The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective October 6, 2008, which make revisions to the Commerce Control List1 as result of BIS' systematic review of the CCL.
CBP has issued a CSMS message stating that ACE Report users are intermittently experiencing a "Could not download the universe" error message in the ACE Reporting tool when accessing the ad hoc reporting functionality. When a user clicks on "modify" and/or "edit query" they may receive the error message and have challenges accessing the ad hoc reporting functionality. If a user closes and re-launches the ACE Reporting tool they may be able to access the ad hoc reporting functionality or they still may receive the error message discussed. (CSMS 08-000227, dated 09/24/08, available at http://apps.cbp.gov/csms/viewmssg.asp?Recid=17251&page=&srch_argv=08-000227&srchtype=all&btype=&sortby=&sby.)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted the agenda, presentations, and materials used during the September 8 - 11, 2008 meeting of the Trade Support Network (TSN) held in Tyson's Corner, VA.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a notice providing a list of 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule tariff numbers containing products that may be subject to the Softwood Lumber Act of 2008 (SLA 2008).
In response to petitions from certain transportation industry and labor groups, the Department of Transportation is changing the effective date of 49 CFR 40.67(b) from August 25, 2008 to November 1, 2008. This section of the DOT's drug testing procedural rule requires employers to ensure that all follow-up and return-to-duty drug tests are directly observed. DOT is also requesting comments concerning the content of 49 CFR 40.67(b) by September 25, 2008. (D/N OST-2003-15245, FR Pub 08/26/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-19816.pdf)
WTO Agriculture negotiations chairperson Ambassador Falconer, on August 11, 2008, submitted his report on the July 2008 "package" talks to the Trade Negotiations Committee. Also, non-agricultural market access (NAMA) chairperson Stephenson, on August 12, 2008, submitted his report on the July 2008 "package" talks to the Trade Negotiations Committee. (WTO agriculture negotiations chairperson's report, dated 08/11/08, available at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/agric_e/chair_texts_11aug08_e.doc; WTO non-agricultural market access chairperson's report, dated 08/12/08, available at
A "strategic alliance" announced earlier this year between air cargo giants UPS and DHL will be the subject of a hearing before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure when Congress returns in September. (Press release, dated 08/08/08, available at http://transportation.house.gov/News/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=729.)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted an updated version of its TRQ/TPL "threshold to fill" list, a quick reference to monitor tariff rate quotas (TRQs) and tariff preference levels (TPLs) that are approaching the restraint limit or have filled the in-quota (low duty) rate. The list is divided into two sections - quotas that are at least 85% filled and quotas that are closed. (List, posted 08/07/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/trade_programs/textiles_and_quotas/commodity/trq_thresh_fill.ctt/trq_thresh_fill.pdf)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a notice announcing that the new password policy change for ACE Secure Data Portal users is scheduled to take effect in early August 2008. The new policy does not affect users with existing passwords; however, when a new password is generated or an existing password is changed or reset, the new rules will apply.