C U S T O M S   _______________________________

Department Of Commerce Notes Foreign Regulatory Changes That Could Affect US Exports

Customs' Jan. 14 Textile Quota Critical List for 2004 Quotas

  CBP Holds the 5th Annual Trade Symposium 2004
   Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Admiral James M. Loy
   addresses Hundreds of Security, Trade and Transportation Business Executives

 APHIS has published the Final Rule for new requirements concerning the importation of wood packaging material

W T O  _________________________________________

EU Considers Trade Relief for Countries Hurt by Tsunamis

U.S. Requests WTO Panel Against EU Over European Customs System

S E C U R I T Y    _____________________

Stricter C-TPAT to offer prompt clearance

Certifying for Release via Entry Summary on multiple
Ultimate Consignee Shipments

Third C-TPAT draft spells out importer checks on foreign suppliers

New presidential directive targets maritime security

Holiday Closings for Lunar New Year

& Spring Festival

Taiwan  Feb. 5 - 13      China  Feb. 9 - 15     
Hong Kong  Feb. 9 - 11

U.S. trade court bars limits on textile imports from China

China Considering Further Measures to Limit Textile Export Growth

"Super-post-Panamax" cranes arrive at
Port of Miami

Port terminal demand “to double by 2015”

Wisconsin purchases CN line to
preserve rail service

 

S E M I N A R S / T R A D E

Gov. Jim Doyle's Trade Mission To Mexico March 6-11, 2005

Upcoming eyefortransport Events

China Trade Shows

C U S T O M S   _______________________________

DOC Notes Foreign Regulatory Changes That Could Affect US Exports
18 Jan 2005, ST&R

According to the Department of Commerce’s (DOC) National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the WTO has been notified by the following countries of proposed or final regulatory changes that may affect US exports of the products indicated:

• Central African Republic – Cigarettes
• Central African Republic – Locally produced sugar
• Central African Republic – Condensed milk, salt, wheat flour, medicine, school supplies, oil other than unrefined palm oil, sugar, rice, bread, fishery products other than preserved, building materials, cement, concrete-reinforcing bars, sheet metal, tacks, household soap, hoes, machetes, and spades
• Central African Republic – Domestic and imported sugar
• Chile – Pesticides for domestic and sanitary use
• Colombia – Wood packaging material
• Colombia – Petroleum-based liquid fuels
• Colombia – Preserved sardines
• Costa Rica – Petroleum products, aviation gasoline
• Guatemala – Aviation gasoline
• Honduras – Liquefied petroleum gas stations with fixed storage installations
• Korea – Herbal medicines
• Panama – Other animal products, hens’ eggs for consumption
• Thailand – Protection against harmful goods
• Brazil – Wheat flour
• EU – Pre-packaged products: still wine; yellow wine; sparkling wine; liqueur wine; aromatized wine; spirits; soluble coffee; and white sugar

Customs' Jan. 14 Textile Quota Critical List for 2004 Quotas, 2004 Year-End Absolute Quota Reports

The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection issued its latest "Textile Critical List," which provides quota fill levels for textiles that have reached 85 percent or more of the 2004 annual allowed quota by category. Customs also posted its "Archived Year-end Textile Status Reports for Absolute Quotas Status" for imported textile merchandise subject to absolute quota in 2004. 

The list and reports can be accessed on-line at: http://www.cbp.gov/, under Import > Textiles and Quota > "Textile Critical List" or "Archived Year-end Textile Status Reports for Absolute Quotas."

Customs has also published QBT-04-034/TBT-04-036: Entry of Goods Shipped in Excess of 2004 Quota Limits, which can be accessed on-line at: http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/xp/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/tbts/TBT2004/ and QBT-04-035/TBT-04-037:  Entry of Goods Shipped in Excess of China Safeguards (Categories 222, 349/649, 350/650), which can be accessed on-line at: http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/xp/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/tbts/TBT2004/

CBP Holds the 5th Annual Trade Symposium 2004

On January 13-14, 2005, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert C. Bonner hosted CBP’s Trade Symposium 2004 to a sell out crowd of 800 participants from the international trade community. The annual Trade Symposium was held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. The theme for this year is “Security and Facilitation of Trade: The Way Forward.”

