The World Customs Organization is considering changes to the tariff nomenclature that underlies the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S. and over 200 other country tariff schedules around the world to potentially make classification easier and allow for more detail and accuracy in the identification of goods.
Harmonized Tariff Schedule
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) is a reference manual that provides duty rates for almost every item that exists. It is a system of classifying and taxing all goods imported into the United States. The HTS is based on the international Harmonized System, which is a global standard for naming and describing trade products, and consists of a hierarchical structure that assigns a specific code and rate to each type of merchandise for duty, quota, and statistical purposes. The HTS was made effective on January 1, 1989, replacing the former Tariff Schedules of the United States. It is maintained by the U.S. International Trade Commission, but the Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the HTS.
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Jan. 8-14:
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Jan. 1-7:
CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 2400 Jan. 5, containing 397 ABI records and 77 Harmonized Tariff Schedule records, as well as HSU 2401 on Jan. 8, containing 383 ABI records and 73 Harmonized Tariff Records. HSU 2400 and 2401 include the missing 2024 HTS updates that were part of the end of year 484(f) changes, CBP said in a CSMS message on Jan. 8.
The International Trade Commission posted the 2024 Basic Edition of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The new HTS implements the restoration of AGOA benefits for Mauritania and their removal for the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger and Uganda, as well as a lengthy list of 10-digit-level changes for fruits and vegetables, chemicals, medicaments and recycled aluminum. Changes were effective as of Jan. 1 unless otherwise noted.
A domestic producer coalition seeks the imposition of new antidumping duties on glass wine bottles from China, Mexico and Chile, as well as new countervailing duties on glass wine bottles from China, it said in petitions filed with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission Dec. 28. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations, which could result in the imposition of permanent AD/CVD orders and the assessment of AD and CVD on importers.
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Dec. 25-31:
CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 2315 Dec. 29, containing 5,221 ABI records and 874 Harmonized Tariff Schedule records. HSU 2315 includes end of year 484(f) and 2024 annual stage rate changes, CBP said in a CSMS message.
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements determined that polyester/spandex woven fabric, covered by Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheadings 5407.51, 5407.52, or 5407.53, of a certain specification sought by Konffetty, can be imported from outside the region, without losing the tariff benefits of the Dominican Republic-Central America-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Konffetty has a factory in El Salvador; a textile mill in Guatemala argued that the fabric wasn't in short supply, that it could supply Konffetty, but CITA ruled that Summitex didn't demonstrate "its ability to supply the subject product in commercial quantities in a timely manner."