The Journal of Commerce Online reports that in a draft report to be released next month, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Clark Kent Ervin, who left his job in early December 2004, criticizes DHS for allowing federal grants for improving security at U.S. ports to be spent on low-priority problems rather than the most serous vulnerabilities. (JoC Online, dated 12/29/04, www.joc.com)
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice that designates three areas in Egypt as qualifying industrial zones (QIZs) under Section 9 of the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Area Implementation Act (IFTA).
The Journal of Commerce reports that regionalization of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a piece of unfinished business that has the import community on its toes at year-end. According to the article, DHS' plans for regionalization are still in the works and that the trade community will be consulted before it takes effect. The article notes that DHS will make no changes until Congress returns in January 2005 and that DHS must report to Congress 15 days before its makes any major management changes. (JoC dated 12/20/04, www.joc.com.)
The Wall Street Journal reports that China will impose export duties from 0.2 yuan (2.4 U.S. cents) and 0.5 yuan per unit on textiles starting January 1, according to the International Business Daily, which is published by China's Ministry of Commerce. Subject items cover six categories of goods, including outerwear, dresses, pants, knitted and nonknitted blouses, sleepwear and underwear, according to the report. (WSJ, dated 12/27/04, www.wsj.com )
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice that modifies HTS Chapter 4, Additional U.S. Notes (AUSNs) 2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 25 in order to reflect the enlargement of the European Union (EU) by:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a notice regarding the cancellation of visa, Electronic Visa Information System (ELVIS) transmissions, Guaranteed Access Level (GAL) certifications, and exempt certifications for textile goods exported on and after January 1, 2005 from 44 World Trade Organization (WTO) members listed in CBP's notice. (See ITT's Online Archives or 12/22/04 news, 04122215, for BP summary of CITA's notice announcing this cancellation.)
President Approves Continued AGOA Eligibility for 36 Countries, Adds Burkina Faso, Drops Ivory Coast
The White House has issued a press release stating that on December 21, 2004, President Bush approved the continued designation of the following 36 countries as eligible for tariff preferences under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA):
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice requesting written comments on its Special 301 out-of-cycle review of China regarding intellectual property rights (IPR).
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice announcing the allocation of the calendar year 2005 tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for the importation of two types of worsted wool fabrics at the in-quota (low) TRQ duty rate to qualifying U.S. makers of men's and boys' worsted wool suits, suit-type jackets, and trousers. The ITA notes that while its notice contains the names of the allocation recipients, it is not publishing these recipients' allocation amounts because these amounts are based on applicant data that is generally considered business confidential. (ITA notice, FR Pub 12/14/04) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/E4-3642.pdf.)
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued a notice requesting public comments by January 4, 2005 regarding a "commercial availability" petition it received under the U.S.-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) on behalf of Fishman & Tobin: