International Trade Reporter: Current Reports Index-Summary

LABELING

LABOR

– Alien Tort Statute and Torture Victim Protection Act

– – Colombia, claims brought by union leaders against Coca-Cola subsidiaries rejected (11th Cir.), 1139
– – Guatemala, dismissal of claims by union leaders against Del Monte and subsidiary confirmed (11th Cir.), 1141

– Antiunion violence, Colombia, more action needed toward eliminating problem, witnesses tell House panel, 256; Hormats says Obama administration trying to work around problem so FTA can move forward, 1256
– CAFTA-DR, Bush administration declines to seek consultations with Guatemala over workers' right petition, 161; Guatemala proposes bilateral task force to address issues, 932
– Child labor

– – Advisory committees, Vilsak announces appointment of 13 members to consultative group, 1317
– – Certificates, DOL proposes updated list of products requiring federal contractor certification, 1240
– – Senators call for protections in trade agreements as DOL awards grants to eliminate practice, 1317

– Compensation for Chinese factory workers still low compared to U.S. workers, 648
– Contracts, China, local governments not enforcing law to appease businesses suffering in global economic crisis, labor rights groups say, 277
– Domestic employment by U.S.-based multinational corporations as share of global workforce declined more than previously thought in 2006, 72
– Economic recovery, Pres. Obama meets with leaders to discuss need to develop new economic model based on job creation, 1316
– Free movement of persons, Switzerland presses for “yes” vote, 156; voters approve extending pact to Bulgaria and Romania, 218
– Informal employment sector undermining benefits of trade liberalization in developing world, joint ILO/WTO report claims, 1383
– Multinational firms added to U.S. domestic employment in 2007 but share of global workforce fell at same time, BEA finds, 1156
– Transatlantic Econ. Council, labor unions invited to offer input to discussions on revamped forum, 643
– Wal-Mart, employees of foreign suppliers failed to show liability for firms' failure to comply with local labor laws (9th Cir.), 1073

LACEY ACT

See WOOD

LANDSCAPING INDUSTRY

– Tow-behind lawn groomers from China, preliminary dumping finding (ITA), 166; final affirmative determination, 828; material injury finding (ITC), 1011

LAOS

– Duty-free imports of apparel and textiles, Senate actions

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 1141

LATIN AMERICA

See also specific countries
– ALADI to explore abandoning dollar in regional trade, 520
– Balance of trade, exports, trade plunges 31.8 percent in April 2009, 1136; UNECLAC says exports likely to drop 11 percent in 2009, 1213
– Trade policy

– – India announces incentives for exports as part of 5-year plan, 1205
– – U.S. should consider working to build positive atmosphere in advance of summit, report says, 80

LEAD

– Consumer products, manufacturers and retailers call on CPSC to delay compliance deadline for content limits, 184; CPSC denies request to stay effective date, 209; CPSC claims no authority to delay effective date, 241; CPSC final rule explains process for requesting exemptions, 348; several new requirements for children's products take effect, 1122; CPSC publishes final rule on exemptions from testing, 1156
– Toy importer OKK Trading agrees to pay civil penalty for knowing violations of limits, 912

LEATHER

– Import duties, Brazil and Argentina plan to raise common duties, 582

LEBANON

– Boycotts, IRS list, In Brief, 56; 539

LEGISLATION, FEDERAL

– Ed. Note: This heading covers bills with assigned numbers only. For information on measures not yet assigned numbers, see specific subject headings.
– Hill Watch, status of key issues facing Congress, Analysis, 524; 1221
– House

