On December 16-17, 2004, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) held a Cargo Security Summit at the Georgetown University Conference Center. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site CBP Commissioner Robert Bonner's remarks at the summit, highlights of which are provided below.
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 December 15, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 51), CBP issued notices: (a) revoking a classification ruling on tattoo needles, and (b) modifying a classification ruling on the glass article in drink mix kits. 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 (CBP) has posted separate notices to its Web site which list the calendar year 2005 Tariff Preference Levels (TPLs) for certain textiles and apparel from Canada and Mexico. These 2005 TPLs are set at the same levels as the 2004 TPL levels (with the exception of one Mexico TPL which expired, see below).
In the December 15, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 51), CBP issued notices: (a) proposing to revoke a classification ruling on a reticulated foam filter ring, (b) proposing to modify a classification ruling on fruits and an herb preserved in acetic acid, and (c) modifying a classification ruling on a feather "duster" tickler. CBP states that it is also revoking, or proposing to revoke, any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in these notices.
The Journal of Commerce Online reports that in a draft report to be released next month, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Clark Kent Ervin, who left his job in early December 2004, criticizes DHS for allowing federal grants for improving security at U.S. ports to be spent on low-priority problems rather than the most serous vulnerabilities. (JoC Online, dated 12/29/04, www.joc.com)
CBP has issued an ABI administrative message announcing that its most recent Harmonized System (HS) update (No. 0408) contains:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued three separate ABI administrative messages announcing that the Automated Commercial System (ACS) has completed the system changes to require the trade to electronically transmit the following in the entry summary miscellaneous permit/license field (52 record, positions 30-38) effective with the duty computation date of February 1, 2005:
The Wall Street Journal reports that China will impose export duties from 0.2 yuan (2.4 U.S. cents) and 0.5 yuan per unit on textiles starting January 1, according to the International Business Daily, which is published by China's Ministry of Commerce. Subject items cover six categories of goods, including outerwear, dresses, pants, knitted and nonknitted blouses, sleepwear and underwear, according to the report. (WSJ, dated 12/27/04, www.wsj.com )
In the December 15, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 51), CBP issued notices: (a) proposing to revoke a classification ruling on tungsten carbide rods, and (b) proposing to revoke a classification ruling on radio alarm clocks incorporating a CD player. 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.
In the December 8, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 50), CBP issued a notice revoking a classification ruling on certain combination stereos incorporating a dual cassette deck. CBP states that it is also revoking any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions that are contrary to its position in this notice.