U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a memorandum providing instructions for the filing and acceptance of claims for preferential tariff treatment of goods made under the U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA).
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.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an interim rule on the time period and other requirements for requesting refunds of any excess customs duties paid on entries of a country's textile or apparel goods that are entitled to the retroactive application of preferential tariff treatment under the Dominican Republic - Central America - U.S. Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA).
In June 2005, the Court of International Trade ruled in International Custom Products (ICP), Inc. v. U.S., that a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Notice of Action (Rate Advance) reclassifying certain "white sauce" is null and void as CBP failed to observe 19 USC 1625(c) which requires, among other things, advance notice and comment when such an action would revoke or modify a binding ruling.
The Journal of Commerce reports that progress has been made on two technology fronts in the battle for supply-chain security - an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) working group has agreed to an outline of standards for an electronic container seal and a company that has been working closely with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to perfect a container security device announced that it had passed a critical test for reliability. The article notes that a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulation expected to require seals for all containers is under departmental review. (JoC, dated 02/06/06, www.joc.com.)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a notice announcing that it has reopened its comment period until March 31, 2006, for a proposed rule to amend its regulations regarding the importation of nursery stock.
In the February 22, 2006 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 40, No. 9), CBP issued a notice proposing to revoke a classification ruling on antimony trisulphide. CBP states that it is also proposing to revoke any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical merchandise.
The February 2006 issue of American Shipper contains an article on how complicated trade has become. According to the article, suggestions for simplifying trade include (partial list): Congress and the courts could give common sense and simplification deference when creating or altering trade laws; Congressional leaders could, as a precursor to a Trade Simplification Act, appoint a multi-disciplinary group to closely study and offer meaningful recommendations for simplification; the long, overdue International Trade Data System (ITDS) could aid the simplification cause; making it easier to comply with the law could free up vital U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) resources for the homeland security missions; etc. (American Shipper, dated 02/06, www.americanshipper.com.)
(see corrected version of this BP summary in ITT's 03/16/06 news, 06031610)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a reminder regarding the country of origin labeling requirements for certain socks, which takes effect on March 3, 2006.
In the February 15, 2006 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 40, No. 8), CBP issued a notice revoking two classification rulings on ceramic dinnerware "available in specified sets." CBP states that it is also revoking any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical merchandise.