Central America ...
Central America
Only Costa Rica Still To Ratify CAFTA
With yesterday’s vote in favor of the U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) by the Nicaraguan Congress, only Costa Rica has yet to ratify the historic agreement.
The majority of the provisions of CAFTA will come into force on January 1, 2006. Should Costa Rica pass implementing legislation after that date, it may still enter the agreement 90 days after notifying all other nations of its acceptance of CAFTA’s provisions. The delay, however, will not provide Costa Rica with any advantages: if Costa Rica joins, for instance, in 2007, it must still apply the provisions of the agreement as if it had joined in January 2006, including lowering tariffs to levels agreed upon for 2007.
CAFTA members are the United States, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.
USDA News
USDA To Establish User-Fee Schedule For Quality Systems Verification Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that it will publish a final rule to revise fees for administering the Quality Systems Verification Programs (QSVP).
The final rule, according to a USDA news release, would establish a separate user-fee schedule for the QSVP and expand the scope of the QSVP to include all agricultural products and services within the responsibility of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Livestock and Seed Programs. These services are voluntary, audit-based, user-fee programs authorized under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. The final rule sets forth a fee of $108 to cover the costs of providing these services.
The final rule will be published in the October 11, 2005, Federal Register. For more information, contact James L. Riva, Chief, Audit, Review, and Compliance Branch, Livestock and Seed Programs, AMS, USDA, STOP 0249, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. 20250-0248; via e-mail to ARCBranch@usda.gov, or via fax to 202-690-1038.
Central America
Only Costa Rica Still To Ratify CAFTA
With yesterday’s vote in favor of the U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) by the Nicaraguan Congress, only Costa Rica has yet to ratify the historic agreement.
The majority of the provisions of CAFTA will come into force on January 1, 2006. Should Costa Rica pass implementing legislation after that date, it may still enter the agreement 90 days after notifying all other nations of its acceptance of CAFTA’s provisions. The delay, however, will not provide Costa Rica with any advantages: if Costa Rica joins, for instance, in 2007, it must still apply the provisions of the agreement as if it had joined in January 2006, including lowering tariffs to levels agreed upon for 2007.
CAFTA members are the United States, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.
USDA News
USDA To Establish User-Fee Schedule For Quality Systems Verification Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that it will publish a final rule to revise fees for administering the Quality Systems Verification Programs (QSVP).
The final rule, according to a USDA news release, would establish a separate user-fee schedule for the QSVP and expand the scope of the QSVP to include all agricultural products and services within the responsibility of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Livestock and Seed Programs. These services are voluntary, audit-based, user-fee programs authorized under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. The final rule sets forth a fee of $108 to cover the costs of providing these services.
The final rule will be published in the October 11, 2005, Federal Register. For more information, contact James L. Riva, Chief, Audit, Review, and Compliance Branch, Livestock and Seed Programs, AMS, USDA, STOP 0249, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. 20250-0248; via e-mail to ARCBranch@usda.gov, or via fax to 202-690-1038.