On October 8, 2004, the House of Representatives passed the conference version of H.R. 1047, the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004. According to Congressional sources, the Senate is expected to consider the conference version of H.R. 1047 in mid-November 2004, when it returns after the election.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Treasury Department have issued a final rule, effective November 8, 2004, to amend 19 CFR Part 191 to indicate that merchandise processing fees (MPFs) are eligible to be claimed, in limited circumstances, as drawback based on substitution of finished petroleum derivatives (SFPD) under 19 USC 1313(p).
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has published a notice in the Federal Register stating that on July 27, 2004, the Court of International Trade (CIT) ordered the ITA to find that no countervailable subsidies are being provided for the production or exportation of certain hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from Thailand.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an updated version of its frequently asked questions (FAQ) and responses on its final rule requiring, among other things, the advance electronic presentation of information for all modes of inbound transportation.
On July 14, 2004, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4418, the Customs Border Security and Trade Agencies Authorization Act of 2004.
The Treasury Department (Treasury) has published its semi-annual regulatory agenda, which contains certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulatory rulemakings (rulemakings).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted a notice on its Web site announcing that the next Customs Broker License Examination will be held on Monday, October 4, 2004.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a general notice announcing that, effective June 28, 2004, it is concluding its Paperless Drawback Prototype (prototype).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site its Performance and Annual Report Fiscal Year 2003, which covers federal fiscal year (FY) 2003 (October 1, 2002 - September 30, 2003) with discussion of some subsequent events.
On May 14, 2004, the General Accounting Office (GAO) submitted to the Homeland Security Subcommittees of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees a report entitled "Information Technology - Early Releases of Customs Trade System Operating, but Pattern of Cost and Schedule Problems Needs to be Addressed."