The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notice for June 4:

Due to increases in both exports and imports, the U.S. international trade deficit for goods and services increased to $40.3 billion in April, according to the Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis. This is an increase from March’s $37.1 billion goods and services deficit, the Bureau reported in the U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services Report for April 2013. Both exports and imports saw an increase from March to April, with exports increasing by $2.2 billion from March’s $185.2 billion, and imports increasing by an even wider margin of $5.4 billion from March’s $222.3 billion. The rise in imports included an increase in consumer goods of $3.0 billion, with smaller increases in other goods, capital goods, and automotive vehicles, parts and engines. There was also a $0.3 billion decrease in the importation of industrial supplies and materials, and $0.1 billion decrease in imported foods, feeds, and beverages. In the services category, exports increased by $0.4 billion and imports increased by $0.3 billion.

The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notice for June 3:

The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notice for May 30:

The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notice for May 29:

The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for May 24:

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements outlined the procedures it will follow in considering requests to impose U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (PATPA) safeguard actions (in the form of higher duty rates) on textile and/or apparel products from Panama. The interim procedures are effective May 28, but CITA is asking for comments on the procedures by June 27. CITA said the safeguard is available when, as a result of the elimination of duties under PATPA, a Panamanian textile or apparel article benefiting from preferential tariff treatment is being imported into the U.S. in such increased quantities as to cause serious damage or the threat of damage to a U.S. industry producing a like or directly competitive article.

The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for May 23:

The Port of Cleveland-Cuyahoga Country Port Authority filed an application with the Foreign-Trade Zones board to reorganize under the Alternative Site Framework and expand its service area, according to a FTZ Board notice. The proposed service area under the ASF would include Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain Counties, Ohio.

The Census Bureau and Association of Small Business Development Centers are hosting an Automated Export System Compliance Seminar in Seattle, Washington, June 5-6. Census Bureau experts will cover Foreign Trade Regulations filing requirements, commodity classification in Schedule B, and an overview of AES. The second day will feature a AESPcLink Workshop. Both seminars will be held at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites.