U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted a third set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and responses (dated 10/27/04) to its Web page regarding the January 1, 2005 full integration (elimination of quotas) for textiles and textile apparel originating in countries that are members of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Customs duty
A customs duty is a tariff or tax which a country imposes on goods when they are transported across international borders. Customs Duties are used to protect countries' economies, residents, jobs, and environments, by limiting the flow of imported merchandise, especially restricted and prohibited goods, into the country. The Customs duty rate is a percentage determined by the value of the article purchased in the foreign country and not based on quality, size, or weight. U.S. customs duties are listed in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a proposed rule that would provide an exemption from the tariff publication requirements of the Shipping Act of 1984 (Act) for service arrangements made by non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs), subject to the conditional filing requirements set forth in proposed new 46 CFR Part 531.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued two ABI administrative messages announcing that its most recent Harmonized System (HS) updates contain:
The European Commission (EC) has issued a press release announcing that it has adopted a proposal setting out the details of the European Union (EU) Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) for 2006-2008. According to the press release, the EC proposal would modify the EU GSP through simplification, expanding product coverage, focusing benefits on those developing countries most in need, and setting up additional benefits known as GSP.
In the October 27, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 44), CBP issued notices: (a) proposing to change the way it classifies certain homeopathic products, which would result in the revocation of two classification rulings, and (b) revoking a classification ruling on an air blow gun kit. 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 Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued an update on the potential increase in general duty rates for certain goods from all "Column 1" countries in the event that the U.S. cannot reach agreement with the European Union (EU) for adequate compensation owed under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules as a result of the May 2004 EU enlargement and EU changes to its rice import regime.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site its instructions for the global tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for specialty sugar.
CBP has posted to its Web site its "critical list" of textiles and apparel subject to import quotas with entered quantities 85% or more filled as of October 18, 2004. CBP states that this "critical list" may be used by CBP as a reference for releasing quota merchandise "off line" when the Automated Commercial System (ACS) is down for longer than four hours. CBP notes that textile and apparel merchandise for Electronic Visa Information System (ELVIS) countries cannot be released "off line" until it is processed through quota. CBP further notes that if the system is down for more than 24 hours, Headquarters Quota Branch should be contacted for further instructions. CBP also states that merchandise subject to tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) that are filled, may be released if entered under the "over quota" (high) rate of duty. (CBP's critical list, dated 10/18/04, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/textile_critical_list/)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an ABI administrative message stating that it will make future changes to the Automated Commercial System (ACS) to automate the reporting of diamond certificate numbers (aka 'Kimberly Process certificate' numbers) for certain diamond tariff numbers.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a notice that informs truck carriers of the new advance cargo manifest requirements for inbound truck cargo, which will take effect November 15, 2004 at 40 ports. According to the notice and CBP sources, for these initial 40 ports, as of November 15, 2004, any Border Release Advance Screening and Selectivity (BRASS) shipment that is not being hauled by a FAST registered driver will be denied entry into the U.S. (See ITT's Online Archives or 08/18/04 news, 04081805, for BP summary of CBP's August 17, 2004 notice announcing the staggered compliance dates for the mandatory advance electronic information requirements for inbound truck cargo. See ITT's Online Archives or 09/30/04 news, 04093070, 1, for BP summary of CBP's handout that will be distributed to trucks in the event of noncompliance with these new requirements.) (CBP's notice available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/fast/fast_truck_req.ctt/fast_truck_req.doc.)