A recent Journal of Commerce editorial stated that U.S. Customs and Border Protection's December 2003 regulations on the advance electronic presentation of cargo information for inbound ocean cargo have provoked a firestorm of criticism among trade groups by defining the shipper in the transport contract as the "foreign vendor, supplier, manufacturer, or other similar party," and specifically not a freight forwarder or other logistics provider. (JoC dated 02/16-22/04, www.joc.com.)
The International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued a report entitled, Textiles and Apparel: Assessment of the Competitiveness of Certain Foreign Suppliers to the U.S. Market.
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is extending until February 27, 2004 (from February 20, 2004) the comment period on its proposed rule to amend its regulations governing proof of financial responsibility for ocean transportation intermediaries (OTIs) by allowing an optional rider for additional coverage to be filed with a licensed non-vessel operating common carrier's (NVOCC's) proof of financial responsibility for such carriers serving the U.S. oceanborne trade with China.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has amended its final results of the antidumping (AD) duty administrative review of tapered roller bearings and parts thereof, finished and unfinished from Japan for the period of October 1, 1996 through September 30, 1997 as there is now a final and conclusive court decision with respect to NTN Corporation (NTN).
According to Washington Trade Daily, negotiations are ongoing for the following proposed free trade agreements (FTAs): U.S. Central-American (ongoing with Dominican Republic; completed with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua), Free Trade Area of the Americas, U.S.-Southern African Customs Union, U.S.-Morocco, U.S.-Bahrain, U.S.-Thailand, U.S.-Andean nations, and U.S.-Panama. The article also states that the U.S.-Australia FTA has already been negotiated and is pending implementation. (WTD dated 02/14/04-02/15/04, www.washingtontradedaily.com)
The Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (COAC) held a quarterly meeting on February 6, 2004 in Washington, DC to discuss, and receive updates from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials on, various customs and trade issues.
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued a notice requesting public comments by March 5, 2004 regarding a "commercial availability" petition it received under the U.S.-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) from Oxford Industries, Inc.:
The International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued a report entitled, Textiles and Apparel: Assessment of the Competitiveness of Certain Foreign Suppliers to the U.S. Market.
In the September 24, 2003 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 37, No. 39), CBP issued notices (a) revoking or modifying three classification rulings on multifunctional digital cameras, (b) modifying a ruling related to the applicability of HTS 9802.00.50 to certain men's sweatshirts embroidered in Mexico, and (c) modifying or revoking classification rulings on mechanic's gloves. CBP states that it is also revoking any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in these notices.
The Vietnamese Ministry of Trade (MOT) has issued an announcement which names those Vietnamese textile and garment factories determined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to be closed or denied access to verification officials, as well as those factories with a "high transshipment capability."