The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a notice seeking comment on the possible modification or termination of its April 2009 imposition of a 10% additional duty on imports of softwood lumber from certain Canadian provinces, as Canada is taking steps to address the situation through the imposition of a 10% export charge.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has added an addendum to its list of meetings between CPSC and industry stakeholders that are open to the public, unless otherwise stated:

The International Trade Administration has amended its preliminary affirmative antidumping determination for certain seamless carbon and alloy steel standard, line, and pressure pipe from China (seamless pipe) (A-570-956).

The U.S. Census Bureau has announced that in 2009, U.S. related-party trade accounted for over 40 percent ($1,048 billion) of total goods trade ($2,615 billion). In addition, related-party trade decreased slightly less (22 percent) in 2009 than total trade (which decreased by 23 percent).

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective May 28, 2010, which amends the Entity List¹ to remove and amend certain information for entities in Hong Kong, Egypt, and Israel, pursuant to the End-User Review Committee 2009 annual review.

The International Trade Administration has issued the final results of its antidumping duty administrative review of certain helical spring lock washers from China (A-570-822) for the period of October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008.

On May 26, 2010, the Commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission unanimously approved publication of a final rule establishing a mandatory standard for infant walkers.

Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):

Senior U.S. trade officials encouraged China to create an open environment for innovation and make progress on other priority trade issues at the first-ever Mid-Year Review for the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade. The U.S. is focusing on indigenous innovation, improving intellectual property rights enforcement, and ending regulations that block U.S. agricultural exports.

The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs will host a meeting with representatives from Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, the Dominican Republic, and non-Caribbean observers on May 27, 2010. The event will be a forum for the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), which will in turn create a framework for improving security and citizen safety throughout the Caribbean.