U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued its third version (dated April 2, 2004) of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and responses regarding its final rule requiring the advance electronic presentation of information pertaining to cargo (sea, air, rail, or truck) prior to its being brought into, or sent from, the U.S.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted additional information to its Web site regarding the April 1, 2004 statistical changes to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) for certain men's and boys' cotton T-shirts and certain other garments classified in HTS 6109.10.00.
Shippers' NewsWire reports that the World Customs Organization (WCO) has finalized a set of recommendations on the advance electronic submission of cargo information for all transport modes, which the WCO task force on security will present to the council in June 2004 for adoption. The article notes that in the U.S., the guidelines are already in the process of implementation. (SNW dated 04/06/04, www.americanshipper.com)
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a document entitled, Compliance Summary Information: Prior Notice, which describes prior notice (PN) submissions received during the first two months after the interim final rule requiring prior notice of imported foods became effective December 12, 2003.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced the following Air Automated Manifest System (AMS) expansions:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) lists on its Web site its top intellectual property rights (IPR) seizures by top trading partner and commodity for fiscal year (FY) 1999 through FY 2003.
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued three orders in response to petitions filed with the FMC by three Chinese carriers requesting to be exempt from certain provisions of Section 9(c) of the Shipping Act of 1984 (46 USC app. 1708) (Controlled Carrier Act), which would enable the petitioners to reduce tariff rates immediately, rather than be subject to the 30-day waiting period prescribed by the Controlled Carrier Act.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice announcing its determination that Sierra Leone (1) has adopted an effective visa system and related procedures to prevent unlawful transshipment and the use of counterfeit documents in connection with shipments of textile and apparel articles, and (2) has implemented and follows, or is making substantial progress toward implementing and following, the customs procedures required by the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). This determination is effective April 5, 2004.
The Journal of Commerce reports that non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs) have much to gain and lose in the outcome of Norfolk Southern Railway vs. Kirby which will be heard by the Supreme Court this fall. On the one hand, NVOCCs could win affirmation of their status as ocean carriers, not agents of shippers. On the other, the court's decision could open the door for shippers who have tendered cargo to an NVOCC to only be bound by the terms of the NVOCC's bill of lading, and therefore be free to collect full damages from any party in the supply chain. (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/29/04 news, (Ref:04032999 for earlier summary.)(JoC, dated March 22-28, 2004, www.joc.com )
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice announcing that the interest rates for the third quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2004 (April 1, 2004 - June 30, 2004) for overpayments and underpayments of Customs duties are: