In Timber Products Co. v. U.S., the Court of International Trade ruled on remand that certain Brazilian plywood made from wood of differing species is classifiable under HTS 4412.14.30 (1997, 8%), a residual provision for plywood, rather than under HTS 4412.13.40 (1997, GSP duty-free), which includes plywood made with at least one outer ply of tropical woods.
On December 20, 2006, President Bush signed into law H.R. 6111, the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (Public Law (P.L.) 109-432), which includes trade provisions for Vietnam permanent normal trade relations (PNTR), GSP and ATPA/ATPDEA extensions, amendments to AGOA apparel benefits, new Haiti benefits, HTS Chapter 99 actions, etc.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release regarding the impact of recently enacted competitive need limitation (CNL) waiver amendments to the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program contained in the "Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006."
On December 20, 2006, President Bush signed H.R. 6111, the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, into law. The Act includes trade provisions which:
CBP has posted to its Web site a draft version of an update to the Customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements (CATAIR) Appendix H (Census Warning Messages and Override Codes). This appendix provides a list of Census' warning messages, their description, resolution, and override code(s). CBP states that any decisions, policies, and solutions set forth in this draft technical document are subject to change at any time without prior notice. CBP adds that until such time that it issues a final version of this technical guide, the draft is not considered approved, endorsed, or sanctioned by CBP and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). (Draft Appendix H, posted 12/01/06, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbox/about/modernization/ace_esar/fall2008/census/draft_catair/appendix_h_nov06.ctt/appendix_h_nov06.doc)
In early December 2006, the House of Representatives and Senate passed H.R. 6111, the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, which includes trade provisions for Vietnam permanent normal trade relations, GSP and ATPA/ATPDEA extensions, amendments to AGOA apparel benefits, new Haiti benefits, HTS Chapter 99 actions, etc.
The Treasury Department (Treasury) has published its semi-annual regulatory agenda, which contains certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulatory rulemakings.
According to a press release issued by the U.S. Trade Representative, on December 8, 2006, the House and Senate passed key trade legislation that (partial list):
The Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), as amended by the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA), is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2006 unless extended by legislation.
The standard Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program (i.e., A, A*, and A) is scheduled to expire for non-African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) beneficiary countries on December 31, 2006, unless extended by legislation.