Census Says Schedule B Updated for 2012, AES Mainframe Ready Jan 4
Census sources state that its online Schedule B "browse" function now reflects the January 1, 2012 export codes, including all of the World Customs Organization-recommended HS changes. The AES mainframe will be updated for the 2012 Schedule B export codes, as well as the preliminary 2012 HTS import codes (i.e., the 484(f) changes, but not the WCO changes) at midnight January 3, 2012. AESDirect and AESPcLink will be updated to match the mainframe no sooner than January 4.
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Schedule B in AES to Reflect WCO Changes, HTS in AES to Wait for Proclamation
Census sources explain that while the 2012 Schedule B export codes in AES will reflect all the WCO-recommended HS changes, the 2012 HTS import codes in AES will exclude them and remain preliminary (i.e., only reflecting the 484(f) changes at the statistical level) until the Proclamation implementing the WCO-recommended changes for imports is in effect (which is expected to be in early February 2012). Once the Proclamation is in effect, the HTS import codes in AES will be updated to reflect the WCO-recommended changes.
WCO Changes Affect Food, Video Game Machines, Diapers, Etc.
According to Export.gov, WCO-recommended changes take effect every five years, and update the nomenclature or clarify the classification of particular goods. The bulk of the 2012 changes are in the food-related chapters (Chapters 1-21). Other chapters with notable changes include: Chapter 24 (water-pipe tobacco), Chapters 27 and 38 (biodiesel), Chapter 28 (mercury compounds), Chapter 85 (water-jet cutting machines), Chapter 95 (video game machines), and Chapter 96 (Diapers, etc.).
In all, the WCO-recommended changes include 204 amendments in 53 different HS Chapters, affecting 108 different headings and 39 legal notes.
AES 30-Day Grace Period Expected to End on Jan 31
Export.gov states that AES users will need to download new tables for import and export codes as usual in January 2012. In addition, there will be a 30-day grace period during which AES will accept the old codes. This grace period is expected to end on January 31, 2012. Using old codes after January 31, 2012 is expected to result in transaction failures for AES filings.
(See ITT's Online Archives 11123001 for summary stating that the WCO HTS changes are expected to be effective in early February 2012. See ITT's Online Archives 11122708 and 11123015 for summary and correction to the 484(f) HTS changes at the 9th and 10th statistical level.
See ITT's Online Archives 11122318 for summary of ITC's online preliminary version of 2012 HTS, etc. See ITT's Online Archives 11111719 for compiled list from the 2010 ITC report on the WCO-recommended changes, which are reported to be 99.9% accurate for HTS Chapters 1-97.)
2012 Schedule B "browse" webpage available here.