U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued an ABI administrative message (Adm: 05-1438) announcing that on December 19, 2005, the interface between CBP's Automated Commercial System (ACS) and the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Operational and Administrative System for Import Support (OASIS) was down. Due to that communication problem, CBP stated that prior notice (PN) contingency scenario 1 was in effect. (See message for procedures under contingency scenario 1.)
Customs duty
A customs duty is a tariff or tax which a country imposes on goods when they are transported across international borders. Customs Duties are used to protect countries' economies, residents, jobs, and environments, by limiting the flow of imported merchandise, especially restricted and prohibited goods, into the country. The Customs duty rate is a percentage determined by the value of the article purchased in the foreign country and not based on quality, size, or weight. U.S. customs duties are listed in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an ABI administrative message announcing that it is issuing a "blanket" authorization to allow the release of most types of merchandise on or after December 16, 2005 through December 31, 2005 under Immediate Delivery (I.D.) procedures.
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On December 13, 2005, the Senate passed H.R. 4340, the "U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act" (Act). The House of Representatives passed H.R. 4340 on December 7, 2005.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release and fact sheet stating that the U.S. and Peru have completed a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA). USTR Portman noted that as many products from Peru already enter the U.S. market duty-free under the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), this FTA with Peru will level the playing field and make duty-free treatment a two-way street.
CBP has issued an ABI administrative message reminding the trade community that it now allows brokers with Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Portal accounts to pay duties and fees on a monthly statement for all of their importer clients and that importers are no longer required to establish an ACE account to participate in the periodic monthly statement (PMS) program. Instead, importers may now establish Non-portal accounts, which is automatic for those that are C-TPAT participants. CBP adds that it is simple and free for a broker to establish an ACE account, and comes with many other benefits, such as broker and importer statements, multiple financial reports, etc. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/25/05 news, 05102505, for BP summary of CBP general notice announcing these changes to Periodic Monthly Statement.) (ABI message 05-1370, dated 12/01/05, available at http://www.brokerpower.com/cgi-bin/adminsearch/admmsg.view.pl?article=2005/2005-1370.ADM.)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that the 2006 "low-duty" tariff-rate quota (TRQ) on cheese and substitutes for cheese provided for in HTS Chapter 4, Additional U.S. Note (AUSN) 16, will open on Tuesday, January 3, 2006 at 12 noon E.S.T., or its equivalent in other time zones. CBP states that products described in HTS Chapter 4, AUSN 16 are subject to agriculture licensing. The below-listed countries or areas have the following low-duty access amounts:
The USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has announced a further increase in fiscal year (FY) 2006 allowable sugar imports of 450,000 short tons raw value (STRV).
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice announcing that on November 2, 2005, the U.S. requested World Trade Organization (WTO) consultations regarding Turkey's import licensing regime and domestic purchase requirement on imports of rice.
The Wall Street Journal reports that a group within the Food and Drug Administration is pushing to expand certain food-safety practices beyond food processors to cover those who harvest, store, and distribute raw agricultural products. (WSJ dated 11/30/05, www.wsj.com.)