CBP CROSS Rulings

American Shipper reports that in an abrupt change of policy, the U.S. State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) will no longer approve export licenses for freight forwarders that have traditionally managed international shipments for American shippers of military technology. The article reports that the DDTC's policy is now that an applicant must be the entity who is selling the defense article to the designated recipient foreign company. (American Shipper, dated 08/08/05, ShippersNewswire@americanshipper.com )

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a new informed compliance publication (ICP) entitled, "Household Articles of Base Metal."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a new informed compliance publication (ICP) entitled, "Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and Electronic Organizers."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued its eighth version (dated July 25, 2005) of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and responses regarding its final rule requiring the advance electronic presentation of information for inbound air cargo.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice stating that Canadian beef for personal consumption is not admissible into the U.S., and that no ruminant products from Canada may currently enter the U.S. without a permit, including frozen, cooked, canned or otherwise processed beef, lamb, and veal.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission staff (CPSC) has developed a draft plan entitled International Consumer Product Safety Program Plan - China (draft plan) to improve the safety of the following consumer products imported from China and Hong Kong (China): clothing, textiles, and toys; hazardous products such as cigarette and multipurpose lighters; home appliances; hazardous chemical consumer products; and bicycle helmets.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a press release stating that on September 16, 2005 it will begin enforcement of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) import regulation for wood packaging material (WPM).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a proposed rule which would establish a new port-of-entry in the Tri-Cities areas of the States of Tennessee and Virginia, including the Tri-Cities Regional Airport. According to CBP, this new port-of-entry would include the same geographical boundaries of the current CBP User Fee Port No. 2082, which encompasses Sullivan County, TN; Washington County, TN; and Washington County, VA. The user fee status of Tri-Cities Regional Airport, located in Blountville, TN would be terminated. Comments must be received on or before September 27, 2005. (D/N DHS-2005-0050, FR Pub 07/29/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-15045.pdf)

According to Washington Trade Daily, H.R. 3283, which among other things, would have allowed the Commerce Department to impose countervailing duty laws on nonmarket economies such as China, failed to pass the House by the two-thirds majority needed under special suspension of the rules procedures. The article reports that Congressional sources state that H.R. 3283 will be brought up under "regular order" on July 27, 2005. (WTD, dated 07/27/05, www.washingtontradedaily.com )

In the July 20, 2005 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 39, No. 30), CBP issued two notices proposing to revoke or modify seven classification rulings on certain sports equipment. 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.