CBP CSMS Messages and Web Postings
CBP has issued a CSMS message announcing that due to the potential impact from Tropical Storm Dolly, a snow day has been granted for all filers in the Texas ports of Brownsville and Progresso for Wednesday, July 23, 2008. CBP is extending one additional day without penalty for the filing and payment of entry summaries due on that day. (CSMS 08-000122, dated 07/23/08, available athttp://apps.cbp.gov/csms/viewmssg.asp?Recid=17134&page=&srch_argv=08-000122&srchtype=all&btype=&sortby=&sby)
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1. CBP Grants "Snow Day" for Brownsville and Progreso Ports for July 23rd
2. Weekly TRQ/TPL Commodity Report as of July 21, 2008
CBP has issued its weekly tariff rate quota and tariff preference level commodity report as of July 21, 2008. This report includes TRQs on various products such as beef, sugar, dairy products, peanuts, cotton, cocoa products, tobacco, certain BFTA, DR-CAFTA, Israel FTA, JFTA, MFTA, SFTA, UAFTA (AFTA) and UCFTA (Chile FTA) non-textile TRQs, etc. Each report also includes the AGOA, ATPDEA, BFTA, DR-CAFTA, CBTPA, Haitian HOPE, MFTA, NAFTA, SFTA, and UCFTA TPLs and TRQs for qualifying apparel and/or other textile articles, the TRQs on worsted wool fabrics, etc. (CBP's weekly TRQ/TPL commodity report available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/textiles_and_quotas/commodity/)
3. Updated TRQ/TPL "Threshold to Fill" List
CBP has posted an updated version of its TRQ/TPL "threshold to fill" list, a quick reference to monitor tariff rate quotas and tariff preference levels 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 07/21/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/trade_programs/textiles_and_quotas/commodity/trq_thresh_fill.ctt/trq_thresh_fill.pdf)
4. Other CBP Postings and Messages
Ivory concealed in African drums seized. CBP reports that agriculture specialists at the Port of Houston seized a shipment of elephant ivory valued at $185,000 arriving from Ethiopia. (News release, dated 07/17/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/07172008_2.xml)
Charleston Port Director to retire. CBP reports that its Charleston, SC Port Director Pamela Zaresk will retire on August 1, 2008, after 37 years of Federal Service. (News release, dated 07/21/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/07212008.xml)
"Sneak preview" of ESTA Web tool. CBP posted a "sneak preview" of its Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) Web tool to its Web site. (ESTA is a new, fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program.) CBP also posted a notice announcing this sneak preview. (Preview and notice, posted 07/21/08, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/)
EDL overview fact sheet. CBP posted a fact sheet entitled "Overview of Enhanced Driver's Licenses," which DHS is pursing development of to meet Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) implementation requirements at land and sea ports of entry. (Fact sheet, dated May 2008, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/travel/vacation/enhanced_dl_fs.ctt/enhanced_dl_fs.doc)