The Office of U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a Federal Register notice announcing that on September 18, 2003, the United States and Laos signed a trade agreement obligating reciprocal normal trade relations (NTR) treatment between Laos and the United States.

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued eight orders denying eight petitions submitted by seven non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs) and one trade association requesting that some or all NVOCCs be granted, variously, the ability to enter into confidentially negotiated service contracts with their customers, an exemption from establishing and publishing rate tariffs for ocean transportation, etc.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an administrative message stating that the Automated Commercial System (ACS) has been modified to accept U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement (UAFTA) claims through the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) system, effective February 9, 2005.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP's) Office of Information and Technology has posted a notice to its Web site containing a list, as of January 27, 2005, of companies/persons offering data processing services to the trade community for the Automated Broker Interface (ABI).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has revised its Informed Compliance Publication (ICP) entitled "Customs Brokers" as part of its series "What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know About."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a January 28, 2005 (5th) version of its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and responses regarding the mandatory advance electronic cargo information requirements for truck carriers.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an administrative message containing the prorations for the three 2004 textile and apparel quotas, subject to the first staged entry period for overshipments, that closed at "opening moment" on February 1, 2005.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a guidance document for the Pilot Bond Centralization Program entitled "Latest News and Developments."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a general notice announcing that, effective immediately, applicants seeking to establish importer or broker accounts so as to access the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Secure Data Portal (ACE Portal) or to participate in any ACE test, are no longer required to provide a statement certifying participation in the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a press release announcing that it is postponing the enforcement of the Free And Secure Trade (FAST) Card requirement for Border Release Advance Screening and Selectivity (BRASS) shipment drivers until May 1, 2005 for the first group of 40 ports.