The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) has announced that it will be providing live Web seminars and on-line training tutorials in order to familiarize registered industry users on the licensing process to be introduced with the advent of the D-TRADE licensing system in January 2004.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice announcing that 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) participants will be moved into production (i.e., implemented) during the normally scheduled system outage on Saturday, January 10, 2004, 11:00 p.m. EST - 3:00 a.m. EST.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has initiated an antidumping (AD) duty changed circumstances review of structural steel beams from Japan to determine whether Yamato Steel Co., Ltd. (Yamato Steel) is the successor-in-interest to Yamato Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Yamato Kogyo).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an ABI administrative message announcing that the affirmation of compliance for air waybill (AWB) will now be edited for format: NNN-NNNNNNNN. CBP notes that this is also a change to the BN01 and BN02 records in the 'BN' application from what was originally provided.
The White House has issued a press release stating that on December 30, 2003, President Bush approved the designation of the following 37 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries as eligible for tariff preferences under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA):
(a) Timken has an AD cash deposit rate of zero (from 18.75%); no cash deposits will be required although suspension of liquidation will continue
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.)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued an interim final rule and a notice, both effective January 5, 2004, which announce the establishment of the U.S.-Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology Program (US-VISIT) and detail the requirements for the first phase of this program.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice amending its antidumping (AD) duty order on certain hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from Netherlands in order to terminate suspension of liquidation and AD duty liability for subject merchandise with a time of entry on or after October 30, 2001 (180 days from the date of publication of the preliminary determination) through November 28, 2001 (the day before the AD duty order was published).
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice requesting comments by noon on February 13, 2004 regarding whether any foreign countries should be identified under Section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974 (Trade Act) (19 USC 2242), which is commonly referred to as the "Special 301" provisions of the Trade Act.