The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its fall 2012 regulatory agenda for CBP, which lists one new trade-related rulemaking. The agenda will eventually run in the Federal Register, though it's unclear when. While there's only one new trade-related rulemaking on the DHS' fall 2012 agenda, several were removed since the previous DHS regulatory agenda.
Tim Warren
Timothy Warren is Executive Managing Editor of Communications Daily. He previously led the International Trade Today editorial team from the time it was purchased by Warren Communications News in 2012 through the launch of Export Compliance Daily and Trade Law Daily. Tim is a 2005 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts and lives in Maryland with his wife and three kids.
Due to scheduled maintenance, FDA's Import Trade Auxiliary Communication System (ITACS) users may experience intermittent outages on Jan. 4-5, said CBP in a CSMS message. Users who encounter problems with ITACS during this period should re-attempt their activity in 30 minutes.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) chose Bruce Hirsh as the new Chief International Trade Counsel, said Baucus a press release. Hirsh's "extensive knowledge of all aspects of the trade negotiation process will help me tackle several upcoming trade initiatives, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a possible U.S.-EU FTA and trade promotion authority to boost our exports and create jobs in Montana and across America,” said Baucus. Hirsh previously worked as an international trade lawyer within the committee, and replaces Amber Cottle, who was recently promoted to Finance Committee Staff Director.
Clark Hill acquired four lawyers and staff of Chicago international trade and customs law firm Rodriguez O'Donnell Gonzalez & Williams, said Clark Hill in a press release. The lawyers joining Clark Hill are Thomas O’Donnell, Kevin Williams, Lara Austrins and Jessica Rifkin.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:
The bill passed by Congress New Year's day to avert the fiscal cliff included a nine-month extension to the "authorities provided by each provision of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008," also known as the "Farm Bill." President Obama signed the bill Jan. 2.
CBP issued a memorandum announcing the 2013 tariff preference level (TPL) limit and sublimits for certain U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) apparel goods that can benefit from cumulation1 using Mexican inputs, as provided for in HTS Chapter 98, Subchapter XXII, U.S. Note 21.
CBP issued its weekly tariff rate quota and tariff preference level commodity report as of Dec. 31. This report includes TRQs on various products such as beef, sugar, dairy products, peanuts, cotton, cocoa products, and tobacco; and certain BFTA, DR-CAFTA, Israel FTA, JFTA, MFTA, OFTA, SFTA, UAFTA (AFTA) and UCFTA (Chile FTA) non-textile TRQs etc. Each report also includes the AGOA, ATPDEA, BFTA, DR-CAFTA, CBTPA, Haitian HOPE, MFTA, NAFTA, OFTA, SFTA, and UCFTA TPLs and TRQs for qualifying textile articles and/or other articles; the TRQs on worsted wool fabrics, etc.
CBP issued a memorandum announcing that the 12-month valued-added tariff preference level for certain apparel eligible to receive duty-free treatment under Haiti HOPE opened December 20, 2012 for the December 20, 2012 - December 19, 2013 period. The TPL limit is 306,742,329 SME. (QBT-12-541, dated 12/28/12)