International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Dec. 26-29 in case they were missed.
The International Trade Commission posted the 2018 Basic Edition of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The new HTS implements the reinstatement of Argentina into the Generalized System of Preferences, as well as The Gambia and Swaziland as African Growth and Opportunity Act beneficiaries. New statistical suffixes are also added for organic lemons, gift wrap ribbons and bows, and metal bed bases, among others. Most of the changes took effect Jan. 1.
CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 1709 on Dec. 25, containing 2,415 Automated Broker Interface records and 489 harmonized tariff records, it said in a CSMS message. Modifications include changes required under a Dec. 22 Presidential Proclamation involving Generalized System of Preferences and African Growth and Opportunity Act beneficiaries (see 1712260010), CBP said. "Many, but not all, of the adjustments are effective on January 1, 2018," it said. "The changes will be published within the change record, and chapters, of the 2018 USHTS."
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Dec. 18-22 in case they were missed.
President Donald Trump directed the revocation of certain Generalized System of Preferences for Ukraine, added Argentina to GSP eligibility, and added The Gambia and Swaziland to African Growth and Opportunity Act eligibility in a proclamation on Dec. 22. The suspension of certain Ukrainian GSP benefits will take effect 120 days after the proclamation’s publication in the Federal Register. Argentina’s addition to GSP eligibility will take effect Jan. 1. Former President Barack Obama terminated Argentina’s GSP benefits in 2012 (see 12032738), and The Gambia’s and Swaziland’s AGOA benefits in 2014 (see 14062706 and 1412230060).
Generalized System of Preferences renewal legislation is a priority for early 2018 congressional passage, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, told reporters Dec. 21, meaning that the tariff preference coverage will expire Dec. 31. He also suggested Senate Democrats, including Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., haven’t OK’d such legislation to move forward. “We’re really waiting for a green light from Senate Democrats and from ranking member Wyden,” Brady said. “We’re hopeful that he can give us the green light so we can move forward early next year.” He added that he “had hoped” GSP renewal would be enacted prior to expiration, and that Congress “can move this thing fast” with congressional Democrats and Republicans “all on board.”
CBP issued filing instructions in a CSMS message for goods eligible for the Generalized System of Preferences in the event the GSP program expires at the end of the year. As in previous GSP lapses (see 13071514), filers would continue to use the GSP special program indicator to flag their entries, but would have to pay duties at the normal, non-preferential rate for any imports with a time of entry during the lapse. GSP is currently set to expire Dec. 31 if the program isn’t extended by Congress. "In the event of a lapse and until further notice, importers are strongly encouraged to continue to flag otherwise GSP-eligible importations with the SPI 'A' pay Normal Trade Relations (column 1) duty rates," CBP said. "Importers may not file SPI 'A' without duties."
Congressional GOP leadership is approaching miscellaneous tariff bill and Generalized System of Preferences legislation as priorities for passage in 2018, in which case GSP coverage would lapse after its Dec. 31 expiration, industry officials said in emails. Republicans recently signaled that both MTB and GSP renewal legislation, yet to be introduced, would be included in an expected continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government past Dec. 22, but have indicated this week to industry that the funding package won’t include any such provisions, according to a retail industry official and an apparel industry official.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Dec. 4-10: