ITC Posts July 1, 2008 HTS to its Web Site
The International Trade Commission (ITC) has posted to its Web site an updated version of the 2008 Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S. (HTS) dated July 1, 2007 (Supplement 1).
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List of Principal Changes in July 1st Version
According to the preface of the July 1, 2008 version, the principal changes in this version reflect:
GSP, AGOA. Modifications to duty-free treatment and certain designations under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and HTS technical changes due to Proclamation 8272 and Proclamation 8240. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/02/08 and 07/03/08 news, 08070205 and 08070315, for Parts I and II of BP's multi-part series of summaries on Proclamation 8272. See ITT's Online Archives or 04/24/08 news, 08042410, for BP summary of Proclamation 8240.)
Bamboo Flooring, receivers. Amendments to the HTS to restore certain duty rates (for bamboo flooring, broadcast receivers) which were inadvertently increased by the World Customs Organization-recommended changes to the HTS that took effect on February 3, 2007, as provided for in Presidential Proclamation 8228. (See ITT's Online Archives or 04/14/08 news, 08041405, for BP summary of Proclamation 8228.)
UCFTA, SFTA. Amendments to the HTS rules of origin for the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement (UCFTA) and the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SFTA) provided for in Presidential Proclamation 8214, effective February 7, 2008. (See ITT's Online Archives or 01/10/08 news, 08011010, for BP summary of Proclamation 8214.)
Gambia. Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) determination that The Gambia is eligible for AGOA textile and apparel benefits, effective April 28, 2008. (See ITT's Online Archives or 04/30/08 news, 08043020, for BP summary of the USTR notice.)
Honduran cotton socks. USTR notice which modified the HTS to reflect the U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) safeguard duty on certain Honduran origin cotton socks. (See ITT's Online Archives or 05/14/08 news, 08051420, for BP summary of USTR notice on the application of such safeguard duties.)
Tariff changes at 9th/10th digit. HTS statistical changes, effective July 1, 2008, approved by the Committee for Statistical Annotation of Tariff Schedules (484(f) Committee), to various tariff numbers (at the 9th and 10th digit level) and statistical notes in the following HTS chapters: 8, 22, 23, 44, 48, 72, 73, 84, 85, and 98. (See July 1, 2008 HTS "Change Record" for list of HTS numbers and statistical notes affected.)
Supplement 1 Expected to Soon be Sent to GPO for Printing, Distribution
ITC sources state that on July 3, 2008, the paper version of the July 1, 2008 HTS (Supplement 1) is expected to be sent to the Government Printing Office (GPO) contractor for printing and distribution to subscribers.
ITC sources have previously stated that this printing and distribution process usually takes 2-4 weeks.
July 1, 2008 HTS (Supplement 1) available for downloading by chapter or in its entirety at http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/.
Supplement 1 change record available at http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/docs/tata/hts/bychapter/0810chgs.pdf.