On March 26, 2004, the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) published two notices denying two petitions submitted by Levi Strauss and Co. which had alleged that certain fusible interlining fabrics classified under HTS 5903.90.2500 could not be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has initiated antidumping (AD) duty investigations of certain circular welded carbon quality line pipe from China, Mexico, and South Korea.

On March 15, 2004, the U.S. concluded negotiations to integrate the Dominican Republic into the U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

In the March 24, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBPBulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 13), CBP issued notices: (a) revoking a classification ruling on an artificial tree, (b) revoking a classification ruling regarding certain liquid rubber, and (c) revoking a classification ruling on hook and eye tape used for brassieres. CBP states that it is also revoking any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in these notices.

On March 24, 2004, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing on the state of maritime security, focusing on the impact of security efforts on maritime commerce, and the additional measures that may be needed to further enhance maritime transportation security.

Shippers NewsWire reports that the National Harbor Association has called the U.S. government's diversion of taxpayer dollars to overseas port improvement projects "disturbing," especially given the fact that the Army Corps of Engineer's annual budget for U.S. port maintenance and upgrades continues to come up short. (SNW dated 03/23/04, www.americanshipper.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.) (This is Part IV of a multi-part series of summaries on this amending supplement. See future issues of ITT for additional summaries.)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an administrative message stating that all COBRA user fees, including the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) were extended through March 1, 2005 by Public Law 108-121. (See 19 USC 58C). CBP states that this message supercedes ABI message 03-2372, dated 10/01/03. (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/10/04 news, 04031005 for BP summary of this extension through March 1, 2005.)(Adm: 04-0639, dated 03/29/04)

Broker Power provides quota prices on a monthly basis for certain textile and apparel categories from the People's Republic of China (China) that are publicly traded. (These publicly traded quota prices have been provided by a Hong Kong quota broker.)