CBP CROSS Rulings

On November 2-4, 2005, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) held its annual Trade Symposium in Washington, DC.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report entitled, Aviation Security: Federal Action Needed to Strengthen Domestic Air Cargo Security, in which it evaluates the Transportation Security Agency's (TSA's) risk-based management approach to addressing air cargo security, its actions and plans to ensure and enhance air cargo security, etc.

According to Washington Trade Daily, President Bush is likely to sign legislation (S. 1713) soon that would expand U.S. sanctions against Syria. (WTD, 11/16/05, www.washingtontradedaily.com )

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently issued an interim rule which, effective October 5, 2005, eliminated the textile declaration requirement and newly required the Manufacturer Identification Code (MID) for textile and apparel products from all countries to be constructed from the name and address of the entity performing the origin-conferring operations, etc.

In the November 2, 2005 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBPBulletin) (Vol. 39, No. 45), CBP issued notices: (a) proposing to modify a classification ruling and proposing to revoke a classification ruling on glass rods used to make optic fibers, and (b) revoking a classification ruling on a certain white sauce/dairy spread. CBP states that it is also proposing to revoke, or is revoking, any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in these notices.

In the matter of U.S. v. Pan Pacific Textile Group et al., the Court of International Trade (CIT) ruled that the principal is responsible for unpaid duties under 19 CFR 1592(d) stemming from fraudulent customs violations by his agent, who was the "importer of record" for certain tracksuits imported from China.

The Washington File reports that during a November 7 press conference in Panama City, President Bush stated that the U.S. and Panama are close to agreeing on a free-trade pact between the two nations. The President also praised the Panamanian government's consideration of the modernization of the Panama Canal. (Washington File Pub 11/07/05, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/wh/Archive/2005/Nov/07-402939.html)

In the October 26, 2005 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBPBulletin) (Vol. 39, No. 44), CBP issued notices: (a) proposing to modify a classification ruling on chocolate confectioneries, and (b) modifying a classification ruling on certain gloves with coated overlays. CBP states that it is also proposing to revoke, or is revoking, any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in these notices.

In the October 26, 2005 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBPBulletin) (Vol. 39, No. 44), CBP issued a notice proposing to revoke a classification ruling on an item described in error as an Ethernet card. CBP states that it is also proposing to revoke any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in this notice.

In the October 19, 2005 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBPBulletin) (Vol. 39, No. 43), CBP issued a notice proposing to revoke four classification rulings on laminated steel sheet with plastic. CBP states that it is also proposing to revoke any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in these notices.