The Commerce Department's Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) has issued its October 2003 Textile and Apparel Trade Balance Report (containing data through October 31, 2003). The Trade Balance Report shows imports and exports and calculates the trade balance for U.S. textile and apparel trade with the world and with major U.S. trading partners.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice stating that it has determined that the 2004 limitation on the quantity of imports of worsted wool fabrics that may be imported under the tariff rate quotas (TRQs) established by the Trade and Development Act of 2000 (TDA 2000) as amended by the Trade Act of 2002 should not be modified.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has published a final rule which amends the Customs Regulations effective January 5, 2004 regarding the advance electronic presentation of information pertaining to cargo (sea, air, rail, or truck) prior to its being brought into, or sent from, the U.S. (See final rule for compliance dates for each transportation mode.)
On December 30, 2003, President Bush issued Proclamation 7747 in order to implement the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SFTA). (See ITT's Online Archives or 12/31/03 news, 03123105, for BP summary announcing the issuance of Proclamation 7747.)
The Department of Transportation's Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) has issued a proposed rule that would add to the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) a definition for "person who offers or offeror" in order to codify long-standing interpretations of the applicability of the HMR to persons who offer hazardous materials (hazmats) for transportation in commerce.
In the December 24, 2003 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 37, No. 52), CBP issued notices (a) proposing to revoke a ruling regarding the port where a protest was filed, and (b) revoking a ruling regarding merchandise subject to a tariff rate quota (TRQ) mistakenly filed as non-quota.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued a notice stating that it has extended the comment period to February 5, 2004 (from January 5, 2004) for a notice it issued in November 2003 seeking comments to possible changes to the way it sets the Aviation Security Infrastructure Fee (ASIF). (D/N TSA-2003-16345), FR Pub 12/31/03, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/pdf/03-32196.pdf)
On December 30, 2003, President Bush issued Proclamation 7746 in order to implement the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement (UCFTA). (See ITT's Online Archives or 12/31/03 news, 03123105, for BP summary announcing the issuance of Proclamation 7746.)
CBP has announced the 2004 tariff-rate quota (TRQ) on Swiss or Emmentaler cheese, subject to agriculture licensing, provided for in HTS Chapter 4, Additional U.S. Note (AUSN) 25.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has published a final rule which amends the Customs Regulations effective January 5, 2004 regarding the advance electronic presentation of information pertaining to cargo (sea, air, rail, or truck) prior to its being brought into, or sent from, the U.S. (See final rule for compliance dates for each transportation mode.)