CBP Administrative Messages, Electronic Bulletin Board Notices, Etc
CBP has posted a notice to its Web site stating that the fourth 2003/2004 "low duty" tariff rate quota (TRQ) for specialty sugar for the August 10, 2004 through September 30, 2004 period opens for 2,000,000 kg on August 10, 2004 at 1:00 EDST or its equivalent in other time zones. CBP notes that this TRQ is expected to oversubscribe at opening moment.
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1. Fourth Specialty Sugar TRQ to Open on August 10, 2004
CBP states that a specialty sugar certificate is required to claim the "low duty" rate and notes that certificates are issued for each separate quota period. According to CBP, it would not be advantageous to file entries for specialty sugar utilizing the Automated Clearing House (ACH) as the method of payment. According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) press release, this fourth TRQ is reserved for organic sugar and other specialty sugars not currently commercially produced in the U.S. or reasonably availablefrom domestic sources. (QBT-04-526, dated 07/28/04, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/qbts/QBT2004/2004-526.ctt/2004-526.doc; USDA press release No. 0294.04, dated 07/16/04, available at http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/0294.04.html)
2. CBP Announces New HQ Quota Branch Telephone and Fax Numbers
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted two identical notices to its Web site stating that as a result of the transition of CBP to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a new telephone system is being installed at CBP Headquarters (HQ). (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/30/04 news, 04073005, for related BP summary.)
According to CBP, this new installation will impact the contact information for the HQ Quota Branch staff. Therefore, effective Monday, August 2, 2004, field personnel and members of the trade community should use the following new telephone and facsimile numbers to contact HQ Quota Branch:
| Main Line | (202) 344-2650 |
| Fax | (202) 344-2371 |
(CBP's notices (QBT-04-017 (for textiles) and QBT-04-521 (for non-textiles), dated 07/21/04, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/qbts/QBT2004/2004-017.ctt/2004-017.doc and http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/qbts/QBT2004/2004-521.ctt/2004-521.doc, respectively.)
3. Textile and Apparel Quotas 85% or More Filled as of July 26, 2004
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 July 26, 2004. 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" until it is processed through quota. 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 if entered under the "over quota" (high) rate of duty. (CBP's critical list, dated 07/26/04, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/textile_critical_list/)
4. CBP Issues Fact Sheet on Protecting U.S. Borders Against Terrorism
CBP has issued a fact sheet on its mission to protect U.S. borders against terrorism, while facilitating legitimate trade and travel. CBP states that it uses multiple strategies and employs the latest in technology to accomplish its dual goals. According to CBP, its initiatives are designed to protect the homeland from acts of terrorism, and reduce the vulnerability to the threat of terrorists through a multi-level inspection process. (Fact sheet, dated 07/22/04, at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/newsroom/highlights/cbp_officers.ctt/cbp_officer.doc)