The Department of Homeland Security and the State Department have issued a proposed rule for the land and sea portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) that would require a passport or other secure document denoting citizenship and identity for all land and sea travel into the U.S.
Notable CROSS rulings
The Federal Communications Commission implemented the final phase of its requirement that all televisions or TV devices with tuners (VCRs, video recorders, etc.) imported or sold across state lines in the U.S. on or after March 1, 2007 have a digital tuner (known as an ATSC tuner).
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a news release announcing that, in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, it will enforce inspection and agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) user fee requirements for all commercial trucks and loaded railroad cars entering the U.S. from Canada beginning June 1, 2007.
American Shipper reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Census Bureau have "gone back to the meeting table" in an effort to finalize the mandatory Automated Export System filing rules. Once changes are agreed to, CBP and Census will have to reissue a new proposed rule for mandatory AES with all new deadlines for comments and final implementation. (American Shipper, February 2007, www.americanshipper.com)
The Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a notice announcing the initiation of and requesting comments on a pilot program1 to demonstrate the ability of Mexico-based motor carriers to operate safely in the U.S. beyond the commercial zones along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The Drug Enforcement Administration has issued an interim final rule, effective May 9, 2007, to require additional reporting for import, export, and international transactions involving all List I and List II chemicals, and to implement section 716 of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 (CMEA).
The Journal of Commerce reports that opponents of the Department of Transportation's (DOT's) pilot program to expand U.S. cross border trucking operations with Mexico, which could begin as early as next month, are criticizing it from several sides. Among other things, critics are concerned that the DOT will not be able to ensure the safety of Mexican drivers and their vehicles. The article adds that it is unlikely that the opponents can stop the program quickly without congressional intervention. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/27/07 news, 07022705, for BP summary of DOT's pilot program.) (JoC, dated 03/19/07, www.joc.com)
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release announcing that the U.S. has requested two World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement consultations with China regarding (1) deficiencies in China's legal regime for protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights (IPR) on a wide range of products, and (2) market access barriers to trade in certain copyright-based industries.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site an updated version of its document entitled "User Fee Decals and Transponders" which reflects CBP's April 1, 2007 increase to certain User Fees.
The Journal of Commerce Online reports that on March 9, 2007, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would raise tonnage taxes on vessels arriving at U.S. ports as a way of paying for improvements in water-pollution control. (JoC Online, dated 03/09/07, www.joc.com.)