The Commerce Department's Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) has issued its December 2003 Textile and Apparel Trade Balance Report (containing data through December 31, 2003). The Trade Balance Report shows imports and exports and calculates the trade balance for U.S. textile and apparel trade with the world and with major U.S. trading partners.

(a) For previously reviewed China and non-China exporters with separate rates, the cash deposit rate will be the company-specific rate established for the most recent period.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted to its Web site a third version of its Questions & Answers (Q&A) document regarding the registration of food facilities, which is effective immediately.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release announcing that USTR Robert Zoellick formally notified Congress, on behalf of the President, of the Administration's intent to initiate negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with Thailand.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has made available on its Web site certain trade statistics, which include lists of the top 5000 Importers for Fiscal Year (FY) 2002, FY 2001, and FY 2000.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a notice which corrects its October 10, 2003 interim final rule that requires, effective December 12, 2003, the submission to the FDA of prior notice of food (including animal feed) that is imported or offered for import into the U.S..

The ITA states that it will issue appropriate assessment instructions directly to CBP within 15 days of February 12, 2004.

Broker Power has previously reported that, effective from February 2, 2004 through April 30, 2004, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is detaining or sending to a laboratory for testing, importations of socks from at most 22 targeted countries, in order to verify their country of origin.

In the February 11, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 7), CBP issued notices: (a) proposing to revoke two classification rulings on certain aluminum compounds and salt, (b) modifying or revoking three classification rulings on certain electronic hang tags, and (c) modifying or revoking classification rulings on men's swimwear. CBP states that it is also revoking, or proposing to revoke, any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in these notices.

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.