Latest Harmonized System updates

International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Dec. 26-29 in case they were missed.

CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1709 on Dec. 25, containing 2,415 Automated Broker Interface records and 489 harmonized tariff records, it said in a CSMS message. Modifications include changes required under a Dec. 22 Presidential Proclamation involving Generalized System of Preferences and African Growth and Opportunity Act beneficiaries (see 1712260010), CBP said. "Many, but not all, of the adjustments are effective on January 1, 2018," it said. "The changes will be published within the change record, and chapters, of the 2018 USHTS."

CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1708 on Dec. 20, containing 33,859 Automated Broker Interface records and 6,591 harmonized tariff records, it said in a CSMS message. Modifications include "the annual special program staged rate reductions mandated by the individual Free Trade Agreements," CBP said. "This update also contains modifications mandated by the 484 F Committee, the Committee for Statistical Annotation of Tariff Schedules. These adjustments are effective on January 1, 2018, and will be published within the change record, and chapters, of the 2018 USHTS. However, until they are available, please contact your assigned client representative for assistance with discontinued records."

CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1707 on Oct. 19, containing 27,291 Automated Broker Interface records and 5,164 harmonized tariff records, it said in a CSMS message. Modifications include those mandated by the Agricultural Marketing Service, adjusting the assessment on imported cotton and cotton products, effective Nov. 6 (see 1709010014), CBP said. The modified records can be retrieved electronically via the procedures indicated in the Customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements (CATAIR). Further information: Jennifer Keeling, Jennifer.L.Keeling@cbp.dhs.gov

CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1705 on July 25, containing 834 Automated Broker Interface records and 157 harmonized tariff records, it said in a CSMS message. Modifications include agency-requested Partner Government Agency indicator changes made to support the PGA message set functionality, CBP said. The modified records can be retrieved electronically via the procedures indicated in the CATAIR. Further information: Jennifer Keeling, Jennifer.L.Keeling@cbp.dhs.gov

The Trump administration in the upcoming NAFTA renegotiation will push for "disciplines on the use of customs brokers," for Canada and Mexico to raise their de minimis levels, and to eliminate the binational dispute settlement process for challenging duties, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said in its renegotiation objectives released July 17 (here). Another objective is to provide for streamlined and expedited customs treatment for express shipments, including for shipments valued over the de minimis threshold.

The U.S. Census Bureau updated the Automated Export System for the July 1, 2017, version of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) and Schedule B (here), the agency said. Changes to Schedule B include the breakout of certain Schedule B numbers for fruit preparations and vegetables into certified organic and homogenized designations for both commodities, as well as a breakout for electric generating sets into electric generating sets powered by gas turbines and electric generating sets other than powered by gas turbines (here). Census also released concordances for import (here) and export codes (here). Census said that AES will accept shipments with outdated codes for a 30-day grace period beyond the expiration date of June 30, 2017, after which reporting an outdated code will result in a fatal error. The legacy AESDirect system has been updated with the new codes and will accept the outdated codes during the grace period as well, Census said.

CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:​

The International Trade Commission on July 1 posted revisions to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (here). The new HTS implements the results of the U.S. Trade Representative's 2016-17 review of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), adding several "travel goods" to the program for all GSP beneficiaries. The ITC is also implementing the second round of tariff cuts under the expanded World Trade Organization Information Technology Agreement, adding new tariff numbers for a variety of products, including cuts of beef, and removing outdated classification provisions for jadeite and rubies. All changes take effect July 1, unless otherwise specified.

CBP said it created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1705 on June 30, containing 476 Automated Broker Interface records and 96 harmonized tariff records (here). Modifications include changes to the Generalized System of Preferences from a recent presidential proclamation (see 1706290047), CBP said. The modified records can be retrieved electronically via the procedures indicated in the CATAIR. Further information: Jennifer Keeling, Jennifer.L.Keeling@cbp.dhs.gov