The International Trade Administration (ITA) has amended its final results of the antidumping (AD) duty administrative review of gray and portland cement and clinker from Mexico for the review period of August 1, 1996 through July 31, 1997, as there is now a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Binational Panel notice of final action which affects CEMEX, S.A. de C.V. (CEMEX) and GCC Cemento, S.A. de C.V. (GCCC)^{1 2}.

In the March 10, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 11), CBP issued notices (a) proposing to revoke or modify three classification rulings on textile tool holders, and (b) proposing to revoke two classification rulings regarding certain metal couplings and connectors. 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 Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a notice announcing that it has received a petition from FedEx Trade Networks Transport & Brokerage, Inc. (FedEx) for an exemption from the tariff publishing and adherence requirements of the Shipping Act of 1984, as amended (Shipping Act) in order to permit it to depart from the provisions of its tariff and enter into confidential service contracts for ocean transportation services with shippers.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a notice announcing a "special import quota" which specifies a quota of 27,202,732 kg for upland cotton purchased not later than June 15, 2004 and entered under HTS 9903.52.10. The quota period is March 18, 2004 through September 13, 2004; opening day is March 18, 2004 at 12 noon, E.S.T., or its equivalent in other time zones.

The Washington Trade Daily (WTD) reports that the AFL-CIO has filed a Section 301 petition with the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) urging bilateral negotiations with China to correct what it believes are China's inadequate labor practices and laws. The AFL-CIO asserts that these practices and laws are tantamount to unfair trade practices. (WTD Pub 03/17/04, www.washingtontradedaily.com)

On March 4, 2004, the Senate passed its version of H.R. 1047, the "Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2003."

The International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued a notice announcing that, following receipt of a request from the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), it has instituted an investigation under 19 USC 3804(f) regarding the potential economy wide and selected sectoral effects of the proposed U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

On January 30, 2004, the General Accounting Office (GAO) issued a report to Congressional requesters entitled Food Safety: FDA's Imported Seafood Safety Program Shows Some Progress, but Further Improvements are Needed.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release announcing that on March 1, 2004, the Bush Administration submitted to Congress the 2004 Trade Policy Agenda and 2003 Annual Report on the Trade Agreements Program.

The Commerce Department's Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) has issued its January 2004 Textile and Apparel Trade Balance Report (containing data through January 31, 2004). 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.