CBP has issued its weekly quota commodity report as of September 26, 2005. This report includes tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) on various products such as beef, tuna, sugar, dairy products, peanuts, cotton, cocoa powder, tobacco, certain JFTA, NAFTA, SFTA, UAFTA and UCFTA TRQs, etc. This report also includes the AGOA, ATPDEA, CBTPA, NAFTA, SFTA, and UCFTA (CFTA) tariff preference levels (TPLs) for qualifying apparel and/or other textile articles, the TRQs on worsted wool fabrics, etc. (CBP's weekly quota commodity report, dated 09/26/05, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/commodity/)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a document entitled: ACE Accomplishments: 1999 - September 2005, which lists, in date order, certain accomplishments in the development of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). According to CBP, this list is current as of September 22, 2005.

According to a September 27, 2005 statement by USTR Special Textile Negotiator David Spooner, the third round of talks with the Chinese aimed at reaching agreement on textiles continued the evening of September 27th. The Textile Negotiator stated that "we have made good progress in our discussions over the past couple of days and, although we still have differences, we feel that additional time to work on the issues would be beneficial." (USTR Statement, dated 09/27/05, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Spokesperson_Statements/Statement_of_David_Spooner_USTR_Special_Textile_Negotiator_Regarding_the_Third_Round_of_Textile_Talks_with_the_Chinese_in_Washin.html )

1. Various Postings to CBP's Web Site

• Tecate port to open an hour earlier beginning October 2, 2005. The hours of operation at the Tecate port of entry will shift an hour earlier starting Sunday, October 2, 2005. CBP notes that commercial cargo processing hours remain unchanged at 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. (CBP press release, dated 09/19/05, available at www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/press_releases/09192005_3.xml.)
• Periodic monthly payments and statements information. CBP has posted information to its Web site regarding periodic monthly payments and statements entitled ACE Periodic Monthly Statement Fact Sheet, Periodic Monthly Statement Activation Sheet, Why Should My Company Participate, and What is the Trade Community Saying About ACE. (Information, posted 09/16/05, available at www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/about/modernization/periodic_month_pmt_Statement.xml.)
• Power Point presentation on ACE periodic monthly statement. (PowerPoint presentation, dated September 2005, available at (http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbox/about/modernization/briefings_info/trade_pms_presentation.ctt/trade_pms_presentation.pdf.)
• ACE duty collection topped one billion. CBP has received more than $1 billion dollars in duties and fees through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) since the monthly statement and payment feature were introduced in July 2004. (Press release, dated 09/19/05, available at www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newroom/press_releases/09192005_2.xml.)
• CBP to seek feedback from travelers this week. CBP announced that CBP officers would be randomly distributing 40,000 comment cards to travelers at three ports of entry during the week of September 13, 2005 in an effort to seek feedback about the quality of their border crossing experience. (CBP press release, dated 09/13/05, available at www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/press_releases/09132005.xml.)
• Hurricane Rita. CBP has posted phone numbers for CBP employees in Texas affected by Hurricane Rita to report their current situation or receive updates. (CBP notice, dated 09/22/05, available at (www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/highlights/rita_numbers.xml.)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a notice announcing the opening of the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) on mixes and doughs as provided for in HTS Chapter 19, Additional U.S. Note (AUSN) 3 for the period October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2006.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a general notice announcing that, effective immediately, importers of record participating in the National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) Periodic Monthly Statement test are no longer required to provide a bond rider covering periodic payment of estimated duties and fees.

Getting started with EDI for ACE Electronic Truck Manifest. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has updated its guidance for getting started with electronic data interchange (EDI) for Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Electronic Truck Manifest by providing a new fax number (703) 650-3538 to which letters of intent should be faxed. (CBP notice, dated 09/12/05, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/about/modernization/electronic_truck_manifest_info/getting_started_edi.xml.)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a list of the following Web site, email, and phone resources regarding the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE):

The Journal of Commerce reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection will soon announce in the Federal Register that it is eliminating the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) requirement that importer accounts have bond riders and make periodic duty payments, thus opening ACE up to nearly all comers. (JoC, dated 08/29/05, www.joc.com )

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a notice announcing that the next meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection and Related Functions (COAC) will be held on October 6, 2005 in Redondo Beach, CA. (This committee was previously called the 'Treasury Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of the U.S. Customs Service.")