CBP Miami on Aug. 12 sent out an information bulletin reminding importers and their agents of their responsibilities when importing fruits and vegetables. The notice reiterated that a copy of the relevant Department of Agriculture permit is required with each shipment. Unless a USDA transit permit was issued, the importer must be disclosed and made available for inspection the port of first arrival in a manner designated by the CBP agriculture specialist. A notice of arrival must be provided to the agriculture specialist that includes the name and address of the consignee, as well as the type, quantity and origin of all fruits and vegetables in the consignment, said CBP Miami.
Just because a pointy rod appears to be a drill bit doesn’t mean it should be classified as one, said CBP in a ruling issued in May that overturned the port’s classification of “high speed steel drill blanks” imported by MC Tubular Products. CBP Minneapolis had originally classified the pointed steel rods intended for making drill bits as finished drill bits under Harmonized Tariff Schedule heading 8207. But noting that the point of the rod is only a chamfer that is completely ground off before the drill bit’s actual point is applied, CBP ruled that the steel rods are not “blanks” classifiable in their intended final form as drill bits, but are instead bars and rods of high speed steel classifiable in heading 7228.
Importers will no longer be able to use protests to claim duty preferences under free trade agreements and trade preference programs after liquidation, said CBP in a letter to ports dated Aug. 11. Instead, importers will only be able to claim duty preferences after importation through 1520(d) post-importation claims for some FTAs, and by filing post-summary corrections (PSCs) or post-entry amendments (PEAs) for all others, including preference programs like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). CBP is making the policy change to comply with recent court decisions, it said.
The Port of Pittsburgh Commission announced Stephen Martinko will be its new executive director. Martinko has been deputy staff director of the House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee since January 2013.
Mexico's Diario Oficial of Aug. 12 lists notices from the Secretary of Economy as follows:
Lobbyists may serve on federal advisory committees if they’re representing the interests of a nongovernmental entity like a company or industry association, said the Office of Management and Budget in an update to earlier guidance. The move marks a change from final guidance issued by OMB in 2011 that said all lobbyists required to register with the federal government cannot serve on advisory committees, commissions, boards, or similar groups organized under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which include Industry Trade Advisory Committees for the U.S. Trade Representative and Commerce Department.
The International Trade Commission published notices in the Aug. 12 Federal Register on the following AD/CV injury, Section 337 patent, and other trade proceedings (any notices that warrant a more detailed summary will be in another ITT article):
The International Trade Commission on Aug. 7 voted to begin a Section 337 investigation into light reflectors for indoor gardening applications that allegedly infringe patents held by a subsidiary of Sunlight Supply. In its June 20 complaint, Sunlight and IP Holdings said Sinowell is manufacturing in China two types of lighting that infringe its patents and trademarks: an open-air, wing style exemplified by Sinowell’s Econo-Wing Reflector, and enclosed, air-cooled light reflectors, exemplified by Sinowell’s XXXL and Extreme Reflectors (see 14062523). Sunlight is requesting a cease and desist order, as well as a general exclusion order or a limited exclusion order, banning importation and sale of infringing light reflectors by Sinowell and several U.S. retailers, as follows:
The Commerce Department published notices in the Aug. 12 Federal Register on the following AD/CV duty proceedings (any notices that announce changes to AD/CV duty rates, scope, affected firms, or effective dates will be detailed in another ITT article):
The Commerce Department issued the final results of the antidumping duty administrative review on stainless steel bar from Brazil (A-351-825). These final results will be used to set final assessments of AD duties on importers for entries between February 2012 and January 2013. New AD duty cash deposit rates set in this review will take effect Aug. 13.