On July 5, the FDA posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:

Public comments are due by Aug. 8 on a USDA proposed rule that could raise the Agricultural Marketing Service’s research and promotion program import fees for certain watermelon imports. People and companies that import 150,000 pounds or more annually of watermelons would be required to pay “nine cents per hundredweight” of watermelons, USDA said, up from the current "six cents per hundredweight." The agency said those fees are usually paid to CBP upon entry.

The Foreign-Trade Zones Board issued the following notices on July 8:

CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:

CBP is taking action against US Atlanta International, Global Source & Supply, Cosmos Granite (East) Marble and Cosmos Granite (West) over allegedly evading antidumping and countervailing duties on quartz surface products (QSP) from China.

Even though two jacket styles produced by manufacturer and supplier Youngone El Salvador met the tariff shift requirement of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), the jackets still aren't eligible for preferential tariff treatment because the visible lining was formed and finished in a country outside of member countries with the CAFTA-DR, CBP ruled recently.

Shipping, trucking and freight forwarding associations urged the Federal Maritime Commission to reject a request from a group of major ocean carriers seeking to push back the effective date of the FMC’s new demurrage and detention billing requirements (see 2402230049), saying in public comments to the commission that the delay would cause widespread confusion within the shipping industry. But two of those groups said the FMC should at least consider giving the industry more time to adapt to the rules before punishing violators with fines.

The International Trade Commission posted Revision 4 to the 2024 Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The semiannual update to the HTS adds new 10-digit tariff numbers for a variety of products, including integrated circuits and plantation-harvested teak.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said July 8 that he hopes to have a "significant package of China-related legislation" signed into law this year, including a provision that moved out of the House Ways and Means Committee that would make goods subject to Section 301 tariffs ineligible for de minimis treatment. All goods from China would have to enter with a 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule classification code upon entry so that CBP could enforce the law. That bill also included new penalties for de minimis violations beyond forfeiture of the package (see 2404180068). Johnson said these changes would "rein in the de minimis privilege" that China is exploiting.

The International Trade Commission published notices in the July 5 Federal Register on the following AD/CVD injury, Section 337 patent or other trade proceedings (any notices that warrant a more detailed summary will be in another ITT article):