The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has posted to its web site updated preliminary textile and apparel import data for 2005, which now covers the 2005 period from approximately March 2005 to June 4, 2005.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a proposed rule that would amend 7 CFR Part 319 regarding the importation of wheat and related articles by removing the prohibitions related to foreign strains of flag smut (flag smut) for a specific country or locality (country), if a risk evaluation indicates that such wheat and related articles from that country do not introduce other plant pests.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued its fiscal year (FY) 2003 Final Annual Report under the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000 (CDSOA, also known as the Byrd Amendment). This report lists in excel format the antidumping (AD) or countervailing (CV) case number, the written description of the order, number of claims, FY 2003 net amount claimed, amount available for disbursement, claimant name, claim number, claimant net amount, percent of total claimed, and amount paid. FY 2003 CDSOA Final Annual Report, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/add_cvd/cont_dump/cdsoa_03/fy03_final_cdsoa.ctt/fy03_final_cdsoa.xls .

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a notice announcing that it will hold a second series of domestic public meetings to discuss its December 9, 2004 final rule that requires the establishment and maintenance of records by certain persons (unless excepted) who manufacture, import, process, pack, transport, distribute, receive, or hold food in the U.S.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has rejected a Section 301 petition filed by members of Congress on the issue of China's currency, noting that this petition is similar to two previously rejected petitions. The USTR states that it believes that China has undertaken the necessary and appropriate steps to prepare for a move to a more flexible, market-based exchange rate system; therefore, a Section 301 action would not be an appropriate or productive way to achieve that goal. (USTR statement, dated 05/27/05, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Spokesperson_Statements/May_27,_2005_Statement_from_USTR_Spokesperson_Richard_Mills_Regarding_a_Section_301_Petition_on_Chinas_Currency_Regime.html)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Los Angeles/Long Beach has issued an administrative message (dated 05/25/05) which CBP sources state indicates that until a recent Court of International Trade (CIT) decision on chondroitin sulfate (CS) is final, or is appealed and is final, filers and importers must continue to classify CS under 3913.90.2000.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued a notice announcing that on May 27, 2005, the U.S. requested consultations with the government of China with respect to imports of Chinese origin combed cotton yarn in category 301; men's and boys' cotton and manmade fiber shirts, not knit in category 340/640; manmade fiber knit shirts and blouses in category 638/639; and manmade fiber shorts, slacks and trousers in 647/648.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has posted to its web site updated preliminary textile and apparel import data for 2005, which now covers the 2005 period from mid-February to May 21st.

According to sources at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), China-origin textiles and apparel that are subject to safeguard quotas are ineligible for "paperless processing" ¹ and are ineligible for remote location filing (RLF).

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued a notice announcing that on May 23, 2005, the U.S. requested consultations with the government of China with respect to imports of Chinese origin cotton knit shirts and blouses in category 338/339, cotton trousers, slacks, and shorts (trousers) in category 347/348, and cotton and man-made fiber (MMF) underwear in category 352/652.