CBP Administrative Messages, Web Postings, Etc.

1. 2005/2006 Raw Cane Sugar (17 AUSN 5) Increased

CBP's notice lists the amended TRQ allocations for each country, as well the

related HTS Chapters 17 and 99 tariff numbers. CBP states that a Certificate of Quota Eligibility (CQE) will be required with the date of the current quota period (2005/2006) for any in-quota entry presented for raw cane sugar from the countries and areas specified in the notice.

CBP further states that any country without a TRQ allocation, which is not subject to a U.S. embargo, may export raw cane sugar at the over-quota (high) rate, and is not required to furnish a CQE.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 12/21/05 news, 05122125, for BP summary of the USTR's notice announcing this additional allocation, and that it was effective December 2, 2005. See ITT's Online Archives or 09/23/05 news, 05092320 for BP summary of CBP's initial QBT announcing the 2005-2006 TRQ quantities.)

(QBT-05-579, dated 12/23/05, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/qbts/qbt2005/05_579.ctt/05_579.doc )

2. Second Opening for Refined Sugar's Additional Allocation Occurs on December 29th

CBP has posted to its Web site a notice announcing that the second traunche of the "low duty" FY 2006 refined sugar (including specialty sugar) TRQ additional allocation opens on December 29, 2005 at 12:00 p.m. EST or its equivalent in other time zones, for 34,019,000 kilograms.

Subsequent traunches open on January 10, 2006 (third) and January 24, 2006 (fourth). (See ITT's Online Archives or 12/07/05 news, 05120705 for BP summary of USTR notice on additional allocation and initial CBP QBT on these four tranches.)

(The first traunche for the same amount did not over subscribe at opening moment on December 9, 2005. See ITT's Online Archives or 12/21/05 news, 05122130 2 for BP summary on the outcome of that opening.) (QBT 05-578, dated 12/23/05, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/qbts/qbt2005/05_578.ctt/05_578.doc )

3. 2006 TRQ on Swiss and Emmentaler Cheese (with Eye Formation) Opens January 3, 2006

CBP has announced that the 2006 "low-duty" tariff-rate quota (TRQ) on Swiss and Emmentaler cheese with eye formation, provided for in HTS Chapter 4, Additional U.S. Note (AUSN) 25, will open on Tuesday, January 3, 2006 at 12 noon E.S.T., or its equivalent in other time zones. The below-listed countries or areas have the following low-duty access amounts:

CBP states that products described in HTS Chapter 4, AUSN 25 are subject to agriculture licensing. (See CBP notice for list of applicable HTS numbers as well as special instructions on high-duty reporting instructions for Canada, Mexico, Jordan, Singapore, Chile, and Australia, etc.) (QBT-05-575, dated 12/23/05, available at http://www.customs.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/qbts/qbt2005/05_575.ctt/05_575.doc.)

4. 2006 TRQ on Swiss or Emmentaler Cheese (Without Eye Formation), Etc., Opens January 3, 2006

CBP has announced that the 2006 "low-duty" TRQ on Swiss or Emmentaler cheese other than with eye formation, etc. provided for in HTS Chapter 4, AUSN 22, will open on Tuesday, January 3, 2006 at 12 noon E.S.T., or its equivalent in other time zones. The below-listed countries or areas have the following low-duty access amounts:

CBP states that products described in HTS Chapter 4, AUSN 22 are subject to agriculture licensing. (See CBP notice for list of applicable HTS numbers as well as special instructions on high-duty reporting instructions for Canada, Mexico, Jordan, Singapore, Chile, and Australia, etc.) (QBT-05-577, dated 12/23/05, available at http://www.customs.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/qbts/qbt2005/05_577.ctt/05_577.doc.)

5. 2006 TRQ on Cheese and Substitutes for Cheese Opens January 3, 2006

CBP has announced that the 2006 "low-duty" TRQ on cheese and substitutes for cheese provided for in HTS Chapter 4, AUSN 23, will open on Tuesday, January 3, 2006 at 12:00 noon, E.S.T., or its equivalent in other time zones. The below-listed countries have the following low-duty access amounts:

CBP states that products described in HTS Chapter 4, AUSN 23 are subject to agriculture licensing. (See CBP notice for list of applicable HTS numbers as well as special instructions on high-duty reporting instructions for Canada, Mexico, Jordan, Singapore, Chile, and Australia, etc.) (QBT-05-576, dated 12/23/05, available at http://www.customs.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/qbts/qbt2005/05_576.ctt/05_576.doc.)

6. Other CBP Administrative Messages, Web Postings

CBP has also issued the following messages and postings:

ICE, CBP inspect 350 cargo trucks destined for commercial passenger planes in Miami. According to a CBP press release, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and CBP conducted a two-day multi-agency law enforcement operation at Miami International Airport, targeting cargo destined for domestic and international passenger planes. Four violations of improperly packaged materials were discovered, including certain radioactive materials. In addition, fifty-two fines totaling $17,500 were levied for safety and licensing violations, and 19 commercial vehicles were taken out of service. (CBP press release, dated 12/19/05, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/press_releases/12192005_4.xml )

C-TPAT Web pages in the Spanish language. CBP has posted Spanish-language versions of its Web pages on C-TPAT that are targeted to reach Mexican manufacturers and transporters, including a web page on its 2006 C-TPAT enrollment seminars. (See http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/ctpat2006/seminarios/ and http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/programa/)

Revised Kyoto Convention goes into effect February 3. A CBP press release notes that the U.S. joins 40 other contracting parties to the Revised (Kyoto) World Customs Organization (WTIO) Convention, which goes into effect on February 3, 2006. (See ITT's Online Archives or 11/15/05 news, 05111505 for earlier BP summary.)CBP press release, dated 12/22/05, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/press_releases/12222005_2.xml )

San Francisco CBP seizes counterfeit Tamiflu at air mail facility. A CBP press release reports that San Francisco CBP recently seized 51 shipments of counterfeit Tamiflu pills from several different importers at the Air Mail Facility in South San Francisco. (CBP press release, dated 12/19/05, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/press_releases/12192005.xml )