The symposium focused on enhancing CBP’s strategy to secure and facilitate the movement of legitimate trade and traffic with greater efficiency and predictability; and, to strengthen security against global terrorism.

“The terrorist attacks on 9/11 changed the world forever; and, they changed how America does business. It became abundantly clear that the safety and security of global trade has an impact that transcends borders and is vital to the well being of every one of us,” said Commissioner Bonner.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection uses multiple strategies and employs the latest in technology to accomplish the dual goals of anti-terrorism and facilitating legitimate trade and travel. CBP’s initiatives are designed to protect the homeland from acts of terrorism, and reduce the vulnerability to the threat of terrorists through a multi-level inspection process.

“Securing global trade and the movement of goods—the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism or C-TPAT program—is, and must continue to be, a partnership between government and the private sector. What began as a program designed for trade coming to our shores has been recognized by its success and is now being considered around the world as an effective tool in the war against terror,” Commissioner Bonner stated.

The symposium panel discussions included: U.S. Cargo Security Strategy, Global Supply Chain Security, Internationalizing the Security Strategy, Contingency Plans for Incident Response, and Automated Commercial Environment / International Trade Data System (ACE/ITDS). The keynote speaker for the luncheon was Admiral J.M. Loy, Deputy Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security.

APHIS has published the Final Rule for new requirements concerning the importation of wood packaging material. The implementation date for regulatory enforcement shall be September 16, 2005. The delay between publication and implementation shall allow an appropriate amount of time for countries to establish programs to become compliant with ISPM 15 and the Final Rule.

APHIS has set standards for Wood Packaging Material imported into the USA through 7 CFR 319.40 - Importation of Wood Packaging Material, as published on September 16, 2004. This rule states that all regulated wood packaging material shall be appropriately treated and marked under an official program developed and overseen by the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) in the country of export.

Until September 16, 2005, as the designated enforcement date, APHIS will follow its current requirements for imported wood packaging material. Please note that PPQ is in the process of updating all references to SOLID WOOD PACKAGING to reflect the September 16, 2004 rule for REGULATED WOOD PACKING MATERIAL.

Implementation of the Wood Packaging Material (WPM) Regulation

Wood Packing Material from China

Wood Packing Material Final Rule, Docket No. 02-032-03

Proposed Rule Public Hearing Transcripts

USDA Proposed Rule for Imported Wood Packing Material

Regulatory Impact Analysis for USDA's Proposed Rule for Imported Wood Packing Material.

W T O  _________________________________________

EU Considers Trade Relief for Countries Hurt by Tsunamis.

A January 11 European Commission press release reports that the EU is “actively considering” the use of trade measures to help South Asian countries affected by the recent tsunamis. Among the options being considered are suspension of antidumping (AD) duties, helping businesses comply with sanitary and food safety standards, accelerating the implementation of the EU’s new Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) scheme (which will cover products such as seafood and textiles and apparel that often account for the majority of the affected countries’ exports), and simplifying and relaxing rules of origin to “help regions such as ASEAN [the Association of Southeast Asian Nations] benefit from cumulated preferential access to the EU market.” The press release noted that while the EU cannot lower or eliminate import duties for specific countries under WTO rules, it is “ready to support WTO-wide initiatives to agree on tariff concessions for the affected countries.”

The Office of the United States Trade Representative

U.S. Requests WTO Panel Against EU Over European Customs System
01/13/2005

WASHINGTON – The office of the U.S. Trade Representative asked the World Trade Organization (WTO) to form a dispute settlement panel in the case against the European Union regarding EU customs laws and regulations. This step follows the September 21, 2004 filing of a request for consultations with the EU. Consultations between the U.S. and the EU were held in mid-November, but were unable to resolve the dispute.

