On March 15, 2004, the U.S. concluded negotiations to integrate the Dominican Republic into the U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

In the March 24, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBPBulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 13), CBP issued notices: (a) revoking a classification ruling on an artificial tree, (b) revoking a classification ruling regarding certain liquid rubber, and (c) revoking a classification ruling on hook and eye tape used for brassieres. CBP states that it is also revoking any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in these notices.

Shippers NewsWire reports that the National Harbor Association has called the U.S. government's diversion of taxpayer dollars to overseas port improvement projects "disturbing," especially given the fact that the Army Corps of Engineer's annual budget for U.S. port maintenance and upgrades continues to come up short. (SNW dated 03/23/04, www.americanshipper.com.)

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its final results of the changed circumstances antidumping (AD) duty review of pressure sensitive plastic tape from Italy, concluding that Tyco Adhesives Italia S.p.A. (Tyco) is the successor-in-interest to Manuli Tapes S.p.A. (Manuli)

A U.S. Federal Government Web site, www.regulations.gov, has been established to allow interested parties to find, review, and submit comments on Federal documents that are open for comment and published in the Federal Register.

According to the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica, the Costa Rican government has stated that it will not require a copy of the Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) or Automated Export System (AES) record for U.S. exports until a solution to which the U.S. government agrees is negotiated. Embassy sources state that crafting such a solution will likely take quite some time.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued messages on a number of antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) duty actions, many of which (marked by an * in the action column) were previously published in the Federal Register by the International Trade Administration (ITA) and summarized in International Trade Today.

In the March 24, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBPBulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 13), CBP issued notices (a) proposing to modify two classification rulings on metalized polyester embroidery thread and decorative wired trim, and (b) proposing to revoke a classification ruling on satellite radio receiver sets. CBP states that it is also proposing to revoke any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in these notices.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports that a group of specialists believe the U.S. sanctions against Myanmar (formerly Burma) haven't achieved their aims and have been counterproductive in moving that country toward democracy. The Seattle-based Myanmar specialists have issued a report which concludes that U.S. sanctions aren't working because of Myanmar's growing ties with China, India, and its Southeast Asian neighbors. (WSJ Pub 03/25/04)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted to its Web site a letter to inform manufacturers, importers and distributors of imported candy that the FDA intends to publish at a future date a guidance document that will reduce its guidance level for considering enforcement action against candy products containing lead.