On December 20, 2004, President Bush issued Proclamation 7857 to amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) to implement the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This proclamation is published in the December 23, 2004 Federal Register.
Customs duty
A customs duty is a tariff or tax which a country imposes on goods when they are transported across international borders. Customs Duties are used to protect countries' economies, residents, jobs, and environments, by limiting the flow of imported merchandise, especially restricted and prohibited goods, into the country. The Customs duty rate is a percentage determined by the value of the article purchased in the foreign country and not based on quality, size, or weight. U.S. customs duties are listed in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice announcing the allocation of the calendar year 2005 tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for the importation of two types of worsted wool fabrics at the in-quota (low) TRQ duty rate to qualifying U.S. makers of men's and boys' worsted wool suits, suit-type jackets, and trousers. The ITA notes that while its notice contains the names of the allocation recipients, it is not publishing these recipients' allocation amounts because these amounts are based on applicant data that is generally considered business confidential. (ITA notice, FR Pub 12/14/04) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/E4-3642.pdf.)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that the 2005 tariff-rate quota (TRQ) on dried milk as provided for in HTS Chapter 4, Additional U.S. Note (AUSN) 7 will open on Monday, January 3, 2005 at 12 noon E.S.T., or its equivalent in other time zones with a low-duty quantity of 5,261,000 kg. CBP notes that imports described in HTS Chapter 4, AUSN 7 are subject to agriculture licensing. (See CBP's notice for list of applicable HTS numbers as well as special instructions on (i) when no license is used or presented, and (ii) imports from Canada, Chile, Mexico, Jordan, and Singapore.) (QBT-04-572, dated 12/10/04, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/qbts/QBT2004/04_572.ctt/04_572.doc)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an ABI administrative message informing all filers that any data input into the Importer of Record database (SRE file), on or after December 20, 2004, that is identified as being input as a knowingly invalid record will result in a broker penalty under 19 USC 1641(d) for egregious violation. CBP states that additionally, upon discovery of such false records, CBP personnel will immediately void the identified records to impede any future transactions.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued two notices regarding the amendments made by the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004 (Public Law (P.L.) 108-429) to African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and U.S.-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) textiles and apparel.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued two notices regarding the amendments to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the U.S.-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) for textiles and apparel authorized by the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004 (Public Law (P.L.) 108-429).
CBP Memo on Effective Date of Protest, 1520(c), and Other Provisions of the Miscellaneous Trade Bill
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a memorandum on the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004 (Public Law (P.L.) 108-429), which was signed into law on December 3, 2004.
On December 3, 2004, President Bush signed into law the conference version of H.R. 1047, the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004 (Public Law (P.L.) 108-429).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced the 2005 tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for agricultural products described in HTS Chapter 99, Subchapter X, U.S. Notes 3 through 12 with respect to the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SFTA).
On December 10, 2004, President Bush issued Presidential Proclamation 7853 in order to designate Burkina Faso as an African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) beneficiary country.