In the February 25, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 9), CBP issued notices: (a) proposing to modify a classification ruling on ink jet printer cartridges, and (b) revoking a ruling regarding the port where a protest was filed. CBP states that it is also revoking, or proposing to revoke, any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in these notices.
The Journal of Commerce reports that the Panama Canal Authority is testing its Automated Data Collection System, which will let officials analyze and assess the risk that ships, crews, passengers, or cargo could pose to the canal. The article notes that like U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP's) Automated Manifest System (AMS), the Panamanian system will collect electronic data about ships and their cargo; however, the Panamanian system will emphasize information about the vessel. (JoC dated 02/16-22/04, www.joc.com.)
The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has issued a press release announcing that on February 24, 2004, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedures for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (Rotterdam Convention) became international law and thus legally binding on its members.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued its first version (dated February 12, 2004) of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on its final rule requiring the advance electronic presentation of information pertaining to cargo (sea, air, rail, or truck) prior to its being brought into, or sent from, the U.S.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site the Winter 2003 issue of its "ACE Modernization Monitor" newsletter.
In July 2003, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) in order to, among other things, solicit information and data that potentially could be used to establish new nutrient content claims about trans fatty acids (trans fat).
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has posted to the Office of Textiles and Apparel's (OTEXA's) Web site the text of the Vietnam Electronic Visa Information System (ELVIS) and Textile Visa Arrangement (ELVIS Arrangement)which was signed by the U.S. and Vietnam on February 19, 2004.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its preliminary results of the antidumping (AD) duty changed circumstances review of carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod from Canada.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice announcing that the U.S. intends to initiate free trade negotiations with Thailand. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/18/04 news, 04021820, for BP summary of USTR's press release announcing its Congressional notification of this intention.)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has scheduled the next Customs Broker Licensure Examination for Monday, April 5, 2004.