The World Bank has issued report announcing that several countries, including 17 of the G-20 countries1, have implemented 47 trade restrictive measures, including import duties, import bans, and subsidies, since November 15, 2008.
On February 25, 2009 the American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI) sent a letter to President Obama advocating a "stimulus package for trade."
During Secretary of State Clinton's recent visit to South Korea, she and South Korean Foreign Minister Yu discussed the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement. According to remarks made by Minister Yu, the U.S. and South Korea have agreed to work together to move forward on the U.S.-Korea FTA. (Remarks with South Korean Foreign Minister Yu, dated 02/20/09, available at http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/02/119412.htm.)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued its Performance and Accountability Report for Fiscal Year 2008.
The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General has issued a report containing an independent audit conducted by KPMG LLP that addresses weaknesses in U.S. Customs and Border Protection's fiscal year 2008 internal controls.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a notice entitled Notice of Examination: April 2009 Customs Broker License Examination, which announces that the next customs broker license exam will be held on Monday, April 6, 2009.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a notice stating that it has eliminated one of the conditions that must be met when filing drawback claims for the refund of the federal excise tax (Spill Tax1) paid on imported petroleum products, including crude oil.
During the August 7, 2008 meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC), CBP officials sought COAC's input on the possibility of closing the Los Angeles Drawback Center.
CBP's Port of Los Angeles issued Public Bulletin LA08-019 notifying drawback filers that the San Francisco Drawback Center will be assisting the Los Angeles Drawback Center with the processing of drawback claim liquidations. Effective on August 1, 2008, drawback claims submitted to the Los Angeles Drawback Center may be forwarded by CBP to the San Francisco Drawback Center for processing. (Bulletin LA08-019 is available via email by sending a requesthere.)
In the August 6, 2008 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 42, No. 33), CBP published a notice modifying a classification ruling and a treatment as follows: