The Census Bureau has posted to its Web site a list of 186 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) numbers that are invalid for use in the Automated Export System (AES) as of January 1, 2005.
Harmonized Tariff Schedule
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) is a reference manual that provides duty rates for almost every item that exists. It is a system of classifying and taxing all goods imported into the United States. The HTS is based on the international Harmonized System, which is a global standard for naming and describing trade products, and consists of a hierarchical structure that assigns a specific code and rate to each type of merchandise for duty, quota, and statistical purposes. The HTS was made effective on January 1, 1989, replacing the former Tariff Schedules of the United States. It is maintained by the U.S. International Trade Commission, but the Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the HTS.
According to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) notice and CBP sources, the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) filing of entries for goods eligible for U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement (UAFTA) duty benefits is not available at this time due to ongoing system programming for the UAFTA.
On December 20, 2004, President Bush issued Proclamation 7857 in order to implement the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement (UAFTA). (See ITT's Online Archives or 12/23/04 news, 04122305, for BP summary announcing the issuance of Proclamation 7857.)
CBP has issued an ABI administrative message announcing that its most recent Harmonized System (HS) update (No. 0408) contains:
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice that designates three areas in Egypt as qualifying industrial zones (QIZs) under Section 9 of the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Area Implementation Act (IFTA).
The State Department has issued an updated media note on its new requirement that imports of shrimp and shrimp products (shrimp) from uncertified countries must be accompanied by the original DS-2031 form.
The International Trade Commission (ITC) has posted to its Web site the 2005 Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S. (HTS). The ITC states that this version of the HTS includes changes resulting from the Australia Free Trade Agreement, which becomes effective on January 1, 2005, and many other changes that have occurred since the publication of the 2004 HTS, Supplement 1 in July 2004.
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.
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).
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.