The House Ways and Means Committee approved the four major trade bills up for consideration at its April 23 markup, following a full day of debate on the legislation. The committee ultimately sent to the House floor Trade Promotion Authority, Trade Adjustment Assistance, a preference package and a Customs Reauthorization bill. Committee lawmakers approved the same TPA, TAA and preference package bills the Senate Finance Committee endorsed the day before (see 1504230001). TPA passed in a partisan vote, with two Democrats joining Republicans in support. The other three bills passed by voice vote, a committee spokesman said.
Latest Harmonized System updates
CBP said its Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1502 was created April 20, containing 1,843 ABI records and 388 harmonized tariff records. "Modifications include the addition of APHIS/LACEY ACT PGA (Participating Government Agency) indicators," it said in a CSMS message (here). "These PGA indicators are for future use relating to the PGA data set submissions associated with the APHIS/LACEY ACT program." Adjustments required for the verification of the 2015 Harmonized Tariff Schedule are also included, CBP said in a CSMS message. The modified records can be retrieved electronically via the procedures indicated in the CATAIR. Further information: Jennifer Keeling, Jennifer.Keeling@dhs.gov.
Lawmakers introduced the following trade-related bills since International Trade Today's last legislative update:
CBP said its Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1501 was created Feb. 3, containing 54 ABI records and 244 harmonized tariff records. The update contains changes required by presidential proclamation (see 1412230060), it said in a CSMS message (here). The change also includes new requirements from the Agricultural Marketing Service on honey assessment (see 1411170028), it said. Adjustments required for the verification of the 2015 Harmonized Tariff Schedule are also included, CBP said in a CSMS message. The modified records can be retrieved electronically via the procedures indicated in the CATAIR. Further information: Jennifer Keeling, Jennifer.Keeling@dhs.gov.
A bipartisan group of senators and two Republican House members introduced legislation on Feb. 3 to expand Generalized System of Preferences coverage to luggage and other travel goods. The GSP Update for Production Diversification and Trade Enhancement Act (GSP UPDATE Act) would allow U.S. companies to import duty-free a wide range of products, from some trunks and suitcases to products that fit in handbags, by carving out more than two dozen tariff lines in the harmonized schedule.
CBP said its Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1407 was created Dec. 25, containing 171 ABI records and 49 harmonized tariff records. The update contains changes made by the Committee for Statistical Annotation of Tariff Schedules, it said in a CSMS message (here). Adjustments required for the verification of the 2014 Harmonized Tariff Schedule are also included, CBP said in a CSMS message. The modified records can be retrieved electronically via the procedures indicated in the CATAIR. Further information: Jennifer Keeling, Jennifer.Keeling@dhs.gov.
The Department of Homeland Security will seek to finalize an "overarching strategic vision" in early 2015 as part of its pursuit of creating a Single Window, said Christa Brzozowski, DHS counselor for trade, in a Dec. 19 blog post (here). "This strategic vision will distinguish public and private experiences and capabilities today with the vision for 2016 and beyond," she said. The agency was put in charge of finishing the Single Window by 2016 as part of an executive order earlier this year (see 14021928).
CBP said its Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1406 was created Dec. 3, containing 32,699 ABI records and 5,825 harmonized tariff records. The update contains modifications for the annual special program staged rate reductions, it said in a CSMS message (here). Adjustments required for the verification of the 2014 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) are also included, CBP said in a CSMS message. The modified records can be retrieved electronically via the procedures indicated in the CATAIR. Further information: Jennifer Keeling, Jennifer.Keeling@dhs.gov.
Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Elliot Kaye remains fully committed to electronic filing of certificates of compliance, and prefers a data elements approach rather than use of CBP’s Document Imaging System, Kaye said during a meeting at CPSC headquarters on Sept. 9. But with a public workshop on electronic certificates of compliance fast approaching, industry members told Kaye that CPSC needs to work closely with the trade to come up with a system that gives CPSC the information it needs to effectively target risk without crippling express couriers’ ability to quickly process shipments. The meeting included representatives from the the Express Association of America, National Retail Federation, FedEx and DHL.
The U.S.-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council released on Aug. 29 its “Joint Forward Plan” on areas of future cooperation between the two countries’ governments. The Joint Forward Plan builds on a Joint Action Plan from 2011 that comprised 29 initiatives (see 11121316). The new document includes updates on each of the 29 initiatives announced in 2011, as well as lessons learned during the past three years and about 20 new and continued areas of regulatory cooperation.