CBP reminded importers of a change to General Statistical (GSN) Note 3(c) within the 2014 Harmonized Tariff Schedule in a CSMS message. GSN 3(c) was updated in the 2014 HTS to indicate that goods imported under the Civil Aircraft Agreement, Pharmaceutical Agreement and Intermediate Chemicals for Dyes Agreement (SPI “C,” “K,” and “L,” respectively) that are the product of a country with which the U.S. has a free trade agreement (FTA) that provides the MPF exemption can be imported free of merchandise processing fee (MPF) using SPI C#, K#, and L#, even if the FTA’s more stringent origination rules and imported directly rules are not met, the agency said. This applies to all FTAs that provide the MPF exemption (NAFTA, Chile, Singapore, Australia, Israel, Bahrain, Oman, CAFTA, Peru, Korea, Colombia and Panama), it said. The International Trade Commission recently published the new HTS, with most changes taking effect Jan. 1 (see 14010221).

A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the Commerce Department posted to CBP's website Jan. 2, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching for the listed CBP message number at addcvd.cbp.gov. (CBP occasionally adds backdated messages without otherwise indicating which message was added. ITT will include a message date in parentheses in such cases.)

In the Jan. 2 issue of the CBP Customs Bulletin (Vol. 47, No. 52), CBP published two notices that propose to revoke rulings and similar treatment for the tariff classification of ballistic jacket plates and thermal transfer ribbons.

Dan Baldwin, executive director, cargo and conveyance security, in CBP's Office of Field Operations, retired from the agency, said industry executives. CBP did not comment.

CBP and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) ended the five-month first phase pre-inspection pilot for truck cargo and found the "concept feasible," said CBP in a press release. The first phase of the pilot, which is part of the "Beyond the Border" initiative, began in June at the Pacific Highway crossing near British Columbia (see 13061821). The first phase is designed as a "proof of concept" for using CBP officers in Canada to pre-inspect trucks, drivers and cargo prior to arrival into the U.S., said CBP. The pilot also looked at the use of "certain technologies and jointly-developed procedures in order to conduct CBP primary truck processing in Canada," the agency said. The next phase will last for a year at the Peace Bridge Crossing in Buffalo, N.Y. beginning this month. Phase II will test the ability of the pre-inspection process to reduce wait times and border congestion, said CBP.

The customs broker’s license examination scheduled for April 2014 will be on Monday, April 7, said CBP in a notice. The four-hour exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions, with a score of 75 percent required to pass. Exam topics usually include: Entry, Classification, Country of Origin, Trade Agreements, Antidumping/Countervailing Duty, Value, Broker Responsibilities, FP&F, Protests, Marking, Prohibited and Restricted Merchandise, Drawback, Intellectual Property Rights, and other subjects pertinent to a broker's duties. CBP said registration is expected to open for the exam in February.

CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:

A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the Commerce Department posted to CBP's website Dec. 31, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching for the listed CBP message number at addcvd.cbp.gov. (CBP occasionally adds backdated messages without otherwise indicating which message was added. ITT will include a message date in parentheses in such cases.)

CBP issued its weekly tariff rate quota and tariff preference level commodity report as of Dec. 30. 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.

CBP said it was aware of a slowdown in cargo selectivity processing Dec. 30. It said it also was getting reports that cargo usually receiving a "paperless" release is now receiving "entry docs required" messages. It said its technical staff was looking into the situation and would inform the industry when it's resolved.