– – HR 1, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, economic stimulus bill contains controversial Buy American provisions for steel and textiles, 175; least-developed countries to be treated similarly to formal trading partners, 239; final bill includes Berry Amendment expansion, 240; Pres. Obama promises to implement law without violating WTO and NAFTA, 256
– – HR 496, Trade Enforcement Act, Rangel (D-NY) and Levin (D-Mich) introduce bill to strengthen trade enforcement by U.S., 91; Levin wants to move quickly on bill, 343
– – HR 1103, Cuban trademark prohibition limits, Wexler (D-Fla) introduces bill to clarify confiscation rules, 361
– – HR 1105, Omnibus FY2009 appropriations, Democrats introduce bill includes ban on funds for programs allowing Mexican trucks to make deliveries in U.S., 284; House passes bill with Mexican truck ban and restrictions on sales to Cuba, 328; Senate passes bill without changes, 356; Mexico to increase duties on U.S. products in retaliation for truck ban, 370; China protests chicken import ban, 381; Baucus (D-Mont) expresses concern about sales of farm products to Cuba, 388; interest groups to press Obama administration and Congress to resolve dispute, 1039; Teamsters union takes issue with estimate of job losses due to dispute, 1292
– – HR 1318, Afghanistan-Pakistan Security and Prosperity Enhancement Act, 3 lawmakers introduce bill to create free trade zones, 354
– – HR 1327, Iran divestiture, Meeks (D-NY) says bill to clarify authority of state and local governments, 394; Congress moves to stiffen economic sanctions, 624; House approves bill, 1444
– – HR 1837, Paraguay status as ATPA beneficiary, Engel (D-NY) introduces bill, 490
– – HR 1886, Pakistan Enduring Assistance and Cooperation Enhancement Act, House passes new trade preferences program for Pakistan and Afghanistan, 822; trade groups oppose bill, 852; 5 business groups object to House version of bill, 884
– – HR 2194, Sanctions against Iran, House set to move on bill as Clinton steps up pressure, 1300; Berman (D-Cal) announces markup schedule, 1445
– – HR 2310, U.S.-China Market Engagement and Export Promotion Act, working group announces competitiveness agenda, 678; Appropriations Comm. approves amendment to facilitate exports to China, 784
– – HR 2311, U.S.-China Diplomatic Expansion Act, working group announces competitiveness agenda, 678
– – HR 2312, U.S.-China Energy Cooperation Act, working group announces competitiveness agenda, 678
– – HR 2313, U.S.-China Language Engagement Act, working group announces competitiveness agenda, 678
– – HR 2346, Supplemental appropriations for FY2009, House passes bill including “Cash for Clunkers” provision, 810
– – HR 2378, Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act, bipartisan, bicameral coalition of lawmakers introduce measure, 675; China calls bill ill-founded and likely to inflame trade tensions with U.S., 676
– – HR 2410, Foreign relations FY2010 appropriations, bill includes provision to strengthen State Dep't IPR enforcement, 704; House approves bill to ease controls on exports of commercial satellites and related equipment and technology, 807; bill includes climate change and intellectual property provisions, 811
– – HR 2454, American Clean Energy and Security Act, Energy and Commerce Comm. Democrats avoid first procedural challenge to bill, 671; Energy and Commerce Comm. approves bill, 701; GOP Ways and Means Comm. members protest loss of jurisdiction over bill, 844; Pres. Obama warns against protectionism and calls for tariff analysis, 870; Senate Democrats move to include border adjustment tariffs in bill, 1087; House members urge Pres. Obama to support border adjustments, 1235; bill includes provisions for border tariffs to protect steel, glass, and cement, 1418
– – HR 2749, Food Safety and Enhancement Act, Energy and Commerce panel passes bill with import provisions, 806; Energy and Commerce Comm. passes bill, 845; House passes bill, 1060
– – HR 2751, Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act, bill passes House with bipartisan support, 777
– – HR 2847, Commerce, Justice, Science, and related agencies FY2010 appropriations, House report does not contain textile monitoring language, 820
– – HR 2892, DHS FY2010 appropriations, House passes bill, 876; conference report approval, 1388; House and Senate pass conference report, In Brief, 1424
– – HR 2997, USDA, Rural Development, FDA, and related agencies FY2010 appropriations, Senate passes bill without full ban on Chinese poultry imports, 1061; DeLauro (D-Conn) and USDA agree on final bill language for Chinese poultry imports, 1322; Senate passes final version of bill, 1382; Pres. Obama signs bill, 1472
– – HR 3039, Save Our Industries Act, McDermott (D-Wash) introduces bill to provide duty-free treatment of Philippine apparel using U.S. yarn, 926
– – HR 3081, State Dep't, foreign operations, and related programs FY2010 appropriations, House approves bill with provisions targeting firms aiding Iran, 974
– – HR 3183, Energy and water development FY2010 appropriations, House passes bill with Big Three amendment offered by Pastor (D-Ariz), 1061; Senate bill sanctions companies assisting Iran with gasoline shortages, 1075; House passes conference agreement, 1372
– – HR 3288, DOT FY2010 appropriations, Senate passes funding bill, 1292
– – HR 3515, Export Control Improvements Act, Sherman (D-Cal) introduces bill to tighten controls and modernize AES, 1088

