The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS') Science and Technology Directorate has announced that Analytic Services Incorporated (ANSER) has been selected to operate the Homeland Security Institute, which is DHS' first Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). According to DHS, the FFRDC will particularly focus on those matters involving policy and security where scientific, technical, and analytical expertise is required such as those in the extremely complex threat and vulnerability assessment areas. (DHS press release, dated 04/23/04, available at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=3509)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an administrative message stating that the third 2003/2004 specialty sugar tariff-rate quota (TRQ) provided for in HTS Chapter 17, Additional U.S. Note (AUSN) 5 which opened on Monday, April 19, 2004, over-subscribed at opening moment. According to CBP, the pro rata percentage is 24.96% (.2496).

The ITA states that it has preliminary determined that cross-ownership exists between Alpanil and Meghmani and will treat them as a single entity for purposes of this CV duty investigation.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued a notice requesting public comments by May 10, 2004 regarding a petition it received on behalf of Narroflex Inc.:

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has posted to its Web site the reports of 32 Trade Advisory Committees on the proposed U.S.-Dominican Republic agreement which integrates the Dominican Republic into the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site an updated Trade Support Network (TSN) committee Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) user requirement tracking matrix and an ACE Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) message draft.

On April 23, 2004, the White House announced that President Bush has terminated the application of the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act with respect to Libya, and the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has modified sanctions imposed on U.S. firms and individuals under the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in order to, when implemented, allow the resumption of most commercial activities, financial transactions, and investments.

The Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (COAC) held a quarterly meeting on April 2, 2004 in Washington, DC to discuss, and receive updates from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials on various trade and customs issues.