The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a press release announcing that on February 9, 2004, the EPA Administrator joined 52 freight shippers and carriers to promote the SmartWay Transport Partnership (SmartWay). The EPA has also posted information on SmartWay to its Web site.

¹ The ITA states that only the 2002 final results CV rate will affect the CV cash deposit rate for subject merchandise on and after the publication of the final results of these four reviews.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site various materials related to the January 27-29, 2004 meeting of the Trade Support Network (TSN).

On May 20, 2003, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a proposed rule to require imported solid wood packing material (SWPM) to be either heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide, as well as marked, prior to importation, in accordance with an international standard entitled "Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade" that was approved by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) on March 15, 2002.

(a) These four companies each have a de minimis AD rate (Ferrara: 0.24%, Lensi: 0.36%, Pagani: 0.21%, and Pallante: 0.12%); no cash deposits will be collected although suspension of liquidation will continue.

The 2004 Schedule B is now available on the Bureau of Census' (Census) Web site at www.census.gov/foreign-trade/schedules/b/index.html for downloading, searching and browsing.

The Journal of Commerce (JoC) reports that the first container equipped with electronic gizmos to track containers in transit under the Operation Safe Commerce (OSC) program has left a port in Asia, bound for Seattle-Tacoma. However, the article notes that the sensors in the box are not actually transmitting data, as the contracting company wants to test the durability and seaworthiness of its equipment before actual "proof of concept" begins. OSC participants have until July 31, 2004 to carry out tests, with a report to Congress due October 31, 2004. (JoC, dated 02/02/04 - 02/08/04, www.joc.com)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice to inform travelers that on or after August 12, 2004, a commercial shipment of food (except some meat, poultry, and egg products) carried by a traveler into the U.S. for which prior notice has not been provided to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is subject to refusal of admission to the U.S., and may be held at the port of arrival unless directed to another location. According to CBP, this requirement is mandated by what is commonly known as the Bioterrorism Act. (CBP notice available via fax by emailing staff@brokerpower.com)

Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department decides, based on all relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. The following have been issued since BP's most recent update: