CBP opened the Petroleum, Natural Gas and Minerals Center of Excellence and Expertise CEE in Houston Sept. 17, it said in a Sept. 24 press release. The CEE has started centralized processing for all trusted partners in the industry, "providing uniformity for trusted importers," said CBP.
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.
Safeguards imposing additional duties on passenger vehicle and light truck tires from China will expire at the close of Sept. 25, ending an additional 25 percent tariff imposed on the merchandise. Neither the President nor the original petitioner in the safeguard investigation, the United Steelworkers (USW) labor union, requested an extension of the safeguards. If the safeguards had been extended, China could have retaliated under its World Trade Organization agreements.
CBP made technical corrections relating to the NAFTA rules of origin in a final rule published in the Federal Register and effective on Sept. 25. The corrections apply to 19 CFR 102.20 of CBP's rules, which are used to determine whether a good is considered NAFTA-originating, and will allow CBP's tariff shift rules to conform with the current Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), said CBP. The new CBP rule follows the Feb. 3 update to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, which contained hundreds of World Customs Organization-recommended as well as other tariff changes.
In a dispute between Customs and the CIBA VISION Corp. over the correct Harmonized Tariff Schedule classification of a polymer solution used in the manufacture of daily disposable soft contact lenses, CIT denied motions for judgment by both CIBA and CBP because neither party had established the definition of “polyvinyl alcohol,” a term central to classification of the product.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D- Mont.) added to the Senate calendar legislation (S-3568) that would authorize trust funds to provide support to citrus, cotton and wool industries, paid for through import duties. The bill also takes up other broad customs issues.
CBP is requesting comments by Nov. 20 for an existing information collection concerning CBP protest forms. CBP proposes to extend the expiration date of this information collection with no change to the burden hours or to the information collected. The notice ran in the Federal Register Sept. 21.
The International Trade Administration issued a notice soliciting applications from persons or firms that weave certain worsted wool fabrics in the U.S. suitable for making men's and boys' suits, suit-type jackets, or trousers for an allocation of the 2013 tariff rate quotas on certain worsted wool fabric. Applications must be received or postmarked by 5 p.m. on October 22.
The International Trade Administration issued a notice soliciting applications from persons1 who cut and sew men's and boys' worsted wool suits, suit-like jackets, and trousers in the U.S. for an allocation of the 2013 tariff rate quotas on certain worsted wool fabric. Applications must be received or postmarked by 5 p.m. Oct. 22.
CBP received no comments on proposed ruling revocations and modification in the Aug. 15 bulletin (Vol. 46, No. 34), said a CBP spokesman. Comments were due Sept. 14 on the two notices proposing to revoke or modify rulings and similar treatment regarding the tariff classification of work footwear and reimported tires and cameras under harmonized tariff schedule subheading 9801.00.25 .
Korea’s strong rebound since the financial crisis was largely achieved without recourse to protectionist measures, said the World Trade Organization in its Trade Policy Review of Korea. The country has instead opened up its markets through bilateral trade agreements, including with the U.S. However, burdensome regulations, a complex and unpredictable tariff schedule, and high walls around certain industries pose challenges for Korea, the WTO said