International Trade Reporter: Current Reports Index-Summary

MACHINERY

MAD COW DISEASE

– Animal feed, FDA seeks to postpone implementation of new limits on use of cattle, 479
– Import controls

– – Canada likely to secure establishment of WTO dispute panel to challenge South Korea's ban, 1162; WTO agrees to establish dispute panel, 1206
– – Japan poised to relax rules further on U.S. beef, 745

MALDIVES

– Bilateral agreements, U.S. TIFA signed, 1434
– Duty-free imports of apparel and textiles, Senate actions

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 1141

MATTRESSES

See BEDS AND MATTRESSES

MAURITANIA

– AGOA, Pres. Bush terminates status as beneficiary sub-Saharan country, 12

MAURITIUS

– Bilateral agreements, BIT negotiations with U.S. to begin soon, 1108

MEAT AND POULTRY

– Bans of imported products, Russian authorities ban some imports from Kazakhstan despite plans for joint WTO bid with Belarus, 816
– Beef

See BEEF

– COOL

– – Canada, WTO consultations on mandatory COOL rule, Mexico and Nicaragua ask to join Canadian request, 22; USTR request for comments, 244; Canada to proceed with WTO complaint, 566; Canada seeks further WTO consultations, 650; Canada and Mexico request establishment of WTO dispute panel, 1398
– – USDA announces mandatory rule details, 66

– Market access, Russia's 5-year protocol addresses quotas for U.S. imports, 45; government suspends 12 U.S. poultry and pork plants from list of approved suppliers of imports, 218; Russian government considers talks with U.S. regulators on safety of poultry imports, 483; government limits some imports due to swine flu concerns, 574; Russia lifts some import restrictions, 646; Russia broadens swine flu-related import restrictions, 673; Russia amends import restrictions on state-by-state basis, 817; Russia pledges to support increased substitution of poultry imports and lifts some restrictions, 918; Russia lifts swine flu restrictions on imports, 1030
– Pork

– – Exports from U.S. down slightly in April 2009, 846
– – Federal assistance, industry calls for USDA aid in form of financial and regulatory actions, 1118; USDA commits to buying additional $30M in pork products for federal food programs, 1196
– – Russian import curbs, Kirk to travel to discuss issues, 707
– – Swine flu

See LIVESTOCK AND PLANT DISEASES

– Poultry

– – Chicken feet and wings, China launches formal AD/AS investigation into U.S. poultry industry, 1323
– – Chinese chicken exports to U.S.

– – – Ban in U.S. appropriations measure, China protests provision, 381; further action, see LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 2997
– – – WTO arbitration, China initiates WTO dispute complaint, 543; Chinese request for WTO consultations, 649; China to request WTO dispute panel, 881; China could seek to reduce imports of U.S. poultry, 922; continued efforts in Congress to extend import ban could touch off trade war, 1001; U.S. blocks Chinese request for WTO dispute panel, 1001; WTO accepts China's request, 1066; Lamy appoints dispute panel members, 1323

– – EU ban on U.S. imports, Obama administration may consider opening WTO dispute settlement case, 14; EU member states reject proposal to lift ban, 14; U.S. launches WTO dispute settlement proceedings, 96; producers call on Obama administration to request WTO dispute panel, 1357; U.S. asks WTO to establish dispute settlement panel, 1389; EU blocks U.S. request, 1458
– – Russia suspends imports of U.S. poultry from 3 plants for antibiotic residues, 418

– Product standards, Ukraine considers annulment in favor of certification, 742
– Quotas for imports, Russia, government decree designed to regulate distributions, 418; Russia to continue quota system over next 3 years, 1427
– Tariffs on imports, Ukraine lawmakers indicate tentative plans to introduce new surcharges on meat and meat products, 1203
– Trade policy, Russian government officials pledge to refrain from new import commitments, 16; Zubkov advocates support for major domestic poultry plants, 918; Skrynnik announces plans to limit meat imports by 2012, 1282
– Veterinary licenses, Kazakhstan amends regulations for consistency with WTO requirements, 1096

MEDICAL DEVICES

– Safety standards for imports

– – Dingell (D-Mich), Pallone (D-NJ), and Stupak (D-Mich) introduce measure to give FDA more funding and new powers, 183
– – India, FDA opens offices in New Delhi and Mumbai to improve safety and quality of imports, 100

