U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a final rule, effective August 30, 2004, which adopts without change an interim rule (T.D. 03-23) that amended 19 CFR 111.13(b) to allow CBP to publish a notice changing the date on which the semi-annual Customs broker license examination is held when the normal date conflicts with a holiday, religious observance, or other scheduled event.
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 August 25, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 35), CBP issued notices: (a) proposing to revoke two classification rulings on certain massaging slippers, and (b) proposing to revoke a classification ruling on orthodontic cervical neck pads. 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.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a final rule which, effective August 27, 2004, makes certain technical corrections to 19 CFR.
On August 25, 2004, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Subcommittee on Aviation held a hearing to review and discuss the aviation security recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the U.S. (the 9/11 Commission).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a final rule, effective September 13, 2004, that amends 19 CFR Part 101 by extending the geographical limits of the port of Chicago, IL to include parts of the City of Elwood, IL. According to CBP, there is an intermodal facility in Elwood, IL. (CBP final rule, FR Pub 08/13/04, CBP Dec. 04-24, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-18515.pdf.)
The World Customs Organization (WCO) has issued an amending supplement (No. 5 dated February 2004) to the Harmonized System Explanatory Notes (ENs). (Although not binding on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the ENs are followed by CBP whenever possible.)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a proposed interpretive rule regarding the classification of baseball-style caps with ornamental braid. Comments on this proposed interpretive rule are due by October 26, 2004.
In the August 18, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 34), CBP issued notices: (a) revoking a classification ruling on portable locking gun cases, and (b) modifying a classification ruling on a security indicator assembly. 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.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued final and temporary regulations, effective September 28, 2004, relating to the entry of taxable fuel (gasoline, diesel fuel, and kerosene) into the U.S. The IRS states that these final and temporary regulations affect enterers of taxable fuel, other importers of record, and certain sureties.
In the August 18, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBPBulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 34), CBP issued notices: (a) proposing to modify a valuation ruling on defective watches sent abroad for repair and then returned to the U.S. and proposing to revoke a valuation ruling on used lacquer thinner recycled abroad and then returned to the U.S., and (b) withdrawing proposed revocations of two classification rulings on certain carbon-lined clothing and carbon-impregnated fabric.