Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated March 25 with 134 rulings, bringing the total number of searchable rulings to 176,541. The most recent ruling is dated 03/22/2013.

The PortMiami Perishables Committee is preparing a letter to send to CBP headquarters to express concern for the effects of sequestration perishables at the port, according to a Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association email. The letter would also be sent to the Florida Congressional Delegation and the Office of U.S. Trade Representative. "Because of the limited shelf life and time sensitivity related to delivery of these products, perishables must be inspected in an efficient and timely manner," the letter says. "Cuts to CBP staffing will harm our nation's economy. With the imminent furlough of CBP workers, there is a significant possibility that fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers, and other products will face time delays at South Florida ports, damaging products and negatively affecting importers, merchants, and consumers alike." Congress and the administration should work to make sure perishables continue to be safely and efficiently process, as the toll for slowing the supply chain of perishable products would be "immediate and severe," it said.

CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:

A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the International Trade Administration posted to CBP's website March 25, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching for the listed CBP message number at addcvd.cbp.gov. (CBP occasionally adds backdated messages without otherwise indicating which message was added. ITT will include a message date in parentheses in such cases.)

CBP posted a March 25 version of its CF 1400 (Record of Vessel in Foreign Trade Entrances) electronic query report of the Vessel Management System (VMS), in accordance with 19 CFR 4.95, organized by entrances. CBP also posted a version of its CF 1401 (Record of Vessel in Foreign Trade Clearances) electronic query report of the VMS, in accordance with 19 CFR 4.95, organized by clearances.

CBP issued its weekly tariff rate quota and tariff preference level commodity report as of March 25. This report includes TRQs on various products such as beef, sugar, dairy products, peanuts, cotton, cocoa products, and tobacco; and certain BFTA, DR-CAFTA, Israel FTA, JFTA, MFTA, OFTA, SFTA, UAFTA (AFTA) and UCFTA (Chile FTA) non-textile TRQs etc. Each report also includes the AGOA, ATPDEA, BFTA, DR-CAFTA, CBTPA, Haitian HOPE, MFTA, NAFTA, OFTA, SFTA, and UCFTA TPLs and TRQs for qualifying textile articles and/or other articles; the TRQs on worsted wool fabrics, etc.

CBP posted a presentation it gave in February outlining various requirements for wood packaging material (WPM). The presentation reviews the possible results of using non-compliant WPM, such as pests. The presentation also goes over what does and doesn't constitute WPM. For instance, packaging made entirely of thin wood 6 mm or less and sawdust don't fall under WPM regulations, said CBP.

A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the International Trade Administration posted to CBP's website March 22, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching for the listed CBP message number at addcvd.cbp.gov. (CBP occasionally adds backdated messages without otherwise indicating which message was added. ITT will include a message date in parentheses in such cases.)

CBP said the port of New River Valley, Va. (Port Code 1412) won't be staffed as of March 29. Importers should clear merchandise at the first port of arrival or face potential delays at New River Valley, said CBP. For inspections, merchandise at New River Valley must remain intact until arrangements are made to send a CBP officer to examine the goods and the agency can't "guarantee a response time frame," it said.

CBP released spreadsheets showing active AD/CVD cases and the associated case numbers, ISO country codes, tariff numbers, and short descriptions of each case as of Oct. 1 . This information alone should not be relied upon in determining whether an AD/CVD case is currently active, or whether merchandise falls under the scope of AD/CVD order, said CBP. For current AD/CVD information, consult ACE, Department of Commerce Federal Register Notices, and ADDCVD Search on CBP.gov, said CBP. Active anti-dumping cases are (here). Active countervailing cases are (here).