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CBP Administrative Messages, Electronic Bulletin Board Notices, Etc

CBP has announced the 2004 tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for agricultural products described in HTS Chapter 99 Subchapter X, U.S. Notes 3 through 12 with respect to the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

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1. 2004 U.S.-Singapore FTA Agriculture TRQs Open January 2, 2004

According to CBP, these TRQs will open on Friday, January 2, 2004 at 12 noon E.S.T. or its equivalent in other time zones at the following low-duty quantities:

US Note 315,000 kgUS Note 815,000 kg
US Note 41,000 kgUS Note 91,000 kg
US Note 55,000 kgUS Note 1015,000 kg
US Note 65,000 kgUS Note 115,000 kg
US Note 75,000 kgUS Note 125,000 kg

Non-ABI Entries Required Until Further Notice. CBP notes that due to ongoing system programming for the U.S.-Singapore FTA, ABI transmission of entries for eligible goods is not available at this time. Filers are required to file non-ABI until further notice.

CBP also states that "SG" should be used as the primary SPI indicator. (See CBP notice for the HTS Chapter 99 number for each of the listed low-duty TRQs, HTS Chapter 99 numbers for the high rates, subject HTS Chapter 1-97 numbers, etc.)

(QBT-2003-605, dated 12/29/03, available at http://www.cbp.gov/ImageCache/cgov/content/import/textiles/qbt/qbt2003/2003_2d605_2edoc/v1/2003_2d605.doc)

2. 2004 U.S.-Chile FTA Agriculture TRQs Open January 2, 2004

CBP has announced the 2004 tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for agricultural products described in HTS Chapter 99 Subchapter XI, U.S. Notes 3 through 18 with respect to the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

According to CBP, these TRQs will open on Friday, January 2, 2004 at 12 noon E.S.T. or its equivalent in other time zones at the following low-duty quantities:

US Note 31,000,000 kgUS Note 12(c)Excess from 12(b)
US Note 40 kgUS Note 12(c)Excess from 12(b)
US Note 5300,000 kgUS Note 12(c)Excess from 12(b)
US Note 6828,000 kgUS Note 12(c)Excess from 12(b)
US Note 7425,000 kgUS Note 12(c)Excess from 12(b)
US Note 8489,000 kgUS Note 12(c)Excess from 12(b)
US Note 91,432,000 kgUS Note 12(c)Excess from 12(b)
US Note 1015,000,000 kgUS Note 12(c)Excess from 12(b)
US Note 1134,000,000 kgUS Note 12(c)Excess from 12(b)
US Note 12(b)Up to 2,000,000 kgUS Note 12(c)Excess from 12(b)
US Note 12(c)Excess from 12(b)US Note 12(c)Excess from 12(b)
US Note 12(c)Excess from 12(b)US Note 13950,000 kg
US Note 12(c)Excess from 12(b)US Note 14617,000 kg
US Note 12(c)Excess from 12(b)US Note 154,800,000 no
US Note 12(c)Excess from 12(b)US Note 163,000,000 no
US Note 12(c)Excess from 12(b)US Note 1710,000 dpc
US Note 12(c)Excess from 12(b)US Note 1855,000,000 kg

Non-ABI Entries Required Until Further Notice. CBP notes that due to ongoing system programming for the U.S.-Chile FTA, ABI transmission of entries for eligible goods is not available at this time. Filers are required to file non-ABI until further notice.

CBP also states that "CL" should be used as the primary SPI indicator. (See CBP notice for the HTS Chapter 99 number for each of the listed low-duty TRQs, HTS Chapter 99 numbers for the high rates, subject HTS Chapter 1-97 numbers, etc.)

(QBT-2003-606, dated 12/31/03, available at http://www.cbp.gov/ImageCache/cgov/content/import/textiles/qbt/qbt2003/2003_2d606_2edoc/v1/2003_2d606.doc )

3. "TRUCK" is Not to be Used as a Bill Number

CBP has issued a brief message stating that all filers should immediately stop using the configuration "TRUCK" in the SCAC-Bill number fields for all submissions to CBP.

"TRUC" is not an operational SCAC and the repeated use of the letter "K" to denote the serial portion of the bill number has caused systemic problems.

CBP states that the extract reference query should be used to determine the correct SCAC of the importing carrier.

CBP adds that "Truck" should only be used in lieu of the importing conveyance actual name. (Adm: 03-2995, dated 12/30/03, available by emailing staff@brokerpower.com )

4. Updated Records for the 2003 and 2004 Harmonized Tariff Schedules

CBP has issued Update No. 0310 which contains changes to the 2003 and 2004 Harmonized Tariff Schedules (HTS), and notes that this is the last set of updated records for the 2003 HTS.

