U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued additional instructions on the Special Bill programming (new non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) and Master vessel operating common carrier (VOCC) bill types) for Sea Automated Manifest System (AMS) which was moved into the production environment (i.e., implemented) during the normally scheduled system outage of 11:00 p.m. EST Saturday, January 10, 2004 to 3:00 a.m. Sunday, January 11, 2004.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice announcing that the 2004 tariff-rate quota (TRQ) for Cheddar cheese from Canada, provided for in HTS Chapter 4, Additional U.S. Note (AUSN) 18, that opened on January 2, 2004, oversubscribed at opening moment. According to CBP, the pro rata percentage is 74% or .7400. CBP states that entries or withdrawals for consumption of Cheddar cheese from Canada presented after opening should be returned to the broker for correction.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) is amending its antidumping (AD) duty order, as well as its final and amended final affirmative AD duty determinations, on bulk aspirin from China as there is now a final court decision regarding this investigation.
The International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued two notices announcing that it has commenced two reviews to provide advice to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) regarding two separate petitions filed under the "commercial availability" provisions of the U.S.-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) on certain shirting fabrics. According to the ITC, it will submit its advice to USTR in a classified report by January 29, 2004, and issue a public version soon thereafter. Written comments due to the ITC by January 14, 2003. (See ITT's Online Archives or 12/30/03 news, 03123025, for BP summary of the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreement's (CITA's) related notice.) (ITC notices, dated 01/05/04, available at http://www.usitc.gov/332s/shortsup/332_450_010nl.pdf and http://www.usitc.gov/332s/shortsup/332_450_011nl.pdf)
On January 9, 2004, the Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge announced that the national threat level has been lowered to yellow (elevated risk) from orange (high risk).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has published a final rule which amends the Customs Regulations effective January 5, 2004 regarding 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. (See final rule for compliance dates for each transportation mode.)
Broker Power has listed the 2004 general (column 1) rates of duty for certain cotton and man-made fiber woven apparel, and their associated categories. Special (column 1) rates of duty (which are often zero) exist for certain NAFTA originating, Israel FTA, etc., apparel.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted to its Web site a revision of its December 2003 Questions & Answers (Q&A) document regarding the registration of food facilities.
The Journal of Commerce Online (JoC Online) has reported that the Indian government has issued new rules requiring ocean carriers and airlines to file import cargo manifests in advance. According to JoC Online, these rules, effective February 18, 2004, are similar to the 24-hour anti-terror rule created by the U.S. (JoC Online, 01/06/04, www.joc.com)
Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department decides, based on all relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. The following has been issued since BP's most recent update: