The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has posted a joint statement by the trade ministers of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico regarding the results of the October 19, 2009 meeting of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Free Trade Commission (FTC).
Latest Harmonized System updates
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a report to Congress outlining the actions it is taking to strengthen its oversight of imported products. The report is in response to recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office in an August 2009 report on CPSC. (Report, dated October 2009, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/GAOresponse.pdf )
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a final rule, effective September 25, 2009, which makes technical corrections to provisions in 19 CFR Part 148 that set forth personal duty exemption amounts, in order to conform the regulations to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). (CBP final rule, CBP Dec. 09-37, FR Pub 09/25/09. available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-23158.pdf.
The Transportation Security Administration has issued an interim final rule, effective November 16, 2009, to codify1 and fully develop the Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP), allowing shippers to screen their cargo prior to tendering it to the airlines. TSA has developed this permanent CCSP based on lessons learned in the CCSP pilot program, which will end when the interim final rule takes effect. Participants in the pilot will become CCSFs under the interim final rule.
The Transportation Security Administration has issued an interim final rule1, effective November 16, 2009, which establishes a program for the certification of air cargo screening facilities located in the U.S. that volunteer to screen cargo prior to tendering it to aircraft operators for carriage on passenger aircraft.
Transportation Security Administration officials provided an update on the 9/11 Commission Act screening mandates1,2 and the Certified Cargo Screening Program3 at the September 10, 2009 Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC) meeting.
During the August 5, 2009 Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC) meeting, CBP, other government officials, and COAC members provided an update on the Automated Commercial Environment.
The Port of Miami has issued an Information Bulletin reminding interested parties about CBP's policy on wood packing materials inspection procedures for the offloading of marked and unmarked vessel dunnage. (See ITT's Online Archives or 06/30/06 news, 06063000, for CBP's operating procedures for full enforcement of WPM regulations, including dunnage. See 07/14/06 news, 06071410, for CBP update to procedures.) (Information Bulletin, dated 08/20/09, No. 09-030 is available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)
The port of Los Angeles reports that for the period of June 1, 2009 through June 30, 2009, 58.64% of the 177,920 cargo moves at its terminals were made by clean trucks that meet or exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2007 emissions standards. (Notice, available at http://www.portoflosangeles.org/)
The Census Bureau recently issued an Automated Export System broadcast announcing that the Harmonized Tariff Schedule numbers that are invalid for use in the Automated Export System (AES) have been updated as of July 1, 2009.