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| Canada upset over U.S. labeling rule |
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Friday, May 24, 2013
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The deadline for the United States to bring its country-of-origin labeling (COOL) into accordance with guidelines set by the World Trade Organization has expired, and Canadian officials think the United States hasn’t done enough to bring its rules into compliance. The United States first passed its rule about labeling in September 2008, and Canada immediately started negotiations among the WTO and U.S. officials to change the rule, which they saw as discriminatory...
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| FAA aids Dutch Caribbean |
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Friday, May 24, 2013
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The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has signed an agreement with the Netherlands to coordinate airspace between the United States and Dutch-controlled Caribbean islands. The agency will also install FAA air navigation services and facilities in the area, share safety information and other data, and provide technical assistance on an as-needed basis. The FAA already provides air navigation services in the San Juan Flight Information Region, which is adjacent to Netherlands a...
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| NTSB issues report on Delta Mariner accident |
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Friday, May 24, 2013
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An accident last year that occurred when the Foss ship Delta Mariner struck the Eggner’s Ferry Bridge in Kentucky was caused by the reliance of the vessel’s bridge team on the independent contract pilot who provided incorrect navigational direction, said a report released earlier this month by the National Transportation Safety Administration. NTSB said contributing factors included the failure of deck officers on the vessel to use all available navigation tools to verify t...
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| Bridge collapses on major U.S.-Canada link |
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Friday, May 24, 2013
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A bridge on Interstate-5, the major U.S. West Coast highway, collapsed into the Skagit River on Thursday evening. The bridge, north of Seattle, is the major artery for vehicles moving to and from Vancouver and other locations in Western Canada. The Seattle Times reported the bridge is used by an average 70,000 vehicles per day, 12 percent of which are trucks . Sean McNally, press secretary for the American Trucking Associations, said those appeared to be 2007 estima...
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| Executive moves |
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Friday, May 24, 2013
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Americold, a temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics provider to the food industry, appointed Jed Milstein to executive vice president and chief human resources officer, and Jeff Hogarth to senior vice president for Asia-Pacific. Milstein joins Americold after serving as executive vice president of human resources for TransCentra, a billing and payments provider. Prior to this, he was the head of HR for Cerberus Operations and Advisory Co. Hogarth, a 23-yea...
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| EU Parliament: Proceed with U.S. free-trade talks |
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Thursday, May 23, 2013
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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...
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| Florida provides new support for trade, logistics |
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Thursday, May 23, 2013
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Workforce Florida Inc., the statewide workforce investment board of business and government leaders, last week announced the availability of a $2 million Quick Response Training Challenge Grant for employers in Florida's logistics and trade industry. The special grant is intended to help the state's logistics and trade sector become more competitive by improving the skills of existing and new employees hired during the next year. Florida's economic developme...
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| FMC reviews 10 OTI license applications |
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Thursday, May 23, 2013
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The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received 10 ocean transportation intermediary license applications and changes for review. The FMC received non-vessel-operating common carrier license applications from Dove Global Logistics, Torrance, Calif. (Chol Min Kim, president); ICargo Global Logistics, Huntington Station, N.Y. (Edwin J. Arriaga, president); and TGP Logistics, Houston (Myrian T. Morales, vice president). The agency also received an NVO/ocean freight ...
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| U.S. targets trade buildup in Latin America |
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Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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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 ...
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| Concerns about U.S. Merchant Marine aired at hearing |
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Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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Challenges facing the U.S. Merchant Marine, including the loss of potential food aid cargo because of changes planned by the Obama administration to food aid programs, were highlighted during a hearing by the U.S. House's Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Tuesday. Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., said “unfortunately, over the last 35 years, the number of U.S.-flagged vessels sailing in the international trade has dropped from 850 to less th...
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| U.S., Burma start trade dialogue |
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Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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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...
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| Canadian retail sales flat in March |
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Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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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...
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| EU adds 37 million euros to fight piracy |
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Tuesday, May 21, 2013
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The European Union will contribute 37 million euros ($47.6 million) to the Program to Promote Regional Maritime Security, which will boost the fight against piracy in Eastern and Southern Africa. The money will be used to develop the legal system in the affected countries, strengthen financial oversight systems that could prevent the flow of money to pirates, share expertise and training, and provide security support. Anti-piracy awareness campaigns will also be set up in Somal...
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| Association to certify truckers against trafficking |
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Tuesday, May 21, 2013
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The Truckload Carriers Association and Truckers Against Trafficking have teamed up to educate and train truckers on how to recognize and report sex trafficking, a crime that has been reported in every U.S. state. TCA will now start giving tests to truckers around the country so they can become a Certified Trucker Against Trafficking. The test is being given without any costs to the trucker and is based on a video viewable here . The organization will also pro...
