CBP will update ACE with new special program indicator “JP” for goods eligible under the U.S.-Japan FTA on Jan. 14, the agency said in a CSMS message. While the FTA enters into force on Jan. 1 (see 1912270025), through Jan. 13 “importers must pay duties on qualifying goods under the Agreement and request a preferential tariff retroactive claim by filing a post summary correction (PSC) to request the duty refund,” CBP said. For preferential treatment under the FTA, the country of origin and country of export must by “JP,” CBP said. Once ACE is updated, “the Special Program indicator 'JP' must be placed before the eligible tariff number to make the claim,” it said. “Claims for preferential treatment under this Agreement are not exempt from the merchandise processing fee (class code 499 and class code 311).”
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
Fish and Wildlife Service tariff flags are expected to be enforced in ACE for all filers in October 2020, CBP said in a CSMS message. CBP posted the final FWS ACE Implementation Guide on Dec. 18, it said, and plans to make the FWS code available in CBP’s ACE certification environment on March 2. “This document is final and trade users can begin coding accordingly,” CBP said. “The associated FWS samples will be posted soon.” The ACE production pilot will begin April 4, 2020, CBP said. “CBP and FWS are working on a Federal Register Notice with additional details about the FWS Production Pilot,” the message said.
CBP added on Dec. 19 the ability in ACE for importers to file entries with recently excluded goods in the third tranche of Section 301 tariffs, it said in a CSMS message. Filers of imported products that were granted an exclusion (see 1912130028) should report the regular Chapters 03, 08, 21, 48, 54, 56, 73, 76, 83, 84, 85, 87 and 94, CBP said in the message. “Importers shall not submit the corresponding Chapter 99 HTS number for the Section 301 duties when” subheading 9903.88.36 is submitted, CBP said.
The end-of-the-year appropriations compromise worked out between the House and Senate will add tens of millions of dollars for trade enforcement and port technology. The bill, which is expected to pass the Senate by Dec. 20 and has already passed the House of Representatives, will also spend $54 million for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
The Food and Drug Administration is proposing new regulations that would allow importation of prescription drugs from Canada. Under the proposal, FDA would approve “Section 804 Importation Programs” (SIPs) sponsored by a state, tribal or territorial governmental entity. The registered wholesaler or pharmacy identified by the SIP as the importer could then import the specified drug from an FDA-registered, Health Canada-licensed wholesaler that buys the drug directly from its manufacturer. The proposed rule is set for publication in the Dec. 23 Federal Register, and comments are due March 9.
The Government Accountability Office and the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General each released a report on Dec. 17 that noted various issues within CBP's drawback program. The GAO's report suggested that CBP work to flag excessive export submissions and “establish a reliable system of record for proof of export,” among other things. The DHS IG report found that CBP “lacked appropriate documentation retention periods to ensure importers and claimants maintained support for drawback transactions” and didn't scrutinize prior drawback claims enough for claimants during 2011 to 2018.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters: