According to updated information on the draft February 3, 2007 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) posted by the International Trade Commission, and ITC and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sources, the following information has been clarified:
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 (CBP) has posted to its Web site a notice requesting comments by February 5, 2007 on its draft proposal1 for advance trade data elements for maritime cargo (also referred to as the 10+2 proposal).
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued an electronic notice requesting written comments by 12:00 a.m. EST on January 9, 2007 regarding a "commercial availability" request it received under the U.S.-Dominican-Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) on behalf of S. Rothschild & Co., Inc.:
On December 29, 2006, President Bush issued Proclamation 8098, in which he made various determinations regarding the eligibility of certain countries for benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), etc.
The International Trade Commission has posted to its Web site draft 2007 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) Chapters, draft General Notes and a draft Notice to Exporters (drafts) that are not yet in effect, but will go into effect on or about February 3, 2007.
The International Trade Commission (ITC) has posted to its Web site the Harmonized Tariff Schedule changes - at the full 10-digit level -as well as any new or amended notes or headings - that are being implemented to conform U.S. law to international Harmonized System (HS) nomenclature changes recommended for adoption by the World Customs Organization (WCO), and to certain Harmonized System Committee (HSC) decisions necessary to ensure uniform application of the nomenclature, etc.
On December 29, 2006, President Bush signed four proclamations. These proclamations have not yet been assigned a Federal Register publication date, nor have their annexes (if any) been made available.
According to a short message posted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to the "What's New" section of its Web site, a number of Harmonized Tariff Schedule Chapter 99 tariff changes contained in the recently enacted trade provisions of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-432) take effect 15 days after the bill's December 20, 2006 date of enactment, which CBP states is January 4, 20071.
On December 20, 2006, President Bush signed into law H.R. 6111, the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (Public Law (P.L.) 109-432), which includes trade provisions for Vietnam permanent normal trade relations (PNTR), GSP and ATPA/ATPDEA extensions, amendments to AGOA apparel benefits, new Haiti benefits, HTS Chapter 99 actions, etc.
The International Trade Commission has posted to its Web site the electronic version of the 2007 HTS (Preliminary - Effective Jan. 1, 2007).