The Agricultural Marketing Service has issued as a final rule, effective May 7, 2008, the Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information Order, which establishes an industry-funded promotion, research, and information program for sorghum1.
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 Commerce Department has announced its finding that, after reviewing the second six months of data from its antidumping monitoring program for certain apparel imports from Vietnam, there is insufficient evidence to warrant self-initiating an AD investigation.
The Census Bureau has issued an Automated Export System broadcast announcing that, effective immediately, the following seven Harmonized Tariff Schedule numbers have been added to the AES Import Concordance1 and may be used to report export commodities:
The International Trade Administration has initiated antidumping duty investigations to determine whether imports of certain circular welded carbon quality steel line pipe from China and Korea are being, or are likely to be, sold in the U.S. at less than fair value, and a countervailing duty investigation to determine whether manufacturers, producers, or exporters of subject merchandise in China receive countervailable subsidies.
In Nufarm America's Inc., v. U.S., the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the Court of International Trade's determination that 19 CFR 181.53 does not violate the "Export Clause" of the Constitution.
On April 17, 2008, Representatives Manzullo and Smith introduced the "Securing Exports Through Coordination and Technology Act" (H.R. 5828), which would require the federal government to enhance the Automated Export System, allow for the licensing of AES filers, etc.
President Bush has issued Proclamation 8240, which modifies the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to take certain actions under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, the Generalized System of Preferences, and for other purposes, as follows:
The House Ways and Means Committee's Trade Subcommittee has issued a press release announcing that Chairman Levin and Ranking Member Herger of the Subcommittee on Trade are requesting written comments for the record from interested parties on 11 additional miscellaneous tariff and duty suspension bills that have been introduced in the House.
The Office of Textiles and Apparel has posted its monthly monitoring data for certain apparel products imported from Vietnam for February 2008.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a final rule, effective April 17, 2008, which adopts with certain changes, an interim rule that amended 19 CFR Parts 12 and 163 to establish special entry requirements for shipments of softwood lumber products from Canada. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/19/06 news, 06101925, for BP summary of the interim rule.)