Trade groups called for simplification of the tariff schedule and alignment of free trade agreements, in recent comments to the International Trade Commission. The complicated provisions of Chapter 64 create perverse incentives for shoe designers, the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) said. Misaligned free trade agreements cause importers not to use trade programs, the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) said. And differences between how countries classify semiconductors creates a compliance burden for semiconductor importers, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) said. The comments were submitted for an annual ITC report on import restraints (see 1610120051).
Harmonized Tariff Schedule
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) is a reference manual that provides duty rates for almost every item that exists. It is a system of classifying and taxing all goods imported into the United States. The HTS is based on the international Harmonized System, which is a global standard for naming and describing trade products, and consists of a hierarchical structure that assigns a specific code and rate to each type of merchandise for duty, quota, and statistical purposes. The HTS was made effective on January 1, 1989, replacing the former Tariff Schedules of the United States. It is maintained by the U.S. International Trade Commission, but the Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the HTS.
The updates to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule that took effect Jan. 1 (see 1701050035) and changed the HTS codes for multilayered wood flooring don't affect the applicability of antidumping orders on such products from China, the International Wood Products Association said in a Jan. 26 email. Antidumping orders are based on the written language of the scope and any HTS codes provided "aren't directly associated," the IWPA said. Even so, "a number of brokers are apparently running into problems because the ACE system hasn’t been updated to recognize the new entry codes," the trade group said. Asked about the issue, CBP told the IWPA "ACE will accept entry lines filed with HTS numbers that are not yet in the AD/CVD case reference file HTS tab," according to the IWPA. "Filing the entries as such WILL NOT create a reject. An informational message is all that will be sent back to the broker. It will allow entry as a type 03 with the case number added. If no case number is added then it will not allow a type 03 entry."
The World Customs Organization updated its guide for updating preferential rules of origin in light of the numerous 2017 changes to the Harmonized System tariff schedule adopted by WCO members, including the U.S., the WCO said (here). "The increasing proliferation of preferential trade agreements containing many different Rules of Origin is a source of concern for WCO Members and economic operators," the WCO said. "In this connection, every effort needs to be made to mitigate the complexity involved in the implementation of Preferential Rules of Origin. Customs administrations, which occupy a central role in the implementation of preferential agreements, should play an important part to that end." The International Trade Commission recently posted the Preliminary Edition of the 2017 Harmonized Tariff Schedule, which implements the WCO tariff changes in the U.S. and largely took effect at the beginning of 2017 (see 1701090071).
The International Trade Commission on Jan. 1 posted the Preliminary Edition of the 2017 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (here). The new HTS implements a wide range of changes to the World Customs Organization’s Harmonized System tariff nomenclature, which forms the basis for the HTS, that took effect at the beginning of 2017. This is the sixth and final part of International Trade Today's multipart summary, covering vehicles, precision instruments, manufactured articles and special tariff provisions under chapters 87-99. This part also includes a list of subheadings that were assigned the special program indicator (SPI) "NP" to denote eligibility for the Nepal Preference Program.
The International Trade Commission on Jan. 1 posted the Preliminary Edition of the 2017 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (here). The new HTS implements a wide range of changes to the World Customs Organization’s Harmonized System tariff nomenclature, which forms the basis for the HTS, that took effect at the beginning of 2017. This is the fifth part of International Trade Today's multipart summary, covering machinery and electrical equipment of chapters 84 and 85.
The International Trade Commission on Jan. 1 posted the Preliminary Edition of the 2017 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (here). The new HTS implements a wide range of changes to the World Customs Organization’s Harmonized System tariff nomenclature, which forms the basis for the HTS, that took effect at the beginning of 2017. This is the fourth part of International Trade Today's multipart summary, covering textiles, ceramics, metals and metal products of chapters 54 through 83.
The International Trade Commission on Jan. 1 posted the Preliminary Edition of the 2017 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (here). The new HTS implements a wide range of changes to the World Customs Organization’s Harmonized System tariff nomenclature, which forms the basis for the HTS, that took effect at the beginning of 2017. This is the third part of International Trade Today's multipart summary, covering pharmaceuticals, pesticides, other chemical products, plastics and rubber, wood and wood products and paper of chapters 30 through 48.
Lawmakers recently introduced the following trade-related bills:
The International Trade Commission on Jan. 1 posted the Preliminary Edition of the 2017 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (here). The new HTS implements a wide range of changes to the World Customs Organization’s Harmonized System tariff nomenclature, which forms the basis for the HTS, that took effect Jan. 1. The Preliminary Edition also includes changes to rules of origin and eligibility for preferences programs and to statistical suffixes in the HTS.
The International Trade Commission on Jan. 1 posted the Preliminary Edition of the 2017 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (here). The new HTS implements a wide range of changes to the World Customs Organization’s Harmonized System tariff nomenclature, which forms the basis for the HTS, that took effect Jan. 1. The Preliminary Edition also includes changes to rules of origin and eligibility for preferences programs and to statistical suffixes in the HTS.