International Trade Reporter: Current Reports Index-Summary

LABELING

LABOR

– CAFTA-DR, Bush administration declines to seek consultations with Guatemala over workers' right petition, 161
– Compensation for Chinese factory workers still low compared to U.S. workers, 648
– Domestic employment by U.S.-based multinational corporations as share of global workforce declined more than previously thought in 2006, 72
– Free movement of persons, Switzerland presses for “yes” vote, 156

LACEY ACT

See WOOD

LANDSCAPING INDUSTRY

– China, tow-behind lawn groomers, preliminary dumping finding (ITA), 166

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

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
– 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
– – 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
– – HR 1837, Paraguay status as ATPA beneficiary, Engel (D-NY) introduces bill, 490
– – HR 2310, U.S.-China Market Engagement and Export Promotion Act, working group announces competitiveness agenda, 678
– – 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 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 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

– 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

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

– Foot-and-mouth disease, U.S. lists South Korea as free, In Brief, 488
– 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