U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that the following vessel operating common carriers (VOCCs) have become Sea Automated Manifest System (AMS) operational:

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has initiated administrative reviews of the following antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) duty orders for the specified companies listed in the ITA notice:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued two administrative messages (one in April 2004 and one in November 2002) regarding antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) duty cases where the AD/CV deposit rate is either: (1) an ad valorem rate, (2) a specific rate, or (3) an ad valorem rate or a specific rate for the same time period, as follows:

The Journal of Commerce reports that the U.S. may have to drop 27% duties on Canadian lumber shipments after a NAFTA binational panel ruled that the U.S. International Trade Commission's finding that tariffs are needed because Canadian imports push down prices "is not supported by substantial evidence." According to the article, the U.S. has 21 days to redo its figures or end the duties. (JoC dated 04/30/04, www.joc.com.)

On March 4, 2004, the Senate passed its version of H.R. 1047, the "Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2003."

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a proposed rule which would institute new requirements for persons who use sampling services and private laboratories in connection with imported food subject to an FDA enforcement action, such as refusal of imports, product seizure, or issuance of an injunction.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) frequently issues notices on antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) duty orders which Broker Power considers to be "minor" in importance as they concern actions that occur after an order is issued and neither announce nor cause any changes to an order's duty rates, scope, affected firms, or effective period.

The Coast Guard has announced the establishment of an International Port Security Program (security program) that will help it and its maritime trading partners facilitate the implementation of security improvements in ports around the world.

On April 23, 2004, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a general license (new 31 CFR 550.575) which lifts most of the economic embargo that has been in place against Libya since 1986.