Indonesia Formally Launches Three-Island Free Trade Zone

The Jakarta Post reported Jan. 20 that after five years of delay Indonesia has formally launched a free trade zone encompassing the islands of Batam, Bintan and Karimun. According to the article, the government issued this week regulations on zone operations, including tax and duty exemptions and the loading and unloading of imports and exports. Although nearly 1,200 companies have already invested more than $11 billion in the three islands, the regulations are expected to resolve business uncertainty and promote additional investment in sectors such as electronics, manufacturing, shipbuilding and apparel.

To view the article, visit WorldTrade/Interactive at http://www.strtrade.com/wti/wti.asp?pub=0&story=30078&date=1%2F22%2F2009&company

Canada, India to Discuss Possible FTA

The Canadian government announced Jan. 21 that it has agreed to initiate exploratory discussions toward a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with India. At a meeting this week Canadian Minister of International Trade Stockwell Day and Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath stressed the need to further tap the potential for increased bilateral trade and investment, especially in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture and related activities, and industrial goods. They also acknowledged the progress made on the Canada-India Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement and emphasized the need for an early implementation of that pact.



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NAM Forms Customs and Border Coalition

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) announced the creation of a new customs and border coalition charged with making sure that business concerns are addressed when government agencies are developing security rules and procedures that govern exports and imports. The group said the coalition will bring together individual businesses and associations to review programs and regulations issued by government agencies affecting transportation of manufactured products across the nation’s borders.



To view the full article, visit Shipping Digest at http://www.shippingdigest.com/news/article.asp?ltype=trade&sid=5811

Obama to Push for Stalled Trade Pacts

President-elect Obama wants to win Congressional approval of long-stalled free-trade deals with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, but more work is needed, according to Rep. Charles Rangel, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.


"The president-elect wants to work with Republicans and Democrats to get those trade agreements moving," the New York Democrat said in a Jan. 15 meeting where he outlined the committee’s priorities for the year, Reuters reported.



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CBP: Enhanced ACE Capabilities

Enhanced ACE Capabilities in Advance of Ocean/Rail Manifest Release. Effective Jan. 24 U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be deploying enhanced Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) capabilities that will lay the groundwork for the ocean and rail manifest release currently scheduled for this spring. Some of the new enhancements are outlined in the full article found at WorldTrade\Interactive -- http://www.strtrade.com/wti/wti.asp?pub=0&story=30063&date=1%2F20%2F2009&company=

US Implements FTA with Peru

President Bush issued Jan. 16 a proclamation implementing the U.S. free trade agreement with Peru. Effective Feb. 1 this proclamation will modify the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to reflect the duty benefits and rules of origin under this FTA, remove Peru as a beneficiary country under the Generalized System of Preferences, set forth special provisions concerning textiles and apparel, and make technical and conforming changes in the HTSUS general notes. The proclamation also makes certain technical changes to the HTSUS to properly implement the U.S. FTAs with Morocco, Bahrain and Costa Rica.

For the full article, visit WorldTrade\Interactive at http://www.strtrade.com/wti/wti.asp?pub=0&story=30061&date=1%2F20%2F2009&company

US Chamber of Commerce offers 14-point proposal on trade

As President-elect Barack Obama and his advisers worked on their strategy for the new administration, the US Chamber of Commerce issued its agenda on international business issues just before the holidays. "The comprehensive set of recommendations finds common ground for working with the new administration and Congress by focusing on ways to level the playing field for trade, helping small businesses export, and assisting displaced workers," the chamber said in a statement announcing the report.

For more information, read the entire article at Shipping Digest -- http://www.shippingdigest.com/news/article.asp?sid=5783&ltype=feature