In the United States the following events have taken place under the several PGA during the month of April 2016.
| Agencies | Summary |
| Federal Register | NCAP Test of the in-transit manifest pilot program: This document announces that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plans to conduct a National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) test regarding truck shipments of commercial goods that transit from a point of origination in Canada through the U.S. to a point of destination in Canada. Under the NCAP test, CBP will use a new filing code to identify shipments as being part of the in-transit manifest pilot program in CBP’s Automated Commercial Environmental (ACE) Truck Manifest System. Test participants will submit electronically an in-transit manifest with a relaxed validation for the value data element and they will not have to provide the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) number. Public comments are invited on any aspect of the test. See Details |
| Investigate certain textile and apparel articles from Nepal: The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) is seeking input for a new investigation concerning whether certain textile and apparel articles from Nepal are import sensitive. The investigation, Nepal: Advice Concerning Whether Certain Textile and Apparel Articles Are Import Sensitive, was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in a letter received on March 30, 2016. See Details |
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| Exporting eligibility of poultry products from Poland to U.S.: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to add the Republic of Poland to the list of countries in the regulations eligible to export poultry products to the United States. The products must comply with all other applicable requirements of the United States, including those of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), before any products can enter the United States. All such products would be subject to re- inspection at U.S. ports-of-entry by FSIS inspectors. See Details |
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| Importation of fresh apple and pear fruit from certain countries in the EU: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) are reopening the comment period for their proposed rule that would amend the regulations to allow the importation of fresh apple and pear fruit from certain countries in the European Union into the continental United States, provided that the fruit is produced in accordance with a systems approach, as an alternative to importation under the current pre-clearance program. See Details |
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| Importation of fresh peppers from Ecuador: This is a final rule made by APHIS that has amended the fruits and vegetables regulations to limit the importation of fresh peppers from Ecuador to the continental United States only subject to a systems approach. See Details |
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| Importation of fresh Cherimoya fruit from Chile: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) are proposing to amend the regulations to allow the importation of fresh cherimoya fruit from Chile into the continental United States, given that fruit is produced according to a systems approach, as an alternative to the currently required treatment. The proposed systems approach would include requirements for production site registration, low pest prevalence area certification, post-harvest processing, and fruit cutting and inspection at the packinghouse. See Details |
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| Importing lemons from Chile: This proposed rule given by APHIS would allow for the safe importation of lemons from Chile using mitigation measures other than fumigation with methyl bromide. See Details |
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| ITC | Petroleum wax candles from China: The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing anti-dumping duty order on petroleum wax candles 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 anti-dumping duty order on imports of these products from China will remain in place. See Details |
| USITC votes to continue investigation of phosphor Copper from Korea: The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) has determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of phosphor copper from Korea that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value. As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determination, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its investigation on imports of this product from Korea, with its preliminary antidumping duty determination due on or about August 16, 2016. See Details |
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| Cuban imports and effects of U.S. restrictions: U.S. restrictions on trade with and travel to Cuba have largely prevented U.S. suppliers and investors from accessing the Cuban market, and new or expanded U.S. exports in several goods and services sectors could occur if U.S. restrictions are lifted, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) report, Overview of Cuban Imports of Goods and Services and Effects of U.S. Restrictions. See Details |
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| Investigation on certain height-adjustable desk platforms and components: The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to institute an investigation of certain height-adjustable desk platforms and components thereof. The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Varidesk LLC of Coppell, TX, on March 18, 2016. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain height-adjustable desk platforms and components thereof that infringe patents asserted by the complainant. See Details |
