CBP CROSS Rulings

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.

(This ITT summary first appeared in the August 31, 2006 issue of ITT as 06083135. However, a formatting error prevented some readers from receiving it, so it is being reissued.)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has published a correction to its July 17, 2006 notice soliciting members for the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC). CBP is correcting its July 17, 2006 notice by deleting a paragraph under the "Committee Membership" section of the notice regarding COAC members being appointed and serving as Special Government Employees (SGEs). (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/19/06 news, 06071905, for BP summary of CBP's July 17, 2006 notice, which did not address the section now being deleted.(CBP correction, FR Pub 08/15/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-13320.pdf.)

The President of the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America's (NCBFAA) has issued a letter to the Chair of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Subcommittee in the Office of the U.S Trade Representative (USTR) calling on the administration to work closely with Congress to ensure a timely, long-term renewal of the GSP beyond its December 31, 2006 expiration date. (See ITT's Online Archives or 08/11/06 news, 06081110, for BP summary of USTR's request for comments on changes, etc. to the GSP program.)(NCBFAA letter, announcement dated 08/31/06, available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted its new Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) minimum-security criteria for rail carriers, which are effective as of August 29, 2006.

The State Department's Washington File states that while at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 38th Economic Ministers' Meeting, the U.S. and the member countries of ASEAN signed a trade and investment framework agreement (TIFA), which is expected to facilitate market access and promote trade in key areas such as agriculture and pharmaceuticals. (Washington File Report, dated 08/25/06, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=August&x=20060825175510ASesuarK0.8261988)

In the August 23, 2006 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBPBulletin) (Vol. 40, No. 35), CBP issued a notice proposing to revoke a classification ruling on certain manicure and pedicure sets containing textile gloves and socks. CBP states that it is also proposing to revoke any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions.

(This ITT summary was reissued in the September 6, 2006 issue of ITT, 06090650, as a formatting error prevented some readers from receiving it.)

In the August 16, 2006 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionBulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 40, No. 34), CBP issued notices: (a) detailing the dates and draft agenda for the 38^th Session of the Harmonized System Committee (HSC), and (b) proposing to revoke a classification ruling on certain direct current (DC) to DC converters. CBP states that it is also proposing to revoke any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions.

In the August 9, 2006 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBPBulletin) (Vol. 40, No. 33), CBP issued a notice proposing to revoke three classification rulings on motorized utility vehicles. CBP states that it is also proposing to revoke any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions.