U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a set of 40 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), dated February 12, 2004, concerning its final rule which amended the Customs regulations to require 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.
CBP CROSS Rulings
CBP issues binding advance rulings in connection with the importation of merchandise into the United States. They issue the rulings to give the trade community transparency of how CBP will treat a prospective import or carrier transaction. Common rulings include the tariff classification, country of origin, or free trade agreement applicability of merchandise, among other things. These rulings are available in CBP's Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) database.
Reuters has reported that U.S. lawmakers are unlikely to repeal export tax subsidies that violate global trade rules in time to avoid punitive European Union (EU) trade sanctions on billions of dollars of U.S. goods. According to Reuters, the EU plans to impose a 5% duty on more than $4 billion worth of U.S. exports beginning March 1, 2004 if President Bush has not signed legislation repealing the Foreign Sales Corporation-Extraterritorial Income (FSC-ETI) tax regime. (Reuters Pub 02/13/04, available at http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4355783)
In the February 11, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 7), CBP issued notices: (a) proposing to revoke two classification rulings on certain aluminum compounds and salt, (b) modifying or revoking three classification rulings on certain electronic hang tags, and (c) modifying or revoking classification rulings on men's swimwear. CBP states that it is also revoking, or proposing to revoke, any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in these notices.
(a) These four companies each have a de minimis AD rate (Ferrara: 0.24%, Lensi: 0.36%, Pagani: 0.21%, and Pallante: 0.12%); no cash deposits will be collected although suspension of liquidation will continue.
In the February 4, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 6), CBP issued notices (a) revoking a classification ruling on seats for fork-lift trucks, and (b) revoking a classification ruling on flushed pigment color preparation. CBP states that it is also revoking any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in these notices.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice to inform travelers that on or after August 12, 2004, a commercial shipment of food (except some meat, poultry, and egg products) carried by a traveler into the U.S. for which prior notice has not been provided to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is subject to refusal of admission to the U.S., and may be held at the port of arrival unless directed to another location. According to CBP, this requirement is mandated by what is commonly known as the Bioterrorism Act. (CBP notice available via fax by emailing staff@brokerpower.com)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a 15-page memorandum containing its instructions on the filing and substantiation of claims for preferential tariff treatment made under the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SFTA).
In the February 4, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBPBulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 6), CBP issued a notice proposing to revoke two classification rulings on certain voice and data terminal blocks. CBP states that it is also proposing to revoke any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in this notice.
On February 2, 2004, the World Shipping Council (WSC), the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL), the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America, Inc. (NCBFAA), and the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) filed a petition with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requesting reconsideration of certain aspects of CBP's December 5, 2003 final rule on the advance electronic presentation of cargo information that pertain to inbound ocean cargo.
In the February 4, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBPBulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 6), CBP issued notices: (a) proposing to revoke a classification ruling on a set top box, and (b) proposing to revoke a classification ruling on certain liquid rubber. CBP states that it is also proposing to revoke any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in these notices.