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| Washington Notebook: Virginia transport politics, Commerce's export awards |
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Tuesday, May 21, 2013
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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. &...
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| Florida Gov. Scott's budget favors ports |
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Tuesday, May 21, 2013
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Gov. Scott The budget signed Monday by Florida Gov. Rick Scott includes a record $278 million for development of the the state's 15 seaports. Port directors applauded Scott for making ports and trade a priority of his economic agenda. Florida is providing $112 million toward the $181 million cost of dredging the Port of Miami's main channel from 42 to 50 feet, including $77 million for the federal share of the project at Scott's direction. The governor has also committed t...
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| World War II ships pose pollution threat |
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Tuesday, May 21, 2013
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The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday it had forwarded to the U.S. Coast Guard a new report about 36 sunken vessels scattered across the U.S. seafloor that could pose an oil pollution threat . Seventeen of the ships were recommended for further assessment and potential removal of both fuel oil and oil cargo by the agency. NOAA said "the sunken vessels are a legacy of more than a century of U.S. commerce and warfare. They include a bar...
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| U.S. to strengthen trade with Tunisia |
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Tuesday, May 21, 2013
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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....
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| Report: China will assist its shipping industry |
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Monday, May 20, 2013
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China will assist its shipping companies to "escape recession" according to a report attributed to the Xinhua news agency . Xinhua quoted He Jianzhong, China's vice minister of transportation, as saying the government would assist companies in several ways, including offering subsidies to encourage retirement of old ships to reduce supply and improve safety. The government will also encourage carriers to sign long-term contracts and "strengthen interference into the...
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| FMC proposes OTI reforms |
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Friday, May 17, 2013
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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...
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| Report: Central America should embrace intermodal |
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Thursday, May 16, 2013
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Governments in Belize, Central America and the Dominican Republic should create an environment that embraces an integrated, intermodal sea-land network, according to a recent report by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). A stronger supply-chain network would help push global trade forward and would also encourage trade exchanges between the countries in the region. The two authors of the study, Amar Ramudhin and Don Ratliff, posit that a number of initiative...
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| Postal group signs deal with Amber Road |
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Thursday, May 16, 2013
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The Kahala Posts Group (KPG), an alliance of 10 postal administrations around the world, has signed a deal with the global trade management solutions provider Amber Road aimed at increasing their competitiveness in the international delivery market. KPG member organizations include the Australian Postal Corp., China Post Group, Correos y Telégrafos SAE, Groupe La Poste, Hongkong Post, Japan Post Co., Ltd., Korea Post, Royal Mail Group, Ltd, Singapore Post Limited and the U.S. Po...
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| Con-way prepares for HOS rules despite court challenge |
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Thursday, May 16, 2013
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With the impending deadline for the Federal Motor Carrier Service Administration’s new hours-of-service regulations less than two months away, the outcome of the American Trucking Association’s legal challenge against the rule is still not clear. The ATA argued against the HOS change before a three-judge panel in Washington, D.C., on March 15, but unless a ruling comes down before July 1, carriers will nonetheless have to comply with the new law before knowing if it will be str...
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| U.S. exports to Colombia up 20% with FTA |
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Thursday, May 16, 2013
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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...
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| Bayonne Bridge fix can move forward |
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Thursday, May 16, 2013
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The Coast Guard has completed an environmental assessment of a plan by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to increase the clearance or "air draft" beneath the Bayonne Bridge from 151 feet to 215 feet and found no significant impact, meaning a permit can be issued so work can begin on the project. Raising the roadway will allow larger container vessels to traverse the Kill Van Kull to reach terminals in Newark and Elizabeth, N.J. More big ships are expected to ca...
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| Senate approves water infrastructure bill |
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Thursday, May 16, 2013
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The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed a Water Resources Development Act reauthorization bill by a vote of 83 to 14 that sets the stage for Congress to appropriate money for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to spend on maintenance of harbors and inland waterways, and for deepening and other water-related projects. Congress has not passed a WRDA law since 2007, which has put a freeze on new projects that industry groups insist are necessary to maintain efficient commerce and trade.&...
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| FMC reviews 13 OTI license applications |
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Thursday, May 16, 2013
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The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received 13 ocean transportation intermediary license applications and changes for review. The FMC received non-vessel-operating common carrier license applications from Feiliks Global Logistics Corp., Jamaica, N.Y. (Ami K. Wey, president); Hye Mi Express U.S.A., Torrance, Calif. (Kil Soo "Ben" Hur, president); and Sea Marine Transport, Huixquilucan, Mexico (Moises L. Sarabia, president). The agency also received an NVO...