According to CBP, the updated records are currently available to all ABI participants and can be retrieved electronically via the procedures indicated in the CATAIR.

This update contains:

o Information from Presidential Proclamations 7746 (Chile FTA) and 7747 (Singapore FTA), that are effective January 1, 2004

o Changes required by the verification of the 2003 and 2004 HTS

o Changes required by the 484(f) Committee

(Adm: 03-3007, dated 12/31/03, available by emailing staff@brokerpower.com )

5. 2004 TRQ on Milk/Cream (Condensed or Evaporated) Opens Jan 2, 2004

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced the 2004 TRQ on milk and cream, condensed or evaporated, provided for in HTS Chapter 4, Additional U.S. Note (AUSN) 11.

According to CBP, this TRQ opens on Friday, January 2, 2004 at 12 noon E.S.T., or its equivalent in other time zones, with the below-listed countries having the following minimum access quantities:

Australia:
Condensed, in airtight containers91,625 kg
Canada:
Evaporated, in airtight containers31,751 kg
Condensed, in airtight containers994,274 kg
Condensed, other2,267 kg
Denmark:
Evaporated, in airtight containers4,989 kg
Condensed, in airtight containers605,092 kg

CBP states that some of these low-duty TRQs are expected to oversubscribe at opening. (See CBP notice for list of HTS numbers, information concerning Canada and Mexico, further instructions for the opening of the minimum access quantities, etc.)

(QBT-2003-602, dated 12/29/03, available at http://www.cbp.gov/ImageCache/cgov/content/import/textiles/qbt/qbt2003/2003_2d602_2edoc/v1/2003_2d602.doc also issued as Adm: 03-3001)

6. 2004 TRQ on Peanut Butter and Paste Opens January 2, 2004

CBP has announced the 2004 TRQ for peanut butter and paste as provided for in HTS Chapter 20, AUSN 5.

According to CBP, this TRQ opens Friday, January 2, 2004 at 12 noon E.S.T., or its equivalent in other time zones, with the below-listed countries or areas having the following low-duty quantities:

Argentina3,650,000 kg20 AUSN 6 Countries1,600,000 kg
Canada14,500,000 kgOther Countries or Areas (except Mexico)250,000 kg

(See CBP notice for list of HTS numbers, special instructions for Canada and Mexico, etc.)

(QBT-2003-603, dated 12/29/03, available at http://www.cbp.gov/ImageCache/cgov/content/import/textiles/qbt/qbt2003/2003_2d603_2edoc/v1/2003_2d603.doc also issued as Adm: 03-3000)

7. 2004 TRQ on Ethyl Alcohol Opens on January 2, 2004

CBP has announced the 2004 TRQ for qualifying ethyl alcohol from the Caribbean countries and Insular Possessions as provided for in HTS Chapter 99, Subchapter I.

According to CBP, the low duty TRQ opens under HTS 9901.00.50 for 186,900,000 gallons (aggregate) on Friday, January 2, 2004 at 12 noon E.S.T., or its equivalent in other time zones.

(See CBP notice for special instructions as well as listings of Caribbean countries and the Insular Possessions, etc.)

(QBT-2003-604, dated 12/29/03, available at http://www.cbp.gov/ImageCache/cgov/content/import/textiles/qbt/qbt2003/2003_2d604_20_2edoc/v1/2003_2d604_20.doc also issued as Adm: 03-3005)

8. Textile & Apparel Quotas 85% or More Filled as of December 30, 2003

CBP has posted to its Web site its "critical list" of textiles and apparel subject to import quotas with entered quantities 85% or more filled as of December 30, 2003. CBP states that this "critical list" may be used by CBP as a reference for releasing quota merchandise "off line" when the Automated Commercial System (ACS) is down for longer than four hours. CBP notes that textile and apparel merchandise for Electronic Visa Information System (ELVIS) countries cannot be released "off line." CBP further notes that if the system is down for more than 24 hours, Headquarters Quota Branch should be contacted for further instructions. CBP also states that merchandise subject to tariff-rate quotas (TRQs), which are filled, may be released "off line" if entered under the "over quota" (high) rate of duty. (CBP's critical list dated 12/30/03 available at http://www.cbp.gov/ImageCache/cgov/content/import/textiles/textile_5fcritical_5flist/cl031230_2edoc/v1/cl031230.doc )