According to the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica, the Costa Rican government has stated that it will not require a copy of the Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) or Automated Export System (AES) record for U.S. exports until a solution to which the U.S. government agrees is negotiated. Embassy sources state that crafting such a solution will likely take quite some time.

A U.S. Federal Government Web site, www.regulations.gov, has been established to allow interested parties to find, review, and submit comments on Federal documents that are open for comment and published in the Federal Register.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports that a group of specialists believe the U.S. sanctions against Myanmar (formerly Burma) haven't achieved their aims and have been counterproductive in moving that country toward democracy. The Seattle-based Myanmar specialists have issued a report which concludes that U.S. sanctions aren't working because of Myanmar's growing ties with China, India, and its Southeast Asian neighbors. (WSJ Pub 03/25/04)

In the March 24, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBPBulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 13), CBP issued notices (a) proposing to modify two classification rulings on metalized polyester embroidery thread and decorative wired trim, and (b) proposing to revoke a classification ruling on satellite radio receiver sets. CBP states that it is also proposing to revoke any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in these notices.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice stating that at the request of the petitioner, International Imaging Materials, Inc. (IIMAK), it has further postponed the final antidumping (AD) duty determination on wax and wax/resin thermal transfer ribbons from South Korea until no later than March 29, 2004 (from March 22, 2004).

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted to its Web site a letter to inform manufacturers, importers and distributors of imported candy that the FDA intends to publish at a future date a guidance document that will reduce its guidance level for considering enforcement action against candy products containing lead.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its final results of the changed circumstances antidumping (AD) duty review of pressure sensitive plastic tape from Italy, concluding that Tyco Adhesives Italia S.p.A. (Tyco) is the successor-in-interest to Manuli Tapes S.p.A. (Manuli)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued messages on a number of antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) duty actions, many of which (marked by an * in the action column) were previously published in the Federal Register by the International Trade Administration (ITA) and summarized in International Trade Today.

On May 20, 2003, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a proposed rule to require imported solid wood packing material (SWPM) to be either heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide, as well as marked, prior to importation, in accordance with the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 15 entitled "Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade." ISPM 15 was approved by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) on March 15, 2002.

The Wall Street Journal states that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is declaring a temporary hiring freeze at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to a potential $1.2 billion budget shortfall. According to the article, the exact cause of the budget shortfall is unclear and may simply be a computer glitch. (WSJ, 03/26/04, www.wsj.com )