Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA 2006) Termination
U.S Customs & Border Protection
The 2006 U.S.-Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA 2006) terminated on October 12, 2015. As such, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will discontinue enforcement of regulations implementing the SLA 2006. The following actions will be taken by CBP, effective October 13, 2015.CBP will no longer enforce the SLA 2006 data requirements pursuant to 19 CFR 12.140 specifically:
1. CBP will no longer enforce the Export Permit Number requirements and specifications pursuant to 19 CFR 12.140(b)(2).
2. CBP will no longer enforce the Region of Origin requirements pursuant to 19 CFR 12.140(b)(1).
3. CBP will no longer enforce the Original Maritime Certificate of Origin (COO) requirements pursuant to 19 CFR 12.140(c).
4. If an importer presents a Maritime COO on or after October 13, 2015 for softwood lumber products, the COO is to be returned to the importer.
5. ABI will no longer require a valid SLA 2006 Export Permit Number for tariff numbers subject to the SLA 2006.
6. ACE or ACS filers should enter a dummy SLA 2006 permit number, 'P88888888' (P followed by eight 8s) in the SLA Permit Number field, where applicable.
Softwood Lumber Act (2008) Reporting Requirements
CBP will continue to enforce the SLA 2008 reporting requirements for shipment of softwood lumber and softwood lumber products shipped from any country into the United States and subject to the importer declaration program pursuant to 19 CFR 12.142. The Export Price, Export Charge (if applicable), and Importer Declaration are to be reported electronically on the CBP Form 7501.
1. The Export Price (19 CFR 12.142(c)(1)) remains in effect. The export price for shipments of softwood lumber and softwood lumber products is calculated as specified by the Softwood Lumber Act of 2008. This price must be reported.
2. The Export Charge (19 CFR 12.140(c)(2)) remains in effect. Each importer must report the estimated Export Charge, if any.
3. The Importer Declaration (19 CFR 12.142(c)(3)) remains in effect. Except as provided in 19 CFR12.142(c)(3)(ii), importers must provide a softwood lumber declaration on the electronic entry summary by entering the letter “Y” in the estimated Export Charge data field.
Questions regarding this guidance, with respect to the softwood lumber program, should be directed to Margaret Gray, Trade Agreements Branch, at (202) 863-6621, or by email at FTA@dhs.gov.
Amendment To Clarify When Component Part Testing Can Be Used and Which Textile Products Have Been Determined Not To Exceed the Allowable Lead Content Limits
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission/Federal Register
CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
16 CFR Part 1109 and 1500
[Docket No. CPSC-2011-0081]
Amendment To Clarify When Component Part Testing Can Be Used and Which Textile Products Have Been Determined Not To Exceed the Allowable Lead Content Limits
AGENCY: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
ACTION: Direct final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Consumer Product Safety Act (``CPSA'') requires third party testing and certification of children's products that are subject to children's product safety rules. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (``Commission,'' or ``CPSC'') has previously issued regulations related to this requirement: A regulation that allows parties to test and certify component parts of products under certain circumstances; and a regulation determining that certain materials or products do not require lead content testing. The Commission is issuing a direct final rule clarifying when component part testing can be used and clarifying which textile products have been determined not to exceed the allowable lead content limits.
DATES: The rule is effective on December 14, 2015, unless we receive significant adverse comment by November 13, 2015. If we receive a timely significant adverse comment, we will publish notification in the
Federal Register, withdrawing this direct final rule before its effective date.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CPSC-2011-0081, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submissions: Submit electronic comments to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at: www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. The Commission does not accept comments submitted by electronic mail (email), except through www.regulations.gov. The Commission encourages you to submit electronic comments by using the Federal eRulemaking Portal, as described above.
Written Submissions: Submit written submissions by mail/hand delivery/courier to: Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 820, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone (301) 504-7923.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number for this notice. All comments received may be posted without change, including any personal identifiers, contact information, or other personal information provided, to: www.regulations.gov. Do not submit confidential business information, trade secret information, or other sensitive or protected information that you do not want to be available to the public. If furnished at all, such information should be submitted in writing.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to: www.regulations.gov, and insert the docket number CPSC-2011-0081, into the ``Search'' box, and follow the prompts.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristina Hatlelid, Ph.D., M.P.H., Directorate for Health Sciences, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 5 Research Place, Rockville, MD 20850; (301) 987-2558; email; khatlelid@cpsc.gov.
Supplementary Information read here
CBP at JFK Arrests Liquid Cocaine Smuggler
U.S. Customs Border & Protection
U. S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Detect Liquid Cocaine in Six Bottles
JAMAICA, N.Y. — An arriving passenger at John F. Kennedy International Airport was bringing in more than oil and vinegar as U. S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized his illegal salad dressing.
On October 5, Mr. Andres Josue Leal Valle, a Guatemalan citizen, arrived on a flight from Mexico City, Mexico and presented three checked-in suitcases and a carryon bag for examination. During this examination, CBP officers removed a plastic bottle that contained a liquid that appeared to be thicker than its content description. Mr. Leal Valle was escorted to a private search room where CBP officers opened the bottles of oil and vinegar and detected an unusual chemical odor. The liquid tested positive for cocaine.
The total weight of cocaine found in the six bottles seized was approximately 11 lbs. with an approximate street value of $194,000.
“Cocaine is a dangerous narcotic, and CBP does its part in keeping these drugs off the streets.” said Robert E. Perez, Director of CBP’s New York Field Operations. “Our officers are determined to protect the American people from these illicit substances.”
This case is still under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations.
All defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Carbazole Violet Pigment 23 from China and India
U.S. International Trade Commission
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty orders on carbazole violet pigment 23 from China and India and the existing countervailing duty order on this product from India would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.
As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the existing orders on imports of this product from China and India will remain in place.
All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative.
Today’s action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on these five-year (sunset) reviews.
The Commission’s public report Carbazole Violet Pigment 23 from China and India (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-437 and 731-TA-1060-1061 (Second Review), USITC Publication 4575, November 2015) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.
The report will be available by November 23, 2015; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.
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BACKGROUND
The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.
The Commission’s institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other information. Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review. If responses to the USITC’s notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.
The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews. Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission’s prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the review, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.
The five-year (sunset) reviews concerning Carbazole Violet Pigment 23 from China and India were instituted on April 1, 2015.
On July 6, 2015, the Commission voted to conduct expedited reviews. All six Commissioners concluded that the domestic group response for these reviews was adequate and the respondent group responses were inadequate and voted for expedited reviews.
A record of the Commission’s vote to conduct expedited reviews is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.
Record September Delivers Best Quarter in Port’s History
Port of Long Beach
Cargo continues surge as retailers stock up for holidays
The Port of Long Beach last month achieved its busiest September and quarter in its 104-year history, signaling a return to pre-recession trade levels.
Many of the popular Halloween and holiday items on U.S. store shelves today were brought through the harbor in recent months. Retailers are stocking costumes, decorations and other goods in order to meet consumer demand.
Measured by individual containers of freight, cargo volume at the Port of Long Beach climbed 4.1 percent in September compared to the same period last year, to 655,624 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of boxed cargo. The year’s third quarter — July through September — topped 2 million TEUs in a first for the Port, and improved 14.8 percent over the third quarter of 2014.
“In recent months, Long Beach has seen a robust return of once-diverted cargo,” said Jon Slangerup, Port of Long Beach CEO. “We greatly appreciate our shippers’ continued confidence in the Port of Long Beach.”
Through the first nine months of 2015 the Port has seen a 5.2 percent increase in cargo volume compared to the same period last year. At this rate, the Port would finish the year with more than 7 million TEUs for only the third time in its history -- the last time was 2007.
This year's third quarter saw 10.6 percent more imports and 10.5 percent more exports, compared to the third quarter of 2014.
For September alone, imports dipped 1.9 percent compared to the same month last year, to 332,909 TEUs. Exports grew 6.1 percent to 125,639 TEUs. Empty containers rose 14.6 percent to 197,076 TEUs. With imports exceeding exports, empty containers are sent overseas to be refilled with goods.
With an ongoing, multibillion-dollar program to modernize its facilities, the Port of Long Beach continues to build the Port of the Future by investing in long-term, environmentally sustainable growth.