U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued two notices regarding the changes made by the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Acceleration Act of 2004 (AGOA III) for textiles and apparel, one of which contains instructions for requesting certain retroactive AGOA II (Trade Act of 2002) and AGOA III apparel benefits, as detailed 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 July 21, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBPBulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 30), CBP issued notices: (a) proposing to modify a classification ruling on non-electric, metal bicycle bells, and (b) announcing its grant of "Lever-Rule" protection for blood glucose monitoring devices. 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 the proposed modification notice.
In the July 21, 2004 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 38, No. 30), CBP issued notices: (a) proposing to modify a classification ruling on painted glass sinks, and (b) proposing to revoke a classification ruling on aero-derivative gas turbines. 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.
As required by the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (P.L. 107-228), the Census Bureau has been developing regulations to mandate filing through the Automated Export System (AES) of all exports that require Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) information.
The Journal of Commerce Online reports that a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official has recently stated that DHS wants to establish a "gold standard" for supply-chain security that combines regulation and voluntary cooperation between government and business. According to the article, the criteria would comprise security measures enforced through DHS regulation, and cooperative programs like the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), and that combined, they would allow commerce to resume after a terrorist attack. (JoC Online, dated 07/26/04, www.joc.com.)
The Journal of Commerce Online reports that the World Trade Organization (WTO) Heads of Delegations will meet on August 3, 2004 on the January 1, 2005 elimination of textile and apparel quotas imposed on WTO member countries. The article notes that only 17 countries have been invited to this meeting -including the U.S., European Union, China and India - but that other countries want to attend. (JoC Online, dated 07/27/04, www.joc.com )
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued its second version (dated July 19, 2004) 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 its second version (dated July 19, 2004) 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 its second version (dated July 19, 2004) 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 announced that the following vessel operating common carriers (VOCCs) have become Sea Automated Manifest System (AMS) operational: