The Government Accountability Office has issued a report to the Senate Finance Committee in order to address concerns regarding previously identified weaknesses in U.S. Customs and Border Protection's in-bond1 system.
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.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued an ABI administrative message which updates its list of tariff numbers that may be subject to the U.S.-Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA 2006) entry summary and export permit requirements.
According to press and trade sources, U.S. Customs and Border Protection is expected to issue a proposed rule by late summer or early fall 2007 containing its proposed SF (10 2) requirements for 10 additional data elements from importers 24 hours prior to foreign lading, and for 2 additional data sets from ocean carriers, for imported maritime cargo.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted to its Web site Amendment 16, dated May 2007, to the Customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements (CATAIR) document.
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has issued an electronic notice requesting written comments by 12:00 a.m. EST on May 16, 2007 regarding a "commercial availability" request it received under the U.S.-Dominican-Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) on behalf of Textiles Capuano, S.A. of Guatemala:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued an ABI administrative message announcing that recent changes to the 2007 HTS records (HS Update No. 0706) include the following:
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued an electronic notice requesting written comments by 12:00 a.m. EST on May 2, 2007 regarding a "commercial availability" request it received under the U.S.-Dominican-Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) on behalf of Channel Fabrics of New York, New York:
On February 28, 2007, the President issued Proclamation 8111 amending the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) to implement the U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) for the Dominican Republic, and for other purposes.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an ABI administrative message announcing new procedures for requesting duty-free certificates from the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) for commercial shipments classified in Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) 9808.00.301.
The International Trade Commission (ITC) has posted to its Web site an April 6, 2007 version of the 2007 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS).