CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 2228 on Oct. 11, containing 36 ABI records and eight Harmonized Tariff Schedule records. The changes involve suspended duties on imports of baby formula products (see 2210110041), it said in a CSMS message.
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 Court of International Trade in an Oct. 4 opinion ruled that CBP properly classified net wraps used for bailing hay as a warp knit fabric under Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheading 6005.39.00. Judge Mark Barnett ruled against classification under plaintiff RKW Klerks' preferred subheading 8433.90.50 as "parts" of "harvesting or threshing machinery."
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Sept. 26 - Oct. 2:
The International Trade Administration is asking for comments on what critical goods and materials on a draft list prepared by the Commerce Department should remain on the list. The draft list covers public health, information and communications technology, energy and critical minerals. Comments will be due Nov. 3, and can be submitted at regulations.gov for Docket ID ITA-2022-0010, and should include the 8-digit or 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheading of the goods and minerals requested for addition.
A U.S. producer coalition seeks the imposition of new antidumping duties on freight rail couplers from China and Mexico and countervailing duties on the same product from China, it said in petitions filed Sept. 28 with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations, which could result in the imposition of permanent AD/CVD orders and the assessment of AD/CVD on importers. The investigations were requested by the Coalition of Freight Coupler Producers.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
African Growth and Opportunity Act benefits for Kenya need to continue as any trade partnership is formed, commenters said, especially the third-country fabric rule of origin.
The Agricultural Marketing Service is amending the Cotton Board Rules and Regulations to increase the value assigned to imported cotton for the purposes of calculating supplemental assessments on imports collected under the Cotton Research and Promotion Program, it said in a direct final rule released Sept. 27. The revised value is 1.3215 cents, an increase of .2079 cent per kilogram. The increase reflects a rise in the average price of upland cotton received by U.S. farmers during the period January through December 2021. AMS's notice also includes a table of adjusted assessments corresponding to each Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheading for which they are due. The changes take effect Nov. 28, unless adverse comments are received by Oct. 28.
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Sept. 12-18:
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issued a technical correction to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to reflect the eligibility of Curacao for duty-free import provisions for certain apparel and textile luggage. The agency’s notice adds Curacao to the list of countries in Note 7(b) to subchapter II of Chapter 98 of the HTS, effective Sept. 22. The country had not been added to the note even though it was declared eligible in 2015.