Regulatory/Trade

Thursday, May 23, 2013

   Members of European Parliament are in favor of starting talks toward the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, a free-trade agreement between the European Union and the United States, but warn they must be kept apprised of the discussions.    In a resolution voted on Thursday, members also said any agreement must protect Europe’s cultural and audiovisual services market, and provide EU firms with access to U.S. public procurement markets. American restrictions on EU suppl...

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

   Acting Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank last week wrapped up a seven-day trip to Latin America to help drum up business for U.S. companies engaged in infrastructure planning and construction with a speech at the American Chamber of Commerce Panama where she highlighted the importance of trade relations with the Central American nation.    Twenty companies specializing in project management, transportation, energy and water resource infrastructure accompanied Blank on her ...

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

   The United States and Burma have signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) on Tuesday, establishing a platform for ongoing dialogue and cooperation on trade and investment issues between the two governments.    “The United States supports reforms that lay the foundation for a peaceful and prosperous future,” said Acting U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis in a statement. “Economic reforms and trade are mutually supportive. Stronger institutions, transparency...

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

   Canadian retail sales stayed flat in March at $39.5 billion, according to Statistics Canada.    Retail volume rose 0.7 percent over February when price-change effects were removed from the equation.    Clothing sales bumped up 3.1 percent, while motor vehicle and parts sales rose 0.7 percent, seeing an increase in activity for the third month in a row. Furniture and home furnishings were up 0.3 percent. Building material sales were basically flat compared to February...

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Va. Gov. McDonnell signs landmark transportation bill.    Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell last week signed the breakthrough transportation funding bill passed by the General Assembly in March.    The "Virginia's Road to the Future" bill, the first comprehensive transportation funding plan in 27 years, provides an additional $3.5 billion in funding by 2018 for new road and bridge construction, mass transit, rail and other needs, along with several reforms to improve project development. &...

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

   Officials at the U.S. Agency for International Development have launched an initiative with Tunisia to establish trade in the region and internationally, and encourage the local growth of small and midsized businesses.    The Office of the United States Trade Representative helped develop the initiative, which is part of the U.S-Tunisia Trade and Investment Framework. Work between the countries will be achieved through online platforms and partnerships, according to a news release....

Friday, May 17, 2013

   The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) this week voted a proposed reformation of the rules governing ocean transportation intermediaries (OTIs), both domestic and foreign.    Under the proposed rule, licensed OTIs, which include non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOs) and freight forwarders, would have to renew their licenses every two years. Currently, OTIs have no requirement to renew once they have been granted a license. They only need a qualifying individual (QI) for the l...

Thursday, May 16, 2013

   The White House on Wednesday welcomed growing exports for U.S. businesses, farmers, and ranchers on the first anniversary of the entry into force of the U.S.-Colombia trade agreement.    Via the U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement, U.S. manufacturers have substantially increased their exports to the South American country.    In specific, U.S. exports of transportation equipment, petroleum and coal products, processed food, and computer and electronic products have risen t...

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

   Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sánchez will lead a civil nuclear trade policy mission to Vietnam and China, May 17-23.    Representatives from 18 companies, law firms, and industry associations will join U.S. government officials on the mission, which will make stops in Hanoi, Vietnam; and Beijing and Ningbo, China. Sánchez    “Vietnam and China are both steadily expanding their nuclear power programs, which presents abundant opportunities fo...

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

   After a 0.2-percent decrease in March, U.S. import prices continued to fall, declining by 0.5 percent in April, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.    Export pricing also continued to decrease, falling by 0.7 percent in April after a 0.5-percent decrease a month earlier.    While consumer good imports rose by 0.3-percent in April, price drops on other non-fuel imports pushed the overall result to a 0.2-percent decline. Over the past year, nonfuel imports ha...

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

   Preparations for upcoming negotiations between the United States and European Union on a transatlantic free trade and investment agreement were on the agenda Monday when U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron visited the White House.    The United States and European Union enjoy the world's largest economic relationship, accounting for a third of total goods and services trade, and half of world output. Trade supports 13 million jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. Each day an ...

Friday, May 10, 2013

   The U.S. Export-Import Bank approved a final commitment for a $45.5 million loan guarantee to VRG Linhas Aereas S.A. (GOL), a Brazilian airline.    The financing will support the export of engine maintenance services by Delta TechOps (Delta), a subsidiary of Delta Airlines. This transaction will support about 400 jobs, according to Ex-Im Bank.    GOL engines will be shipped from São Paulo, Brazil, to Atlanta for heavy maintenance to be performed by Delta’s maintenance, r...