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| NTSB: Reduce legal limit to hinder drunk truck drivers |
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Wednesday, May 15, 2013
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After a year-long review of substance-impaired driving in the trucking industry, the National Transportation Safety Board has issued recommendations for reducing the legal alcohol driving limit; ramping up the use of interlock devices; and beefing up penalties for non-compliance. According to a NTSB report, the new legal blood-alcohol limit for drivers should drop from .08 to .05. While the American Trucking Associations commended the progress on these measure...
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| U.S. civil nuclear trade mission to China, Vietnam |
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Wednesday, May 15, 2013
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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...
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| Port of Montreal open to post-Panamax ships |
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Wednesday, May 15, 2013
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The Montreal Port Authority said the Canadian Coast Guard has authorized the passage of vessels up to 44 meters wide in the Quebec-Montreal section of the St. Lawrence navigation channel, which will allow post-Panamax vessels carrying 6,000 TEUs to reach Montreal. Previously, the maximum width of ships allowed to travel in the channel without restrictions was 32.1 meters. The change follows a study commissioned by the port authority and conducted jointly with the C...
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| Long Beach issues revised EIR for grain transload facility |
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Tuesday, May 14, 2013
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The Port of Long Beach is recirculating a draft environmental impact statement for a proposed grain export facility at Pier T on Terminal Island. The public is being encouraged to comment on the EIR in writing or at a public hearing scheduled for June 5. The grain transload facility proposed by Total Terminals International would receive railcars with 53-foot domestic containers full of grain and dried distillers grain with solubles, a byproduct of ethanol pro...
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| STB pushes arbitration with new rule |
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Tuesday, May 14, 2013
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The U.S. Surface Transportation Board has adopted a new arbitration program for disputes between shippers and railroads with clear liability limits. Effective June 12, the rule change establishes when the parties would be ordered to participate in mediation. Initially, Class I and II railroads were to be automatically enrolled in the arbitration program unless they specifically opted out of the program by application to the board. Class III rail...
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| U.S. import, export pricing fell in April |
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Tuesday, May 14, 2013
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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...
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| Washington Notebook: British leader discusses trade deal with Obama |
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Tuesday, May 14, 2013
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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 ...
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| Matsuda stepping down at MarAd |
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Tuesday, May 14, 2013
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Matsuda David T. Matsuda, head of the Maritime Administration, plans to leave the agency at the end of the month. In a memorandum sent to industry leaders to thank them for their assistance during his tenure, Matsuda said he "recently made the difficult decision to move on from my position at the Maritime Administration later this month." He added: "Taking the helm as acting administrator will be Deputy Administrator Chip Jaenichen. He and the rest of our team are ...
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| Congressman calls TWIC cards 'farcical' |
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Monday, May 13, 2013
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Transportation Worker Identification Credentials, or TWIC cards, were described as a “joke” during hearings before the U.S. House of Representative’s Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee last week. The hearings came as the Government Accountability Office issued a report that said 11 years after initiation of the program the Department of Homeland Security “has not demonstrated how, if at all, TWIC will improve maritime security.” G...
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| FAA confirms budget fix ends furloughs |
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Monday, May 13, 2013
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The U.S. Department of Transportation made it official Friday that the Federal Aviation Administration will not furlough air traffic controllers or close 149 low-activity control towers at small airports to meet new budget requirements following recent congressional action. The Reducing Flight Delays Act allowed the FAA flexibility to move money from its Airport Improvement Program to the personnel account to cover $637 million in planned cuts that would have required cont...
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| Ex-Im Bank loan for Brazilian airline maintenance |
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Friday, May 10, 2013
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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...
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| USDA proposes Malaysian fruit import rule |
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Friday, May 10, 2013
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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...
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| Sánchez leads U.S. trade mission in Asia |
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Friday, May 10, 2013
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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...
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| USDA releases refined sugar re-export waivers |
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Friday, May 10, 2013
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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 ...
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| Spanish version of U.S. trade finance guide released |
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Thursday, May 09, 2013
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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...
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| Labor rights unsettle U.S.-Bahrain trade relations |
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Thursday, May 09, 2013
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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...
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| Former Marine Corps logistics workers plead guilty to bribery |
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Thursday, May 09, 2013
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Two former employees of a Marine Corps logistics base in Albany, Ga., have pleaded guilty to taking bribes totaling nearly $750,000 over a three-year period to provide local carriers with business from the base, according to the U.S. Justice Department. The two men — Mitchell D. Potts and Jeffrey S. Philpot — face maximum prison sentences of 15 years and fines. They have already paid back the bribes and restitution to the Defense Department. During the scheme, ...
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| FMC review 6 OTI license applications |
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Thursday, May 09, 2013
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The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received six ocean transportation intermediary license applications and changes for review. The FMC received non-vessel-operating common carrier license applications from Jolaco International Procurement, Katy, Texas (Frederick D. Coker, president); and Mohammad Abdullatif Bagegni, Pelham, N.H. (Mohammad Bagegni, sole proprietor). The agency also received a NVO/ocean freight forwarder license application from Defined Lo...
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| WTO picks Brazilian diplomat as new boss |
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Wednesday, May 08, 2013
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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...
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| Canada adopts new rules to reduce ship pollution |
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Wednesday, May 08, 2013
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Canada said it's adopting strict environmental standards to reduce air emissions from ships navigating in Canadian waters , and these changes further align the country's air emission standards with those of the United States. "The changes we are announcing today will help make our oceans and lakes cleaner by reducing ship emissions," said Denis Lebel, Canada's minister of transport, infrastructure and communities. "Since vessels from Canada and the United States routinely t...
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| Maersk adds larger ships to U.S.-flag fleet |
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Wednesday, May 08, 2013
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Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) said it has begun upgrading its U.S.-flag fleet by replacing eight existing ships with eight newer and larger containerships at a cost of about $500 million. MLL, the U.S.-flag arm of A.P. Moller-Maersk, said the new ships, which are being re-registered under the U.S. flag, will allow it to improve the quality of service between the U.S. East Coast and Middle East and Mediterranean Sea that it offers to the U.S. military, government and commercial...
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| Hong Kong strike ends after 40 days |
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Tuesday, May 07, 2013
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Dockworkers in Hong Kong have decided to end a 40-day strike after securing a promise of a 9.8 percent wage increase and improved working conditions. The Union of Hong Kong Dockers (UHKD) said it had received on Monday a written confirmation jointly signed by the four contractors at Hongkong International Terminal - Everbest, Comcheung, Lem Wing and Pui Kee - via the Hong Kong Labor Department that confirms the 9.8 percent increase in the basic wage for all their employees ...
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| Washington Notebook: Commerce Department trade update |
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Tuesday, May 07, 2013
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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...
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| Obama says FAA fix steals from airport upgrades |
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Monday, May 06, 2013
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During a White House news conference last week, President Obama said Congress' temporary fix of the government-wide sequester cuts to end flight delays is symptomatic of the nation's deferral of infrastructure maintenance writ large that is undermining long-term economic growth. Obama signed legislation giving the Federal Aviation Administration the flexibility to move money from the Airport Improvement Program, which provides airport authorities with grants for infrastruct...
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| Business groups push Senate to act on WRDA |
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Friday, May 03, 2013
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Thirty-four national trade associations representing port authorities, water carriers, retailers and other shippers, the construction industry and unions, along with dozens of state-level business groups, signed a letter this week urging members of the U.S. Senate to support quick passage of the Water Resources Development Act. The Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee unanimously approved the bill in late March and forwarded it for Senate consideration. It spells...
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| Electronic shippers seek ‘repairable’ claim |
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Friday, May 03, 2013
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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...
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| Obama nominates Commerce, USTR chiefs |
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Thursday, May 02, 2013
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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 ...
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| U.S. trade deficit fell in March |
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Thursday, May 02, 2013
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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 ...
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| SBA to showcase export services in L.A. Friday |
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Thursday, May 02, 2013
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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...
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| Allegretti to chair American Maritime Partnership |
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Thursday, May 02, 2013
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Allegretti The American Maritime Partnership (AMP), a trade organization for the U.S. shipping industry, said Thomas Allegretti has been elected as its new chairman. Allegretti is president and chief executive officer of the American Waterways Operators, a trade group for the tug and barge industry. He succeeds James Henry, chairman and president of the Transportation Institute, who will serve as AMP’s vice chairman. “It is an honor to serve ...
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| FMC reviews 18 OTI license applications |
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Thursday, May 02, 2013
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The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received 18 ocean transportation intermediary license applications and changes for review. The FMC received non-vessel-operating common carrier license applications from Bruzzone Shipping, Freeport, N.Y. (victor J. Bruzzone, president); E.T.H. Cargo Services, Carolina, Puerto Rico (Wolfgang Herzig, president); Redline USA, Miami (Carlos Zilli, president); Route 809 Freight Forward, Miami (Eduardo Pichardo, manager member);...
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| Raytheon cited for lax ITAR compliance |
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Wednesday, May 01, 2013
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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...
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| NCBFAA protests Customs plan for disciplining brokers |
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Wednesday, May 01, 2013
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The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America has come out against a U.S. Customs proposal to improve due process procedures for suspending a broker's entry-filer code, saying that going after the code is a back-door way of trying to take away a broker's license and is unconstitutional. Customs and Border Protection has been frustrated for years with the amount of time it takes to deactivate filer codes for problematic brokers. In a Notice of Pro...
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