CBP posted a March 4 version of its CF 1400 (Record of Vessel in Foreign Trade Entrances) electronic query report of the Vessel Management System (VMS), in accordance with 19 CFR 4.95, organized by entrances. CBP also posted a version of its CF 1401 (Record of Vessel in Foreign Trade Clearances) electronic query report of the VMS, in accordance with 19 CFR 4.95, organized by clearances.
CBP issued its weekly tariff rate quota and tariff preference level commodity report as of March 4. This report includes TRQs on various products such as beef, sugar, dairy products, peanuts, cotton, cocoa products, and tobacco; and certain BFTA, DR-CAFTA, Israel FTA, JFTA, MFTA, OFTA, SFTA, UAFTA (AFTA) and UCFTA (Chile FTA) non-textile TRQs etc. Each report also includes the AGOA, ATPDEA, BFTA, DR-CAFTA, CBTPA, Haitian HOPE, MFTA, NAFTA, OFTA, SFTA, and UCFTA TPLs and TRQs for qualifying textile articles and/or other articles; the TRQs on worsted wool fabrics, etc.
CBP's New York Field Office will have its quarterly broker meeting March 6, it said in an informational pipeline. Agenda topics will include ACE issue and updates, review of current post entry amendment and protest procedures and trade fair entries, it said. The meeting will start at 10 a.m. at 1100 Raymond Boulevard, Newark N.J.
CBP's Seattle Field Office plans a public forum to discuss the impact of sequestration on CBP operations, said CBP Seattle in a March 4 Trade Information Notice (TIN). The forum is scheduled for 10-11 a.m. on March 8 at the Jackson Federal Building at 915 Second Ave. Seattle, WA 98/174, the TIN said.
In the Feb. 27 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (Vol. 47, No. 10), CBP published two notices that propose to modify rulings and similar treatment regarding the tariff classification of dry suits and reagent kits.
CBP posted three Great Idea Forms (GIF) on a request from the Trade Support Network meant to allow for interaction with the Participating Government Agency (PGA) Message Set through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).
The definition of "welt footwear" isn't determined by the angle at which the lip attaches to the insole, despite a 1993 Treasury Decision saying otherwise, said CBP's Tariff Classification and Marking Branch in two rulings. The internal advice and protest rulings go against the findings of the ports, which disagreed with the importer's classification of the merchandise as "of welt construction" based on the lip angle. CBP highlighted the rulings on its website, something it typically does for issues that come up frequently among importers. The internal advice ruling is (here). The protest ruling is (here).
A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the International Trade Administration posted to CBP's website March 1, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching for the listed CBP message number at addcvd.cbp.gov. (CBP occasionally adds backdated messages without otherwise indicating which message was added. ITT will include a message date in parentheses in such cases.)
CBP issued a final rule, effective March 5, to amend CBP regulations to reflect the imposition of import restrictions on certain archaeological and ethnological material from Belize. These restrictions are being imposed in accordance with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. The final rule adds Belize to the list of countries for which a bilateral agreement has been entered into for imposing cultural property import restrictions. It also contains the designated list that describes the types of archaeological and ethnological articles to which the restrictions apply.
CBP will now handle the background checks of bonded facility employees, previously performed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations, CBP said in a CSMS message. CBP will use the Trusted Worker Module and Global Enrollment System for the vetting, allowing a "more informed decision in approving an application," said CBP. CBP will be requiring background information to be submitted from facility officers, principals and those individuals with access to facility recordkeeping, the agency said. The information submitted will be done on a one-time only basis and submission of fingerprints will be done on an as-needed basis.