On June 9, 2004, the Secretary of Homeland Security testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on progress at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Among other things, the Secretary testified that DHS has created several new two-way channels of communication, including the National Infrastructure Coordination Center (NICC). According to the Secretary, NICC provides a centralized mechanism for the private sector, industry representatives, individual companies, and the Information Sharing and Analysis Centers to share and receive situational information about a threat, event, or crisis. (DHS Secretary testimony, dated 06/09/04, http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=3708.)
The Bureau of Census (Census) has issued an Automated Export System (AES) Broadcast regarding the 78-hour outage that precedes the implementation of AES Commodity Redesign.
Shippers' Newswire reports that it now looks virtually certain that many ships and ports will fail to comply with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) by July 1, 2004, stating that a May 17, 2004 survey of 35 governments by the IMO showed that only 1,902 of their 20,722 ships have received their ISPS ship security certificates, which represents only 9.2%. Regarding ports, the article states that only 301 out of 5,578 port facilities had received port security certificates as of May 17, 2004, which represents only 5.4%. (American Shipper, dated 05/27/04, ShippersNewsWire@americanshipper.com )
On May 20, 2004, the House of Representatives appointed its conferees for H.R. 1047, the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2003. As the House and Senate have passed different versions of H.R. 1047, a House-Senate conference would normally be needed to resolve the differences between the two versions of the bill. However, a conference on H.R. 1047 has not yet been held because there has been a 'hold' placed on the bill in the Senate which has prevented the Senate from requesting a conference and appointing its conferees. (See ITT's Online Archives or 05/03/04 news, 04050315, for final part of BP summary of Senate's version of H.R. 1047, with links to other parts.)(House Ways and Means Committee press release, dated 05/20/04, available at http://waysandmeans.house.gov/news.asp?formmode=release&id=215.)
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has posted to its Web site a list of additional questions it is seeking comments on in connection with a petition it received requesting the imposition of export monitoring and export controls on copper scrap and copper-alloy scrap. This is the second list of questions issued by BIS regarding this request, the first set of questions appeared in BIS' original Federal Register notice announcing receipt of the petition.
Washington Trade Daily reports that the outlook for Congressional consideration of the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has improved as the Speaker of the House of Representatives has indicated that he will no longer stand in the way of the FTA. According to the article, the House is expected to consider U.S.-Australia FTA implementing legislation sometime in summer 2004. (See ITT's Online Archives or 05/20/04 news, 04052005, for BP summary on the signing of the U.S.-Australia FTA.) (WTD dated 05/19/04, www.washingtontradedaily.com .)
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a final rule, effective May 6, 2004, which revises certain entries on the Commerce Control List (CCL) to conform the description of certain protection and detection equipment to that found in the Wassenaar Arrangement List of Dual Use Goods and Technologies (Dual Use List), to impose national security and anti-terrorism license requirements on those items, and to impose antiterrorism controls on certain items that are excluded from the Dual Use List.
The Journal of Commerce Online (JoC Online) reports that Hong Kong will insist on full electronic submission of air and rail cargo manifests by mid-July 2004. According to the report, there will be a further grace period for submission of ocean and river cargo manifests. JoC Online explains that Hong Kong introduced e-filing for air, rail, river, and ocean transport in April 2003, with a grace period to be determined by progress in the changeover. (JoC Online Pub 05/17/04, www.joc.com)
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a final rule, effective May 14, 2004, which amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by adding new General Order No. 2 to Supplement No. 1 of 15 CFR Part 736 which implements certain export sanctions against Syria.
The Journal of Commerce reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has agreed in principal to accept the traditional definition of "shipper" on bills of lading as the party that tenders cargo to a carrier. The article also states that CBP will launch a voluntary program to encourage importers to file entry data (which includes more information on foreign suppliers) within 24 hours of a shipment's arrival. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/24/04 news, 04022405, for BP summary of related CBP notice.)(JoC Online dated 05/14/04, www.joc.com.)