The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued a press release on March 18, 2004 announcing that the U.S. has filed a World Trade Organization (WTO) case against China regarding its discriminatory tax rebate policy for integrated circuits.
The Department of Transportation's (DOT's) Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) has issued a notice announcing that it is seeking comments as to whether regulations in 49 CFR 172-178 that are applicable to 1) the transportation of explosives and 2) the transportation of hazardous materials (hazmats) in cylinders have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) has announced the launch of the DDTC Response Team.
Effective March 10, 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) amended its February 4, 2004 order that temporarily imposed an embargo on certain birds and bird products (including hatching eggs) by removing Hong Kong from the list of countries subject to the order.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that the following vessel operating common carriers (VOCCs) have become Sea Automated Manifest System (AMS) operational:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site various documents related to its development and expansion of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). The following are highlights of these documents:
Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department decides, based on all relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. The following have been issued since BP's most recent update:
The Journal of Commerce (JoC) reports that ocean carriers are strongly opposed to a security fee of $1 per foot of vessel length proposed by the South Carolina State Ports Authority. According to JoC, the charge will take effect in July and is expected to bring in $1 million to cover increased security costs. (JoC Pub 03/15 - 21/04, www.joc.com)
The World Customs Organization (WCO) has issued an amending supplement (No. 4 dated August 2003) to the Harmonized System Explanatory Notes (ENs). (Although not binding on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the ENs are followed by CBP whenever possible.)
The Washington Trade Daily (WTD) reports that the chief U.S. negotiator in the Canada softwood lumber countervailing (CV) dispute believes that a negotiated solution remains a long-shot. According to the WTD, in the absence of a negotiated settlement, the Bush Administration will have to weigh options such as further litigation. (WTD Pub 03/18/04, www.washingtontradedaily.com)