CBP Administrative Messages, Web Postings, Etc.
CBP has posted to its Web site a notice announcing a "weekly" special import quota of 23,276,125 kg for upland cotton purchased not later than December 5, 2006 and entered under HTS 9903.52.22. The quota period is September 7, 2006 through March 5, 2007; the opening date is September 7, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. EDT, or its equivalent in other time zones.
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1. September 7 Opening of 180-Day Special Import Quota for Upland Cotton (Announcement Number 22)
According to CBP, the use of the "special import quota" is at the importer's option and is not subject to the tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) in HTS Chapter 52 Additional U.S. Notes (AUSNs) 5 through 10. CBP has previously stated that these 180-day quotas are established pursuant to a 1991 Presidential Proclamation, are "triggered" by high C.I.F Northern European cotton prices, and are provided for in HTS Chapter 99, Subchapter III, U.S. Note 6. (See notice for special instructions concerning the requirement for an original foreign government certificate and a certification by the importer.) (QBT-06-549, dated 08/31/06, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/qbts/qbt2006/06_549.ctt/06_549.doc.)
2. Weekly TRQ/TPL Commodity Report as of September 5, 2006
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued its weekly tariff rate quota (TRQ)/tariff preference level (TPL) commodity report as of September 5, 2006. This report includes TRQs on various products such as beef, tuna, sugar, dairy products, peanuts, cotton, cocoa powder, tobacco, certain BFTA, CAFTA-DR, JFTA, MFTA, NAFTA, SFTA, UAFTA (AFTA) and UCFTA (Chile FTA) non-textile TRQs, etc. Each report also includes the AGOA, ATPDEA, BFTA, CAFTA-DR, CBTPA, MFTA, NAFTA, SFTA, and UCFTA (Chile FTA) TPLs and TRQs for qualifying apparel and/or other textile articles, the TRQs on worsted wool fabrics, etc. (CBP's weekly TRQ/TPL commodity report, dated 09/05/06, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/commodity/)
3. HS Update - Changes to the 2006 Harmonized Tariff Schedule Records
CBP has issued an ABI administrative message announcing that recent changes to the 2006 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) records, Harmonized System (HS) Update (No. 0606) including the following:
The Bahrain Free Trade Agreement was enacted by Presidential Proclamation 8039. The effective date of the change to CBP's tariff file is August 1, 2006.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has issued a final rule reducing the assessment levels under the Beef Promotion and Research Rules on imported beef and beef products. These reduced assessment levels became effective September 15, 2006.
Possible changes required by the verification of the 2006 HTS, CBP will continue to verify the 2006 HTS for the remainder of the year; and
Possible changes to the OGA flags and tariff rate quota indicators on the tariff file.
CBP states that updated records are currently available to all ABI participants and can be retrieved electronically via the procedures outlined in the Customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements (CATAIR). (Adm: 06-1031, dated 08/29/06, available at http://www.brokerpower.com/cgi-bin/adminsearch/admmsg.view.pl?article=2006/2006-1031.ADM.)
4. New Modified ACE EDI Messages for Release 4 Truck Manifest
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted the following new modified ACE EDI messages for Release 4 Truck Manifest:
ANSI X.12 message sets:
Record of changes ANSI X.12 messages (dated 09/05/06)
Truck Manifest 355 message (dated 09/05/06)
Document BB (dated 07/18/06)
UN EDIFACT Message Sets for Standard Manifest:
Standard Truck Manifest CUSREP Conveyance Report Message (dated 09/05/06)
Customs Response Message (CUSRES) Accept/Reject (dated 09/05/06)
(New modified ACE EDI messages available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/about/modernization/carrier_info/ace_edi_drafts/edi_messages/.)
5. CBP Awards Contract to Develop Port Security Pilot Program
CBP has issued a press release announcing that it awarded a contract to Northrop Grumman Corporation to expand the Border Security Development Program (BSDP) to ports of entry along the southern U.S. border. The BSDP, which is fully deployed at more than 124 ports of entry along the Northern Border, provides a multi-faceted surveillance and intrusion detection system for land ports of entry. (CBP press release, dated 08/28/06, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/08282006_2.xml.)
6. Various Postings to CBP's Web Site
CBP has recently posted the following to its Web site:
Commissioner breaks ground for aviation training center. CBP has issued a press release announcing that Commissioner Basham broke ground on August 25, 2006 on a new aviation training center at the Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City. (CBP press release, dated 08/25/06, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/highlights/news_highlights/commish_break_ground.xml.)
FY 2006 Byrd Amendment certifications received report. CBP has posted its fiscal year (FY) 2006 Byrd Amendment certifications received report. This report provides information on the claimant name, case name and case number. (CBP report, dated 08/29/06, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/add_cvd/cont_dump/cdsoa_06/fy06_certs.ctt/fy06_certs.pdf.)