U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an administrative message stating that the main office building in the Port of Buffalo, NY will be moved from the Dulski Federal Building to the Larkin Building, 726 Exchange Street, Suite 400, Buffalo, NY 14210. As a result, a snow day will be granted for the closure of the port on October 21, 2005 to accommodate the move to the new location. (Adm: 05-1190, dated 10/14/05, available at http://www.brokerpower.com/cgi-bin/adminsearch/admmsg.view.pl?article=2005/2005-1190.ADM )
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 issued an administrative message to all Northern and Southern border brokers stating that effective immediately, all ABI entry data transmissions for the truck mode of transportation should not have any data in the House bill field. (CBP Adm: 05-1186, dated 10/14/05, available at http://www.brokerpower.com/cgi-bin/adminsearch/admmsg.view.pl?article=2005/2005-1186.ADM )
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has issued a proposed rule that would, among other things, amend the Beef Promotion and Research Order (Beef Order), in order to reduce assessment levels for imported beef and beef products based on revised determinations of live animal equivalencies.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an ABI administrative message on changes regarding HTS numbers in the QP70 record.
An Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) spokesman has issued a statement announcing that the government of Nicaragua has approved the Dominican Republic-Central America-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA).
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has initiated a countervailing (CV) duty investigation of certain lined paper products (CLPP) from India and Indonesia, in order to determine whether manufacturers, producers or exporters of CLPP from these countries receive countervailable subsidies.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has initiated an antidumping (AD) duty investigation of certain lined paper products (CLPP) from India, Indonesia, and China, in order to determine whether imports of CLPP are being, or are likely to be, sold in the U.S. at less than fair value.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a press release announcing, among other things, that it increased the fiscal year (FY) 2006 global "low duty" tariff rate quota (TRQ) for refined sugar (including specialty sugar), which is available on a first-come, first-served basis from any country, without the need of a Certificate of Quota Eligibility (CQE) or Specialty Sugar Certificate, to 82,815 short tons raw value (STRV), from 7,815 STRV.
The Journal of Commerce reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection will soon announce in the Federal Register that it is eliminating the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) requirement that importer accounts have bond riders and make periodic duty payments, thus opening ACE up to nearly all comers. (JoC, dated 08/29/05, www.joc.com )
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a statement by USTR Portman announcing that the government of the Dominican Republic has approved the Dominican Republic-Central America-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA).