The February 3, 2012 U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule, which contains hundreds of World Customs Organization-recommended as well as other tariff changes, is now in effect. The print copy of this version is also available from the Government Printing Office (GPO).
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 Administration is issuing amended antidumping and countervailing duty orders on multilayered wood flooring from China (A-570-970, C-570-971) in order to remove an incorrect Harmonized Tariff Schedule number from the scope of the orders. HTS number 4412.31.3175, which was originally listed in the petition, does not exist in the HTS.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is requesting comments by March 26, 2012 on an existing information collection on Importers of Merchandise Subject to Actual Use Provisions. CBP proposes to extend the expiration date of this information collection with no change to the burden hours or to the information collected.
The International Trade Commission has posted what it now calls the "basic" online 2012 U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule, which contains hundreds of World Customs Organization-recommended as well as other tariff changes, with an effective date of February 3, 2012. The print copy of this version is also available from the Government Printing Office (GPO). While not in effect until February 3, sources have stated that it will be able to be used early without having ABI "kick out" the entry, as the entry summary is not due until 10 days later, which can be on a date that falls after February 3.
The International Trade Commission states that it will post the "official" online 2012 U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule, which contains hundreds of World Customs Organization-recommended as well as other tariff changes, 2-3 days early, which ITC sources state could occur on January 30. Sources also state that the print copy has gone to the Government Printing Office. While not in effect until February 3, 2012, sources note that the official HTS will be able to be used early without having ABI "kick out" the entry, as the entry summary is not due until 10 days later, which can be on a date that falls after February 3.
The International Trade Administration has issued a Federal Register notice announcing that it has initiated a countervailing duty investigation on large residential washers from Korea (C-580-869). The ITA will determine whether Korean producers/exporters of large residential washers receive countervailable subsidies. An antidumping (AD) duty investigation for Korea has also been initiated.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection states it is in the process of determining how to administer new Additional Note 5 to HTS Chapter 64, which requires textile materials that do not possess the characteristics usually required for normal use of an outer sole, including durability and strength, to be disregarded when determining the constituent material for classification purposes.1 CBP is considering whether to subject the affected textile-bottomed footwear to laboratory testing to ascertain whether the textile material on the outer sole possesses the characteristics usually required for normal use of the outer sole.
The International Trade Administration has issued a Federal Register notice on its recently initiated antidumping duty investigations on large residential washers from Korea and Mexico (A-580-868, A-201-841). The ITA will determine whether imports of large residential washers from Korea and Mexico are being, or are likely to be, sold in the U.S. at less than fair value.
The International Trade Administration has issued Federal Register notices on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on steel wire garment hangers from Vietnam and Taiwan (A-552-812, A-583-849), and (C-552-813). The ITA will determine whether imports of steel wire garment hangers from Vietnam and Taiwan are being, or are likely to be, sold in the U.S. at less than fair value, and whether manufacturers, producers, or exporters of steel wire garment hangers in Vietnam receive countervailable subsidies.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a CSMS message announcing the issuance of Harmonized System Update 1201 on changes to the 2012 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). This update contains 9,350 ABI records and 2,155 harmonized tariff records.