Friday, May 10, 2013

   The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has proposed to amend its rules to allow the import of fresh jackfruit, pineapple, and starfruit from Malaysia into the continental United States.    As a condition of entry, all three commodities would have to be irradiated for insect pests, inspected, and imported in commercial consignments. There would also be additional, commodity-specific requirements for other pests associated with jackfruit, pin...

Friday, May 10, 2013

   Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sánchez arrived in Hong Kong Thursday with representatives from a group of U.S. companies to start off the Trade Winds Asia 2013.    According to the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration, the annual trade mission and business matchmaking event helps firms gain market insights, make industry contacts, and solidify business strategies to expand U.S. exports to trading partners in the region. Sánchez &nbs...

Friday, May 10, 2013

   With large quantities of sugar currently on the domestic market, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will use its waiver authority under the Refined Sugar Re-Export Program to temporarily permit licensed refiners to transfer program sugar from their license to another licensed refiner through Sept. 30.    USDA will also temporarily increase the license limit for raw cane sugar refiners from 50,000 metric tons raw value of credits to 100,000 metric tons raw value of credits through ...

Thursday, May 09, 2013

   The U.S. Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration has released a Spanish language version of its Trade Finance Guide: A Quick Reference for U.S. Exporters .    The guide was created specifically to help U.S. small and midsized businesses overcome one of their major export challenges, how to get paid from export sales, thereby helping turn their export opportunities into actual sales, the department said.    “Since the publication of its first edition in 20...

Thursday, May 09, 2013

   The United States has requested consultations with Bahrain under the Labor Chapter of the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (FTA).    The request follows a December 2012 report by the U.S. Labor Department that highlighted labor issues stemming from Bahrain’s response to civil unrest in early 2011 in the Persian Gulf country and recommended actions to address those issues.    “Ensuring that workers in Bahrain – and in other countries – can exercise their fundamental labor...

Wednesday, May 08, 2013

   The World Trade Organization on Tuesday finalized its selection for the next director general to replace Pascal Lamy, whose term ends Aug. 31.    Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo of Brazil was picked, making him the first diplomat from Latin America to lead the WTO, which was set up in 1995.    Nine countries presented candidates for the post in December 2012, and it had recently come down to Azevêdo and Mexico’s Herminio Blanco.    Azevêdo, a Brazilian career diplo...

Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Trade finance association to support NEI.   The Finance, Credit and International Business Association (FCIB) and the U.S. Commercial Service of the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA) have signed a memorandum of understanding to increase awareness in the U.S. business community, particularly among small and midsized businesses, about exporting and the tools and resources our organizations provide to help them succeed.    The FCIB and ITA have previously collabo...

Friday, May 03, 2013

   The Basel Action Network (BAN), a group opposed to the international dumping of toxic waste in developing countries, has condemned recent lobbying efforts by computer and other electronic equipment manufacturers for trade exemptions to export e-waste.    “The proposed exemptions would allow untested or non-functional electronic waste, often containing toxic lead, cadmium, mercury and brominated flame retardants, to be considered a non-waste and subject to free-trade in many circum...

Thursday, May 02, 2013

   President Obama on Thursday nominated long-time campaign contributor and Chicago businesswoman Penny Pritzker to be secretary of commerce and Michael Froman to lead the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Froman    Froman is currently the deputy national security adviser for international affairs. He played a key role in negotiations on free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. He takes over from Ron Kirk, who recently resigned, and has represented the ...

Thursday, May 02, 2013

   The U.S. trade deficit fell by nearly $5 billion from February to March, ending the month at $38.8 billion, according to the Commerce Department.     Last month, the United States exported $184.3 billion in goods, but imported $223.1 billion in cargo.    Year over year, the trade deficit showed a $12.9-billion decrease. Exports fell by $0.4 billion and imports declined by $13.3 billion when compared to Mach 2012.    March’s total exports fell by $1.7 ...

Thursday, May 02, 2013

Related Content U.S. program focuses on small business exports SBA opens export doors    Rep. Janice Hahn, D-Calif., is hosting an export business roundtable on Friday with Dario Gomez, the Small Business Administration's administrator of international trade, to provide information on SBA programs and resources for small companies seeking to export or only export on a limited basis.    The event is being held at 10 a.m. at Banning's Landing, 100 E. Water St., in Wilmington, Cali...

Wednesday, May 01, 2013

   Raytheon, a major international defense and aerospace company, will pay $8 million in civil penalties and remedial expenditures to resolve hundreds of alleged violations of U.S. export regulations designed to protect sensitive technology from falling in the hands of enemies.    The State Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, which oversees exports of military goods, said Raytheon violated the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulatio...

