ITC Posts April 1, 2008 Version of HTS
The International Trade Commission has posted to its Web site Revision 1 (dated April 1, 2008) of the 2008 Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
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April 1, 2008 HTS Reflects UCFTA, SFTA Rule of Origin Changes, Etc.
According to ITC sources and the "Change Record" for the April 1, 2008 HTS, this new version largely reflects Proclamation 8214 which amended the HTS rules of origin for the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement (UCFTA) in HTS General Note 26(n) and the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SFTA) in HTS General Note 25(m) effective February 8, 2008.
It also contains technical corrections to the previous 2008 HTS base version.
Rules of Origin Were Amended to Reflect 2007 WCO-Recommended Changes
The UCFTA and SFTA rules of origin were amended to ensure the tariff and certain other treatment accorded by these FTAs to originating goods continues to be provided under tariff numbers that were modified when certain World Customs Organization (WCO)-recommended changes were implemented on February 3, 2007.
(Proclamation 8097 modified the HTS to implement WCO-recommended and other changes to the HTS effective February 3, 2007. Proclamation 8097 also amended the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) rules of origin in HTS General Note 28 to reflect these WCO changes. The HTS rules of origin for FTAs other than the AFTA, UCFTA, and SFTA are still in need of amendment.)
GPO-Printed 2008 HTS Not Expected to Be Updated for Revision 1
ITC sources have previously stated that the paper (printed) version of the 2008 HTS is not expected to be updated by the Government Printing Office until July 1, 2008, at the earliest (tariff changes for products that benefit from the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program usually take effect on July 1st).
(See ITT's Online Archives or 01/10/08 news, 08011010, for BP summary of Proclamation 8214.)
April 1, 2008 (Revision 1) HTS available at http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/
Change record for April 1, 2008 (Revision 1) HTS available at http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/docs/tata/hts/bychapter/0801chgs.pdf