Many important aspects of customs administration in the EU are handled differently by different member State customs authorities, resulting in inconsistencies from country to country. Although the EU is a customs union, there is no single EU customs administration. Lack of uniformity, coupled with lack of procedures for prompt EU-wide review, can hinder U.S. exports, particularly for small to mid-size businesses.

WTO rules require WTO Members to administer their customs laws in a uniform, impartial and reasonable manner. They also require Members to provide tribunals for prompt review and correction of administrative action relating to customs matters. The United States considers that the EU fails to meet either of these requirements.

EU institutions -- including the Commission, the Court of Justice, and the Parliament -- have routinely noted the lack of uniformity in the administration of EU customs law. For example, in its comments on a March 2001 report by the EU Court of Auditors, the Commission stated, "The objective that for all trade in goods the Community should operate as a real customs union with uniform treatment of imported goods can be fully obtained only if the customs union is operating on the basis of a single customs administration, which is not the case." The United States fully agrees.

Variations in the way that goods are treated by the different EU member States can cause problems that burden all traders. These problems are compounded by an inability to obtain prompt EU-wide review of national administrative decisions. An importer or other interested party has to wend its way through national administrative and/or judicial appeals before obtaining an authoritative determination from an EU-level tribunal.

Background:

The lack of uniform customs administration by the EU affects U.S. producers, farmers, and exporters in a number of important ways. For example, goods may be classified differently and thus be subject to different tariffs depending on the EU member State through which they are imported. Similarly, a U.S. exporter may be able to obtain binding guidance in one member State on how its goods will be valued for tariff calculation purposes. But the exporter may not be able to rely on that guidance in another member State; indeed in some member States the exporter may not be able to obtain binding valuation guidance at all.

These problems fall particularly hard on small and mid-size businesses, which often lack the resources to work their way through member State and EU bureaucracies in order to reconcile inconsistencies in classification or valuation in different States.

There are four reasons to move this dispute to a WTO panel now. First, the EU has just recently expanded from 15 member States to 25 member States. The trade barrier inherent in lack of uniform customs administration expanded when the new member States joined last May. As an indicator of the level of trade potentially affected by this barrier, it should be noted that U.S. goods exports to the EU-25 totaled $155.2 billion in 2003. By pressing this issue now, we hope to address this problem early in the EU’s process of dealing with the challenges of enlargement.

Second, enhancing trade facilitation is a key part of the Doha Development Agenda. The United States expects that pressing a major player in world trade to administer its customs laws and regulations in a uniform manner will help to advance that part of the agenda.

Third, over the past year, we have tried to work with the Commission to address the concerns of U.S. exporters. Indeed, this was the culmination of efforts over the past seven years to address such concerns in various WTO fora. Although the Commission has tried to help with individual problems, it has become clear that the allocation of authorities within the EU and even the Commission has precluded achieving the necessary systemic solutions.

Fourth, the United States and the EU held consultations on this matter in Geneva in mid-November. Six other WTO Members – Argentina, Australia, Brazil, India, Japan, and Taiwan – asked to join the consultations as third parties, demonstrating the level of concern about the EU system. Regrettably, the EU rejected these requests to join the consultations by major exporters to the EU. Ultimately, the consultations confirmed U.S. concerns and failed to resolve the dispute.

S E C U R I T Y    ___________________________

Stricter C-TPAT to offer prompt clearance
January 14, 2005

Importers that adhere to the very best security practices will get long-promised expedited clearance for their cargo before the end of the year, according to Robert C. Bonner, Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection.

Bonner told reporters...that his agency plans to take its Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism to a higher level by offering what he called "C-TPAT-Plus" companies that have gone beyond the minimal requirements for the anti-terror program immediate clearance of cargo on arrival in the U.S.

Bonner was the keynote speaker at the agency's fifth trade symposium.

"My vision is to provide them this year with the "green lane", and that means no inspections upon arrival, immediate release, because we have validated that they in fact are using the best supply-chain best practices," Bonner said.

Those practices include validated supply-chain security from the point of origin at a foreign manufacturer; the use of a "smart" container equipped with high-security seal and internal sensors to detect tampering, and shipment through a port.... that participates in Customs' Container Security Initiative.

Those steps "sufficiently removes the risk, that we are better off devoting our inspectional resources to non-C-TPAT shipments or less secure shipments," Bonner said.  He declined to predict how many containers may get the green lane treatment by the end of the year.  Importers may still have containers stopped for random inspections, or if there is tactical intelligence that a container should be inspected.

Participants in C-TPAT generally may expect to meet more demanding "security criteria," although Bonner avoided calling them standards.  The agency released a new C-TPAT Strategy, which has been derived in part from the draft standards that Customs began circulating among industry leaders last October.

However, Bonner said that the C-TPAT benefits will increase along with the government's expectations.  He said a C-TPAT company is six times less likely to have its cargo stopped for security, and four times less likely to be inspected for trade-compliance reasons than a non-C-TPAT company.

Bonner said Customs will issue a C-TPAT "annual statements" to participants to show financially how companies have benefited from the program.

This article was extracted from the January 13, 2005 Edition of "The Journal of Commerce".

Certifying for Release via Entry Summary on multiple Ultimate Consignee Shipments
January 10, 2005

U.S. Customs has issued a National Directive that they will no longer allow entry filers (brokers) to "certify for release via entry summary" on multiple Ultimate Consignee shipments.  This process allowed U.S. Customs Brokers to just declare the highest valued Ultimate Consignee.  U.S. Brokers have been using the process for some clients.  Customs has not put a stop to this work-around and made the new directive retroactive to January 1, 2005.

Effective immediately, each item going to each Ultimate Consignee must be declared separately to Customs.  Remember, the Customs definition of Ultimate Consignee is, "The party in the U.S. to whom the foreign company sold the imported merchandise" (meaning the buyer).  Therefore if there are multiple buyers and multiple actual consignees on a single shipment, each item for each buyer has to be transmitted separately to Customs in order for goods to be released.  Further, when the shipment shows up at the border the physical paperwork also needs to list the actual consignees in addition to the Ultimate Consignees (buyers).

Shippers should change paperwork in reporting correct information immediately.

Also keep in mind MULTIPLE ULTIMATE CONSIGNEES & shipment that are NOT subject to FDA-PN, each line valued at or over $2000 needs an Ultimate Consignee with a valid IRS# and each line valued under $2000 needs a consignee listed with a name and address (IRS# is optional).

Carriers, this also means separate transactions requiring separate advance cargo reporting.

Third C-TPAT draft spells out importer checks on foreign suppliers
12 Jan 2005

The following article is excerpted from the 11 January 2005 edition of “American Shipper”.

U.S. importers will need to verify that overseas suppliers and transportation providers have appropriate security procedures in place to prevent a terrorist weapon being inserted in a shipping container, but will not be required to distribute a security questionnaire to their vendors, under the latest iteration of revised criteria for participation in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism.

The dropping of the security questionnaire as a mandatory step for members of the voluntary trusted shipper program is the biggest change between the second and third drafts of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's new C-TPAT security criteria.

CBP is under pressure to put teeth in the program so that companies that sign up follow through on promises to tighten supply chain security procedures in exchange for fewer cargo exams and other benefits.

The third draft … instructs importers to require business partners "not already C-TPAT certified, to demonstrate that they are meeting C-TPAT security criteria via written/electronic confirmation (e.g., contractual obligations; via a letter from a senior business partner officer attesting to compliance; a written statement from the business partner demonstrating their participation in C-TPAT or an equivalent (World Customs Organization) accredited security program administered by a foreign customs authority; or, by providing a completed importer security questionnaire)."

The document raises questions again about how importers, without clear instructions, are supposed to go about vetting their overseas suppliers.

According to the draft document, which was distributed to a select group of importers and trade associations Friday, importers would be required to follow-up and verify a vendor's compliance. Such a process would help identify if the business partner outsources part of its own production or transportation and push C-TPAT criteria down to the original service provider.

CBP has requested organizations that received the draft submit their feedback by Friday [14 January] according to an industry source.

The document also does not address the question of importer liability, an issue raised by the National Industrial Transportation League in its comments to CBP on the second draft …. The freight group expressed its concern that C-TPAT members could be held liable to mandatory standards in the event of an incident outside their control.

Government Computer News
New presidential directive targets maritime security
By Patience Wait  GCN Staff

President Bush has signed a national security directive that calls for a plan to use existing capabilities to integrate maritime security intelligence on a global basis.

The president signed National Security Presidential Directive 41/Homeland Security Presidential Directive 13 late last month, according to a Port Security News report earlier today.

The directive said the government needs a way to integrate all intelligence on the location, identity and operational capabilities and intentions of potential threats to U.S. interests at sea.

The Maritime Security Policy does not outline extensive new initiatives to strengthen security at the nation’s 350-plus seaports. Instead, it stresses integrating existing federal policies and programs, including the Container Security Initiative, Operation Safe Commerce and the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism.

A new senior steering group for maritime domain awareness will coordinate national efforts to develop enhanced capabilities to “identify threats in the maritime domain as distant from our shores as possible.” Officials from the Defense and Homeland Security departments will lead the new group.

A S I A    _____________________________

Holiday Closings for Lunar New Year & Spring Festival

Taiwan  Feb. 5 - 13      China  Feb. 9 - 15      Hong Kong  Feb. 9 - 11

U.S. trade court bars limits on textile imports from China

The U.S. Court of International Trade in New York has temporarily barred the Bush administration from imposing new limits on imported textile and apparel products entering the U.S. from China.

   Senior Judge Richard W. Goldberg of the trade court granted preliminary injunction Dec. 30 that had been requested by the United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA) and opposed by the U.S. Justice Department, along with five federal entities whose representatives form the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

   The CITA constituents are the departments of State, Treasury, Commerce, Labor, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. USA-ITA’s members include J.C. Penney, Liz Claiborne and other prominent textile and apparel importing retailers.

   In October, CITA began accepting safeguard petitions from U.S. domestic textile manufacturers on apparel products from China that were under quota, an action that contravened rules published by CITA in May 2003. CITA’s rationale for accepting such petitions was based on predicted, if unproven, threats of U.S. market disruption from Chinese products after most textile quotas ended Dec. 31.

   Goldberg, in his ruling, noted that USA-ITA had asked that the International Trade Court prohibit CITA “during the pendency of this action from accepting, considering or taking any further action on requests … based on the threat of market disruption upon the elimination of quotas or safeguards on textiles or textile products from the People’s Republic of China.

   “Plaintiff alleges that, unless a preliminary injunction is issued, its members have been, and will continue to be, irreparably harmed by CITA’s consideration of threat-based requests (which) is unsupported by the text of the China Textile Safeguard Regulations, and represents an impermissible departure from CITA’s precedent and public statements,” Goldberg said.

   Showing mere economic loss, as government attorneys pointed out, is “insufficient to justify preliminary injunctive relief,” Goldberg explained in his ruling. “However, the court also finds that plaintiff has shown much more than just economic loss. Because of CITA’s mere acceptance of threat-based requests, plaintiff’s members have found it prudent to cancel or consider canceling orders in China and move them to other countries where possible.”

   Because other importers are also scrambling to secure alternative production facilities, “it has been difficult for plaintiff’s members to find substitute factories. This difficulty is exacerbated by the unrefuted fact that Chinese factories generally have fewer audit failures, ensure more on-time deliveries, employ highly skilled workers, and operate as some of the most efficient production facilities in the world,” the trade court noted.

   “By being forced to move production to less efficient factories in other countries, plaintiff’s members face the real possibility that they may not be able to deliver products to their customers in a timely manner, which will impair their goodwill and business reputation. This constitutes irreparable injury,” Goldberg said.

   “In addition, plaintiff’s members’ inability to stock shelves in a timely manner will create an unquantifiable ripple effect, as shortages of merchandise in one category can affect sales in other categories. This, in turn, inhibits the member companies’ ability to respond to trend-specific demand, thereby creating an unquantifiable inventory risk,” the trade court explained.

   USA-ITA also “provided affidavits indicating that China is the only country from which some of its members are able to obtain certain goods. For instance, one of the plaintiff’s members is only able to obtain fine gauge knit sweaters from China. However, these sweaters are the subject of threat-based requests that CITA has already accepted for consideration. Thus, the member company has been unable to place its full commitment of orders in China for fear that a quota may be filled before it receives the sweaters,” Goldberg said.

   The government had argued that assertions of irreparable injury were speculative “because it is unknown whether CITA will actually impose safeguards. The court disagrees. The irreparable harm suffered by plaintiff arises directly from CITA’s mere acceptance of threat-based requests, since such acceptance makes it necessary for plaintiff’s members to detrimentally alter their 2005 business plans,” the trade court said.

   “Moreover, contrary to (the government’s) assertion, this irreparable harm is ongoing because plaintiff’s members typically place about 30 percent of their orders for the second half of 2005 by January 2005. Thus, a full 70 percent of plaintiff’s members’ orders for this period remain in limbo as a result of CITA’s actions,” Goldberg explained.

   The International Trade Court then suggested how USA-ITA’s allegation of CITA’s overstepping its mandate might play out. “The scope of the plaintiff’s complaint clearly exceeds that of the requested preliminary injunction. In its complaint, plaintiff has raised an important question as to whether CITA’s delegated authority to administer textile agreements includes the authority to issue regulations pursuant to China’s Accession Agreement (to the World Trade Organization). Whether a WTO accession agreement is a ‘textile agreement’ within the meaning of 7 U.S.C. 1854 is a question of first impression. If plaintiff is fully successful on the merits of the case, CITA’s China Textile Safeguard Regulations will be invalidated in toto,” Goldberg warned.
   “Such an order would far exceed the more limited scope of the requested preliminary injunction. As such, the balance of the (apparel importers’) hardships tips in favor of granting preliminary injunction relief,” the trade court said.

   “CITA’s ability to administer the terms of a WTO accession agreement is a novel question,” Goldberg added. Before that issue can be considered by the trade court, “injunctive relief in this case will not impede CITA’s ability to impose textile-specific safeguards … accordingly, the public interest will be served by issuance of the requested injunction,” he said.

   Goldberg’s ruling made immediate headlines around the world. The Telegraph, a newspaper in Calcutta, India, quoted unnamed U.S. textile manufacturers as saying the trade court’s injunction “could further hurt beleaguered U.S. factory jobs.”

   The Taipei Times Sunday said, “the action by a federal court in New York comes as U.S. textile makers brace for an even greater surge of Chinese apparel imports when decades-old, worldwide quotas expired yesterday.”

   TurkishPress.com reported: “the ruling leaves the door open to an unchecked increase in Chinese goods” and “dashes hopes for an immediate move by Washington to allow for only gradual increases in Chinese imports.”

   One trade group representing U.S. textile manufacturers lost no time in publicly opposing Goldberg’s granting of an injunction. “It is imperative that the U.S. government appeal this flawed decision as soon as possible,” and that “the appellate process be expeditious so that the U.S. government’s consideration of the threat-based petitions already filed will not be delayed,” said the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC).

   If not overturned on appeal, the ruling by the International Trade Court “could open the door to allowing China to gain a monopoly share of the U.S. textile and apparel market in short order, threatening the economic livelihood of nearly 700,000 U.S. workers,” AMTAC asserted.

   For the full text of Judge Goldberg’s ruling, see Slip Opinion 04-162, Court Docket No. 04-00598, on the Web site of the U.S. Court of International Trade, http://www.cit.uscourts.gov.

Source: American Shipper Shippers' NewsWire

China Considering Further Measures to Limit Textile Export Growth ST&R

China is considering several additional measures to limit an anticipated surge in textile exports now that quotas among WTO member countries have been eliminated, The Wall Street Journal reported on January 17. Since January 1 Beijing has imposed export tariffs on 148 categories of textile and apparel products in an effort to assuage concerns that low-priced Chinese exports will flood into US and European markets. However, US and European Union (EU) officials have recently indicated that this may not be enough to prevent them from imposing safeguard quotas on imports from China.

