U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued its weekly tariff rate quota and tariff preference level commodity report as of May 21.

In the May 16, 2012 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (Vol. 46, No. 21), CBP published two notices that propose to revoke two rulings and similar treatment regarding the tariff classification of certain perforating gun assemblies and the SCT Livewire flash device.

A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the International Trade Administration posted to U.S. Customs and Border Protection's web site as of May 21, 2012, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching on the listed CBP message number at http://addcvd.cbp.gov. (CBP occasionally adds backdated messages without otherwise indicating which message was added. ITT will include a message date in parentheses in such cases.)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection posted a May 21 version of its CF 1400 (Record of Vessel in Foreign Trade Entrances) electronic query report of the Vessel Management System (VMS), in accordance with 19 CFR 4.95, organized by entrances. CBP also posted a version of its CF 1401 (Record of Vessel in Foreign Trade Clearances) electronic query report of the VMS, in accordance with 19 CFR 4.95, organized by clearances.

A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the International Trade Administration posted to U.S. Customs and Border Protection's web site as of May 18, 2012, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching on the listed CBP message number at http://addcvd.cbp.gov. (CBP occasionally adds backdated messages without otherwise indicating which message was added. ITT will include a message date in parentheses in such cases.)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is extending the comment period to June 20, 2012 for an existing information collection concerning the Application to use the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). CBP proposes to extend the expiration date of this information collection with no change to the burden hours or to the information collected.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection posted a May 2012 package of test questions for Automated Export System participants to be transmitted to CBP within an agreed upon time frame for operational certification. The long test is available here, the short test here. Such tests must be taken by self-programming exporters, brokers, forwarding agents, vendors and service centers.

In the May 16, 2012 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (Vol. 46, No. 21), CBP published notice that it is withdrawing its proposed revocation of a ruling on plastic recorder musical instruments due to its receipt of adverse comment. CBP also published a notice that it is withdrawing its proposed modification of a ruling on Acetyl L-Carnitine Hydrochloride, as its classification is being litigated.

Over the last few years, the existing technology development and acquisition activities within U.S. Customs and Border Protection have grown relatively rapidly reflecting their importance in overall border and security strategy, said CBP in a May 17 notice. Given these developments, former CBP Commissioner Alan Bersin created the Office of Technology Innovation and Acquisition (OTIA) to establish better governance and integration of applied technology and acquisition efforts to more fully complement the mission and support frontline personnel. OTIA is headed by Assistant Commissioner, Mark Borkowski.