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We have been updated by our trade affiliates who have gathered information from press sources, government agencies as well as trade organizations.  Below is a list of government agencies and the effects of the shutdown:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection:
Is up and running, however there may be delays in processing cancellations, deletions, corrections and bond requests.  Shipments that are subject to tariff-rate quotas are being released manually.  Ports have also suspended liquidation for ultimate liquidation at the proper rate.  If anyone is in the validation process for Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), they have temporarily suspended the process.

Food and Drug Administration:
is dealing with critical functions such as entry review, sample collections, field examinations, compliance, exports and destructions.  Unfortunately due to limited resources delays at some ports are to be expected. New facility registration has been put on hold, as well as the physical inspections of foreign and domestic facilities that manufacture drugs or medical devices.

International Trade Administration:
The online steel import licensing system has been suspended.  If importers have a shipment that requires a steel license they are (a) use any license number already obtained or (b) send an e-mail to ITA steel.license@trade.gov  if a license has not been obtained, since license numbers are required to complete entry process.

Environmental Protection Agency:
Any shipments that require notices of arrival of pesticides or devices have been placed on temporary hold shipment there are no personnel to process.

Fish & Wildlife Service:
Electronic Filing of USFW form 3177 has been shut down until further notice, all importers and exporters must submit in paper form to F & W.

Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service:
USDA has shut down the review or authorization of notifications or permits for importation, along with interstate movement or field release of genetically engineered organisms and most management.  The administrative and oversights function, such as facility inspections and complaint investigations related to the Animal welfare act has also been shut down.

Trade data and information is also temporarily unavailable, including the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), Foreign Trade Regulations, as well as the new trade deficit statistics and data on textile and apparel.