According to the article, one new idea is to set minimum prices on some apparel exports. Such a move could not only limit shipments but also reduce the chances that Chinese goods would be the subject of dumping complaints in US and European markets. Another possibility is the establishment of a system to monitor export levels in order to warn of sharp increases. China’s Chamber of Commerce for Textile Importers and Exporters has formed a committee to consider these and other measures, the article said, but is already running into some resistance among domestic manufacturers. “This is totally against the principle of free trade,” said Willy Lin, vice chairman of Hong Kong’s Textile Council, whose organization is helping to come up with alternatives. “I really do not see the benefit of self-restraint.”

However, China is coming under increasing pressure from the Bush Administration, which appeared to be moving toward new safeguard quotas on a number of Chinese apparel items until a recent court order suspended the process. During a visit to Beijing last week, Secretary of Commerce Don Evans praised China for showing “some degree of sensitivity” by deciding to “take a few steps to try and mitigate the transition [to a post-quota environment] for other countries around the world.” He also made clear, though, that the US is looking for more than just export duties. “Putting a few cents tax on exports” is unlikely to have "any meaningful kind of impact to the ultimate structure of the textile industry in the world,” the Associated Press quoted him as saying. “The economic forces are basically too powerful."

Evans and Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Grant Aldonas, who has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Robert Zoellick as US Trade Representative (USTR), met with their Chinese counterparts last week to discuss textiles and other issues. The only new development reported from those meetings was an agreement for each side to designate a specific textile liaison to better facilitate communication.

S H I P P I N G    __________________________

"Super-post-Panamax" cranes arrive at port of Miami

Two "super-Post-Panamax" container cranes capable of working ships that are 22-container-wide will arrive at the port of Miami next week. They have an outreach of 213 feet.

   "The two new cranes will enhance our capabilities to service the next generation of cargo vessels," said Charles A. Towsley, port of Miami director.

   Post-Panamax ships are vessels that are 14-container-wide or wider. The terminology "super-post-Panamax" tends to describe the latest giant containerships in operation or on order, with 17 or more containers across their breadth.

   The new cranes in Miami are among the biggest "super-post-Panamax" machinery to be delivered to the western hemisphere, the port said.

   The container cranes were manufactured by Zhenhua Port Machinery Co. in Shanghai. Upon arrival at the port of Miami, the cranes will be unloaded, setup, tested, and upon Occupational Safety and Health Administration certification will begin working.

Source: American Shipper Shippers' NewsWire

Maritimeglobal.net

Port terminal demand “to double by 2015”

THE container port business has expanded by more than 10% annually over the past 15 years and, fuelled by the globalization of the world economy, this process is set to continue according to UK-based Ocean Shipping Consultants (OSC).

A new OSC study, Marketing of Container Terminals, says that even its “cautious” forecasts indicate that port demand will at least double to 2015, with around 650m TEU handled in the world’s ports by then.

OSC says: “This process places great strains not simply on the provision of new and better container terminals, but also underlines the importance of maximized returns on these massive investments.”

Depending on economic conditions, world container port demand is forecast to increase by 60 per cent to 495m TEU in 2010 and by a further 32 per cent 647m TEU in 2015.

Total East Asian container port demand is expected to continue expanding at an above-average rate, with 63 per cent growth predicted over 2003-10 to 240m TEU.

In the Americas, growth of 55 per cent is forecast over the same period to 91m TEU in 2010, with Latin America and the Caribbean continuing to generate above-average expansion.

In Europe and the Mediterranean, a 45 per cent rise is anticipated to 106m TEU in 2010. Both the North Europe and South Europe/Mediterranean regions will experience similar growth rates, with the Baltic markets continuing to generate above-average growth and transhipment demand in North Europe growing strongly.

In other markets sustained growth is also forecast, with the Middle East and Indian subcontinent generating the most rapid expansion.

