International Trade Reporter: Current Reports Index-Summary

JAPAN

– Agriculture, USTR meeting with Akamatsu, In Brief, 1397
– Balance of trade

– – Exports to U.S. decrease record 58 percent in Feb. 2009, 455
– – June surplus increases 388 percent, 1099
– – Merchandise account registers first trade deficit in 28 years in FY2008, data show, 578

– Beef

– – Mad cow disease, government poised to relax import controls further on U.S. beef, 745
– – Market access, U.S. industry group calls for staged approach to reopening market fully, 254; Kirk flags normalizing trade as area of concern, 925; Japan appoints new food safety commission chairman, 965

– Bilateral agreements

– – EU economic partnership agreement, interest group recommends provisions, 547
– – Peru FTA, officials begin first round of negotiations, 754
– – Switzerland, government signs FTA excluding most farm goods, 276; pact to enter into force soon, 1132
– – U.S., Japan to propose restart of consultations, 160; Pres. Obama and Prime Minister Aso meeting marks maiden summit of new U.S. administration, 254; Frank (D-Mass) and Levin (D-Mich) urge Pres. Obama to dissuade Prime Minister Aso from devaluing yen, 282; Kirk and Japanese trade minister discuss financial crisis, swine flue, Doha Round, and APEC, 615
– – Vietnam economic partnership agreement, 49; EPA to take effect soon, 1207; effective date, In Brief, 1363

– Currency, government supports U.S. dollar as world's key currency, ambassador says, 19
– Customs, trusted shipper program, U.S. and Japan sign mutual recognition agreement on compatibility of cargo security programs, 925
– Doha Round, country should make proactive contributions to completion of talks, Lamy urges, 282
– Dynamic random access memory chips, South Korea asks WTO dispute panel to halt review of Japan's compliance with earlier ruling, 355
– Insurance, market access, Kirk flags level playing field for U.S. providers in Japan as area of concern, 925
– Motor vehicles

– – Financial support, industry seeking medium-to-long-term incentives to ensure sustainable sales recovery, 420
– – Foreign-made auto sales, statistics for 2008 plunge to 34-year low, 101; imported auto sales plunge 44 percent to record low in Jan., 221; April sales slip to 20-year low with little sign of recovery, 678
– – Green commercial vehicles, government to offer expanded tax relief and new subsidies, 616

– Polyvinyl alcohol, AD order sunset review, In Brief, 393
– Prestressed concrete steel wire strand, AD order sunset review, In Brief, 362
– Rechargeable batteries, government objects to new certification requirements from South Korea, 885
– Steel, zeroing methodology, complaint about U.S. compliance with earlier ruling, WTO issues final ruling, 587; WTO Appellate Body sets date for issuance of ruling, 1010; WTO Appellate Body rejects U.S. appeal, 1138
– Subsidies, government moving to invest public funds in major manufacturers to help overcome financial difficulties caused by global crisis, 487
– Trade policy

– – EU import tariffs on high-tech goods, Lamy appoints WTO panel to rule on complaint filed by U.S., Japan, and Taiwan, 154; WTO dispute panel holds second hearing on joint complaint, 960
– – Global trade barriers, government complains of U.S. noncompliance with WTO rulings on antidumping practices and Buy American measures, 744
– – Long-term growth, government urges industries to cultivate Asian middle-class markets, 745
– – U.S. relations

– – – Regulatory reform, officials discuss recommendations from initiative, 79
– – – Zeroing methodology, WTO dispute panel supports claim against U.S. failure to comply with earlier condemnation of use, 225; WTO dispute panel issues final rule supporting Japanese claims, 492

– – WTO welcomes liberalization while U.S. calls for further market openings, 281

JEWELRY

– Rubies, jadeite, and related jewelry from Burma, U.S. making little progress in restricting prohibited imports, GAO report says, 1362

JORDAN

– Bilateral agreements, Canada FTA, Day releases text, In Brief, 1300

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT (DOJ)

– Budget, FY2010 appropriations

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 2847