March 2000 News

Invitation for Comments: Agriculture, Services and Market Access

The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is requesting written public comments on general U.S. negotiating objectives as well as country and item-specific export priorities for agriculture and services. The TPSC also seeks public comment on country-specific export priorities for tariffs and non-tariff measures for non-agricultural products. Comments received will be considered by the Executive Branch in formulating U.S. positions and objectives for U.S. participation in the mandated WTO negotiations on agriculture and services and further negotiations on market access for non-agricultural products should consensus emerge among WTO Members to launch negotiations in this area. Information about the WTO can be obtained via the WTO website (offsite link) ( U.S. submissions on agriculture, services and non-agricultural market access made to the WTO General Council as part of the preparatory process for the WTO Ministerial in December 1999 can be found on the USTR website under "what's new" [no longer available]). "Public comments are due by noon, May 12, 2000 and may be sent to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20508. More Information

Mexican Accreditation Process

On March 14, 2000, SECOFI published a call for the accreditation and approval of parties interested in becoming product certification bodies. Under Mexican law, product certification bodies review test laboratory results from accredited and authorized laboratories to issues Mexican mandatory standards (NOM) certificates of compliance for products such as measuring instruments, matches and lighters, hydraulic brake liquid and safety belts for motor vehicles hydraulic jacks, child walkers, cribs and playpens and tire tube valves and valves for tubeless tires. Up to 11 product certification bodies may be accredited and approved to certify compliance with the 25 NOMs issued by SECOFI. There are 6 groups of NOMs, with one group having 6 subgroups. Please see the IMI for a detailed listing in English, as well as the official publication in Spanish. The application process for accreditation by the Mexican accreditation entity and the necessary approval from SECOFI is also available. The full text and accreditation process can be found in the Call for Certification Bodies which is available at the Department of Commerce, Industry Consultations Program web page.

Philippines: No More Preshipment Inspections After March 31

Philippines Finance Secretary Jose Pardo and Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas are quoted in the Philippine press as stating that the government's Preshipment Inspection (PSI) contract with Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS) will not be extended beyond March 31. The contract was extended in December for three months beyond its December 31, 1999 termination date (which itself was an extension of the original March 16, 1998 termination date). Pardo is quoted in March 8 press reports as stating "the president had instructed definitely no renewal, no extension, so there will be no more pre-shipment inspection." Roxas made similar comments March 5, saying the cabinet-level Economic Coordinating Council had ruled out any extension of the contract. Roxas is quoted as stating, "We will have to depend on the Bureau of Customs. We are not ready to bid out a new contract now."

Mexican Product Certification Procedures

On February 29, Mexico published product certification procedures that address one of Mexico's most vexing standards-related issues. Prior to the publication, only Mexican producers or importers were allowed to obtain a NOM certificate (official document certifying that a particular good complies with applicable standards). This posed a problem for U.S. exporters if they used multiple importers. Each importer had to pay to have the exact same product tested at a Mexican lab every year. The costs associated with this redundant testing was industry's main complaint. MAC has raised this issue in NAFTA Standards working group meetings as well as the Binational Commission and bilateral meetings with Mexican officials. MAC/Western Hemisphere will notify companies of the new procedures and monitor implementation.