The International Trade Commission is asking for comments by April 20 on recommended changes to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule that would take effect in 2017, it said in a notice in the Feb. 18 Federal Register (here). Most of the proposed changes would implement the World Customs Organization’s amendments to the Harmonized System agreed in January (see 1501230025). The ITC is also proposing to rationalize HTS provisions for taro and corned beef. The full list of recommendations is available in ITC Publication 4504, “Recommended Modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to Conform with Amendments to the Harmonized System Recommended by the World Customs Organization, and to Address Other Matters” (here).
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 published notices in the Feb. 18 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 Commerce Department issued Federal Register notices on its recently initiated antidumping duty investigations on uncoated paper from Australia, Brazil, China, Indonesia and Portugal (A-602-807, A-351-842, A-570-022, A-560-828, A-471-807), and countervailing duty investigations on uncoated paper from China and Indonesia (C-570-023, C-560-829)
Brunei is making strides in easing its customs procedures, said the World Trade Organization in its review of the country, which took place in Geneva over recent days (here). The country’s e-Customs system has been operational since 2008, and Brunei’s single portal for customs clearance, the Brunei Darussalam National Single Window, launched in January 2014.
The World Customs Organization finalized 233 amendments to the Harmonized System product nomenclature (here) that will take effect in 2017, it announced on Jan. 21 (here). The WCO Council had adopted the amendments in June 2014, and WCO members then had six months to object to any of the amendments before implementing them in their own tariff schedules. The body made only one change after hearing objections, deleting an amendment that would have changed the name of the tropical wood “imbuia” to “imbua” after it realized the "imbuia" is correct. WCO members, including the U.S., will now go to work implementing the amendments in time for their Jan. 1, 2017 effective date. The International Trade Commission began the process of integrating the Harmonized System changes into the HTS in August (see 14082226).
The International Trade Commission posted the 2015 edition of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (here). The new HTS implements changes made by several presidential proclamations to the eligibility for preferential trade programs of Russia, Madagascar, Swaziland, Guinea, Guinea-Bisseau, and South Sudan. It also adds new statistical suffixes to several tariff subheadings for products that include plastic gift wrapping materials, diamond sawblade parts, and extension cords. Most of the changes take effect Jan. 1.
CBP said its Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1407 was created Dec. 25, containing 171 ABI records and 49 harmonized tariff records. The update contains changes made by the Committee for Statistical Annotation of Tariff Schedules, it said in a CSMS message (here). Adjustments required for the verification of the 2014 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 White House cut South Sudan and The Gambia from African Growth and Opportunity Act preferences through executive action on Dec. 23, but restored AGOA preferential status for Guinea-Bissau after two years of suspended benefits (here). South Sudan and The Gambia are not making the necessary progress to meet U.S. eligibility requirements, said President Barack Obama in a formal proclamation. Their benefits will be axed on Jan. 1, 2015.
The Commerce Department issued Federal Register notices on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on melamine from China (A-570-020/C-570-021) and Trinidad and Tobago (A-274-806/C-274-807). The agency will determine whether imports of melamine from the two countries are being sold in the U.S. at less than fair value or illegally subsidized.
CBP said its Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1406 was created Dec. 3, containing 32,699 ABI records and 5,825 harmonized tariff records. The update contains modifications for the annual special program staged rate reductions, it said in a CSMS message (here). Adjustments required for the verification of the 2014 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) 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.