The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued the final results of its second administrative reviews of the antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) duty orders on certain softwood lumber products from Canada.
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.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release and fact sheet stating that the U.S. and Peru have completed a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA). USTR Portman noted that as many products from Peru already enter the U.S. market duty-free under the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), this FTA with Peru will level the playing field and make duty-free treatment a two-way street.
In the November 30, 2005 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 39, No. 49), CBP issued a notice revoking one classification ruling on a network interface unit. CBP states that it is also revoking any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in this notice.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued its final results of the antidumping (AD) duty administrative review of stainless steel plate in coils from Belgium for the period of May 1, 2003 through April 30, 2004.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a fact sheet regarding the Secure Border Initiative (SBI) announced by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Chertoff. CBP has also posted the transcript of a press conference with the DHS Secretary on this initiative. Both of these documents are highlighted below:
In the November 23, 2005 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 39, No. 48), CBP issued notices (a) proposing to modify a classification ruling on a metal imitation lunch box, and (b) proposing to modify a classification ruling on certain "Snappin' Slap Bracelets." CBP states that it is also proposing to revoke any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in these notices.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued its weekly quota commodity report as of December 6, 2005. This report includes tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) on various products such as beef, tuna, sugar, dairy products, peanuts, cotton, cocoa powder, tobacco, certain JFTA, NAFTA, SFTA, UAFTA and UCFTA TRQs, etc. This report also includes the AGOA, ATPDEA, CBTPA, NAFTA, SFTA, and UCFTA (CFTA) tariff preference levels (TPLs) for qualifying apparel and/or other textile articles, the TRQs on worsted wool fabrics, etc. (CBP's weekly quota commodity report, dated 12/06/05, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/commodity/)
CBP has issued an ABI administrative message reminding the trade community that it now allows brokers with Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Portal accounts to pay duties and fees on a monthly statement for all of their importer clients and that importers are no longer required to establish an ACE account to participate in the periodic monthly statement (PMS) program. Instead, importers may now establish Non-portal accounts, which is automatic for those that are C-TPAT participants. CBP adds that it is simple and free for a broker to establish an ACE account, and comes with many other benefits, such as broker and importer statements, multiple financial reports, etc. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/25/05 news, 05102505, for BP summary of CBP general notice announcing these changes to Periodic Monthly Statement.) (ABI message 05-1370, dated 12/01/05, available at http://www.brokerpower.com/cgi-bin/adminsearch/admmsg.view.pl?article=2005/2005-1370.ADM.)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recently posted to the Pilot Bond Centralization Program section of its Web site a November 29, 2005 version of its guidance document entitled "Latest News and Developments." According to CBP, this document provides information on the Pilot Bond Centralization Program and current issues, policies, and procedures for processing bond applications.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that the 2006 "low-duty" tariff-rate quota (TRQ) on cheese and substitutes for cheese provided for in HTS Chapter 4, Additional U.S. Note (AUSN) 16, will open on Tuesday, January 3, 2006 at 12 noon E.S.T., or its equivalent in other time zones. CBP states that products described in HTS Chapter 4, AUSN 16 are subject to agriculture licensing. The below-listed countries or areas have the following low-duty access amounts: