News

ASP Workshop

On May 30, Ryan attended the U.S. Coast Guard’s annual Alternative Security Program (ASP) Workshop at the American Chemistry Council in Washington, D.C. NAEGA, along with the National Grain and Feed Association, administers an ASP for facilities covered under the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA). The ASP provides an alternative way for facilities to comply with the MTSA. All NAEGA members are open to join the ASP.

This year’s workshop included presentations by U.S. government personnel on compliance with MTSA, including information on the planned technology enhancements to the TWIC card, roles and responsibilities of Area Maritime Security Committees, cyber risk management, and new compliance standards for Alternative Security Plan users.

Please contact Ryan if you would like more information on the Workshop or are interested in participating in the NAEGA-NGFA ASP.

Hurricane and Heavy Weather Contingency Plans

As the U.S. hurricane season begins, NAEGA invites members to be aware of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Hurricane and Heavy Weather Contingency Plans. Most U.S. Coast Guard sectors publish continency plans as guidance for the maritime community in the event of a major weather event. A list of U.S. Coast Guard Sectors and their contingency plans can be found here.

EU Retaliation List

On Wednesday, June 6 the European Commission endorsed the decision to impose additional duties on the full list of U.S. products notified to the WTO on May 18, 2018 in response to U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum products. The list, which will go into effect beginning in July, will initially affect EUR 2.8 billion in trade, with a further EUR 3.8 billion to be implemented in three years’ time. The list includes 25 percent duties on red kidney beans and corn from the United States.

A fully copy of the list can be found here.

Mexico Retaliation List

On Tuesday, June 5 the Mexican government published a list of American goods that will now face tariffs in retaliation for recently imposed U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum. Mexico’s Economy Ministry estimates the value of the tariffs to be around $3 billion annually, or nearly 1.5% of U.S.-Mexico trade. These tariffs will remain in place for as long as the U.S. continues to charge duties for Mexican steel and aluminum, and the list may be modified to include more products. Mexico is also currently in the process of filing a complaint against the U.S. at the World Trade Organization.

The list contains agricultural products such as apples, cranberries, and pork, which will now face 20 percent tariffs at the Mexican border. In addition, other products such as bourbon and cheese will face a 25 percent tariff.  

The full list of products facing Mexican retaliatory tariffs can be found here.

U.S.-Canada RCC

On Monday, June 4 the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and the U.S. Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the U.S.-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC). As part of this agreement, both countries reaffirmed their commitments to strong regulatory cooperation.

The RCC, a forum for resolving or reducing regulatory differences, was established in 2011 to help provide for a practical approach in aligning the Canadian and American independent regulatory systems in a cohesive, efficient manner.

The MOU stipulates further efforts toward regulatory alignment and strengthens the economic partnership between the two countries. The full text of the MOU can be found here.

Comments on Maritime Regulations

The Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) is seeking public input on how the Federal government may prudently manage regulatory costs imposed on the maritime sector. OIRA seeks public comment on how existing agency requirements affecting the maritime sector can be modified or repealed to increase efficiency, reduce or eliminate unnecessary or unjustified regulatory burdens, or simplify regulatory compliance while continuing to meet statutory missions. This RFI is meant to inform agencies’ development of regulatory reform proposals.

Comments should be submitted via regualtions.gov by July 16, 2018.

NAEGA members who are interested in contributing to these comments should contact Ryan.

IGTC Meetings and Outreach – July 13-22 – Rome and Geneva

On July 13-22 Gary will join IGTC Secretariat Katy Lee in Rome and Geneva for a series of IGTC bilateral meetings and events with members, corporate stakeholders, and inter-governmental organizations. As part of this trip, Gary and Katy will attend the IPPC’s ePhyto Industry Advisory Group meeting at the FAO in Rome on July 18. A finalized agenda for the balance of their trip will be available soon.

UES Submitted

On Wednesday, June 5 NAEGA officially submitted its 2019 Unified Export Strategy (UES) to the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). The UES sets the framework under which NAEGA will administer its Market Access Program funding in the 2019 program year. The 2019 UES highlights many past successes and planned initiatives NAEGA intends to engage in over the next year, including efforts to promote the electronic exchange of commercial and official trade documents and efforts to address market access barriers through ongoing trade negotiations.

A copy of the 2019 UES can be seen here. For more information, please contact Ryan.

IGTC Newsletter

The latest IGTC newsletter is now available! This week’s newsletter features a summary of the annual OECD Forum, a notice that the IGTC’s survey on MRLs will be published soon, and an update on the progress of the ePhyto efforts to establish an electronic phytosanitary certificate. Read the full newsletter here.  

Xtend Soybeans Approved in Argentina

NAEGA has received information that Monsanto’s Xtend Soybean have been approved for commercialization and import by Argentina’s Ministry of Agriculture. A copy of the approval issued by the Ministry can be found here.