On February 9, 2004, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) posted a notice to its Web site containing its 61st update to its lists of names and addresses of certain foreign companies convicted, penalized, and/or excluded from entry because of the illegal transshipment of textile products, etc.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued to the ports and posted to its Web site separate instructions regarding (1) the use of visas to make claims for duty-free treatment under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for qualifying textile and/or apparel articles (textile articles) from Benin that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after January 28, 2004, and (2) quota reporting for certain apparel articles from Benin that are subject to the AGOA aggregate tariff preference level (TPL) and its sublimit.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a 15-page memorandum containing its instructions on the filing and substantiation of claims for preferential tariff treatment made under the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SFTA).

(a) For previously reviewed or investigated companies not listed above, the AD cash deposit rate will continue to be the company-specific rate published for the most recent period.

In the February 4, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBPBulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 6), CBP issued a notice proposing to revoke two classification rulings on certain voice and data terminal blocks. 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 this notice.

On February 2, 2004, the World Shipping Council (WSC), the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL), the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America, Inc. (NCBFAA), and the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) filed a petition with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requesting reconsideration of certain aspects of CBP's December 5, 2003 final rule on the advance electronic presentation of cargo information that pertain to inbound ocean cargo.

In the February 4, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBPBulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 6), CBP issued notices: (a) proposing to revoke a classification ruling on a set top box, and (b) proposing to revoke a classification ruling on certain liquid rubber. 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 Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have issued a press release announcing a temporary ban on the importation of certain birds and bird products from eight Southeast Asian countries in order to protect poultry and humans in the U.S. from the possible spread of avian influenza (flu).

The Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (COAC) held its quarterly meeting on February 6, 2004 in Washington, DC.

¹ The ITA states that in addition to this AD new shipper review, these companies have requested an AD administrative review. If for any reason any of these companies are rescinded from this AD duty new shipper review, the ITA states that it will include such company in the AD administrative review.