The White House released the full text, including annexes, of Presidential Proclamation 9704 and Presidential Proclamation 9705 setting across-the-board Section 232 tariffs on aluminum and steel, respectively. The proclamations create new subheadings 9903.85.01 and 9903.80.01 for aluminum and steel products covered by the tariffs, as well as new notes to chapter 99 detailing the scope of the Section 232 actions.

CBP doesn't expect the Treasury Department to approve proposed regulations for coming changes to drawback procedures before the Feb. 24 effective date, a CBP spokesman said by email. The changes are the result of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, which allowed for two years of preparation before the drawback overhaul became effective. "CBP will, however, accept TFTEA drawback claims in" ACE, "with processing to occur once the regulations are finalized," the spokesman said.

CBP will split the ACE deployment planned for Dec. 9 into two separate deployments, said Monica Crockett, CBP director-entry summary, accounts and revenue during a Dec. 4 conference call. The agency will push its deployment of statements to Jan. 6, while still deploying e214 foreign-trade zones admissions in ACE and manufacturer ID creation on Dec. 9, she said.

The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America filed a petition for reconsideration with the Federal Communications Commission over recent agency rule changes involving radiofrequency device imports.

CBP issued a long awaited final rule to make various changes to the in-bond regulations. "The changes in this rule, including the automation of the in-bond process, will enhance CBP’s ability to regulate and track in-bond merchandise and ensure that in-bond merchandise is properly entered or exported," it said. The final rule includes several changes from the proposal, which CBP issued in 2012.

CBP will postpone until Dec. 9 the mandatory use date for e214 foreign-trade zones admissions in ACE, Acting CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said at the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America Government Affairs Conference on Sept. 11 in Washington. The delay of the deadline, previously set for Sept. 16, comes in response to concerns from industry, McAleenan said. CBP will make a formal announcement on Sept. 11, he said.

The trade community should plan for the Port of Houston and other ports affected by Hurricane Harvey to be closed for the “foreseeable future,” and start sending cargo to other ports until damage from the storm can be fully assessed, said Gary Schreffler, acting chief of CBP’s Cargo Control & Release Branch, during a call held Aug. 29. Recent guidance issued by CBP requesting diversion of cargo to other ports applies only for the short term, affecting shipments already on the water. Shipments leaving ports now should find other destinations, as affected ports could be closed for a month or more, he said.

The addition of seats to a cargo van and their removal immediately after importation constitutes “legitimate tariff engineering” to obtain a lower duty rate applicable to passenger vehicles, said the Court of International Trade in an Aug. 9 decision that was released the evening of Aug. 16. Tariff classification is determined based on an article’s condition at the time of importation, and the steps Ford took to manufacture its Ford Transit Connect vans after importation are irrelevant to the classification analysis, CIT said.

CBP released a revised schedule for deploying post-release capabilities in ACE in a July 27 CSMS message. The agency will separate out the collections functionalities and "deploy the other post release capabilities of ACE core using a phased approach," said CBP.

The U.S. Trade Representative is authorizing duty free treatment for certain travel goods of heading 4202 under the Generalized System of Preferences, it said in a list of the results of its 2016-2017 GSP Review (here). The list also includes USTR’s decisions to add other products to GSP, including certain rolled grains and essential oils of lemon, as well as USTR’s decisions on competitive need limitation and de minimis waivers. The changes take effect July 1.