Reminder: The ITC Wants to Hear from You Regarding Barriers to Doing Business in Europe

Reminder the United States International Trade Commission ("USITC") is accepting comments on how European non-tariff barriers ("NTBs") affect small- and medium-sized business. Most American textile mills may be classified as small- or medium-sized business. A 2009 study by the European research and consulting firm Ecorys found that NTBs added 19.2 percent to the cost of European textile and clothing articles imported into the US. The added NTB cost for US textiles and clothing exported to the EU was found to be 16.7 percent.

FTC Approves Final Orders Settling Charges Against Retailers Accused of Marketing Real Fur Products as Fake Fur

The United States Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") has approved final orders settling charges that retailers Neiman Marcus, DrJays.com and Eminent Inc. sold products containing real fur when they were advertised as containing "faux" fur, and that they did not identify the animal that produced the fur. Neiman Marcus also allegedly labeled a rabbit fur product as containing mink fur, and failed to disclose the country of origin for three fur products as required by the Fur Act and the Fur Rules (formally, the Fur Products Labeling Act and the Rules and Regulations Under the Fur Products Labeling Act). For more information see the release on the FTC website by clicking here.

United States Trade Representative Michael Froman to Travel to Tokyo, Japan and Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

United States Trade Representative Michael Froman will travel to Asia this month for meetings on the Trans-Pacific Partnership ("TPP") and with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ("ASEAN"). Ambassador Froman will stop in Tokyo, Japan on August 19 for a full day of meetings with his ministerial counterparts on the TPP. He will then continue on to Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, from August 20-23 for the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings on the margins of the nineteenth TPP negotiating round.

Ambassador Froman’s schedule in Brunei will include a meeting with the ASEAN Ministers under the ASEAN-U.S. Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement, an informal meeting of the East Asia Summit Economic Ministers, and the ASEAN-U.S. Business Summit.

In addition to discussing the TPP and parallel bilateral negotiations in Japan, Ambassador Froman will also meet with TPP ministers in Brunei on August 22-23, as negotiators gather for the TPP talks. Ministers will discuss key outstanding issues and chart a course for the expeditious conclusion of a TPP agreement. TPP Leaders have directed trade ministers and negotiators to seek to complete an agreement this year.

Reminder, Comments on Carbon Fiber FTZ Application are Due Monday, August 12th

An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board by the Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority, grantee of FTZ 83, requesting production authority on behalf of Toray Carbon Fibers America, Inc. (Toray), located in Decatur, Alabama. The application conforming to the requirements of the regulations of the FTZ Board (15 CFR 400.22) was received on May 30, 2013.

Production under FTZ procedures could exempt Toray from customs duty payments on the foreign materials used in export production. The company anticipates that some 15 to 20 percent of the plant's carbon fiber shipments will be exported, and some 5 to 10 percent of its PAN fiber production will be exported. On its domestic sales, Toray would be able to choose the duty rates during customs entry procedures that apply to its finished carbon fiber (duty free) for the foreign inputs noted below. (The PAN fiber produced at the plant has higher duty rates than any of its foreign-sourced components.) Toray would also be exempt from duty payments on any foreign-origin materials that become scrap or waste during production. Customs duties also could possibly be deferred or reduced on foreign status production equipment.

Public comment is invited from interested parties. Submissions shall be addressed to the FTZ Board's Executive Secretary at the address below. The closing period for their receipt is August 12, 2013. For more information see my earlier blog post here.

Auggie Tantillo Tapped to Lead NCTO

This morning Bill Jasper, Chairman of the National Council of Textile Organizations ("NCTO") announced that Cass Johnson had stepped down from the presidency of NCTO and that the Executive Committee had appointed Auggie Tantillo as President of NCTO, effective immediately. Mr. Tantillo had been serving as Strategic Consultant to NCTO.

To Those Doing Business in Scotland

This coming Monday, August 5th, is the Summer Bank Holiday in Scotland (but not the rest of the United Kingdom).

Army Camo Coveralls Contract Awarded

Carter Industries Inc., Olive Hill, Ky., has been award a maximum $9,244,800 modification (P00012) exercising the second option year for improved combat vehicle crewman's, universal camouflage pattern coveralls. The contract is a firm fixed price contract. Locations of performance are Kentucky and New York with a July 30, 2014 performance completion date. Using service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal year 2013 through fiscal year 2014 Defense Working Capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., SPM1C1-11-D-1026.