The Journal of Commerce (JoC) reports that ocean carriers are strongly opposed to a security fee of $1 per foot of vessel length proposed by the South Carolina State Ports Authority. According to JoC, the charge will take effect in July and is expected to bring in $1 million to cover increased security costs. (JoC Pub 03/15 - 21/04, www.joc.com)
The Department of Transportation's (DOT's) Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) has issued a notice announcing that it is seeking comments as to whether regulations in 49 CFR 172-178 that are applicable to 1) the transportation of explosives and 2) the transportation of hazardous materials (hazmats) in cylinders have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that the following vessel operating common carriers (VOCCs) have become Sea Automated Manifest System (AMS) operational:
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued a press release on March 18, 2004 announcing that the U.S. has filed a World Trade Organization (WTO) case against China regarding its discriminatory tax rebate policy for integrated circuits.
Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department decides, based on all relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. The following have been issued since BP's most recent update:
The International Trade Administration (ITA) frequently issues notices on antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) duty orders which Broker Power considers to be "minor" in importance as they concern actions that occur after an order is issued and neither announce nor cause any changes to an order's duty rates, scope, affected firms, or effective period.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site various documents related to its development and expansion of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). The following are highlights of these documents:
| Proposed legislation to amend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to expand certain trade benefits to eligible sub-Saharan African countries | 03/25/04 | Senate Committee on Foreign Relations |
| \"The Homeland Security Department's Plan to Consolidate and Co-Locate Regional and Field Offices: Improving Communication and Coordination\" | 03/24/04 | Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Natural Resources and Regulatory Affairs and Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations; House Committee on Government Reform |
| Bureau of Customs and Border Protection | 03/25/04 | Subcommittee on Homeland Security; House Committee on Appropriations |
| U.S. Trade Representative | 03/25/04 | Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, Judiciary and Related Agencies; House Committee on Appropriations |
| Proposed budget estimates for fiscal year (FY) 2005 for the Transportation Security Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard | 03/23/04 | Subcommittee on Homeland Security; Senate Committee on Appropriations |
| Current status of U.S. and Mexico relations, focusing on immigration policy and the bilateral relationship | 03/23/04 | Senate Committee on Foreign Relations |
| Intellectual property piracy issues | 03/24/04 | Senate Committee on Foreign Relations |
| Legal Activities; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives | 03/24/04 | Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Government, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies |
| Highway Safety Programs | 03/25/04 | Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury and Independent Agencies |
| H.R. 3933 |
| S. 2200 |
| S. 2205 |
| H.R. 3943 |
| H.R. 3956 |
| H.R. 3958 |
| H.R. 3961 |
| S. 2212 |
| S. 2216 |
On March 15, 2004, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered most of the Department of the Interior, including the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), to disconnect all of their computer systems from the Internet as a result of an ongoing dispute over the Department of the Interior's maintenance and preservation of individual Indian trust data.