CBP issued an interim rule (here), effective Feb. 10, that amends its regulations to implement the customs-related provisions of the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement (AUFTA). Although the agreement entered into force in 2005, CBP had not yet issued implementing regulations. Comments on the interim rule are due April 13.
Twenty more tariff lines in chapters 44, 82, 94, and 96 are set to become subject to enforcement of Lacey Act import declaration requirements, as the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service begins the next phase of enforcement in August. The addition of the new tariff lines marks the fifth phase of Lacey Act declaration enforcement, according to an APHIS Federal Register notice (here). APHIS is giving importers six months until Aug. 6 before it begins requiring declarations on the new products. The agency will accept comments until April 7 on the products covered by Phase V, as well as any other tariff lines that should be included. The current list of products set for enforcement beginning on Aug. 6 is as follows:
The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices for Jan 30 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):
Dec. 24 CBP Bulletin Proposes to Modify Rulings on Garment Country of Origin, Preferential Treatment
In the Dec. 24 issue of the CBP Customs Bulletin (Vol. 48, No. 51), CBP published notices that propose to modify rulings and similar treatment of DR-CAFTA and knit to shape garments. (here). CBP also said it is in the process of updating agency regulation in 19 CFR Section 102.21 that spell out the country of origin provisions.
No countervailing duty order will be issued, and no CV duties will be imposed, on imports of non-oriented electrical steel from South Korea (C-580-873), said the Commerce Department in its final determination. The agency continued to find that South Korean companies did not receive illegal subsidies, calculating de minimis CV duty rates for all companies under review. No CV duty cash deposit requirement is currently in place for NOES from South Korea, because Commerce also found no illegal subsidization in the preliminary determination it issued in March.
A working group consisting of food, drug and device importers, customs brokers, express carriers and government representatives presented a lengthy list of recommendations to the Food and Drug Administration on how to improve its import process, during a Oct. 7 meeting of the CBP Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations (COAC). Trade members of COAC urged FDA to improve messaging and add new data elements and functionality to the Automated Commercial Environment, as well as allow for advance data submissions and improve outreach to the trade community.
The Agricultural Marketing Service is proposing to increase from 1,000 to 2,000 pounds the de minimis exception under which “Irish”-type Potatoes can be imported without having to meet grade, size, quality or maturity requirements. The proposed rule would allow importation of up to 2000 pounds of all round-type potatoes, except round red-skinned or long-type potatoes, without regard to the AMS import regulations. Comments are due Dec. 5.
CBP posted a document to its website that provides side-by-side comparisons of 20 U.S. free trade agreements and preferential trade programs. This updated version removes references to use of protests under 19 USC 1514 for making preference claims under agreements not covered by statute in 19 USC 1520(d). CBP recently advised the ports that importers will only be able to claim duty preference after importation through post summary corrections or post entry amendments for these FTAs (see 14081320).
CBP issued a final rule, effective June 20, to amend its regulations for the preferential tariff treatment and other customs-related provisions of the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (PATPA or PANTPA). The agency issued interim regulations last year (see 13102215) and will adopt them in full as a final rule, without any changes, it said. CBP received only one comment in response to the interim rule.
The Federal Trade Commission is adopting changes to its fur labeling regulations that it says will provide more flexibility, better conform with textile labeling rules, and clarify continuing guaranty requirements. The FTC’s final rule adopts two separate proposed rules issued by the commission in September 2012 and June 2013, respectively. Most of the proposed changes, including revisions to the fur labeling rules’ animal Name Guide, a loosening of restrictions on label content, and a provision on guaranties in electronic format, were adopted wholesale by the FTC. But in a change from its June 2013 proposed rule, the FTC will not require annual renewal of continuing guaranties. The final rule takes effect Nov. 19, 2014.