CBP Administrative Messages, Web Postings, Etc.

1. Snow day for Port of Chicago on December 1, 2006

2. Blaine ABI Office was Closed November 27-28, 2006

CBP has issued an ABI administrative message stating that the ABI office in Blaine, Washington was closed on November 27 and 28, 2006. CBP (CBP Adm: 06-1200, dated 12/04/06, available at http://www.brokerpower.com/cgi-bin/adminsearch/admmsg.view.pl?article=2006/2006-1200.ADM)

3. 2007 TRQ on Infant Formula Opens January 2, 2007

CBP has posted to its Web site a notice announcing that the 2007 tariff-rate quota (TRQ) on infant formula provided for in HTS Chapter 19, Additional U.S. Note 2 (AUSN) will open on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 at 12 p.m. EST, or its equivalent in other time zones with a low-duty quantity of 100,000 kg.

(See CBP's notice for list of applicable HTS numbers as well as special instructions on (i) low-duty exclusions from Mexico and (ii) high-duty reporting instructions for Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Jordan, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Singapore.) (QBT-06-585, dated 11/30/06, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/qbts/qbt2006/06_585.ctt/06_585.doc)

4. 2007 TRQ on Animal Feed Containing Milk/Milk Derivates Opens January 2, 2007

CBP has posted to its Web site a notice announcing that the 2007 TRQ on animal feed containing milk or milk derivates as provided for in HTS Chapter 23, AUSN 2 will open on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 at 12 p.m. EST, or its equivalent in other time zones. The aggregate low-duty quantity is 7,399,700 kg and the below-listed countries have the following minimum access amounts:

(See CBP's notice for list of applicable HTS numbers as well as special instructions on (i) low-duty exclusions from Mexico and (ii) high-duty reporting instructions for Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Jordan, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Singapore.) (QBT-06-586, dated 11/30/06, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/qbts/qbt2006/06_586.ctt/06_586.doc)

5. 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. 0608) include the following:

The U.S.-Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA 2006) was signed on September 12, 2006, and took effect on October 12, 2006. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/08/06 news, 06101805 for BP summary of the SLA 2006 entry into force; See ITT's Online Archives or 11/13/06, 06111307 for BP summary of implementation instructions for the SLA 2006.)

The staged rates effective January 1, 2007 have been added to the Automated Commercial System (ACS)

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) final rule for beef importer assessments was effective on September 15, 2006. (See ITT's Online Archives or 08/21/06 news, 06082135, for BP summary of the final rule.)

The AMS final rule for fresh mushrooms that raised importer assessments for 0709.51.0100 and 0709.59.0000 to $.0043 per pound is effective on January 1, 2007. (See ITT's Online Archives or 11/01/06 news, (Ref:11/01/06) 4, for BP summary of the final rule.)

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). (CBP Adm: 06-1195, dated 11/30/06, available at http://www.brokerpower.com/cgi-bin/adminsearch/admmsg.view.pl?article=2006/2006-1195.ADM)

6. Various Postings to CBP's Web Site

CBP has recently posted the following to its Web site:

List of selected RLF, EIP Administrative Messages. CBP has posted to its Web site a document that provides Administrative Messages detailing procedures for Remote Location Filing (RLF), Electronic Invoice Processing (EIP), and the use of Invoice by Request (INVREQ) in both RLF and EIP. (CBP document, dated 11/28/06 http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/cargo_summary/remote_location_filing/operational_notes/message_list.xml)

Tips for safe holiday travel. CBP has issued a news release announcing that it is anticipating an increase in border traffic as the holiday season approaches and provides tips for a quick and safe holiday travel border crossing. (CBP press release, dated 11/28/06, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/11282006_2.xml)

Passport requirements for people coming back to the U.S. from Canada & Mexico. CBP has posted an answer to the question "Do I need a passport when coming back to the U.S. from Mexico or Canada?" CBP states that currently a passport is not needed when traveling back to the U.S. from those two countries. However, CBP states that beginning on January 23, 2007 all persons, including U.S. citizens traveling by air between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport or other accepted travel document (NEXUS Air card, or Merchant Mariner's Document) to re-enter the U.S. (See ITT's Online Archives or 11/30/06 news, 06113015, for BP summary of final rule on the WHTI, which sets new document requirements for travelers.) (CBP Q&A, dated 11/29/06, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/highlights/cbp_responds/passport_faq.xml

7. Miscellaneous CBP Messages on AD and CV Duty Actions

The antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) messages CBP issues on behalf of the International Trade Administration (ITA) are now only available on CBP's Web site at http://addcvd.cbp.gov. AD and CV ABI administrative messages are no longer issued.

An overview of a number of recent AD/CV messages posted to CBP's Web site, along with the case number(s), period covered, and CBP message number, are provided below. (Note that the complete message is only available at http://addcvd.cbp.gov.)