U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued to the ports and posted to its Web site separate instructions regarding (1) the use of visas to make claims for duty-free treatment under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for qualifying textile and/or apparel articles (textile articles) from Sierra Leone that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after April 5, 2004, and (2) quota reporting for certain apparel articles from Sierra Leone that are subject to the AGOA aggregate tariff preference level (TPL) and its sublimit.
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 and Border Protection (CBP) has posted a notice to its Web site stating that the third 2003/2004 "low duty" tariff rate quota (TRQ) for specialty sugar for the April 19, 2004 through September 30, 2004 period opens for 2,000,000 kilograms on April 19, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. EDST or its equivalent in other time zones. CBP notes that this TRQ is expected to oversubscribe at opening moment.
In the April 7, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 15), CBP issued notices: (a) revoking two classification rulings on certain waterproof clogs, (b) revoking two classification rulings on certain aluminum compounds and salt, and (c) revoking two classification rulings on certain voice and data terminal blocks. CBP states that it is also revoking any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in these notices.
The Journal of Commerce reports that in response to concerns about port congestion, the California legislature is considering a bill to require a premium fee for daytime use of marine terminals in Los Angeles-Long Beach. According to the article, the bill's author, Assemblyman Lowenthal, has said he will push for passage of the bill if the port community does not establish a program for extended gate hours by summer. (JoC dated 03/22-28/04, www.joc.com.)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a proposed rule that would amend the definition of "customs officer" for the purpose of eligibility for overtime compensation and premium pay. In addition, the proposed rule would make a conforming change to the definition of "immigration officer."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted additional information to its Web site regarding the April 1, 2004 statistical changes to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) for certain men's and boys' cotton T-shirts and certain other garments classified in HTS 6109.10.00.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice announcing its determination that Sierra Leone (1) has adopted an effective visa system and related procedures to prevent unlawful transshipment and the use of counterfeit documents in connection with shipments of textile and apparel articles, and (2) has implemented and follows, or is making substantial progress toward implementing and following, the customs procedures required by the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). This determination is effective April 5, 2004.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice announcing that the interest rates for the third quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2004 (April 1, 2004 - June 30, 2004) for overpayments and underpayments of Customs duties are:
In the March 31, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 14), CBP issued notices (a) detailing the dates and draft agenda for the 33rd Session of the Harmonized System Committee, and (b) revoking two classification rulings on blackout drapery fabrics. CBP states that it is also revoking any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in the revocation notice.
On April 1, 2004, a bipartisan group led by the House Ways and Means Committee Chairman introduced H.R. 4103, the African Growth and Opportunity (AGOA) Acceleration Act. (This bill is referred to by some as "AGOA III.")