Wednesday, May 01, 2013

   International Trade Systems (ITS), a provider of U.S. customs brokerage and freight forwarding software, said Wednesday it will release a new Web-based system that links Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) form generation with analytics.    The system, ITS Web, will be available June 1. ITS said the system is certified by ACE and is the only ACE compatible software system with an analytics engine.    ACE is the commercial trade processing system being developed by U.S....

Wednesday, May 01, 2013

   U.S. trade officials are stepping up the pressure on members of the World Trade Organization to advance a “small package” outcome at the upcoming 9th Ministerial Meeting at Bali, Indonesia in December.    “At the most recent meeting of the WTO’s Trade Negotiating Committee on April 11, the United States asked that every delegation engage in immediate, intensive consultations with its capital to convey the seriousness of the situation in Geneva with regard to negotiations for a ‘sma...

Monday, April 29, 2013

   Massive changes to the U.S. export control regime are beginning to be made by the Obama administration, but the automatic budget cuts that kicked in March 1 are limiting the Bureau of Industry and Security's ability to educate shippers about the new rules and how to follow them, Eric Hirschhorn, undersecretary for industry and security at the Department of Commerce, said.    Speaking last week during a webinar produced by American Shipper, the head of BIS said the agency has ...

Friday, April 26, 2013

   U.S. Gross Domestic Product grew 2.5 percent in the first quarter, according to a preliminary estimate issued by the Department of Commerce Friday.    The increase was less than many analysts had expected after 0.4 percent growth in the fourth quarter.    The increased productivity was aided by personal consumption, private inventory investment, exports and construction spending. - Eric Kulisch

Thursday, April 25, 2013

   The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security said Computerlinks FZCO of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has agreed to pay a $2.8 million civil penalty following allegations that it committed three violations of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).    The violations are related to the transfer to Syria of devices designed to monitor and control Internet traffic. In addition to the civil penalty, which is the statutory maximum, the company has agreed to sub...

Thursday, April 25, 2013

   The Obama administration said it’s looking forward to stronger trade relations with Vietnam through the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement.    Acting U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis on Wednesday completed a three-day visit to Hanoi, where he discussed outstanding issues with Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh, and ministers and vice-ministers at Vietnam’s ministries of Planning and Investment, Environment and Natural Re...

Thursday, April 25, 2013

   The Obama administration Wednesday notified Congress of its intent to include Japan in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement negotiations.    This notification follows an announcement on April 12 that the United States and Japan had completed bilateral TPP consultations, as well as an announcement by TPP countries on April 21 that they welcome Japan as a participant in the TPP negotiations, pending the successful completion of domestic procedures by each TPP country.  ...

Thursday, April 25, 2013

   The U.S. Commerce Department has selected 20 companies to join its deputy secretary, Rebecca Blank, on an infrastructure business development trade mission to Sao Paulo, Brazil; Bogota, Colombia; and Panama City, Panama, from May 12-18.    “The governments of these countries have each outlined ambitious infrastructure development plans for the years ahead, and this trade mission will help U.S. companies in a broad range of infrastructure industry sectors make the connections they ...

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

   Representatives from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Federal Republic of Nigeria have signed a Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA), which allows for better cooperation between the two nations when investigating and preventing customs offenses.    In addition to helping stop smuggling and prevent customs fraud, the agreement will help both parties accurately assess customs duties. U.S. Customs authorities, according to officials, will also be able to increase borde...

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

   Asia-Pacific e-commerce growth could be limited by the region’s logistics capabilities, according to a new report by Transport Intelligence.    The report, Asia Pacific e-commerce Logistics 2013 , points out that the region is the world’s fastest growing e-commerce market and has the potential to become the largest market for e-commerce sales in the next few years, with 33 percent expansion in the e-commerce logistics market in 2012.    “This is a region that has long be...

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

   The International Monetary Fund last week lowered its estimate for world economic growth for 2013 to 3.25 percent from 3.45 percent in January, but did not change its growth projection of 4 percent for next year.    The IMF said its World Economic Outlook that advanced economies are expected to gradually accelerate in the second half of the year on the heels of emerging markets. Private demand in the United States is strong, but it is weak in the euro zone.    "Glob...

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

   The U.S. State Department recently issued a presidential permit to the state of Michigan to build a new bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.    The State Department approves new international border crossings after reviewing whether they are in the national interest.     Local and national officials in Canada and the United States for many years have been developing plans for a second bridge to relieve congestion on the privately-held Ambassador Bridg...

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

   Geoff Turner, president and chief executive officer of Choptank Transport, was elected chairman of the Transportation Intermediaries Association.    “TIA will continue to be the premier organization providing superior leadership in Washington, quality educational programs and a long list of services to support our members both small and large. I look forward to working with all of our members," Turner said in a statement.    Globe Express Services has appointed Regina Cro...

Monday, April 22, 2013

   The U.K. ambassador to the United States said last week his nation is hopeful for a quick commencement and conclusion of trade negotiations between the United States and European Union.    The so-called Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnerships (TTIP) would bring free trade benefits to the two biggest trading blocs in the world. President Obama announced an intent to pursue the pact during his State of the Union address earlier this year.    “We were delighted that ...

Friday, April 19, 2013

   The U.S. Export-Import Bank renewed a 90-percent guarantee of a $100 million supply-chain facility for Citibank to purchase invoices that are generated via the sales of goods and services by eligible U.S. suppliers to agriculture and construction equipment manufacturer CNH America (CNH).    The authorization, which is Ex-Im’s second renewal of the facility, will support small-business suppliers of CNH by increasing liquidity to fulfill new orders. The facility is being provided un...

Friday, April 19, 2013

   U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Thursday announced the opening of new Centers of Excellence and Expertise for base metals in Chicago, industrial and manufacturing materials in Buffalo, N.Y., and machinery in Laredo, Texas, giving those industries the opportunity for smoother customs processing of imports and uniform enforcement.    Also known as Industry Integration Centers, the virtual import processing centers are organized around specific industries and are designed ...

Friday, April 19, 2013

   Metairie, La.-based Tuleu Consulting Co. (TCC) has been awarded a contract by the government of Chad to sell 500 John Deere agricultural tractors to the African country’s “Programme National de Sécurité Alimentaire” (PNSA or National Food Security Program).    The sale represents a $22.5 million deal for TCC, $11.5 million of which is U.S. export content.    This bid was supported by the U.S. Commerce Department's Advocacy Center, which coordinates federal resources and ...

Thursday, April 18, 2013

   The U.S. Commerce Department has launched a $113 million manufacturing investment initiative outlined in President Obama’s 2014 budget proposal.    The Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership will provide money for between five and six communities that have an economic development plan aimed at attracting investment. The winners will receive small grants to jumpstart projects in 2013, and communities selected for support in 2014 will get up to $25 million each.&nbs...

Thursday, April 18, 2013

   The transition period of new EU air security rules regarding known consignors ends April 29, and DHL is among the carriers that have been adding extra security programs to help shippers meet the new rules.    Shipments from parties not identified as known consignors by the EU have to submit to extra screening of their goods before shipment.    According to data released by DB Schenker last month, only a small number of air freight shippers the company works with have bee...

Thursday, April 18, 2013

   RedLine Solutions, a provider of inventory and supply chain traceability systems, has released a new white paper, “Beyond Traceability: The Benefits of the PTI” about the supply chain impacts of the Produce Traceability Initiative.    Written by one of the primary architects of the PTI, Gary Fleming, the white paper details crucial supply chain and operational efficiencies that companies can gain by implementing the PTI and its ancillary tools.    “Most companies fail to...

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

   The U.S. Commerce and State departments have proposed a number of amendments  to two export control guidelines, the Export Administration Regulations and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, to redefine the export of aircraft and associated munitions items as well as gas turbine engines.    This is the first set in a series of final rules redefining the regulation of commercial items with military application, according to a press release. The State Department pegs ...

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

   Since October U.S. Customs has seized more than a dozen imported Land Rover Defender off-road utility vehicles for violating federal road safety standards, including two early last month at the Port of Norfolk in Virginia.    The agency said it is aware of vehicles with altered vehicle identification numbers to make them appear at least 25 years old and therefore exempt from certain safety standards, such as air bags. The illegal shipments have been discovered arriving from Gr...

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

   The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has asked for a budget of $4.7 billion to protect and promote the public health as part of the President Obama’s fiscal year 2014 budget, which was released last week.    The agency said industry user fees would fund 94 percent of the proposed budget increase, including new fees to support the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and strengthen the FDA’s ability to oversee imported food.    “The president’s budget proposes a fee to b...

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

   The customs broker Total Customs Services has begun using Descartes Systems Group’s cloud-based Canadian Customs Brokerage solution to improve shipment management, customs filing, security compliance, accounting, and customer service operations.    The solution also enables Total Customs to electronically transmit its customers’ advance importer data, as required by the Canada Border Services Agency's (CBSA) Advance Commercial Information (ACI) eManifest program.    "Des...

Monday, April 15, 2013

   The United States and Japan on Friday announced they had reached agreement on Japan's participation in negotiations for a Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.     Japan last month signaled its willingness to join the TPP and would become the 12th nation in the talks once approved by the current partners. As the world's third largest economy, it's participation would make a Pacific Rim trade bloc extremely powerful, accounting for nearly 40 percent of global GDP...