MEFTA

See MIDDLE EAST FREE TRADE AREA (MEFTA)

MERCOSUR (SOUTHERN COMMON MARKET)

– Bilateral agreements, EU FTA, leaders foresee no headway, 1037; Brazil begins to concentrate efforts on negotiation, 1059
– Doha Round, Brazil should coordinate stance with trading partners, Paraguay says, 1038
– Import duties, Brazil and Argentina plan to raise common duties on furniture, thread, leather goods, and dairy products, 582
– Leaders' meeting postponed due to elections in Argentina and Uruguay, 887
– Membership, Venezuela, Brazil approves entry as full member, 22; nationalization dispute with Argentina casts shadow over quest to become full member, 752; leaders foresee no headway on resolution of dispute, 1037; Paraguay lawmakers likely to reject Venezuela's request to join trading bloc, 1103; Paraguay's president retrieves ratification request from hostile senators, 1135; Paraguay to drop attempt to win approval this year, 1367
– Multiple import tariffs, Paraguay blocks Brazilian proposal to end program, 23
– Preferential trade agreement with SACU finalized, 519
– Protectionism, Paraguay to retaliate against moves implemented by partners Brazil and Argentina, 359
– Tariffs, Bolivia, members to increase imports to compensate for loss of ATPA duty-free benefits, 22

METAL PRODUCTS AND MACHINERY

– Customs, CBP seeking comments on proposal to exclude U.S.-origin parts used in foreign repairs from dutiable value, 374; CBP withdraws proposal, 461
– Section 337, ITC investigations, bulk welding wire containers and components, In Brief, 1217

METALS

– Platinum, Russian monopoly on exports, In Brief, 1160
– Refined metal lead, U.S. renews outstanding complaint about 10 percent duty on Chinese exports, 1308
– Steel

See STEEL

– Taxes, China to remove import taxes on copper, cobalt, and nickel bound for re-export and export taxes on finished aluminum and metals, 48
– Toys, European Parliament approves restrictions on mercury, lead, chromium, and cadmium in toys, 15

MEXICO

– Banking, lawmakers vote to challenge Citigroup control of Banamex, 1437
– Bilateral agreements

– – Brazil FTA, leaders express mutual interest in accord, 1167; negotiations to begin soon, 1330
– – U.S. cement pact, CBP removes regulations providing special entry requirements, 1331

– Biotechnology, government awards contracts to agricultural firms to plant GM corn for experimental purposes, 1476
– Chemical inventory, government working to launch list soon, NACEC official says, 620
– COOL program, government asks to join Canadian request for WTO consultations, 22; USTR request for comments, 244; Canada to proceed with WTO complaint, 566; Canada seeks further WTO consultations, 650; Canada and Mexico request establishment of WTO dispute panel, 1398
– Energy, government publishes rules on high energy consumption reports and efficiency certification, 1291
– Export financing, Ex-Im Bank approves Pemex loan for energy development, 585
– Hass avocados, APHIS publishes final rule eliminating fruit fly trapping requirements, 932
– NAFTA

See NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (NAFTA)

– Prestressed concrete steel wire strand, AD order sunset review, In Brief, 362
– Subsidies, Chinese export subsidies, government joins U.S. formally to initiate WTO dispute settlement case over 70 allegedly illegal export subsidies, 17; Guatemala joins complaint, 159
– Sugar, government concerned about market outlook after increases in import quotas, 1365
– Swine flu, government requests WTO members lift restrictions on pork product imports, 619
– Telecommunications, fixed line services, Supreme Court denies injunction to allow greater participation by foreign company, 1400
– U.S. dolphin-safe labeling for tuna, government to request WTO dispute panel on alleged blocking of exports, 356; U.S. blocks request, 425
– Used car import tariff, Supreme Court decision to help rescue lagging automotive industry, 1399

MIDDLE EAST

See also specific countries
– Global recession, Geithner visit to discuss recovery, In Brief, 847

MIDDLE EAST FREE TRADE AREA (MEFTA)

– Oman-U.S. FTA, USTR welcomes entry into force of treaty as part of advancing initiative goals, 30

