According to a columnist in the Washington Post's business section, the sugar lobby has come out against the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), in a bid to finally get sugar off the negotiating table once and for all, and preserve their tariffs and import quotas that cost Americans at least $1 billon a year in subsidies and artificially high sugar prices. (Washington Post, 05/11/05, www.washingtonpost.com )

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site the April 2005 Customs broker exam and answer key.

The Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Functions (COAC) held its quarterly meeting on May 5, 2005 in Washington, DC during which U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials provided an update on the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a new "Trade Engagement Biweekly Report" which summarizes topics discussed during workshops held to develop the business requirements for Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Release 5. (These workshops are attended by members of the Trade Support Network (TSN), called Trade Ambassadors, who are importers, brokers, carriers, and other members of the trade community.) The following are highlights of CBP's summary of four ACE Release 5 workshops held in early March 2005:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an April 2005 version of a document entitled, "Prior Notice Summary Information" which had previously been titled "Compliance Summary Information: Prior Notice."

CAFC denies challenge to CHB exam answer. In Michael J. Kenny v. Secretary of the Treasury & U.S., the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) affirmed the Court of International Trade's (CIT's) decision to uphold the Secretary of the Treasury's denial of credit to Michael J. Kenny for Question 32 on the October 2001 Customs Broker Licensure Examination (CHB exam).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a revised version of its frequently asked questions (FAQ) and responses on its final rule requiring, among other things, the advance electronic presentation of information for inbound vessel cargo.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a notice entitled "Getting Started with EDI for ACE Electronic Truck Manifest."

ChoicePoint acquired fraud detection and analytics firm Magnify, officials said Mon. The information broker, rocked this spring by a data breach scandal, will use Magnify’s technology and modeling expertise to help customers identify suspicious activity, route information and maximize financial return. Terms weren’t disclosed. ChoicePoint said in Feb. data on 145,000 individuals may have been disclosed in a breach in which thieves defrauded 750 victims. Since then, the company has tried to clean up its image and bolster its protection mechanisms.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site an April 2005 version of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Application. According to CBP, this application consists of four documents: ACE Account Portal Power of Attorney, Terms and Conditions for Account Access of ACE Portal, Additional Account/Account Owner Information, and ACE Secure Data Portal Request to Participate.