CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
Latest Harmonized System updates
A set of changes to the Generalized System of Preferences will take effect Nov. 1 under a Presidential Proclamation issued on Oct. 30. Changes in the proclamation include the addition of fresh-cut roses to and removal of parboiled rice from the list of goods that are eligible for GSP, the U.S. Trade Representative said in a news release. The changes were reflected in an update to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule posted by the International Trade Commission. The proclamation also suspends GSP benefits for certain products of Thailand, effect Dec. 30. That is because of Thailand's "lack of sufficient progress providing the United States with equitable and reasonable market access for pork products," said the USTR.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP Issues Harmonized System Update With Recent Section 301 Exclusions, Tariffs on Canadian Aluminum
CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 2007 on Aug. 21, containing 416 Automated Broker Interface records and 77 Harmonized Tariff Schedule records, it said in a CSMS message. The update covers recent Section 301 tariff exclusions and the Section 232 tariffs on aluminum from Canada. Further information: Jennifer Keeling, Jennifer.L.Keeling@cbp.dhs.gov
Light-emitting diode tail lights for trucks are classifiable as lighting equipment for motor vehicles under heading 8512, and not as LED lamps of heading 8539, CBP said in a ruling issued months ago but not publicly released on the Customs Rulings Online Search System until Aug. 11. The reference to “lamps” in heading 8539 refers to what would be called bulbs in the U.S., so the tail light assemblies are beyond that heading's scope, CBP said in HQ H301947, issued in January.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories from July 13-17 in case they were missed.
CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 2006 on July 15, containing 544 Automated Broker Interface records and 114 Harmonized Tariff Schedule records, it said in a CSMS message. The update covers recent Section 301 tariff exclusions. Further information: Jennifer Keeling, Jennifer.L.Keeling@cbp.dhs.gov.
Some new provisions within the USMCA seem to make claims of U.S. goods returned under Harmonized Tariff Schedule heading 9801 for U.S. origin goods much less important than was the case under NAFTA. Kevin Riddell, director-trade and regulatory compliance at Tremco Group in Canada, highlighted the changes, which allow for USMCA claims on U.S. origin goods, in a recent LinkedIn post. While Riddell said he hadn't tried to enter U.S. goods under the new USMCA provisions, a CBP spokesperson confirmed that “a USMCA claim may be made on goods of U.S. origin, provided it satisfies its applicable rule of origin and all other requirements of the Agreement have been met.”
The International Trade Commission posted Revision 14 to the 2020 Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The semiannual update to the HTS implements USMCA, which took effect July 1, and adds new tariff numbers for a variety of products, including diagnostic reagents and personal protective equipment. All changes take effect July 1, unless otherwise specified.
2020 outpaced even the active 2019 in terms of the frequency of Harmonized Tariff Schedule updates. Most of the updates implemented new Section 301 exclusions and changes and extensions for existing ones. Other major changes included new Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum "derivatives" and the withdrawal of Generalized System of Preferences benefits for many goods from Thailand In all, 13 revisions were issued prior to the mid-year Revision 14, as follows: