According to U.S. government sources, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has again extended its document exams of certain entries of knit-to-shape garments in HTS 6110 which claim a country of origin other than China (i.e., the entry claims that the garment's panels are knit-to-shape in a country other than China and then sent to China to be linked and looped).
In the July 14, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 29), CBP issued notices: (a) proposing to revoke two classification rulings on textile pillow covers with zipper closures, and (b) proposing to revoke a classification ruling on certain nonwoven man-made material for use in blood filtration. 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.
On January 17, 2003, President Bush issued Proclamation 7641 in order to modify the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) preference rules of origin for seven products, including certain alcoholic beverages, pearl jewelry, headphones, photocopier parts and accessories, etc.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a notice announcing a "special import quota" which specifies a quota of 25,702,401 kg for upland cotton purchased not later than October 12, 2004 and entered under HTS 9903.52.13. The quota period is July 15, 2004 through January 10, 2005; the opening date is July 15, 2004 at 12 noon, E.S.T., or its equivalent in other time zones.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice announcing its determination that Nigeria (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 July 14, 2004.
On July 13, 2004, President Bush signed into law H.R. 4103, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Acceleration Act of 2004 (AGOA III).
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice announcing the results of several Generalized System of Preferences- (GSP-) related reviews.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an administrative message announcing that the client rep trade and field support team office at JFK Airport will be closed temporarily beginning Friday, July 9, 2004 while the client reps move to another location in Building 77. CBP states that the JFK Office is expected to reopen on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 in its new office and notes that the client reps will then be available at their current telephone number (718-553-2065).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice which supercedes a previous notice regarding the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreement's (CITA's) designation that certain ring spun micro modal/pima cotton yarn for use in women's and girls' knit blouses, shirts, lingerie and underwear is in short supply (i.e., "commercially unavailable") under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the U.S.-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA), and the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice regarding the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreement's (CITA's) designation that certain combed compact yarns of wool or fine hair, classified in HTS 5107.10, 5107.20 or 5108.20, for use in apparel articles are in short supply ("commercially unavailable") under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the U.S.-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA), and the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA).