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House Passes Legislation Establishing Permanent Normal Trade Relations With Russia and Moldova and Allowing Sanctions for Gross Violations of Human Rights in Russia
Committee of Ways and Means / http://waysandmeans.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=312472
Washington, DC - Today, Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) and Subcommittee on Trade Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) made the following statements after the House passed legislation that grants Russia and Moldova permanent normal trade relations (PNTR). The legislation also imposes sanctions on persons identified as responsible for the detention, abuse, or death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, and for other gross violations of human rights in Russia.
This bipartisan legislation passed by a vote of 365-43.
Chairman Camp stated : “PNTR with Russia will increase exports and will help create economic growth and jobs here at home. Additionally, it will give us a powerful new enforcement tool and will require Russia to comply with WTO rules. As a supporter of the Magnitsky provision, I am pleased we were also able to include this language because it sends a strong message to Russia that human rights transgressions will not be tolerated. I urge the Senate to act quickly and pass this important bipartisan legislation so we do not lose out to our foreign competitors.”
Trade Committee Chairman Brady said : “Russia’s recent accession to the WTO provides an opening for us to take advantage of Russia’s rapidly growing market and create U.S. jobs. However, without this legislation, we will be sitting on the sidelines, letting our competitors reap all of the benefits. I strongly support this bipartisan bill.”
H.R. 6156, The Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal Act of 2012:
- Ensures that U.S. employers, workers, farmers, and ranchers benefit from Russia’s membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) by removing Russia from the 1974 Jackson-Vanik amendment and establishing PNTR.
- Contains provisions to address concerns about Russia’s compliance with its WTO obligations, resolve bilateral trade issues between the United States and Russia, and promote the rule of law in Russia.
- Establishes PNTR with Moldova.
- Holds accountable those Russian government officials and others who participated in the arrest, murder, or cover-up of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky or who benefited from his death.
- Requires that those responsible for the death, torture, or repression of individuals investigating crimes by Russian government officials, or who were simply trying to exercise their basic human rights, be publicly named and sanctioned.
- Strikes directly at Russian officials and others who violate human rights by denying them visas and freezing their financial assets in the United States.
Port Cargo Volumes Bounce Back in October
Imports were up 15.2 percent, exports up 12.8 percent
Port of Long Beach / http://www.polb.com/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=1094&TargetID=1
Giving a boost to the peak season when retailers typically stock up for holiday shoppers, container volumes at the Port of Long Beach rose in October, with imports up 15.2 percent.
Port terminals handled 276,698 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) of loaded inbound cargo last month compared to 240,248 TEUs in October 2011. For the period between August and October, imports were up 6 percent in 2012 at the Port of Long Beach compared to the same period last year.
Exports rose too, from 118,325 TEUs in October 2011 to 133,503 TEUs last month, an increase of 12.8 percent. Overall container volume at the Port rose by 8.7 percent last month compared to the same period a year ago. Empty container volumes declined by 7 percent from October 2011 to 120,112 TEUs. With imports exceeding exports, empty containers are sent overseas to be refilled with goods.
For the calendar year, overall container volumes at the Port are down 3.2 percent through October. Imports are down 2.2 percent and exports are flat compared to the same period a year ago.
The Port of Long Beach continues to invest long term. It is two years into a decade-long, $4.5 billion program to upgrade its facilities.
For the latest monthly cargo numbers click here.
Two Destructive Pests Stopped By CBP Agriculture Specialist in San Diego
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / www.cbp.gov
San Diego – U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists working at the port of San Diego stopped two destructive pests from entering the country and potentially damaging our agriculture industry.
On Thursday, October 25, a passenger arrived to the San Diego International Airport on a flight from England. A CBP agriculture specialist screening passenger baggage at the x-ray machine noticed an anomaly inside a passenger’s bag and referred it for an intensive inspection. The agriculture specialist physically examined the bag and discovered more than four pounds of lentils from India, a prohibited commodity.
Upon further inspection of the lentils, the agriculture specialist discovered live larvae that turned out be a Trogoderma granarium Everts, otherwise known as khapra beetle. This is the first time khapra beetle has been intercepted at the port of San Diego in the passenger environment. The lentils were destroyed.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the khapra beetle is one of the world’s most destructive pests of grain products and seeds. Populations of this pest can build rapidly in a short time under hot, dry conditions. Grain damage, depending on existing conditions, often reaches 30 percent and up to 70 percent damage has been reported. In the United States, infestation can result in the loss of export markets. If khapra beetle became established in the United States, other countries would likely place restrictions on imports of U.S. grain, cereal products, or seed.
On October 29, a maritime container from Ecuador with a shipment of bananas was offloaded for inspection at the port of San Diego. A CBP agriculture specialist examined the floor of the container and found a large adult weevil. The agriculture specialist submitted the pest to the USDA for identification. The USDA identifier notified CBP that the final identification of the pest was Rhynchophorus palmarum Linnaeus, otherwise known as South American palm weevil. The container was re-exported per direction from USDA.
According to California Department of Food and Agriculture, the South American Palm Weevil (SAPW) originates from Central and South America and causes economic damage during the larval stage. When the larvae feed on the growing tissues in the crown of the palm, they often destroy the apical growth area and subsequently cause death of the palm. Populations of only 30 larvae have been reported as sufficient to cause the death of an adult coconut palm.
“Intercepting these pests protects the American agricultural industry from the expense of eradication, and the hardship of finding their crops damaged by new dangers,” said Pete Flores, Director of Field Operations for CBP in San Diego. “By stopping invasive pests at the border, before they can enter the United States, CBP officers and agriculture specialists protect our vital economy.”
Agriculture specialists protect the United States from the threat of invasive plant pests and foreign animal diseases with inspection and prevention efforts designed to keep prohibited agricultural items from entering the United States. These items, whether in commercial cargo or with a person entering the country, could cause serious damage to America’s crops, livestock, environment and potentially public health.
USITC Makes Determination in Five-Year (Sunset) Review Concerning Honey from China
U.S. International Trade Commission / www.usitc.gov
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty order on honey from China 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 determination, the existing order on imports of this product from China 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 Honey from China (Inv. No. 731-TA-893 (Second Review), USITC Publication 4364, November 2012) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the review.
Copies may be requested after December 21, 2012, by emailing pubrequest@usitc.gov, calling 202-205-2000, or writing to the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by fax at 202-205-2104.
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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) review concerning Honey from China was instituted on July 2, 2012.
On October 5, 2012, the Commission voted to conduct an expedited review. All six Commissioners concluded that the domestic group response for this review was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate and voted for an expedited review.
A record of the Commission's vote to conduct an expedited review 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.
CBP Atlanta Seizes 870 Children’s Ski Caps for Trademark and Copyright Infringement
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / www.cbp.gov
Atlanta – On November 12, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of Atlanta intercepted and seized 870 counterfeit wool ski caps. The shipment had a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $15,500.
The counterfeit ski caps, made to resemble children’s cartoon characters, were discovered during a physical inspection of the merchandise. The cartons, manifested as handicrafts from Ecuador, had been designated by CBP officers for examination. After determining the trademark violations, the merchandise was seized by CBP officers. Trademark violations found included Hello Kitty, Angry Birds, Yogi Bear, Spiderman, Marvel Comics, Smurfs, Shrek, Looney Tunes, Sponge Bob and Crabby, Ice Age, and Disney –Lilo and Stich.
“CBP protects businesses and consumers every day through an aggressive Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) enforcement program,” said Atlanta Port Director Stephen Kremer. “Our officers and import specialists play a vital role in this effort.”
To address the ongoing threat to domestic industries and the need to identify and interdict counterfeit goods, CBP works closely with private industry, other U.S. government agencies, and foreign governments to stem the flow of illegal goods to protect consumers and the economy. For more information on intellectual property rights dealing with trademarks, please visit the CBP Web site. ( Intellectual Property Rights )
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