Customs brokerage Thomas Ferramosca Associates recently sent a letter to House lawmakers calling for legislation to allow firms to claim drawback on duty-liable imported goods withdrawn from foreign-trade zones for direct export. In a July 18 letter to Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, and to the congressman representing the Staten Island, New York, brokerage’s district, Rep. Dan Donovan (R), Tom Ferramosca Jr. said that allowing for direct export qualifications could be an “enticement” for companies to produce and export more from the U.S., in part because “the more that’s exported, the more that can be claimed against merchandise sold in the U.S. with potential duty liability.” If allowed drawback benefits, FTZ goods classified as “privileged foreign” or “non-privileged foreign” provide “the greatest opportunities” to boost U.S. manufacturing, expand exports and stimulate job growth, the letter says.
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.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for July 17-21 in case they were missed.
In the July 19 issue of the CBP Customs Bulletin (Vol. 51, No. 29) (here), CBP published notices that propose to revoke or modify rulings and similar treatment for surgical microscopes and coconut water.
A coalition of domestic manufacturers filed a petition on July 13 with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping and countervailing duties on cast iron soil pipe fittings from China. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations on cast iron soil pipe fittings that could eventually result in the assessment of AD/CV duties. The coalition that requested the duties, known as the Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute, includes as individual members AB&I Foundry, Charlotte Pipe & Foundry, and Tyler Pipe.
The Commerce Department issued a Federal Register notice on its recently initiated antidumping duty investigations on low-melt polyester staple fiber from South Korea (A-580-895) and Taiwan (A-583-861) (here). The agency will determine whether imports of merchandise subject to these investigations are being sold in the U.S. at less than fair value.
In the July 19 issue of the CBP Customs Bulletin (Vol. 51, No. 29) (here), CBP published notices that propose to revoke or modify rulings and similar treatment for gel pack vest sets and boys' shirt and tie sets..
The World Customs Organization endorsed the launch of a digital ATA Carnet process pilot for next year, the U.S. Council for International Business (USCIB) said (here). Carnets are international customs and temporary export-import documents that allow for duty-free treatment of goods that will be re-exported within 12 months, such as trade show samples. USCIB is the guaranteeing organization for Carnets in the U.S. During a meeting in Brussels June 30, the eCarnet working group of the International Chamber of Commerce and World Chambers Federation said it is moving “on schedule” to a third phase of creating a digitized ATA Carnet system. The working group showcased its recently developed “Mercury” system, a database of “key ATA Carnet data,” USCIB said. More than 15 nations and the EU expressed support for the pilot. “Customs, Carnet holders, service providers and national guaranteeing associations, such as USCIB, will be more productive with a modernized export/import process for items moving under an ATA Carnet,” USCIB said.
The Commerce Department issued Federal Register notices on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on ripe olives from Spain (A-469-817, C-469-818).
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for July 10-14 in case they were missed.
The Trump administration in the upcoming NAFTA renegotiation will push for "disciplines on the use of customs brokers," for Canada and Mexico to raise their de minimis levels, and to eliminate the binational dispute settlement process for challenging duties, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said in its renegotiation objectives released July 17 (here). Another objective is to provide for streamlined and expedited customs treatment for express shipments, including for shipments valued over the de minimis threshold.