031; China backs down from controversial plan, 1131
– Harmonized Tariff Schedule Online Reference Tool, In Brief, 334
– Intellectual property

– – ACTA members meet in Paris to discuss enforcement practices for intellectual property rights infringement, 8
– – Section 337, law firm launches blog to keep practitioners informed about litigating IP disputes before ITC, 333
– – Taiwan adopts “three strikes” approach to countering online copyright infringement, 578

– Live webcast of annual CBP symposium, In Brief, 1356
– Regulations.gov, service glitch on e-rulemaking website results in loss of more than 100 public comments, 1199
– RTAs, WTO launches new online information database, 93

IRAN

– DHL pays civil penalty to settle charges of illegally aiding and abetting exports from U.S., 1088
– Divestiture measure

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 1327

– Energy sector, prohibition of Ex-Im bank support

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 1434

– Foreign firms doing business with government, group of U.S. lawmakers call on Obama administration to impose sanctions, 462; House Appropriations Comm. approves measure prohibiting Ex-Im Bank funds, 895; 2 senators to introduce measure penalizing foreign firms dealing with Iran, 936; further action, see LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 3081, S 908
– Sanctions

– – House set to move on measure as Clinton steps up pressure, 1300
– – Senate actions, Dodd (D-Conn) plans to move measure through committee soon, 1335

– U.S. Ex-Im Bank loan guarantees supporting refinery construction by Indian firm with ties to Iran could jeopardize other vital national interests, Sherman (D-Cal) says, 10

IRAQ

– Foreign investment, DOC conference, In Brief, 1372
– Normalization of relations, U.S. business and investment meeting to build economic partnership, Locke says, 1483

IRELAND

– Lisbon Treaty, voters overwhelmingly support new legal underpinning framework for EU, 1357

ISRAEL

– Bilateral agreements, U.S. FTA

– – HTS, Pres. Obama issues proclamation with modifications, 1197
– – Intellectual property, USTR denies petition seeking suspension under IPR protection rules, 936

– Special 301, USTR seeks public comments on out-of-cycle IPR review, 1384
– Trade policy, U.S. relations, Pres. Bush extends duty-free treatment for certain agricultural products, 56

ITALY

– Bailout of automobile industry, European Comm'n approves plan, 318