The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is on track to open up its ACE filing pilot to all filers on July 6, with an eye to issuing a final rule making use of the FWS partner government agency (PGA) message set mandatory at the end of the year, FWS senior wildlife inspector Rhyan Tompkins said on a June 22 webinar hosted by the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America.

The Drug Enforcement Administration said it intends to temporarily add the synthetic opioid isotonitazene to Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. DEA can issue a final order temporarily adding the substance after a 30-day period. If issued, the final order will take effect immediately and stay in effect for a three-year maximum, pending completion of a permanent scheduling order.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is removing the Borax Lake chub (Gila boraxobius), a fish native to Oregon, from the Endangered Species List, a final rule said. Threats to the species have been “eliminated or reduced to the point where it no longer meets the definition of an endangered or a threatened species,” FWS said. The delisting takes effect July 13, 2020.

The International Trade Commission on June 12 posted new Revision 13 to the 2020 Harmonized Tariff Schedule. This latest revision implements a round of exclusions from the fourth tranche of Section 301 tariffs on products from China, under subheading 9903.88.49 and U.S. note 20(bbb) to subchapter III of chapter 99 (see 2006090018). The ITC also amended an existing exclusion from the tariffs for certain pill crushing and grinding machines of subheading 8479.82.0080, per a USTR notice issued June 8.

The International Trade Commission on June 4 issued Revision 12 to the 2020 Harmonized Tariff Schedule. This latest edition implements a June 2 notice from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative that extends some exclusions from list 1 Section 301 tariffs on products from China (see 2005290020). The extended exclusions are listed in new U.S. Note 20(ccc) to Chapter 99 in the tariff schedule, and goods entered under these exclusions are classifiable under new subheading 9903.88.0050.

The Federal Communications Commission should “allow an exception to the import rules for purposes of device advertising and retail display preparation,” said FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly in a June 2 blog post. FCC rules prohibit imports of radiofrequency devices that haven't received agency authorization. “While there are exceptions for the very limited importation of devices for trade shows, testing and evaluation, and a few other specific uses, this doesn’t accommodate the large percentage of consumers that simply want to see and touch products prior to purchase,” O'Rielly said.

The International Trade Commission recently issued two more revisions to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to implement extended and new exclusions from Section 301 tariffs on China. In Revision 11, issued May 29, the ITC implemented new exclusions from List 3 tariffs under U.S. Note 20(aaa) and subheading 9903.88.48 (see 2005220020). The agency also removed two list 4 exclusions (see 2005270022), and extended some exclusions from the first list of Section 301 tariffs that had been set to expire May 14 (see 2005130003), according to the change record.

The International Trade Commission is beginning an investigation into raspberry imports, it said in a May 15 press release. Requested by the U.S. Trade Representative, the fact-finding investigation will focus on “the U.S. raspberry industry in Washington state and the conditions of competition between U.S. and foreign suppliers of raspberries meant for processing.” USTR’s request letter said the Washington State Red Raspberry Commission has raised concerns “about imports of fresh raspberries for processing (not fresh consumption) and processed raspberries (including frozen), citing unfair practices.” The producer group “also raised concerns with increased pesticide residue violations of imported product, and with misleading labeling for frozen mixed berry packs imported from Canada, which do not accurately identify the source of raspberries in the pack.” The ITC said it will hold a hearing Sept. 17, and will accept written comments until 5:15 p.m. EST on Dec. 6.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is issuing a final rule listing the Southern Sierra Nevada Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the fisher (Pekania pennanti), a mammal species in the weasel family, as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The listing only applies to fishers from the Southern Sierra Nevada DPS in Central California, and not the population in Northern California and southern Oregon. New import and export restrictions set by the agency’s final rule take effect June 15.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing to list para-methoxymethamphetamine (PMMA), a drug similar to methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) that is also sold as “ecstasy,” as a schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act. “If finalized, this action would impose the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, reverse distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis with, or possess), or propose to handle PMMA,” DEA said. Comments are due June 15.