In the October 13, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 42), CBP issued notices: (a) proposing to revoke a classification ruling and modify two classification rulings on certain hats of fine animal hair, and (b) proposing to modify a classification ruling on the glass article in drink mix kits. 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.
CBP has issued its weekly quota commodity report as of October 12, 2004. This report includes tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) on various products such as beef, tuna, sugar, dairy products, peanuts, cotton, cocoa powder, tobacco, certain JFTA, NAFTA, SFTA, and UCFTA TRQs, etc. This report also includes the AGOA, ATPDEA, CBTPA, NAFTA, SFTA, and UCFTA tariff preference levels (TPLs) for qualifying apparel and/or other textile articles, the TRQs on worsted wool fabrics under HTS 9902.51.11 & 9902.51.12, etc. (CBP's weekly quota commodity report, dated 10/12/04, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/commodity/)
In the October 13, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 42), CBP issued notices: (a) proposing to revoke a classification ruling on plastic light clips and hooks, and (b) proposing to revoke a classification ruling on tattoo needles. 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.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently issued a set of amendments (dated September 16, 2004)1 to the January 30, 2004 version of its instructions on the filing and substantiation of claims for preferential tariff treatment under the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SFTA, or SGFTA).
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has published a notice denying three petitions submitted on behalf of Fishman & Tobin which had alleged that certain woven fabrics described as: (1) twill fabric classified in HTS 5208.33.00.00 and 5209.32.00.20, (2) fancy polyester filament fabric classified in HTS 5407.52.20.20, 5407.52.20.60, 5407.53.20.20, and 5407.53.20.60, and (3) 190T polyester lining fabric classified in HTS 5407.61.99.25-35 could not be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner.
As the House and Senate had previously passed different versions of legislation to repeal the Foreign Sales Corporation/Extraterritorial Income Exclusion Act (FSC/ETI) tax regime, a House-Senate conference was held to resolve the differences. The conference version of H.R. 4520 was passed by the House on October 7, 2004, and by the Senate on October 11, 2004. The conference version of H.R. 4520 has been cleared for the White House, but it has not yet been received.
In the October 6, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 41), CBP issued notices: (a) proposing to revoke a classification ruling on certain combination stereos incorporating a dual cassette deck, and (b) revoking a classification ruling on textile pillow covers with zipper closures. 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.
American Shipper reports that the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has decided to hold a public meeting on October 27, 2004 to discuss the various petitions and comments made by non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs) requesting tariff exemptions to allow them to have confidential service contracts with shippers. (ShippersNewsWire@americanshipper.com , dated 10/13/04)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has issued a final rule to add a new Subpart A to 7 CFR Part 1206 in order to establish the Mango Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order). AMS states that the purpose of this program is to maintain, expand, and develop domestic markets for fresh mangoes.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued instructions for making 2004 retroactive claims for the (in-quota) duty-free tariff rate quotas (TRQs) under HTS 9908 for certain agricultural goods from Israel (certain butter and fresh or sour cream, dried milk, cheese, peanuts, and ice cream).