On January 25, 2011, Senator Ensign (R) introduced S. 108, the Affordable Footwear Act of 2011, to among other things, eliminate the duties on certain imported footwear articles that would provide significant benefits to U.S. consumers.
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.
Due to the large number of bills introduced on January 25, 2011, this is a partial list of trade-related bills introduced. See future issues of ITT for list of additional trade-related bills introduced on January 25, 2011.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a revised version of its informed compliance publication entitled, What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know About: Eyewear Frames and Eyewear.
The Census Bureau has issued a proposed rule to amend the Foreign Trade Regulations (15 CFR Part 30) to modify the post-departure filing program (also referred to as Option 4) by changing the filing time frame to five calendar days (from ten calendar days) and only allowing post-departure reporting for certain listed approved commodities.
Broker Power is making its lists of 2011 "General" Column 1 duty rates for knit and crocheted (knit) and woven apparel in Chapters 61 and 62 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule available as a "single package" in PDF, “tabbed”, format.
According to a January 19, 2011 Census Automated Export System broadcast, effective immediately, the Schedule B and Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) tables in AES have been updated to accept the changes to the 2011 codes.
The Census Bureau recently posted its list of Harmonized Tariff Schedule numbers that are invalid for use in the Automated Export System as of January 1, 2011.
The following are details of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s interim rule, effective January 6, 2011, which adds a new Subpart P to 19 CFR Part 10 and amends 19 CFR Parts 24, 162, 163, and 178 regarding the preferential tariff treatment and other customs-related provisions of the U.S.- Oman Free Trade Agreement (OFTA).
On January 10, 2011, U.S., Mexican, and Canadian officials met in Mexico City for the North American Free Trade Agreement Free Trade Commission meeting where they discussed changes in rules of origin, telecommunication product testing, and helping small and medium sized enterprises take advantage of export opportunities.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued an interim rule, effective January 6, 2011, which adds a new Subpart P to 19 CFR Part 10 and amends 19 CFR Parts 162, 163, and 178 regarding the preferential tariff treatment and other customs-related provisions of the U.S.- Oman Free Trade Agreement (OFTA).