On February 17, 2010, Transportation Secretary LaHood announced Recovery Act awards to fund innovative transportation projects. The TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Grant Program was included in the Recovery Act to spur transportation projects that promise significant economic and environmental benefits, including improvements to roads, bridges, rail, ports, transit and intermodal facilities. (White House, dated 02/17/10, available for http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/secretary-lahood-announces-funding-over-50-innovative-strategic-transportation-proj.)
The Federal Maritime Commission is rescheduling its open meeting previously scheduled for February 10, 2010 to February 18, 2010 in Washington, DC, and is removing one agenda item for this meeting.
The Center for Environmental Health has notified four retailers, Saks Fifth Avenue, Justice, Catherines, and Aeropostale that independent lab testing has found significant levels of cadmium in jewelry purchased from their stores in December and January. Similar recent reports suggest that, in response to the new federal law limiting lead in children's products, jewelry makers may be using cadmium instead of lead. (Press release, dated 02/02/10, available at http://www.ceh.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=428&Itemid=166)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a CSMS message announcing that it posted the Automated Commercial Environment Implementation Guidelines for the future M1 release (e-Manifest: Ocean and Rail).
At the December 2009 Trade Symposium, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials and members of the trade discussed how CBP's intellectual property rights enforcement could become more effective, and the challenges CBP is facing.
Broker Power is now issuing weekly summary reports highlighting the most active textile and apparel tariff preference levels from U.S. Customs and Border Protection's "Quota Weekly Commodity Status Report." BP's weekly report also lists the TRQ commodities on CBP's weekly "TRQ/TPL Threshold to Fill List."
On January 28, 2010, U.S. Customs and Border Protection updated and expanded its frequently asked questions document on its 10+2 interim final rule that requires Security Filing information from importers and additional information from carriers for vessel (maritime) cargo before it is brought into the U.S.
The Federal Maritime Commission has issued a notice announcing that it will hold an open meeting on February 10, 2010 in Washington, DC.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a CSMS message announcing that it is scheduled to deploy ACE Entry Summary, Accounts and Revenue (ESAR) III capabilities (also referred to as ESAR A2.3.1a) on February 7, 2010.
The Federal Maritime Commission has announced that it will hold an open meeting on February 10, 2010 in Washington, DC. Agenda topics include a FY 2010 budget status update, a petition from NCBFAA for exemption from mandatory rate tariff publication, etc. (Notice, posted 02/02/10, available at http://www.fmc.gov/home/February102010Meeting.asp)