U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a notice announcing that the next customs broker license exam will be held on Monday, October 4, 2010.
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.
In Applied Biosystems (a division of Applera Corporation), v. U.S., the Court of International Trade granted summary judgment affirming Customs and Border Protection’s classification of certain thermal cyclers under Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheading 8419.89.95, at 4.2 % ad valorem, which includes “machinery, plant or laboratory equipment…for treatment of materials by a process involving a change in temperature” and not under heading 9032.89.60 at 1.7% ad valorem, which covers “automatic regulating or controlling instruments and apparatus”.
CBP has issued a CSMS message announcing recent changes to the 2010 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HS Update No. 1003). This update contains 303 ABI records and 66 harmonized tariff records.
On June 29, 2010, President Obama issued Proclamation 8539 in order to amend the harmonized tariff schedule to modify duty-free treatment and certain designations under the Generalized System of Preferences.
The International Trade Commission has posted the July 1, 2010 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (Revision 1) to its Web site.
The U.S. Trade Representative has issued a press release announcing the outcome of the 2009 Generalized System of Preferences Product and Country Eligibility Practices Review (2009 Annual GSP Review). The USTR has also issued a set of tables containing the review results.
The International Trade Administration has revoked the antidumping duty order on greige polyester printcloth from China.
In Canex International Lumber Sales Ltd., v. U.S., the Court of International Trade ruled that cut lumber, with an angle cut on one end and a square cut on the other end was properly classified as sawn wood under Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) 4407.10.0015 free of duty, and not as roof trusses under 4418.90.4020 at 3.2% ad valorem, or as other articles of wood under 4421.90.9840 at 3.3% ad valorem.
On June 12, 2010, the President issued Proclamation 8536 which amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to extend and establish certain sugar tariff rate quotas for Costa Rica under the DR-CAFTA1 and make technical corrections to certain other free trade agreement General Notes.
In Michael Simon Design, Inc., Tru 8 d/b/a Arriviste, Inc., and Target Stores (a division of Target Corporation), v. U.S., the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the Court of International Trade’s refusal to review a new Chapter 95 note added to the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule by Presidential Proclamation.