– Senate

– – S 1, Economic stimulus package, Finance Comm. bill contains provisions to extend TAA programs for 2 years and to allow firms to retain Byrd Amendment payments, 147; business groups urge Congress to reject inserting Buy American provisions into bill, 147; any Buy American provisions should be crafted to avoid triggering trade war, Pres. Obama says, 175; Senate Finance Comm. approves bill, 194; bill extends TAA 2 years after Kyl (R-Ariz) blocks compromise, 213; Canada cautious about apparent softening of protectionist elements of Buy American provisions, 215
– – S 622, Ethanol blender subsidy, Feinstein (D-Cal) introduces bipartisan bill to reduce tariffs on imports, 411
– – S 908, Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act, Dodd (D-Conn) working to give Pres. Obama more negotiating tools, 1075; Dodd plans to move bill through committee soon, 1335; Obama administration undecided on support of bill, 1403
– – S 1141, Tariff Relief Assistance for Developing Economies (TRADE) Act, bill to give duty-free status for apparel and textiles from 14 least developed countries, 735
– – S 1196, Small Business International Trade Enhancements Act, Landrieu (D-La) introduces bill to help small exporters and to establish new AUSTR, 812
– – S 1254, Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act, Schumer (D-NY) and Graham (R-SC) introduce bill to address misalignment of Chinese currency, 820
– – S 1434, State Dep't and foreign operations FY2010 appropriations, business groups concerned about amendment prohibiting Ex-Im Bank support of energy sector dealings with Iran, 1012
– – S 1606, Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act, bill to make lawsuits easier for consumers to file, 1105
– – S 1631, Customs Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Reauthorization Act, Baucus (D-Mont) and Grassley (R-Iowa) introduce customs agency improvement bill, 1086; bill to connect law enforcement security and trade facilities better, 1418
– – S 1733, Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, bill needs border tariff language to gain support from certain Democrats, Brown (D-Ohio) says, 1348; EPI report says bill could jeopardize more than 4M jobs, 1350; Boxer (D-Cal) plans markup soon, 1387; bill to establish allowance trading system to cut emissions at U.S. power plants and other operations, 1418; White House officials give bill high marks, 1460

LIBYA

– Boycotts, IRS list, In Brief, 56; 539

LIECHTENSTEIN

– EFTA

See EUROPEAN FREE TRADE ASSOCIATION (EFTA)

LIQUOR

See ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

LITIGATION

– Ed. Note: For lower court cases, see specific subject headings. For Supreme Court actions, see SUPREME COURT, U.S.

LIVESTOCK AND PLANT DISEASES

– Bluetongue, Canada proposes amending reporting requirements for U.S. imports of ruminant animals to harmonize trade regulations, 932
– Foot-and-mouth disease, U.S. lists South Korea as free, In Brief, 488
– Harmonization, Russia adopts amendments to bring veterinary, sanitary, and phytosanitary regulations into line with international standards, 1359
– Mad cow disease

– – Animal feed, FDA seeks to postpone implementation of new limits on use of cattle, 479
– – Import controls, Japan poised to relax rules further on U.S. beef, 745

– Rinderpest, U.S. lists South Korea as free, In Brief, 488
– Swine flu

– – China bans imports of pork from 3 U.S. states and Mexico, 576; U.S. calls on China to lift ban, 606
– – Evidence of infection in humans not sufficient to justify import bans on pigs, OIE says, 570
– – International organizations decry restrictions on pork products, 605
– – Mexico requests WTO members to lift restrictions on pork product imports, 619
– – NAFTA urges end to pork import restrictions, 651
– – OIE criticizes trade restrictions on pigs and pig products, 640
– – Russia limits some U.S. pork imports due to disease concerns, 574; U.S. calls on Russia to lift ban, 606; Russia lifts some import restrictions, 646; Russia lifts swine flu restrictions on imports, 1030

– Trade policy, Brazilian industry representative says removing sanitary and phytosanitary barriers better for trade than concluding Doha Round, 1364

LOBBYING

– Advisory committees, White House considering barring registered lobbyists from service on panels used by agencies to provide outside perspectives on policy, 1276; White House responds to letter from ITAC chairs criticizing proposed ban, 1455
– Registration, European Comm'n wants tighter rules on financial reporting, 1467