The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued a set of frequently asked questions (FAQ) on the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) and maritime security measures adopted by the IMO.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site its "critical list" of textiles and apparel subject to import quotas with entered quantities 85% or more filled as of June 22, 2004. CBP states that this "critical list" may be used by CBP as a reference for releasing quota merchandise "off line" when the Automated Commercial System (ACS) is down for longer than four hours. CBP notes that textile and apparel merchandise for Electronic Visa Information System (ELVIS) countries cannot be released "off line" until it is processed through quota. CBP further notes that if the system is down for more than 24 hours, Headquarters Quota Branch should be contacted for further instructions. CBP also states that merchandise subject to tariff-rate quotas (TRQs), which are filled, may be released if entered under the "over quota" (high) rate of duty. (CBP's critical list, dated 06/22/04, http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/textile_critical_list/)
On June 14, 2004, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 4103, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Acceleration Act of 2004 (AGOA III). The Senate subsequently passed H.R. 4103 without amendment on June 24, 2004, clearing the measure for the President.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) frequently issues notices on antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) duty orders which Broker Power considers to be "minor" in importance as they concern actions that occur after an order is issued and neither announce nor cause any changes to an order's duty rates, scope, affected firms, or effective period.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has amended its antidumping (AD) duty order on certain color television receivers from China in order to correct ministerial errors in the scope of investigation as it was printed in the AD duty order.1
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an ABI administrative message stating that programming for the change to alpha-numeric continuous bond numbers, issued under CBP's Pilot Bond Centralization Program, has been completed.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an ABI administrative message to remind CBP and importers of the interim procedures for "prototypes" entered under HTS 9817.85.01.
The Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (COAC) held a quarterly meeting on June 18, 2004 in Washington, DC to discuss and receive updates from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials on various trade and customs issues.
On June 18, 2004, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4567, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2005. In addition, on June 17, 2004, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its own version of a fiscal year (FY) 2005 DHS appropriations bill (S. 2537), which as been placed on the Senate's legislative calendar. See future issues of ITT for additional details on congressional action on FY 2005 DHS appropriations legislation.)
The Commerce Department's Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) has issued its April 2004 Textile and Apparel Trade Balance Report (containing data through April 30, 2004). The Trade Balance Report shows imports, exports, and the resulting U.S. trade balance for yarn, fabric, made-ups, and apparel, both individually and collectively (total). The Trade Balance report displays this information for the world, as well as for major U.S. trading partners.