CBP released its June 5 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 47, No. 24). While the Bulletin does not contain any ruling articles, it does include recent general notices.
CBP posted to its website a reference guide for Electronic Invoice Program and Remote Location Filing participants on June 19. The EIP/RLF Handbook “reflects national policy and procedures for the EIP/RLF Program,” said CBP. It contains information on program participation, the Automated Invoice Interface Module, cargo processing, entry summary processing, and enforcement actions. Appendices include a FAQ, a list of CBP administrative messages, definitions, and information on the EIP/RLF Harmonized Operational Approval Test Package. CBP said the guide is subject to continued revision, expansion, and updating.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:
A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the Commerce Department posted to CBP's website June 18, 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 and the Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations (COAC) are seeking input from the trade industry on the efficiency of trade processing, CBP said in a CSMS message. The survey, which is due by July 23, is available (here). The COAC survey last year identified lengthy CBP holds and challenges with Form 28s to be among the top issues (see 12080921).
CBP's Los Angeles field office proposed a revision to the Centralized Exam Station (CES) fee schedule for Price Transfer Inc., the agency said in a June 18 public bulletin. The field office proposes to increase the fee for full container load exams from the current cost of $75 to $275, the notice said. The charge covers all facility and office equipment and daily maintenance costs, among other things, it said. The charge would not apply to less container load exams, it said. Comments on the proposal are due within 30 days of the notice, said the field office.
The CBP Los Angeles field office reorganized its import specialist teams at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to align with the Centers for Excellence and Expertise (CEEs), it said in a public bulletin June 18. The field office provided a guide to determine commodity team assignments at LAX for specific tariff numbers. The field office recently made similar changes for import specialist and entry teams at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport,(see 13061312).
CBP posted the public comments filed with the agency in response to a recent proposed test to determine the tariff classification of footwear with soles of textile material. CBP released its proposed test method administering Harmonized Tariff Schedule Chapter 64, additional note 5 in the March 27 Customs Bulletin (see 13032615). The comments were posted on the agency's Freedom of Information Act library in the "Significant Records of Interest" section. CBP said it is currently reviewing the comments and "plans to prepare a decision to establish how CBP will administer Note 5" and will publish its decision in the Customs Bulletin. All of the comments are (here).
CBP released its May 29 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 47, No. 23). While the Bulletin does not contain any ruling articles, it does include recent general notices and Court of International Trade decisions.
Certain textile and apparel goods from Benin described as folklore articles and ethnic printed fabrics are eligible for preferential tariff treatment under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements said. The preferential treatment took effect June 14. Folklore articles described in Annex A, and ethnic printed fabrics from Annex B, are eligible under AGOA section 112(a). CITA directed CBP to allow duty-free entry for the products under HTS subheading 9819.11.21, if accompanied by an appropriate AGOA visa in grouping “9”. CITA may determine additional textile and apparel goods should be treated as handloomed, handmade, folklore articles or ethnic printed fabrics, after further talks with Benin authorities, the Committee said. For an item to qualify as a folklore product under Annex A, it must be "ornamented in characteristic Benin or regional folk style," CITA said, and not include modern features or designs like zippers, elastic, airplanes or cartoon characters. For an item to qualify as an ethnic print under Annex B, it must meet six characteristics, including having a width of less than 50 inches, and being printed or waxed in an eligible sub-Saharan African country.