In the February 4, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBPBulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 6), CBP issued notices: (a) proposing to revoke a classification ruling on a set top box, and (b) proposing to revoke a classification ruling on certain liquid rubber. 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 Washington Post reports that calls are mounting from abroad for efforts to stem the fall in the U.S. dollar, especially against the euro, but U.S. officials are showing no sign of changing their stance that the dollar's value should be left to the markets. The article notes that the flip side of the strong euro is the weak dollar, which is helping to stoke the U.S. recovery by boosting American exports. (WP, dated 02/03/04, www.washingtonpost.com)

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release announcing that on February 8, 2004, the U.S. and Australia concluded a free trade agreement (FTA) which is designed to, among other things, eliminate and reduce tariffs and other trade barriers. The USTR states that the text of this FTA will be made public in the near future.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have issued a press release announcing a temporary ban on the importation of certain birds and bird products from eight Southeast Asian countries in order to protect poultry and humans in the U.S. from the possible spread of avian influenza (flu).

In George E. Warren Corporation v. U.S., the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) upheld an earlier Court of International Trade (CIT) ruling that denied the plaintiff's claim for drawback on Harbor Maintenance Taxes (HMTs) and Environmental Taxes (ETs).

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued a notice announcing that, effective February 6, 2004, the limit for Nepal cat 369S was increased for carryover.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a 12-page memorandum containing its instructions on the filing and substantiation of claims for preferential tariff treatment made under the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement (UCFTA).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a general notice announcing that it has extended its general program test of post entry amendment (PEA) processing for an additional year, through December 31, 2004.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its preliminary results of the following antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) duty administrative review:

In the February 4, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBPBulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 6), CBP issued notices: (a) proposing to revoke a classification ruling on hook and eye tape used for brassieres, (b) proposing to revoke two classification rulings on blackout drapery fabric, and (c) proposing to revoke one classification ruling with respect to a barbecue and apron set. 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.