U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site the Spring 2005 issue of its "ACE Modernization Monitor" newsletter, highlights of which are noted below (see future issue for additional highlights):
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.
On March 15, 2005, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert Bonner testified before the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Homeland Security regarding CBP's fiscal year (FY) 2006 budget request.
In Bauer Nike Hockey USA, Inc. v. U.S., the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) ruled that certain imported hockey pants are classified as ice-hockey equipment under HTS 9506.99.25 rather than as sports clothing under HTS 6211.33.00, reversing an earlier Court of International Trade (CIT) decision which had classified the items under the latter heading.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has amended the final results of the antidumping (AD) duty administrative review on stainless steel sheet and strip in coils from France for the period of July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003 in order to correct a ministerial error in its final margin calculation for UA France.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has made final affirmative antidumping (AD) duty determinations that bottle-grade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin from India, Indonesia, and Thailand is being, or is likely to be, sold in the U.S. at less than fair value.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a notice announcing the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) for peanuts that are provided for in HTS Chapter 12, Additional U.S. Note (AUSN) 2 and entered under HTS 1202.10.4020, 1202.10.4040, 1202.20.4020, 1202.20.4040, 2008.11.2500, and 2008.11.4500 during the April 1, 2005 through March 31, 2006 period.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has amended the final results of the antidumping (AD) duty administrative review on stainless steel sheet and strip in coils from France for the period of July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003 in order to correct a ministerial error in its final margin calculation for TKAST.
1AD Duty New Shipper Review
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued the final results of its antidumping (AD) duty administrative review of carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod from Trinidad and Tobago for the period of April 10, 2002 through September 30, 2003.
The Washington File reports that the chief U.S. negotiator in the free trade agreement (FTA) talks with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman says the first round of bargaining with each country has gone smoothly and she expects that agreements with both countries will be concluded and signed by the end of 2005. (Washington File Pub 03/14/05, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2005&m=March&x=20050314185740cpataruk0.1947443&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html)