U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an administrative message announcing that full Automated Broker Interface (ABI) edits for prior notice (PN) of imported food will not be turned on until May 19, 2004 (from May 13, 2004).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an ABI administrative message stating that the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport has experienced a significant number of entries with the following classification error: household metal furniture properly classified under HTS 9403.20.0015 is being entered under HTS 9403.20.0011.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice stating that, effective May 5, 2004, the trade may transmit U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SFTA) Integrated Sourcing Initiative (ISI) claims under HTS 9999.00.84 through the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) system.

On May 11, 2004, President Bush signed Executive Order (EO) 13338 which implemented sanctions on Syria as a result of the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law (P.L.) 108-175. EO 13338 entered into effect at 12:01 eastern daylight time on May 12, 2004.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has published a notice denying a petition submitted by S. Schwab Company, Inc., which had alleged that smooth, round cut 10-wale per inch (4-wale per centimeter) 100% cotton corduroy fabric for use in apparel articles, classified in HTS 5801.22.90, could not be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a press release announcing that Commissioner Robert Bonner has selected Gary M. Shiffman as his Chief of Staff.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recently posted to its Web site Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) which CBP states addresses certain recurring questions for Customs brokers regarding trade names and corporations, as follows:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a notice, dated May 6, 2004, listing the ruminant-derived products from Canada for which it will issue import permits.