International Trade Reporter: Current Reports Index-Summary

PACKAGING AND LABELING

– Children's products, CPSC approves policy on tracking label requirements to aid compliance, 1027
– Country-of-origin marking, COOL program

See generally COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

– Ecolabeling, European Parliament approves revision to voluntary certification scheme, 484
– Energy, Mexico publishes rules on high energy consumption reports and efficiency certification, 1291
– Enforcement, Canada publishes draft guidelines on content claims, 1008
– Fish, Va. man sentenced for conspiring to avoid import tariff (C.D. Cal.), 719
– Laminated woven sacks from China, USTR seeking public comments on request for WTO consultations on AD/CVD dispute, 55; WTO agrees to set up dispute panel to rule on Chinese complaint, 98; interest groups defend Commerce Dep't methodology in comments to USTR, 291
– Polyethylene retail carrier bags

– – China, full 5-year review of AD orders, In Brief, 1402
– – Malaysia, full 5-year review of AD orders, In Brief, 1402
– – Taiwan, preliminary dumping determination (ITA), 1441
– – Thailand, USTR seeking public comment on request for WTO consultations, 55; Thailand to ask for WTO dispute panel, 392; WTO sets up new dispute panel, 428; U.S. and Thailand agree on appointment of 3 dispute panelists, 1164; full 5-year review of AD orders, In Brief, 1402
– – Vietnam, dumping, material injury finding (ITC), 684; Vietnam protests ruling as nonmarket economy, 794; affirmative preliminary determination (ITA), 1217

– Toys, European Parliament approves strict technical information recordkeeping standards, 15
– Tracking labels for children's products, industry group asks CPSC to stay enforcement of forthcoming rules, 448
– Tuna, U.S. dolphin-safe labeling, Mexico to request WTO dispute panel on alleged blocking of exports, 356; U.S. blocks bid for panel, 425

PAKISTAN

– Free Trade Zone

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 1318

– IMF loan increase, In Brief, 1133
– Trade preferences program

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 1886

PANAMA

– Bananas, EU import regime, exporters jointly chastise failure to end illegal discriminatory tariffs, 155; EU official expresses optimism on reaching agreement while Latin American officials express skepticism, 484
– Bilateral agreements

– – Movement toward treaties with other nations continuing while U.S. delays approval, ambassador says, 1417
– – U.S. FTA, Obama administration hopes to submit to Congress soon, USTR report says, 304; Geithner plans to work with Congress to move forward on agreement, 330; Kirk says remaining issues will not require changes to existing text of agreement, 388; Levin (D-Mich) says outstanding issues need resolution before passage of pending agreement, 389; Panama welcomes renewed U.S. commitment but cool to reopening labor and environment issues, 456; Rangel (D-NY) says Panama must resolve labor issues first, 457; Kirk suggests more expeditious movement of agreement possible, 534; Rangel aims to finish measure with tax haven provisions soon, 580; USTR hopes to begin talks with Congress soon on further consideration of treaty, 618; Rangel says timing of vote up to White House, 619; Kirk says U.S. and Panama working hard to resolve outstanding issues, 664; Pres. Obama to lay out new framework for trade, 713; Levin and Doggett (D-Texas) seek to delay measure until tax haven concerns addressed, 714; Locke to develop action plan to move agreement forward, 1091; certain lawmakers believe passage of measure possible soon, 1169; Eissenstat says pending agreement priority for U.S. but issues remain, 1256; U.S. delay in approving pending agreement puts partners in difficult position, 1417

– Customs, indicative pricing, WTO panel backs Panama's complaint against Colombian customs practices and port entry restrictions, 585; WTO arbitrator gives Colombia time to comply with ruling, 1368
– Taxation, OECD criticizes record on signing tax information exchange agreements, 1212

PAPER

– “Black liquor”

– – Canada, funding plan aims to help “green” sector, 855
– – U.S. trading partners urge Congress to repeal alternative fuels tax credit giving paper producers competitive advantage, 702

– Coated paper from China and Indonesia

– – DOC to initiate AD/CVD investigations, In Brief, 1442
– – Union and 3 paper firms file AD/CVD cases, 1333; Levin (D-Mich) says decision to file case about enforcing trade rules, 1334

– Commodity matchbooks from India, preliminary dumping determination (ITA), 758; final affirmative ruling, 1441
– School paper from China, Senators request DOC to reopen and reconsider dumping case because of alleged fraud by producer, 757

PARAGUAY

– ATPA beneficiary status

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 1837

– ATPDEA, Lugar (R-Ind) introduces measure to expand and extend benefits, 1293
– Mercosur

See MERCOSUR (SOUTHERN COMMON MARKET)

PATENTS

See generally INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

PERU

– ATPA benefits, business groups urge USTR to extend benefits, 1399
– Bilateral agreements

– – Canada FTA, government implements deal, 1069
– – Chile FTA, government implements agreement that excludes IPR chapter, 288
– – EU agrees to start bilateral trade negotiations, 162; second round of negotiations begins, 425
– – Japan FTA, officials agree to start negotiations, 548; officials begin first round of negotiations, 754
– – Singapore FTA, government implements deal, 1069
– – South Korea FTA, government opens talks, 387
– – U.S. FTA, governments “very close” to reaching agreement, USTR says, 80; agreement enters into force soon, Pres. Bush says, 102; duty-free sugar access unchanged, 192; U.S. officials discuss logging commitments, 585; CITA sets short-supply interim procedures, In Brief, 1137

