The World Customs Organization issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
Latest Harmonized System updates
CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1811 on July 3, containing 675 Automated Broker Interface records and 116 harmonized tariff records, it said in a CSMS message. The update includes changes related to the Section 301 tariffs on goods from China that take effect July 6, CBP said.
CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1807 on June 28, containing 1,635 Automated Broker Interface records and 385 harmonized tariff records, it said in a CSMS message. "This update includes modifications made as a result of the 484 F Committee, the Committee for Statistical Annotation of Tariff Schedules," CBP said. Other changes are part of the implementation of the World Trade Organization Declaration on the Expansion of Trade in Information Technology Products (see 1707030038).
The International Trade Commission posted Revision 6 to the 2018 Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The semiannual update to the HTS implements the third round of tariff cuts under the expanded World Trade Organization Information Technology Agreement, and adds new tariff numbers for a variety of products, including organic fruits and vegetables, lighted mirrors and molded or pressed paper plates. The ITC is also adding new tariff provisions that appear to cover products subject to antidumping and countervailing duty orders on solar cells and products from China and Taiwan, and reorganizing tariff classification provisions for archaeological and ethnographic objects. All changes take effect July 1, unless otherwise specified.
The full excise tax rates for imported alcohol beverages are still in effect, the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America said in an email to members. "CBP has advised that the instructions" sent out in a January CSMS message "are still in effect," the NCBFAA said. "CBP is working with the [Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau] TTB for implementing guidance. NCBFAA has spoken to alcoholic beverage importer associations about common questions and continues dialogue with CBP about when the lower rates can be used, how the requirements are to be determined and enforced, and for retroactive claim relief." CBP recently added and then removed updates in a Harmonized System Update related to the excise tax changes (see 1806080006).
CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1809 on June 7, containing 901 Automated Broker Interface records and 192 harmonized tariff records, it said in a CSMS message. Modifications include the removal of recent changes meant to support the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (see 1806010016), CBP said. " We expect further guidance to be provided soon," CBP said. CBP was waiting for Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau guidance to implement excise tax cuts for beer, wine and distilled spirits that took effect Jan. 1 (see 1801190020).
CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1808 on May 31, containing 11,876 Automated Broker Interface records and 2,228 harmonized tariff records, it said in a CSMS message. Modifications include changes related to May 31 Presidential Proclamations for tariffs on steel and aluminum (see 1805310028), CBP said. "Regulations related to alcohol administered by [the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau] are included, and the ACE HTS has been updated to reflect these changes," CBP said. CBP was waiting for TTB guidance to implement excise tax cuts for beer, wine and distilled spirits that took effect Jan. 1 (see 1801190020).
CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1807 on May 3, containing 289 Automated Broker Interface records and 60 harmonized tariff records, it said in a CSMS message. Modifications include changes related to April 30 Presidential Proclamations for tariffs on steel and aluminum (see 1804300064), CBP said.
The International Trade Commission released Revision 4 to the 2018 Harmonized Tariff Schedule, making several changes related to recently imposed Section 232 tariffs on aluminum and iron and steel products. The updated tariff schedule includes a series of new tariff subheadings in chapter 99 used to administer quotas on South Korean steel that form part of that country’s exemption agreement, as well as new language in the subchapter notes to chapter 99 on the Section 232 tariffs. The changes took effect May 1.
CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1806 on April 25, containing 5,993 Automated Broker Interface records and 1,287 harmonized tariff records, it said in a CSMS message. Modifications include the removal of Ukraine as a beneficiary of the Generalized System of Preferences (see 1712260010), CBP said.