The Mexican Tax Administration Service will begin testing on March 11 of electronic transmission of air cargo manifests for goods entering bonded facilities, it said in a fact sheet issued March 6. That transmission must include the number of the bonded facility where the goods are arriving, SAT said, outlining technical requirements for the transmission. Once this information is received, the Mexican Single Window will send a response message, it said.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency sent an AIRS update announcing that it will now recommend refusing entry to African giant pouched rats and squirrels of subheading 0511.99.1294.19. The release recommendation for that subheading had previously been “not regulated by CFIA.”
The Mexico Tax Administration Service announced that it has added a functionality in its VUCEM single window to allow downloads in PDF format of receipts of electronic submission of import documentation. Available in the “Consulta Documento Digitalizado” section, the new functionality is available as of March 6, SAT said. Electronic document receipts are required as part of “electronic files” of import and export documentation that must be maintained by importers, exporters and customs agents in Mexico under a regulation that took effect Dec. 22, 2018.
Brazil recently issued updated guidance that “aims to modernize and facilitate” procedures related to origin facilitation, KPMG said in a March 5 client alert. “Among other innovations,” the new guidance establishes that “an origin declaration may be presented for tariff preference purposes if provided for in the relevant trade agreement,” and also says “self-regulation (via import declarations) may be allowed for the importer, buyer or consignee, subject to certain conditions, and before [Brazil customs] initiates a procedure regarding the proof of origin,” KPMG said. The guidance also sets definitions for key terms, including proof of origin, declaration of origin and certificate of compliance.
Argentina Customs recently increased reference prices used to set minimum per unit valuation for imports of motorcycle helmets under subheading 6506.10.00 from a handful of countries in Asia, and added a new reference price for bicycle helmets from those countries, according to a notice in its Boletin Oficial. Reference prices for motorcycle helmets were increased to $16-$100, depending on materials used in the helmet, up from $13-$14, according to a note from Global Trade Alert. Reference prices for bicycle helmets were set at $2.82 to $4.50. The reference prices apply to merchandise from North Korean and South Korea, China, the Philippines, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, according to the notice.
Chile has increased tariff discounts applicable to imports of wheat, flour and meslin, according to a notice issued by the Chilean Ministry of Finance. Discounts for imports of wheat under subheadings 1001.91.00 and 1001.99.11-1001.99.99 are now set at $117.45 per ton, and discounts for imports of flour under subheading 1101.00.00 are now $183.22 per ton. They had previously been set at $91.69 and $143.04 per ton, respectively, according to Global Trade Alert. The increase took effect Feb. 16, and will remain in effect for two months.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency sent an AIRS update announcing that it has increased restrictions on release of certain egg products from bird species other than chickens of subheadings 0408.11.0274 and 0408.91.0278 imported for certain uses from every U.S. state except Arkansas, California, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin. The change applies to goods imported with the end uses "other end uses," "samples for testing," "scientific use (research)," and "show or exhibition," the update said.