– Hass avocados, APHIS rule amendments, In Brief, 82

PHARMACEUTICALS

– Budget, FY2010 appropriations, prescription drug imports, In Brief, 672
– Drug reimportation, Dorgan (D-ND) and Snowe (R-Maine) predict passage of bipartisan measure, 68
– 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
– Market access, Dorgan (D-ND), Snowe (R-Maine), and Stabenow (D-Mich) introduce measure to allow safe importation of prescription drugs from certain foreign countries, 346
– 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

– Section 337, revised court opinion does not comment on blocking “imminent importations” of allegedly patent-infringing products (Fed. Cir.), 653

PHILIPPINES

– Alcoholic beverages, EU initiates WTO dispute proceedings against taxes on imported spirits, 1064
– Duty-free status for apparel exports to U.S.

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 3039

– Special 301, USTR seeks public comments on out-of-cycle IPR review, 1384
– Tobacco industry, discriminatory duties and internal taxes on imported cigarettes, WTO dispute panel sets date for ruling on Philippine complaint against Thailand, 1206
– Trade policy, U.S. relations, Kirk meets with Pres. Macapagal-Arroyo, In Brief, 1068

PIPES AND PIPING SYSTEMS

– Circular welded carbon quality steel line pipe from China

See STEEL

– Light-walled rectangular pipe and tube from China, USTR seeking public comments on request for WTO consultations on AD/CVD dispute, 55; WTO agrees to set up dispute panel on Chinese complaint, 98; interest groups defend Commerce Dep't methodology in comments to USTR, 291; Chinese steel industry rejects dumping claims, 502
– Malleable cast iron pipe fittings from China, expedited sunset review of AD order, 226; material injury finding, 429; swivels and nuts within scope of AD order (Fed. Cir.), 792
– Stainless pressure pipe from China, affirmative final AD/CVD determination (ITA), 166; Chinese steel industry rejects dumping claims, 502
– Welded stainless pressure pipe from China, material injury finding (ITC), 292; Chinese steel industry rejects dumping claims, 502

PLANTS

See ANIMALS AND PLANTS

POLAND

– Lisbon Treaty, spotlight turns to presidential signature of measure ratifying new legal underpinning framework for EU, 1357
– Special 301, USTR seeks public comments on out-of-cycle IPR review, 1384

PORT SECURITY

– Cargo screening

See CARGO SCREENING

– Sea cargo “10+2” rule, CBP information sessions, 73; effective date for data requirements will not be delayed, CBP says, 149; COAC open meeting, In Brief, 1424
– Taxation, France proposes taxing commercial traffic to pay for security services and equipment, 1429
– Trusted shipper programs, ICC panel urges mutual recognition of U.S. and EU programs, 211

POULTRY

See MEAT AND POULTRY

PROCUREMENT

See GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS

PRODUCT SAFETY

– Congressional intent, Senators claim CPSC has authority and discretion in implementation of law, 509
– Motor vehicles, best practices standards for importers, commenters support NHTSA proposed guidance to reduce risks from noncompliant or defective products, 40

PROTECTIONISM

– Agriculture, major emerging economies should avoid short-term fixes, OECD report says, 413
– Climate change

– – Energy-intensive industries can be sheltered without resorting to protectionism, former WTO official says, 404
– – Global rules give governments leeway to adopt necessary measures, joint WTO/UNEP report says, 875

– Doha Round

– – Lamy urges members to fight protectionism and to further liberalize trade, 309
– – Mattoo urges negotiations need to be “repositioned” to address protectionism in wake of global financial crisis, 270

– G-7 member nations determined to fight slowdown while urging resistance to protectionism, 238
– G-20 leaders to agree to extend moratorium on new restrictions and to refrain from devaluing domestic currencies, 441; World Bank criticizes 17 nations for implementing restrictive measures since fall 2008, 406; member nations renew pledges to resist trade barriers through end of 2010, 476; World Bank says more trade restrictions imposed since London summit, 569; group of 16 nations to push for “G-20-Plus” standstill commitment on trade barriers, 666; supporters of trade barrier standstill claim additional support for proposal, 698; WTO, OECD, and UNCTAD say member nations largely avoiding protectionism, 1235
– Green technology, interest groups call on Obama administration to negotiate international agreement to reduce or eliminate barriers to trade, 1056
– Memory chips, Japan and Taiwan weigh aiding joint venture, 547
– MERCOSUR, Paraguay to retaliate against moves implemented by partners Brazil and Argentina, 359
– OECD Paris council meeting, ministers pledge to promote green growth and to resist protectionism, 873
– United States

– – American Clean Energy and Security Act

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 2454

– – Avoidance key to reversing economic downturn, former USTR asserts, 359
– – Buy American provisions

See BUY AMERICAN

– – Pres. Obama calls on Europe to resist protectionism in op-ed letter, 407

– WTO, Lamy urges members to remain “vigilant” during early stages of global economic crisis, 205; Lamy deplores tendency toward increased protectionism, 442; WTO members give mixed reaction to latest report from Lamy, 505; Lamy says number of protectionist measures still growing, 908; U.S. rejects Lamy's warning, 971

PUBLIC HEALTH

– Intellectual property, WHO members agree to continue negotiating influenza virus sharing agreement, 737