The Commerce Department issued Federal Register notices on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on boltless steel shelving units prepackaged for sale from China (A-570-018/C-570-019). The agency will determine whether imports of boltless steel shelving from China are being sold in the U.S. at less than fair value or illegally subsidized.
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.
CBP is undergoing its "own version of a corporate reorganization" as the agency continues work to increase the role of the Centers of Excellence and Expertise, said Deputy Commissioner Kevin McAleenan , who spoke during the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America Government Affairs Conference on Sept. 16. The agency is aligning its staff with how industry is set up, he said. That includes adjustments to the agency's field operations, the Office of Trade and legal counsel, all of which is helping CBP develop a better "compliance and security posture," said McAleenan.
Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Elliot Kaye remains fully committed to electronic filing of certificates of compliance, and prefers a data elements approach rather than use of CBP’s Document Imaging System, Kaye said during a meeting at CPSC headquarters on Sept. 9. But with a public workshop on electronic certificates of compliance fast approaching, industry members told Kaye that CPSC needs to work closely with the trade to come up with a system that gives CPSC the information it needs to effectively target risk without crippling express couriers’ ability to quickly process shipments. The meeting included representatives from the the Express Association of America, National Retail Federation, FedEx and DHL.
Edsal Manufacturing on Aug. 26 requested new antidumping and countervailing duties on boltless steel shelving units pre-packaged for sale from China (A-570-018/C-570-019). The Chicago-based manufacturer alleges that dumped and illegally subsidized imports of the shelving units, which are used for storage in homes, garages, offices and other businesses, are injuring U.S. industry. The company says Chinese imports have increased their share of the U.S. market and depressed prices by undercutting the prices of other producers.
Ministers from Australia, New Zealand and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations signed on Aug. 26 an amendment to the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area that aims to boost customs efficiency. The free trade pact entered into force for all parties in 2012 (here). The First Protocol amendment (here) makes substantial changes to rules of origin in the trade pact. The amendments will enter into force 30 days after Australia, New Zealand and at least four ASEAN members notify the parties that they have completed the domestic procedures required, the Australian government said in a statement (here). The protocol makes the following amendments, the parties said in a release:
CBP said its Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1404 was created Aug. 24, containing 4,788 ABI records and 26,310 harmonized tariff records. The update contains corrections to cotton assessments and the addition of Participating Government Agency indicators for future use within the PGA data set submissions, it said. 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.
The International Trade Commission published notices in the Aug. 26 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 on Aug. 21 began the process for implementing changes to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to reflect the new version of the World Customs Organization’s Harmonized System that takes effect in 2017. The WCO announced the amendments to its international tariff schedule in July (see 14073002 and 14073101). Beyond the WCO-recommended changes, the ITC will also consider (1) whether to delete a duplicate subheading for taro in HTS Chapter 7; and (2) a change to the current classification for corned beef so that it is classified with other cured meats, it said in a Federal Register notice (here). The ITC will issue recommended changes to the HTS in December, and will ask for public comments at that time. The ITC’s final report is due in July 2015.
CBP posted a notice announcing that the next customs broker license exam will be on Monday, Oct. 6. The notice says test-takers will have 4.5 hours, a half hour longer than the agency previously allowed, to complete the exam. "The time was raised from the former limit of 4 hours to allow sufficient time for completion," said an agency spokeswoman. CBP said last year it would allow for 4.5 hours for the 2013 October exam, but eventually said the notice was incorrect (see 13062019 and 13062803).
New requests for scope rulings were filed with the Commerce Department during the week of Aug. 4-11. The agency will determine whether the following products are subject to antidumping and countervailing duties.