U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued three separate ABI administrative messages announcing that the Automated Commercial System (ACS) has completed the system changes to require the trade to electronically transmit the following in the entry summary miscellaneous permit/license field (52 record, positions 30-38) effective with the duty computation date of February 1, 2005:
Customs duty
A customs duty is a tariff or tax which a country imposes on goods when they are transported across international borders. Customs Duties are used to protect countries' economies, residents, jobs, and environments, by limiting the flow of imported merchandise, especially restricted and prohibited goods, into the country. The Customs duty rate is a percentage determined by the value of the article purchased in the foreign country and not based on quality, size, or weight. U.S. customs duties are listed in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an administrative message stating that the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004 (Public Law (P.L.) 108-429) created a wool license requirement for new tariff numbers HTS 9902.51.15 and 9902.51.16.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a notice regarding the cancellation of visa, Electronic Visa Information System (ELVIS) transmissions, Guaranteed Access Level (GAL) certifications, and exempt certifications for textile goods exported on and after January 1, 2005 from 44 World Trade Organization (WTO) members listed in CBP's notice. (See ITT's Online Archives or 12/22/04 news, 04122215, for BP summary of CITA's notice announcing this cancellation.)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued separate notices on the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement's (UCFTA, or CFTA) 2005 Tariff Preference Levels (TPLs) for imports from Chile of certain cotton and man-made fiber (MMF) apparel goods and certain cotton/MMF fabric goods, as described below.
President Approves Continued AGOA Eligibility for 36 Countries, Adds Burkina Faso, Drops Ivory Coast
The White House has issued a press release stating that on December 21, 2004, President Bush approved the continued designation of the following 36 countries as eligible for tariff preferences under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA):
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that the 2005 tariff-rate quota (TRQ) on dried milk as provided for in HTS Chapter 4, Additional U.S. Note (AUSN) 7 will open on Monday, January 3, 2005 at 12 noon E.S.T., or its equivalent in other time zones with a low-duty quantity of 5,261,000 kg. CBP notes that imports described in HTS Chapter 4, AUSN 7 are subject to agriculture licensing. (See CBP's notice for list of applicable HTS numbers as well as special instructions on (i) when no license is used or presented, and (ii) imports from Canada, Chile, Mexico, Jordan, and Singapore.) (QBT-04-572, dated 12/10/04, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/qbts/QBT2004/04_572.ctt/04_572.doc)
On December 3, 2004, President Bush signed into law the conference version of H.R. 1047, the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004 (Public Law (P.L.) 108-429).
On December 20, 2004, President Bush issued Proclamation 7857 to amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) to implement the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This proclamation is published in the December 23, 2004 Federal Register.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice announcing the allocation of the calendar year 2005 tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for the importation of two types of worsted wool fabrics at the in-quota (low) TRQ duty rate to qualifying U.S. makers of men's and boys' worsted wool suits, suit-type jackets, and trousers. The ITA notes that while its notice contains the names of the allocation recipients, it is not publishing these recipients' allocation amounts because these amounts are based on applicant data that is generally considered business confidential. (ITA notice, FR Pub 12/14/04) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/E4-3642.pdf.)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an ABI administrative message informing all filers that any data input into the Importer of Record database (SRE file), on or after December 20, 2004, that is identified as being input as a knowingly invalid record will result in a broker penalty under 19 USC 1641(d) for egregious violation. CBP states that additionally, upon discovery of such false records, CBP personnel will immediately void the identified records to impede any future transactions.