Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Wall Street Journal states that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is declaring a temporary hiring freeze at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to a potential $1.2 billion budget shortfall. According to the article, the exact cause of the budget shortfall is unclear and may simply be a computer glitch. (WSJ, 03/26/04, www.wsj.com )
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1. DHS Temporarily Freezes Hiring at Customs, ICE
2. Treasury Says Progress is Being Made on China's Exchange Rate
In Congressional testimony, the Treasury Secretary stated that the Chinese government agrees it needs a flexible exchange rate and is making progress in that direction. The Secretary explained that China has pegged its currency to the U.S. dollar for 10 years, but needs to move to float its currency as soon as possible. (Washington File Pub 03/25/04, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=March&x=20040325150542MBzemoG0.9632074&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html)
3. Supreme Court Case Involving Status of NVOCCs as Common Carriers
The Journal of Commerce reports that one of the cases that the Supreme Court will be considering during its 2004-2005 session could affect the status of non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs) as common carriers. The article states that although the main question to be considered by the Supreme Court is a technical one involving the interpretation of contracts under the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, a second critical issue that will be whether an NVOCC can issue a bill of lading as a carrier, or is acting as a shipper's agent when contracting with a vessel operating common carrier. (JoC dated 03/15-21/04, www.joc.com.)
4. Lawmakers Want DHS and DOT to Clarify Responsibilities for Rail Safety
Shippers NewsWire reports that at a recent Congressional hearing, U.S. lawmakers want the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to clarify their roles and responsibilities in regards to rail safety. The article notes that the concerns raised in the hearing include (partial list): DHS and DOT have not yet signed a memorandum of agreements clearly establishing their respective security roles with the railroads, DHS' Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has not finished a threat and vulnerability assessment for the rail system, etc. (SNW dated 03/24/04, www.americanshipper.com.)
5. CBP Airport and Seaport User Fee Advisory Committee to Meet
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that its Airport and Seaport User Fee Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting on April 14, 2004. CBP states that this Committee advises on issues regarding the performance of airport and seaport immigration services, which are related to the assessment of an immigration user fee. (FR Pub 03/25/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-6729.pdf)
6. FMC Publishes Federal Register Notice Seeking Comments on FedEx's Petition for Exemption from NVOCC Tariff Publishing Requirements
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has published a notice in the Federal Register seeking comments by April 2, 2004 on the petition of FedEx Trade Networks Transport & Brokerage, Inc. for an exemption from the non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) tariff publishing requirements. (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/19/04 news, 04031905, for previous BP summary of this petition.) (Petition No. P4-04, FR Pub 03/23/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-6394.pdf)