The International Trade Administration (ITA) and the Department of Interior's Office of Insular Affairs (Insular Affairs) have issued a final rule, effective December 8, 2005, which amends 15 CFR Part 303 which governs watch duty-exemption allocations an the watch and jewelry duty-refund benefits for producers in the U.S. insular possessions (the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands).
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.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice inviting comments from interested parties on the International Trade Commission's (ITC's) proposed remedies, and other possible actions, with respect to the market disruption caused by imports of circular welded non-alloy steel pipe from China.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a reminder that the second of four tariff rate quotas (TRQs, i.e., tranches) for specialty sugar will open on Wednesday, November 9, 2005 at 12:00 p.m. EST or its equivalent in other time zones.
On October 31, 2005, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued a press release announcing the designation of a new Qualifying Industrial Zone (QIZ) in Egypt and the approval to expand two existing QIZs in Egypt.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release announcing that the U.S. has negotiated an agreement with the European Union (EU), Japan, Korea, and Taiwan in applying zero tariffs on multi-chip integrated circuits (also known as "multi-chip packages" (MCPs)).
The Treasury Department (Treasury) has published its semi-annual regulatory agenda, which contains certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulatory rulemakings (rulemakings).
The Federal Maritime Commission's (FMC's) final rule which expands the tariff publication exemption provided to non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs) in NVOCC Service Arrangements (NSAs), by allowing NVOCCs and shippers' associations with NVOCC members to act as shippers in NSAs, takes effect Friday, October 28, 2005. (See ITT's Online Archives or 09/29/05 news, 05092910, for BP summary of FMC's final rule.)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an administrative message stating that its Miami ABI Client Representative Office, which had closed due to Hurricane Wilma, reopened on October 26, 2005. The three Miami Client Representatives may be reached at their respective phone numbers. (Adm: 05-1204, dated 10/26/05, available at http://www.brokerpower.com/cgi-bin/adminsearch/admmsg.view.pl?article=2005/2005-1240.ADM ; initial Adm: 05-1227 on closure, dated 10/24/05, available at http://www.brokerpower.com/cgi-bin/adminsearch/admmsg.view.pl?article=2005/2005-1227.ADM )
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an interim rule, effective October 5, 2005, which it states amends 19 CFR Parts 12, 102, 141, 144, 146 and 163 in order to update, restructure, and consolidate the regulations relating to the country of origin of textile and apparel products.
On October 3, 2005, the U.S. and Oman announced the completion of a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA). Oman is the fifth Middle Eastern country to have negotiated an FTA with the U.S.