Monday, April 15, 2013

   Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies are on track to meet their target of a 10 percent improvement in the region’s supply chain performance by 2015, in terms of time, cost and uncertainty, according to an internal assessment released Sunday.    APEC trade experts met last week in Indonesia to strengthen supply chain performance among the member economies ahead of higher level meetings between APEC trade ministers and senior officials meetings this week.  ...

Monday, April 15, 2013

   The Global Shippers’ Forum said it has begun a campaign to enhance safety in the maritime transport supply chain.    “While the vast majority of shippers comply with the rules, it is a regrettable fact that instances of mis-declaration and poor standards of loading and securing take place. Much of this is down to a lack of understanding of the rules and packing and securing know-how," GSF said.    The forum has launched a series of "hands on" and easy-to-u...

Monday, April 15, 2013

   A trade agreement between the United States and European Union will be a “shot in the arm” for exporters in the Europe, wrote EU Minister Richard Bruton in an editorial for Dublin’s The Daily Business Post .    The Irish politician, who oversees jobs, enterprise and innovation, will chair an informal meeting of EU trade ministers in Dublin on Thursday.    The $3.06 billion each day that's traded between the European Union and United States currently accounts for...

Thursday, April 11, 2013

   Leading U.S. business organizations announced the formation of the Business Coalition for Transatlantic Trade (BCTT) on Capitol Hill Wednesday, outlining the key benefits of a wide-ranging trade deal between the United States and European Union.    The deal, dubbed the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), was first highlighted by President Obama during his State of the Union speech in February.    Members of the coalition include the U.S. Chamber of...

Thursday, April 11, 2013

   U.S. import and export pricing inched down in March, with imports falling by 0.5 percent, while export prices declined by 0.4 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.    The declines, which officials blame on a downturn in fuel prices, were preceded by import price gains of 0.6 percent in February and 0.5 percent in January. In February, export prices rose by 0.7 percent.    Year-over-year, exports showed larger declines. Imports dropped by 2.7 percent, the ...

Tuesday, April 09, 2013

   The electronics manufacturing services provider Flextronics has signed up with the global trade management solutions provider Amber Road to automate the screening of partners, customers and vendors.    Flextronics will use Amber Road’s hosted, Web-based Restricted Party Screening (RPS) On-Demand application, with the objective of maintaining a low export risk profile while expediting screening.    Flextronics’ supply chain includes more than 30 countries on four continen...

Monday, April 08, 2013

   U.S. trade advocates said Friday they are encouraged by early progress on an International Services Agreement currently being discussed between 47 nations.    The voluntary agreement is intended to align the nations within the framework of the WTO, with a focus on rules and market access for service industries.    Coalition of Service Industries President Peter Allgeier and National Foreign Trade Council Vice President for Global Trade Issues Jake Colvin spoke at an NFTC ...

Monday, April 08, 2013

   The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is unleashing the first class of detector dogs capable of using scent to detect wildlife smuggled into the country.    Four retrievers and their handlers will be stationed at key ports of entry in an effort to stem the growing trade in threatened animal parts such as elephant ivory and rhino horn.    Wildlife parts is the latest frontier for "sniffer" dogs. Dogs are used by law enforcement and border agencies to detect bombs, ammun...

Monday, April 08, 2013

   Shusen Wei, 45, a citizen of China, pleaded guilty Friday in Miami federal court to charges stemming from his involvement in the smuggling of a carved rhinoceros horn from the United States to China, the U.S. Justice Department said.    Wei entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga, who scheduled sentencing for April 29. Wei faces up to 10 years in prison and fine of up to $250,000, in addition to a term of supervised release of up to three years.  ...

Thursday, April 04, 2013

   Importers, exporters and other members of the trade community can expect continuity at U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the wake of the retirement of Commissioner David V. Aguilar on Sunday, Allen Gina, assistant commissioner for international trade, said Wednesday in a Webcast to members of the Coalition of New England Companies for Trade (CONECT) at their annual conference in Rhode Island.    Deputy Commissioner Thomas S. Winkowski has become the acting commissioner, a...

Thursday, April 04, 2013

   Six U.S. government agencies on Wednesday joined together to kick off a new pilot program to expand federal export assistance to small businesses.    The program, U.S. Global Business Solutions, hopes to add 50,000 small businesses to the nation’s exporter base by 2017.    Small Business Administrator Karen Mills said the pilot program will also aim at expanding the base of financial institutions and service providers that facilitate exports, adding an anticipated 250 tra...