Craig Briess, acting chief of the Trade Agreements Branch at CBP, launched an app version of CustomsMobile, a website for customs information (see 1410280013), he said in a news release. While Briess works for CBP, CustomsMobile "is a wholly private endeavor and is not funded, approved, or endorsed by the federal government," he said.. The website and app, which are both free, include current information on customs rulings, customs notices, port information, harmonized tariff schedule, and federal regulations. “Customs has, as a matter of policy, been pushing to modernize its services, including the intention to create apps," he said. "So far they have made a handful, however none of them provide any of the services that CustomsMobile offers." The app is available for iOS and Android devices.
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 International Trade Commission recently posted the new version of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to its website (here). Revision 2 to the 2015 HTS reflects the results of the U.S. Trade Representative’s 2014 Generalized System of Preferences Review (see 1510010030), as implemented by Presidential Proclamation 9333 (here). The ITC also made several technical corrections to the HTS, including a restoration of duty-free entry for refined copper cathodes from Chile and a clarification of subheadings covering organic surfactants. All changes made in Revision 2 to the 2015 HTS took effect Oct. 1, said the ITC in its change record (here).
CBP said it created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1507 on Oct. 7, containing 1,101 ABI records and 224 harmonized tariff records. The update includes the addition of Partner Government Agency indicators for future Lacey Act submissions, said CBP (here). Other changes are related to a recent presidential proclamation on Generalized System of Preferences product eligibility (see 1510010030). Adjustments required for the verification of the 2015 Harmonized Tariff Schedule are also included, CBP said in a CSMS message. The modified records can be retrieved electronically via the procedures indicated in the CATAIR. Further information: Jennifer Keeling, Jennifer.Keeling@dhs.gov.
The International Trade Commission published notices in the Oct. 7 Federal Register on the following AD/CV injury, Section 337 patent, and other trade proceedings (any notices that warrant a more detailed summary will be in another ITT article):
The International Trade Commission is asking for input in connection with a new investigation on changes to the tariff schedule set to take effect in 2017 and 2018 (here). The World Customs Organization recommended the amendments to chapters 3, 44 and 63 in June (see 1506230026, after omitting the changes from its general update of the Harmonized System set to take effect Jan. 1, 2017 (see 1501230025). Once adopted by the U.S., amendments to chapter 3 and 63 affecting fish and mosquito nets would take effect alongside the other HTS amendments at the beginning of 2017. Changes to chapter 44 affecting wood products are more substantial, and wouldn’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2018, said the ITC. Comments are due March 18, 2016.
A group of U.S. manufacturers filed a petition on Sept. 30 with the Commerce Department and International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping and countervailing duties on welded stainless pressure pipe from India (A-533-867/C-533-868). Bristol Metals, Felker Brothers, Marcegaglia and Outokumpu Stainless say imports of Indian pressure pipe have "risen from essentially nothing in 2012 to command nearly one-fifth of the U.S. market," solely on the back of "rampant underselling."
The Obama administration announced the results of its 2014 Generalized System of Preferences review on Sept. 30, making a number of changes, effective Oct. 1, to product eligibility in the program. President Barack Obama issued a presidential proclamation (here) to implement those changes. The proclamation wraps up the shortened 2014 GSP review (see 1507060025).
The Commerce Department issued Federal Register notices on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on hot-rolled steel flat products from Australia (A-602-809), Brazil (A-351-845), Japan (A-588-874), South Korea (A-580-883), the Netherlands (A-421-813), Turkey (A-489-826) and the United Kingdom (A-812-825), and countervailing duty investigations on hot-rolled steel flat products from Brazil (C-351-846),South Korea (C-570-884) and Turkey (C-489-827)
CBP said it created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1506 on Aug. 24, containing 10,074 ABI records and 1,696 harmonized tariff records. The update includes the addition of Partner Government Agency indicators for future Lacey Act submissions, said CBP (here). Adjustments required for the verification of the 2015 Harmonized Tariff Schedule are also included, CBP said in a CSMS message. The modified records can be retrieved electronically via the procedures indicated in the CATAIR. Further information: Jennifer Keeling, Jennifer.Keeling@dhs.gov.
Curaçao is now meeting the customs criteria of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act, and U.S. importers are now able to import eligible products from the country under the “enhanced trade benefits” of the CBTPA, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said (here). President Barack Obama gave beneficiary status to Curaçao under the CBTPA and the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act in late 2013 (see 13123024). The Harmonized Tariff Schedule is now modified to include Curaçao in a general note and a note to chapter 98. Curaçao now meets the criteria spelled out in the CBERA on verification of product origin, said USTR. The country formally qualified for the benefits on Aug. 18.