The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a notice describing new features to its Prior Notice System Interface (PNSI). The FDA's announcement concerns PNSI Version 1.3, which was released on July 10, 2004, and PNSI Version 1.4, which is scheduled for an August 7, 2004 release.
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.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued two notices regarding the changes made by the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Acceleration Act of 2004 (Public Law (P.L.) 108-274) for textiles and apparel.
The International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued a notice announcing that, following receipt of a request from the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), it has instituted an investigation under 19 USC 3804(f) regarding the potential economy-wide and selected sectoral effects of the proposed U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and will seek input through a public hearing on August 10, 2004.
The Census Bureau has posted to its Web site a list of 177 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) numbers that are not valid for reporting exports (either on a paper Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) or Automated Export System (AES) equivalent) as of July 1, 2004.
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued a notice announcing that on June 28, 2004, it received a request from the Domestic Manufacturers Committee of the Hosiery Association, the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, the National Council of Textile Organizations, and the National Textile Association requesting that a textile and apparel safeguard action be taken on imports from China of cotton, wool, and man-made fiber (MMF) socks (cat 332/432 and 632PT (part)).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an ABI administrative message announcing that its most recent Harmonized System (HS) update contains:
On January 17, 2003, President Bush issued Proclamation 7641 in order to modify the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) preference rules of origin for seven products, including certain alcoholic beverages, pearl jewelry, headphones, photocopier parts and accessories, etc.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice announcing the results of several Generalized System of Preferences- (GSP-) related reviews.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has initiated antidumping (AD) duty investigations of purified carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) from Finland, Mexico, Netherlands, and Sweden.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted a notice on its Web site announcing that the next Customs Broker License Examination will be held on Monday, October 4, 2004.