The Foreign Agricultural Service issued a final rule on July 27 to amend its Dairy Tariff-Rate Import Quota Licensing Program, extending a safe harbor for under-utilized historic licenses and moving to an electronic submission and reporting process (here). The final rule would also change payment requirements and timelines for license applications. The new regulations take effect Sept. 1.
Notable CROSS rulings
A Department of Commerce proposal for implementing changes to export control rules to comply with the multinational Wassenaar Arrangement (see 1505200014) is continuing to draw controversy among industry and nongovernmental organizations, with several industry officials saying at an event July 24 that they're actively lobbying members of Congress, Commerce and other federal agencies on the need for changes to the proposal. A wide range of U.S. cybersecurity parties railed against the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Wassenaar implementation proposal in comments last week (here), with many saying the proposed implementation of recent changes to Wassenaar that would control the export of intrusion software and network surveillance systems was overly broad and would significantly affect U.S. cybersecurity companies.
The Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated July 21 (here) with 55 rulings, bringing the total number of searchable rulings to 187,461. The most recent ruling is dated 07/21/15.
The Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated July 9 (here) with 80 rulings, bringing the total number of searchable rulings to 187,410. The most recent ruling is dated 07/09/15.
The Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated July 6 (here) with 129 rulings, bringing the total number of searchable rulings to 187,338. The most recent ruling is dated 07/01/15.
Fire prevention products imported by Unique Fire Stop Products that are used to pass electrical wires through fire-protection barrier in newly-constructed buildings are not subject to antidumping and countervailing duties on circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe from China (A-570-910/C-570-911), said the Commerce Department in a scope ruling issued June 10. Although the “Fire Stop Product” shares the physical characteristics of merchandise subject to the order, such as carbon content and a circular cross-section, it is not “standard pipe” used for low-pressure conveyance of gases and liquids or “structural pipe” used for framing and support members. Rather, it is most similar to electrical conduit, which is specifically exempted from the scope of duties, said Commerce.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes June 26 to Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) electronic manuals. While some changes are minor, other changes may affect the admissibility of the plant products, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
Interest accrues on customs bonds that are subject to ongoing lawsuits for recovery of antidumping and countervailing duties, ruled the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on June 17. Overturning a January 2014 decision from the Court of International Trade, the court found that the law on interest for bonds subject to lawsuits applies to all “duties,” and not just customs tariffs.
The Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated June 8 (here) with 205 rulings, bringing the total number of searchable rulings to 187,049. The most recent ruling is dated 06/05/15.
Nearly 300 labor unions and consumer groups railed against efforts to repeal U.S. country-of-origin labeling for meat muscle products in a June 8 letter, only days after a top Canadian official threatened to retaliate as quickly as possible over the dispute. COOL has caused “negligible at most” harm to Canada and Mexico, said the letter (here), which was endorsed by the AFL-CIO, Public Citizen and other high-profile groups.