Correction: Changes to the tariff schedule resulting from the addition and removal of countries from African Growth and Opportunity Act benefits also affected various other notes in the tariff schedule beyond General Note 16, including U.S. Note 7(a) to Subchapter II of Chapter 98 and U.S. Notes 1 and 2(d) to Subchapter XIX of Chapter 98 (see 2401020049).

The Drug Enforcement Administration is setting 2024 quotas for the manufacture and importation of controlled substances in Schedules I and II of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice released Dec. 29. Substances not listed in the table included in DEA's notice will have a quota of zero. DEA is also setting quotas for the List I chemicals ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine and pseudoephedrine. The order is effective Jan. 3.

The Fish and Wildlife Service released a final rule Dec. 28 listing the black-capped petrel (Pterodroma hasitata), a pelagic seabird species that nests on the island of Hispaniola and spends the rest of its life at sea, as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. New import and export restrictions set by the agency’s final rule take effect Jan. 29.

A former State Department official who advised on sanctions and money laundering, who also is a co-founder of Sayari Labs, a financial intelligence and commercial data provider, said that Hudson Institute will produce a paper on creating a broad sanctions program for China, complete with the kind of language that would allow it to be executive-order ready.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing to list 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine (DOC), two phenethylamine hallucinogens, under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice published Dec. 13. "If finalized, this action would impose the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, reverse distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis with, or possess), or propose to handle these two specific controlled substances." Comments are due by Jan. 12.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is temporarily adding six synthetic cannabinoids -- MDMB-4en-PINACA, 4F-MDMB-BUTICA, ADB-4en-PINACA, CUMYL-PEGACLONE, 5F-EDMB-PICA and MMB-FUBICA -- to Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a temporary scheduling order. The listing takes effect Dec. 12, and will be in effect for up to three years.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is listing nine fentanyl-related substances -- meta-fluorofentanyl, meta-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl, para-methoxyfuranyl fentanyl, 3-furanyl fentanyl, 2′,5′-dimethoxyfentanyl, isovaleryl fentanyl, ortho-fluorofuranyl fentanyl, alpha′-methyl butyryl fentanyl, and para-methylcyclopropyl fentanyl -- under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a final rule released Dec. 6. The nine substances had already been temporarily controlled under a 2018 order that's set to expire Dec. 31, 2024. The permanent listing takes effect Dec. 7.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is updating its Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard for child restraint systems, it said in a final rule released Dec. 4. Changes effective in one year, on Dec. 5, 2024, include updates to child restraint system "owner registration program requirements, labeling requirements on correctly using child restraints” and “requirements for add-on school bus-specific child restraint systems,” NHTSA said. Effective Dec. 5, 2026, NHTSA will replace the safety standard, FMVSS No. 213, with new FMVSS No. 213b, which will include both the above changes as well as changes to NHTSA testing requirements for child restraint systems, the agency said.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is issuing a final rule listing the contiguous U.S. distinct population segment of the North American wolverine (Gulo gulo luscus) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The listing includes a 4(d) rule for this species that prohibits importation and exportation without a permit. New import and export restrictions set by the agency’s final rule take effect Jan. 2.

The executive director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat said the perspective of what purpose APEC serves has changed. "We used to say trade and investment are our bread and butter," Rebecca Sta Maria said, referring to the goals of the 21 countries in the forum.