U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a general notice announcing that, in conjunction with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), it plans to conduct a National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) test concerning the transmission of automated truck manifest (ATM) data.
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.
The Journal of Commerce reports that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has asked for permission to keep the hours-of-service (HOS) final rule for truck drivers in effect for at least six more months while it tries to revise it after it was vacated by a court decision in July. (See ITT's Online Archives or 09/08/04 news, 04090810, for the FMCSA's filing to stay the court decision.) (JoC, dated 09/06/04, www.joc.com)
On September 7, 2004, President Bush signed Proclamation 7808 which makes various changes to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) with respect to: the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Acceleration Act of 2004 (AGOA III), the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an ABI administrative message which amends the interim procedures it issued on June 22, 2004 for processing entries of "prototypes" entered under HTS 9817.85.01.
The Journal of Commerce Online (JoC Online) reports that the U.S. will ask China to agree to a voluntary, negotiated cap on its textile and apparel exports to the U.S. In the absence of such a cap, U.S. government officials stated that the U.S. textile industry is prepared to file dozens of China safeguard petitions with the Department of Commerce (DOC). JoC Online adds that DOC is willing to accept "threat-based" petitions from the domestic industry, a sign that the U.S. could impose caps on Chinese imports such as pants, shirts, and towels as early as January 2005. (See ITT's Online Archives or 09/08/04 news, 04090899 4, for BP summary of the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreement's (CITA's) plan to issue guidelines on "threat-based" petitions.) (JoC Online Pub 09/07/04, www.joc.com)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a general notice inviting customs brokers to participate in the National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) Test for the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Secure Data Portal (ACE Portal).
In the September 1, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 36), CBP issued a notice proposing to revoke a classification ruling on an air blow gun kit. 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.
The Journal of Commerce Online reports that a decision by union longshoremen not to work on Labor Day could cause a labor shortage at the port of Los Angeles - Long Beach, throwing these ports into crisis mode due to record volumes of vessels in the port complex. The article notes that these ports have been struggling with port congestion due largely to delays in the intermodal rail network and a shortage of dockworkers. Port employers had asked the union to be available to work on Labor Day. (Joc Online, dated 09/01/04, www.joc.com )
In the August 25, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 35), CBP issued notices: (a) revoking a classification ruling on a miniature gardening tool set, (b) revoking a classification ruling on certain gas barbecue grills, and (c) revoking treatment regarding Durapore filtering material on rolls. 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 issued a final rule, effective September 29, 2004, which amends 19 CFR Parts 12 and 24 in order to eliminate the patent survey program.