The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a consumer alert which advises consumers to immediately stop buying and using ephedra (also known as Ma huang). The FDA also notified manufacturers that it intends to publish a final rule that would have the effect of banning the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids present as soon as it becomes effective, 60 days after publication. (FDA ephedra web page available at http://www.fda.gov/oc/initiatives/ephedra/december2003/)

The ITA states that it will determine, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will assess, AD duties on all appropriate entries. The ITA adds that it will issue appropriate assessment instructions directly to CBP within 15 days of December 30, 2003.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice advising the trade of the upcoming system requirements for filing a U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement (UCFTA) claim through the Automated Broker Interface (ABI).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is announcing that effective immediately, ACS will transmit the header value of 'N' (instead of the header value of 'E') in the 'BN' application (record BN01, Position 5), in response to entry transactions with application identifier "WP" In-Bond.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued waivers which will grant Chile and Singapore access to U.S. government procurement markets for goods and services pursuant to the free trade agreements (FTAs) each have entered into with the U.S. USTR sources explain that these waivers were granted because the U.S. has determined that Chile and Singapore will grant U.S. products and suppliers the same access. (FR Pub 12/19/03, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/pdf/03-31372.pdf (Chile) and http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/pdf/03-31371.pdf (Singapore))

The Commerce Department's Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) has issued its October 2003 Textile and Apparel Trade Balance Report (containing data through October 31, 2003). The Trade Balance Report shows imports and exports and calculates the trade balance for U.S. textile and apparel trade with the world and with major U.S. trading partners.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice on the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement's (SFTA's) 2004 Tariff Preference Level (TPL) for imports from Singapore of cotton or MMF apparel goods, or apparel goods subject to cotton or MMF restraints, the foregoing that are both cut (or knit-to-shape) and sewn or otherwise assembled in Singapore from fabric or yarn produced or obtained outside the territory of Singapore or of the U.S. ("3rd Country").

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice stating that it has determined that the 2004 limitation on the quantity of imports of worsted wool fabrics that may be imported under the tariff rate quotas (TRQs) established by the Trade and Development Act of 2000 (TDA 2000) as amended by the Trade Act of 2002 should not be modified.

On December 30, 2003, President Bush issued Proclamation 7747 in order to implement the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SFTA). (See ITT's Online Archives or 12/31/03 news, 03123105, for BP summary announcing the issuance of Proclamation 7747.)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has published a final rule which amends the Customs Regulations effective January 5, 2004 regarding the advance electronic presentation of information pertaining to cargo (sea, air, rail, or truck) prior to its being brought into, or sent from, the U.S. (See final rule for compliance dates for each transportation mode.)