The ongoing partial federal government shutdown is causing some confusion for the trade community on tariff classification. CBP’s last tariff update in the Automated Broker Interface came on Dec. 19 (see 1812190004), but the International Trade Commission has not yet issued its annual update to the online Harmonized Tariff Schedule (see 1901020021). Further complicating matters, a presidential proclamation making more changes to the HTS is now set for publication on Jan. 7 (see 1812270038).
Even though only 21 percent of the nearly 10,800 Section 301 exclusion requests have been adjudicated, Miller & Chevalier is drawing some qualified conclusions about what worked. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative approved exclusions to the 25 percent tariff on 984 products from the initial $34 billion in Chinese imports targeted (see 1812240010). The two most important factors, the law firm said in an analysis published Jan. 2, are specificity around why the import could not be sourced outside China and concrete explanations on how the additional duties would hurt the requester.
The Senate unanimously confirmed Gil Kerlikowske as CBP commissioner by voice vote on March 6, in a move that ensures a Senate-confirmed commissioner will lead CBP for the first time in nearly five years. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, along with some industry leaders, praised the confirmation.