CBP released the "Statement of Work" documents for Commercial Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) subcommittees. The 13th term COAC will meet for the first time in Washington, D.C. March 6:

CBP should consider a U.S. seller an exporter if the sale is an export, regardless of who arranges the export transportation, said Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., in comments to the CBP Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations (COAC) export subcommittee. CBP has previously cited that definition in its administrative rulings, said Grimm.

CBP posted a table providing information on whether the Merchandise Processing Fee is paid, or exempt from payment, for goods entered under free trade agreements or trade preference programs.

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 Feb. 28, 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 the monthly Trade Support Network (TSN) committee reports for October through December. Among other things, the TSN is working on a "White Paper" on Automated Commercial Environment entry recordkeeping, the December report said. The December 2012 report is (here). The October/November report is (here).

CBP posted updated documents providing overviews of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and its benefits for various industries. The updates are minimal.

In the Feb. 27 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (Vol. 47, No. 10), CBP published two notices that propose to revoke rulings and similar treatment regarding the tariff classification of aluminum powder and a compound made with 25 percent Bitrex, "the bitterest compound known."

A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the International Trade Administration posted to CBP's website Feb. 27, 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.)

A significant number of Food and Drug Administration food facility registrations that were not renewed by Jan. 31 are currently in the process of being modified to an invalid status by FDA, said CBP in a CSMS message. As a result, imported food shipments manufactured by those facilities without valid registrations may be held at the port or refused upon arrival in the U.S., it said.