Shippers' NewsWire reports that in his speech accepting the Democratic Party's nomination for president, John Kerry opined that the U.S. should not be letting 95% of container ships come into U.S. ports without being physically inspected, and stated that if in office, he would strengthen homeland security by possibly requiring closer scrutiny for more imports of ocean containers. (American Shipper, dated 07/30/04, ShippersNewsWire@americanshipper.com)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an administrative message stating that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised that its Operational and Administrative System for Import Support (OASIS) would be down for emergency maintenance on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 for approximately two hours from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. EDT.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site various materials related to the June 28- July 1, 2004 meeting of the Trade Support Network (TSN).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued six notices requesting written comments from the public and other federal agencies by August 9, 2004 regarding the following changed and unchanged information collections that it submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval and extension:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a notice announcing a "special import quota" which specifies a quota of 25,702,401 kg for upland cotton purchased not later than October 12, 2004 and entered under HTS 9903.52.13. The quota period is July 15, 2004 through January 10, 2005; the opening date is July 15, 2004 at 12 noon, E.S.T., or its equivalent in other time zones.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site the Spring 2004 issue of its "ACE Modernization Monitor" newsletter.

The Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (COAC) held a quarterly meeting on June 18, 2004 in Washington, DC to discuss and receive updates from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials on various trade and customs issues.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a set of four frequently asked questions (FAQ) and responses (dated July 8, 2004) on the "Rail" portion of its final rule on the advance electronic presentation of information pertaining to cargo (ocean, air, rail, and truck) prior to its being brought into, or sent from, the U.S.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted a notice on its Web site announcing that the next Customs Broker License Examination will be held on Monday, October 4, 2004.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued a notice requesting by July 15, 2004 a list of importers who wish to import leno mesh fabric produced or manufactured in China.