CBP issued a final rule to increase the informal entry limit from $2,000 to its maximum statutory limit of $2,500 due to inflation. CBP is also eliminating the formal entry requirement for certain textile and other articles valued over $250, as there are no longer absolute quotas and/or visa requirements for such goods. As a result, these textiles and other articles will also have a informal entry limit of $2,500. The rule is effective Jan. 7
The International Trade Administration issued the final results of the administrative review of the countervailing duty order on citric acid and certain citrate salts from China ( C-570-938), which sets a CV cash deposit rate of 5.27 percent for the RZBC Companies (RZBC Group Shareholding Co., Ltd / RZBC Co., Ltd. / RZBC Juxian Co., Ltd. / RZBC Imp. & Exp. Co., Ltd.). This rate is effective Dec. 5.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:
CBP posted a Dec.3 version of its CF 1400 (Record of Vessel in Foreign Trade Entrances) electronic query report of the Vessel Management System (VMS), in accordance with 19 CFR 4.95, organized by entrances. CBP also posted a version of its CF 1401 (Record of Vessel in Foreign Trade Clearances) electronic query report of the VMS, in accordance with 19 CFR 4.95, organized by clearances.
CBP issued its weekly tariff rate quota and tariff preference level commodity report as of Dec. 3. This report includes TRQs on various products such as beef, sugar, dairy products, peanuts, cotton, cocoa products, and tobacco; and certain BFTA, DR-CAFTA, Israel FTA, JFTA, MFTA, OFTA, SFTA, UAFTA (AFTA) and UCFTA (Chile FTA) non-textile TRQs etc. Each report also includes the AGOA, ATPDEA, BFTA, DR-CAFTA, CBTPA, Haitian HOPE, MFTA, NAFTA, OFTA, SFTA, and UCFTA TPLs and TRQs for qualifying textile articles and/or other articles; the TRQs on worsted wool fabrics, etc.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection posted an updated summary of changes for the Automated Export System Trade Interface Requirements (AESTIR). Most recently, the following changes to Appendix O on DDTC ITAR Exemption Codes have been posted.
CBP won't "accept any newly-filed continuous or single transaction bonds" for surety 879 (Universal Insurance Company), the agency said in a CSMS message. Universal Insurance Company's authority as an acceptable surety on Federal bonds has been terminated by the Department of the Treasury, it said.
The Obama administration changed its mind about its concerns with several proposed miscellaneous tariff bills that would suspend duties on footwear, said a spokeswoman for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The USTR now says it only has issues with new duty suspensions and not the 15 bills that would extend previous suspensions. A large number of duty suspensions are scheduled to expire at the end of the year.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.), Ranking Member Sandy Levin (D-Mich.), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), and Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) are concerned with China's economic model and use of state-owned enterprises, they said in a letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk. The letter was sent ahead of a meeting of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade.
Correction: CBP hasn't had a Senate-confirmed commissioner since 2009. CBP Commissioner Alan Bersin was appointed, but never confirmed.