The use of the same Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheading upon export from and import into the U.S. is of "little importance" to CBP when considering eligibility of duty exemptions for goods returned to the U.S. after repairs or alterations, CBP said in a Jan. 2 ruling. CBP's ruling came in response to a request from FedEx Trade Networks, Transport and Brokerage (Canada) about trucks outfitted with document shredders. A Canadian shredding company, Shred-Tech, has a U.S. customer of that would like to purchase shredding trucks from Shred-Tech, FTN told CBP.
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.
A coalition of domestic manufacturers filed a petition on Jan. 25 with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission, requesting new antidumping and countervailing duties on cast iron soil pipe from China. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations on cast iron soil pipe that could eventually result in the assessment of AD/CV duties. The coalition that requested the duties, known as the Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute, includes as individual members AB&I Foundry, Charlotte Pipe and Foundry, and Tyler Pipe.
In recent editions of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:
A group of domestic manufacturers filed a petition on Jan. 17 with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping duties on large diameter welded steel pipe products from Canada, Greece, India, China, South Korea and Turkey, and new countervailing duties on large diameter welded steel pipe products from China, India, South Korea and Turkey. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations on large diameter welded pipe that could eventually result in the assessment of AD/CV duties. The petition was filed by Berg Steel Pipe Corp., Berg Spiral Pipe Corp., Dura-Bond Industries, Stupp Corporation, American Cast Iron Pipe Company and Skyline Steel.
Miller & Chevalier recently elected Richard Mojica a member of the firm, it said in a news release. Mojica helps companies "to minimize the cost of importing merchandise into the United States through strategic customs planning and duty-savings programs," the firm said.
The Commerce Department issued Federal Register notices on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on plastic decorative ribbon from China (A-570-075/C-570-076). The agency will determine whether imports of Chinese decorative ribbon, which is commonly used in gift wrapping, holiday decorations and party crafting, are being sold in the U.S. at less than fair value and illegally subsidized.
CBP revenue collections will be among the Department of Homeland Security operations that will be exempt from an all-out agency stoppage in the event of a government shutdown, according to a Jan. 19 detailed contingency plan issued by DHS. Some 54,000 of the 59,000 CBP employees will be "exempt and estimated to be retained during a lapse in appropriations," DHS said. "These employees are exempt since they are Presidential appointees, law enforcement officers, funded by other than annual appropriations, or necessary for the protection of life and property." Government funding will stop after Jan. 19 unless legislators can reach a deal for a continuing resolution.
The House of Representatives is scheduled to consider the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Act (H.R. 4318) on Jan. 16, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said on the daily schedule. The bill is set to get expedited treatment as non-controversial legislation "under suspension of the rules," it said. The MTB legislation was introduced in the Senate and House in November (see 1711090039). Companies (see 1712070027) and lawmakers (see 1801120016) recently began a push for quick consideration of the MTB. The last MTB expired in 2012.
CBP published the quarterly Internal Revenue Service interest rates used to calculate interest on overdue accounts (underpayments) and refunds (overpayments) of customs duties in a notice. For the quarter that began Jan. 1 and ends March 31, 2018, the interest rates for overpayments will be 3 percent for corporations and 4 percent for non-corporations, and the rate for underpayments will be 4 percent for both corporations and non-corporations. These interest rates are subject to change for the calendar quarter beginning April 1 and ending June 30, 2018, CBP said.
The government of Canada recently issued the following trade-related notice as of Jan. 5 (some may also be given separate headlines):