The Court of International Trade dismissed Rack Room Shoes’ request for rehearing of its constitutionality challenge of certain tariff provisions of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) on the grounds that the tariffs unconstitutionally discriminate by gender and age.
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.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a CSMS message announcing the issuance of Harmonized System Update 1206 on changes to the 2012 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). This update contains 13,572 ABI records and 2,681 harmonized tariff records.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a CSMS message announcing the issuance of Harmonized System Update 1206 on changes to the 2012 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). This update contains 13,572 ABI records and 2,681 harmonized tariff records.
Certain modifications to the product-specific rules of origin for yarns of viscose rayon fiber under the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement (USAFTA) will take effect June 1, 2012, said the U.S. Trade Representative, following notification by the government of Australia on March 15 that it had completed its applicable domestic procedures to give effect to the changes. Furthermore, USTR announced a correction to the modified rules of origin.
The International Trade Administration made a preliminary affirmative antidumping determination that crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into modules, from China (A-570-979) are being, or are likely to be, sold in the U.S. at less than fair value. The ITA found preliminary AD rates of 31.14% to 249.96%, which are effective February 25, 2012 for all firms. U.S. Customs is expected to implement these AD cash deposit/bond requirements soon.
The President recently issued Proclamation 8818 to amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to implement the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement effective May 15, as well as to update the HTS for other laws and correct HTS technical errors. Details of the changes to the HTS in Annexes III and IV (amendments for other laws and corrections) include:
The International Trade Commission posted Revision 2 of the 2012 Harmonized Tariff Schedule containing the rates for the new U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA), which is effective for qualifying goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after May 15, 2012.
The President published Proclamation 8818 in the Federal Register which amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to implement the U.S.-Colomba Trade Promotion Agreement, effective for goods of Colombia entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after May 15, 2012. The International Trade Commission simultaneously posted the Annexes to the Proclamation which list all of the 2012 and later year amendments to the HTS for this free trade agreement. The Proclamation and Annexes also make corrections to the HTS for certain preference programs and other FTAs.
In a report on improving U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s detection and deterrence of antidumping and countervailing duty evasion, the Government Accountability Office urged CBP to create a policy and a mechanism for information sharing among ports regarding the use of single transaction bonds (STB) and implement a plan to systematically track and report on AD/CV duty evasion, and said the International Trade Administration should provide advance notice of issuance of liquidation instructions in order to allow CBP to better manage resources. The report, entitled “Antidumping and Countervailing Duties: Management Enhancements Needed to Improve Efforts to Detect and Deter Duty Evasion”, was requested by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has listed the goods of Colombia under the terms of HTS General Note 34 that are eligible for Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) tariff rate quotas for the period May 15, 2012 - December 31, 2012.