Transport, Trade and Regulation News

The Chilean Fruit Exporters Association today affirmed it is compliant with U.S. Department of Agriculture requirements for the importation of fresh fruit into the U.S., in response to the detection of a fruit fly focal point in Cerro Yungay, Chile...

The U.S. is requesting consultations with Indonesia under the dispute settlement provisions of the World Trade Organization regarding trade-restrictive measures applied to horticultural products, animals and animal products...

The Algerian government has extended the zero value added tax and custom tax on all feed imports, including corn, distiller’s dried grains with solubles and corn gluten feed until August 2013, according to the U.S. Grains Council.

The Heritage Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based research and advocacy institute, today ranked Hong Kong as the freest economy in the world for the 19th consecutive year.

The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority in Ohio, the grantee of Foreign Trade Zone 8 since 1971, has been approved by the U.S. Department of Commerce Foreign-Trade Zone Board for the reorganization and expansion of its FTZ.

The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, which represents toll facility owners and operators and the businesses that serve them, today launched a 2013 public awareness campaign to highlight the benefits of tolling.

After a seesaw year in which freight rates bounded up and down like a yo-yo, shippers and carriers alike are looking for stability and predictability in their businesses.

A Chinese national, Xiang Li, 36, of Chengdu, recently pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement and wire fraud, after operating a Web site used to distribute more than $100 million worth of pirated software.

Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood wasn’t on the list of Cabinet officials that a White House official said would hang around for President Obama’s second term, suggesting someone else might fill the spot held by the Illinois Republican, according to reports.

Despite carriers’ attempts to pull capacity from east-west trade routes, weak cargo volumes are limiting their to hike freight rates for any sustainable period.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Canada Border Services Agency have increased and harmonized the value thresholds for expedited customs clearance to $2,500, under the U.S.-Canada Beyond the Border Action Plan.

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, today reported that the volume of retail trade in November 2012 rose 0.2 percent compared to October 2012 in the EU’s 27 member states.

The European Commission today adopted a Communication on Customs Risk Management and the Security of the Supply Chain...

Hong Kong Customs recently seized 779 ivory tusks, worth about $10.6 million (about US$1.4 million), from a 20-foot-equivalent unit container shipped to Hong Kong from Kenya.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today proposed two new rules to implement the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, P.L. 111-353.

The U.S. freight-related transportation industry and warehouse sector added 4,900 jobs in December from November.

The U.S. Senate has confirmed its Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s nominations of Michael P. Huerta as administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and William P. Doyle...

Europe’s manufacturing sector ended 2012 in a slump, with production levels and new orders decreasing further in December as demand from domestic and export markets remains low, according to business surveyor Markit Economics.

Hong Kong’s Census and Statistics Department has reported that total exports and imports of goods in November 2012 both showed year-over-year increases.

South Sudan has been designated as eligible for benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.

The government of the United Kingdom is mulling accelerating the privatization of Royal Mail to as early as 2013.

Reform of liner regulations in the Asia-Pacific is set to take its first major step next year when the New Zealand government is expected to withdraw antitrust immunity from international shipping services.

China is on track to produce more corn than rough rice for the first time in history, according to the U.S. Grains Council.