The International Trade Administration (ITA) has initiated antidumping (AD) duty investigations of bottle-grade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin from India, Indonesia, Taiwan and Thailand, and countervailing (CV) duty investigations of subject merchandise from India and Thailand.
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.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has initiated antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) duty investigations of live swine from Canada.
USTR Seeks Comments on Possible Withdrawal, Suspension, or Limitation of GSP Benefits for Bangladesh
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice stating that the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is seeking public comments by May 12, 2004 on which products of Bangladesh should no longer be eligible for GSP duty-free treatment if the GSP Subcommittee decides to recommend limiting Bangladesh's GSP benefits.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a new informed compliance publication (dated March 2004) entitled "What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know About: Vending Machines and Their Parts Under the HTSUS." CBP states that this publication is a study of the classification of vending machines and their parts under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S. (HTSUS).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted additional information to its Web site regarding the April 1, 2004 statistical changes to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) for certain men's and boys' cotton T-shirts and certain other garments classified in HTS 6109.10.00.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice in order to make several technical corrections to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S. (HTS). According to the USTR, these modifications correct inadvertent omissions or errors in various Presidential Proclamations.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has initiated antidumping (AD) duty investigations of certain circular welded carbon quality line pipe from China, Mexico, and South Korea.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has initiated an antidumping (AD) duty investigation of magnesium metal from China.
U.S. government sources state that the International Trade Commission (ITC) is expected to soon post to its Web site Revision 1 of its electronic 2004 Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S. (HTS). Sources state that the ITC's goal is to have Revision 1 posted by mid-April 2004.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is announcing that effective April 1, 2004 there will be changes to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) numbers at the statistical suffix level (the 9th and 10th digits) for certain men's and boys' cotton T-shirts and certain other garments classified in HTS 6109.10.00.