CBP issued its weekly tariff rate quota and tariff preference level commodity report as of Nov. 13. 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.
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.
The House Rules Committee on Nov. 13 gave its approval for a closed vote on Russia Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR), thus preventing the addition of amendments that could further slow the process. The bill (HR-6156) would repeal the Jackson-Vanik amendment, which limits U.S. trade with communist countries. The bill being considered includes the so-called Magnitsky rule, which calls for repercussions for Russian leaders thought to be involved in the death of a Russian lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky. The Magnitsky language was a sticking point for several lawmakers involved with the PNTR bill. A vote on the legislation is expected this week. Meanwhile, the Office of Management and Budget said the Obama Administration strongly supports the bill. The OMB statement is (here).
The September transition to Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) M1 for rail and sea has "highlighted a necessary policy change that CBP has implemented to gain greater control over in-bond shipments," said CBP in its October ACEopedia. The agency will now require the arrival of the full shipment before a subsequent in-bond movement, the agency said. The change is a result of a three programming edits related to the transition from AMS to ACE and were meant to better track in-bond movements, CBP said in a recent set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs.)
A new registration is required for CBP's recently rescheduled East Coast Trade Symposium, even for those who registered previously for the event, said a CBP spokesman. The symposium, now scheduled for Nov. 27-28, will be at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, rather than the Renaissance DC Downtown Hotel location.
New lobbyist registrations on trade issues include:
CBP issued a notice that it is has created a new web page for information on the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (PATPA), that is effective for goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption beginning Oct. 31, 2012. The web page currently has links to (i) CBP's implementation instructions and data elements, (ii) the text of the agreement on USTR's website, (iii) the 2012 HTS (Rev 1), with General Note 35, (iv) the ITC report containing the detailed Annexes, (v) the Presidential Proclamation (vi) the PATPA Implementation Act passed by Congress and signed into law by the President and (vii) sugar quota. CBP notes interim regulations will be posted when they become available.
The Agriculture Department's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will soon be using manifest hold functionality in the Cargo Release Entry System to accommodate ACE eManifest: Sea and Rail, said CBP in a CSMS message.
The House Rules Committee scheduled a Nov. 13 hearing on legislation that would grant Russia Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR). The bill (HR-6156) would repeal the Jackson-Vanik amendment, which limits U.S. trade with communist countries. The bill being considered by the Rules Committee also includes the so-called Magnitsky rule, which calls for repercussions for Russian leaders thought to be involved in the death of a Russian lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky. The Magnitsky language was a sticking point for several lawmakers involved with the PNTR bill.
CBP issued its instructions for the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (PATPA), which takes effect for qualifying goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after Oct. 31, 2012. The notice gives an overview of the PATPA rules of origin, as well as instructions for handling WCO tariff number discrepancies. CBP also provides information on its process for verifying importer claims, the SPI "PA", post-importation claims and protests, etc.
In the Nov. 7 issue of the CBP Bulletin (Vol. 46, No. 46), CBP published a notice proposing to revoke rulings and similar treatment regarding the tariff classification of screwdrivers and valve cable supports.