The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has sent a letter to the International Trade Commission stating that the U.S. and Bahrain recently reached an agreement in principle on certain modifications to the rules of origin for home furnishings (sheets, pillow cases, etc.) under the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement.
Latest Harmonized System updates
On February 17, 2010, Transportation Secretary LaHood announced Recovery Act awards to fund innovative transportation projects. The TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Grant Program was included in the Recovery Act to spur transportation projects that promise significant economic and environmental benefits, including improvements to roads, bridges, rail, ports, transit and intermodal facilities. (White House, dated 02/17/10, available for http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/secretary-lahood-announces-funding-over-50-innovative-strategic-transportation-proj.)
CBP has issued a notice outlining its 2009 Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program accomplishments. Strong validation numbers, continued member growth and increased quality assurance highlight C-TPAT accomplishments in 2009. (Notice, dated 02/03/10, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/national/02032010_2.xml)
The International Trade Commission has issued a notice requesting proposals from interested parties and agencies to amend the international Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (Harmonized System, HS)1, with a view to keeping the HS current with changes in technology and trade patterns.
The Census Bureau has posted to its Web site the January 2010 issue of its Automated Export System Newsletter. Highlights include:
The Census Bureau recently posted its list of Harmonized Tariff Schedule numbers that are invalid for use in the Automated Export System as of January 1, 2010.
According to a January 4, 2010 Bureau of Census Automated Export System (AES) broadcast, effective immediately, the Schedule B and Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) tables in AES have been updated to accept the changes to the 2010 codes.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a final rule which amends 19 CFR Parts 111, 113, 141, 142, and 143, effective January 29, 2010, in order to make Remote Location Filing (RLF) permanent, instead of a prototype test1 as it is currently.
President Obama has issued Proclamation 8467 in order to amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule's list of Generalized System of Preferences countries for 2010, extend the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Area tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for certain agricultural products of Israel another year, implement rule of origin and other technical corrections for four free trade agreements, etc.
The International Trade Commission is expected to post the 2010 Harmonized Tariff Schedule to its Web site before January 1, 2010, according to sources at the ITC.