Wisconsin purchases CN line to preserve rail service
Therailforum.com

A 37-mile line slated for abandonment in Wisconsin won't be mothballed after all. Last week, the state of Wisconsin purchased the Saukville-to-Kiel line from Canadian National Railway Co. for $1.9 million. Wisconsin and Southern Railroad Co. (WSOR) — which opposed CN's abandonment plans — will operate the line.

In June 2004, CN filed an application with the Surface Transportation Board to abandon the line. The board approved the application in October.

However, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) held several public meetings at which numerous business owners and elected officials from municipalities along the track expressed concerns about losing the line. WisDOT also conducted an economic impact study that showed seven shippers using the line provide 145 jobs with an estimated payroll of $5.8 million.

"Preservation of this rail corridor is important to the continued economic growth of businesses and communities throughout the Ozaukee, Sheboygan and Manitowoc county regions," said Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle in a prepared statement.

To purchase the line, the state used funds from WisDOT's Freight Railroad Preservation Program, which enables the state to buy abandoned or slated-for-abandonment lines to preserve rail service. WSOR and several shippers along the line provided some funds toward the purchase.

S E M I N A R S    ___________________________

Gov. Jim Doyle's Trade Mission To Mexico March 6-11, 2005

Mexico is now Wisconsin's second most important export destination, accounting for $788 million worth of product sales in 2003. In the first nine months of 2004 our exports grew by an additional 34% over last year.  Firms interested in expanding their sales in Mexico or their market potential in the country are encouraged to join Gov. Jim Doyle as he leads a Trade Mission to Mexico City and Guadalajara.

The Mexican economy, after facing a recession and negative growth in 2001, has experienced sustained positive growth since then. Mexico presents opportunities for many different Wisconsin manufacturers and service providers including:

• Industrial Machinery, including Metalworking Machinery

• Electronic/Industrial/Manufacturing components

• Auto Parts (OEM and aftermarket)

• Consumer Goods

• Processed Foods

• Infrastructure for Retail Outlets

• Electrical Power Systems

• Food Processing and Packaging Equipment

• Water Resources Equipment and Services

• Building & Construction Materials

• Medical Devices

• Plastics and Resins

• Oil and Gas Field Equipment & Services

• Agricultural and Dairy Equipment

• Paper Products

• Mining Equipment

Traveling with the Governor during a trade mission to an important foreign market like Mexico is an incredible experience. Mission participants get access to Mexican business and government decision-makers who would not be available under other circumstances. Trade missions will also frequently generate positive press in the local business community, and joining a delegation makes it easier to tackle many of the logistical issues related to international travel. Being able to use this occasion to effectively establish or expand your contacts and presence in the market makes the trip something not to pass up. The Secretaries of Commerce and of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Rod Nilsestuen will accompany the Governor and will be available to assist Wisconsin firms’ international sales efforts.

The Department of Commerce trade promotion office in Mexico City will arrange appointment schedules tailored to the specific needs of participating businesses. Appointment schedules will be limited to the first 15 companies that have a deposit on file. No new appointment schedule requests will be accepted after February 1.

One-on-one appointments can be arranged with:

• qualified business contacts

• potential agents and distributors

• potential customers and end-users

• market information specialists

• government officials and regulators

The mission has been scheduled to coincide with two major trade shows - TECMA, the 11th International Machine Tool Show in Mexico City and ANTAD, the annual convention of the National Retail Association of Mexico in Guadalajara. The Department of Commerce is organizing a Wisconsin pavilion at each.

To reserve a spot on the mission, print the registration packet, fill it out, and fax it back to (608) 266-5551.  For additional information, contact Jennifer Winner, phone: (608) 266-0413, e-mail: jwinner@commerce.state.wi.us.

Upcoming eyefortransport Events

China Trade Shows

International trade shows are an excellent opportunity to access potential buyers!

For an overview of the events in China and U.S. pavilions see our lists below.

Trade Fairs in China 2005

A selection of trade fairs in China and more... more...

U.S. Pavilions at Chinese Trade Fairs

Participation in U.S. Pavilions provides companies special opportunities and services more...

Registration Form for Trade Shows

To book provisional space at the exhibition, please complete the form below and then click send button more...