International Trade Data System (ITDS) sources have stated that eight government agencies are ready to begin making preparations for using the International Trade Data System (ITDS). In addition to these "Tier 1" agencies, an additional 15 "Tier 2" agencies have agreed to participate in ITDS.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site certain updated Trade Support Network (TSN) committee Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) user requirement recommendations and ACE Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) message drafts.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an administrative message stating that all COBRA user fees, including the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) were extended through March 1, 2005 by Public Law 108-121. (See 19 USC 58C). CBP states that this message supercedes ABI message 03-2372, dated 10/01/03. (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/10/04 news, 04031005 for BP summary of this extension through March 1, 2005.)(Adm: 04-0639, dated 03/29/04)

On March 4, 2004, the Senate passed its version of H.R. 1047, the "Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2003."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site various documents related to its development and expansion of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). The following are highlights of these documents:

According to a State Department Washington File article, the third and final round of negotiations aimed at integrating the Dominican Republic into the U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) began in Washington, DC on March 8, 2004. The article states that during the week of March 8, 2004, U.S. and Dominican officials hope to conclude negotiations to add the Dominican Republic to the CAFTA accord reached between the U.S. and Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. (Washington File article dated 03/08/04, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=March&x=20040308162754ASrelliM5.480593e-02&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html.)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site the Winter 2003 issue of its "ACE Modernization Monitor" newsletter.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site the Winter 2003 issue of its "ACE Modernization Monitor" newsletter.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued the February 2004 U.S. Customs and Border Protection Modernization newsletter. This newsletter contains articles on new Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) account revenue features coming in summer 2004, the testing of prototypes of new border security technologies for possible incorporation into ACE, the January 2004 meeting of the Trade Support Network (TSN), etc. (February 2004 newsletter available at http://www.cbp.gov/ImageCache/cgov/content/import/modernization/reference/library/finalnews0204_2edoc/v1/finalnews0204.doc.)

The Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (COAC) held a quarterly meeting on February 6, 2004 in Washington, DC to discuss, and receive updates from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials on, various customs and trade issues.