Foreign Agricultural Service 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice announces the Department's intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the Export Sales Reporting program.

This notice lists the updated quantity trigger levels for products which may be subject to additional import duties under the safeguard provisions of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture. This notice also includes the relevant period applicable for the trigger levels on each of the listed products.

Notice is hereby given that the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade (APAC) and the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade (ATACs) will hold closed meetings on May 6, 2010. The advisory committees are administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). The meetings are closed to the public in accordance with the Trade Act of 1974, 19 U.S.C. 2155(f)(2), and the Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(4)(6). USTR has determined that public access to the meetings would seriously compromise the development by the U.S. government of trade policy priorities, negotiating objectives, or bargaining positions with respect to the operation of trade agreements and other matters arising in connection with the development, implementation, and administration of the trade policy of the United States. Topics will include Doha Round negotiations in the World Trade Organization (WTO), WTO accession negotiations, and negotiations in bilateral and regional free trade agreements.

This interim rule immediately implements the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Farmers program as reauthorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and provides for the opening of a 30-day comment period. The ARRA modified the TAA for Farmers program as established by Subtitle C of Title I of the Trade Act of 2002, which amended the Trade Act of 1974. The rule establishes the procedures by which producers of raw agricultural commodities can petition for certification, apply for technical assistance, and receive cash benefits for the development and implementation of approved business adjustment plans. The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is issuing this interim rule and providing for the opening of an interim rule comment period to ensure that an adequate opportunity to comment is provided all interested parties. After closure of the interim rule comment period and after consideration is provided to all comments received during the interim rule comment period, this rule will be adopted as final with or without change by publication in the Federal Register.