On May 18, 2006, the International Trade Administration (ITA) issued a notice amending its final antidumping (AD) duty determination for certain hot-rolled flat-rolled carbon quality steel from Japan for Nippon, as there is now a final and conclusive decision in the court proceeding.
CBP CROSS Rulings
CBP issues binding advance rulings in connection with the importation of merchandise into the United States. They issue the rulings to give the trade community transparency of how CBP will treat a prospective import or carrier transaction. Common rulings include the tariff classification, country of origin, or free trade agreement applicability of merchandise, among other things. These rulings are available in CBP's Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) database.
In the May 17, 2006 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 40, No. 21), CBP issued a notice proposing to modify three classification rulings on certain skin care products. CBP states that it is also proposing to revoke any treatment previously accorded by it on substantially identical transactions.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted three recently reviewed Informed Compliance Publications (ICPs), with March-May 2006 updates, to its Web site:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a revised version of its informed compliance publication (ICP) entitled, What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know About: Country of Origin of Knit-to-Shape Apparel Products.
In Corrpro Cos. v. United States, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed the CIT, ruling that Customs did not make a protestable decision as to North American Free Trade Agreement ((NAFTA) eligibility.
In the May 10, 2006 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 40, No. 20), CBP issued notices: (a) modifying a classification ruling on a metal imitation lunch box, and (b) modifying or revoking two classification rulings on glass rods used to make fiber optics. CBP states that it is also revoking any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions.
According to Washington Trade Daily, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Grassley has stated that he will not move legislation to reauthorize the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program - slated to expire on December 31, 2006 - because some beneficiary countries, particularly India and Brazil, are holding up the Doha Round of World Trade Organization talks. The article also states that Ways and Means Chairman Thomas last month suggested that GSP and all other U.S. trade preference programs be allowed to expire. (WTD, dated 05/17/06, www.washingtontradedaily.com )
On May 4, 2006, the House of Representatives amended and passed H.R. 4954, the Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act.
In the May 10, 2006 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 40, No. 20), CBP issued notices: (a) modifying or revoking two classification rulings on alligator clips used for electrical connections, and (b) revoking three classification rulings on machines for producing metal-coated glass discs containing digitally-encoded data. CBP states that it is also revoking any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in these notices.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently posted to its website guidance on understanding legislated textile trade preferences programs. The presentation titled "Textile Trade Preference Programs AGOA, CBTPA, ATPDEA (March 2006)" is part of CBP's in-house training material for field Import Specialists.