MINES AND MINING

– Foreign investment, U.S. and EU jointly raise concerns about additional restrictions on mine operator activities in Indonesia, 1434
– Imperial gold mining project, NAFTA arbitration panel rejects Glamis Gold environmental interference claims under Chapter 11, 826

MONGOLIA

– Transparency agreement with U.S., In Brief, 823

MONITORING AND MEASUREMENT

– Apparel imports from China and Vietnam, interest group urges Congress to reject program, 279; retail groups urge House and Senate leaders to remove language from appropriations measure, 324
– Radiation detectors for sea cargo containers, GAO report finds limits in new monitors, 877
– Softwood lumber from Canada, compliance monitoring faces multiple challenges, GAO report says, 887
– Steel imports, Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) system extension, In Brief, 429
– Textiles

– – FY2010 appropriations

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 2847

– – Vietnam, ITA to remove monitoring information from Web site, 99

MOROCCO

– Bilateral agreements, Canada, possible FTA, In Brief, 592

MOTOR VEHICLES

– Air pollution, Miss. firms allegedly imported and sold Chinese-made nonroad engines that do not comply with CAA emission standards (D.D.C.), 758
– Alternative energy vehicles, China implements rules for technical specifications and environmental quality, 924
– Bailout of automobile industry

– – France, European Comm'n expresses concerns over possible violations of single market rules in government plan, 245; Volvo Group might not be able to accept emergency loan due to EU single market rules, 245; European Comm'n approves plan, 318
– – Italy, European Comm'n approves plan, 318
– – Spain, European Comm'n approves plan, 318

– Best practices standards for importers, commenters support NHTSA proposed guidance to reduce risks from noncompliant or defective products, 40
– Bilateral agreements, European Comm'n agrees to sign off on South Korean FTA despite opposition from auto industry, 1390
– Budget, FY2010 appropriations, Big Three amendment

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 3183

– Cash for Clunkers measure, House and Senate leaders looking for ways to speed passage, 672; further action, see LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 2346, HR 2751
– Cross-border trucking program

See NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (NAFTA)

– Discriminatory tariffs on imported car parts, China should quickly implement WTO ruling, U.S. and EU say, 77; government seeks to delay compliance with WTO ruling, 251; U.S., EU, and Canada agree to extend compliance deadline, 322; USTR welcomes China's move to comply with WTO ruling, 1204
– Foreign-made auto sales, Japan, statistics for 2008 plunge to 34-year low, 101; imported auto sales plunge 44 percent to record low in Jan., 221; FY2008 sales plunge to 16-year low, 515; April sales slip to 20-year low with little sign of recovery, 678
– Fuel-efficient cars, European Investment Bank approves loans for production, 512
– Green commercial vehicles, Japan to offer expanded tax relief and new subsidies, 616
– Hummer, GM reaches deal to sell licenses and brand to Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Indus. Machinery, 1396
– Hybrid electric vehicles and components, §337 investigation, In Brief, 1402
– Import duties on cars

– – Russian duties violate bilateral agreement on WTO accession, EU says, 74; Russia extends import duty on new and used cars, 1390
– – Ukraine, U.S. joins other WTO members in condemning decision to maintain surcharge, 850; WTO members pressure government to remove surcharge early, 879; lawmakers indicate tentative plans to increase surcharge, 1203; government removes surcharge, 1244

– State support of automotive industry

– – EU ministers agree to coordinate efforts to avoid distortions of competition, 153
– – Japanese industry seeking medium-to-long-term incentives to ensure sustainable sales recovery, 420

– Stimulus plan for auto industry, China unveils plan, 99
– Taxation, Brazilian auto industry wins 3-month extension of tax breaks, 458
– Used car import tariff, Mexican Supreme Court decision to help rescue lagging automotive industry, 1399

MOZAMBIQUE

– U.S. relations, USTR meeting, In Brief, 415

MYANMAR

– Apparel, U.S. industry group urges Congress to renew import ban, 926; industry group welcomes approval of ban renewal, 1034; Pres. Obama renews import restrictions, 1067
– Rubies, jadeite, and related jewelry, U.S. making little progress in restricting prohibited imports, GAO report says, 1362