CBP Administrative Messages, Web Postings, Etc.

1. August 31st Opening of 180-Day Special Import Quota for Upland Cotton (Announcement Number 21)

According to CBP, the use of the "special import quota" is at the importer's option and is not subject to the tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) in HTS Chapter 52 Additional U.S. Notes (AUSNs) 5 through 10. CBP has previously stated that these 180-day quotas are established pursuant to a 1991 Presidential Proclamation, are "triggered" by high C.I.F Northern European cotton prices, and are provided for in HTS Chapter 99, Subchapter III, U.S. Note 6. (See notice for special instructions concerning the requirement for an original foreign government certificate and a certification by the importer.) (QBT-06-545, dated 08/24/06, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/qbts/qbt2006/06_545.ctt/06_545.doc.)

2. Upcoming "ACE on the Road" Events

CBP has posted to its Web site an Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) road event schedule. Below is a listing of upcoming ACE events that are educational and bring awareness to the current CBP, ACE Modernization Program:

September 12, 2006

ACE e-Manifest: Truck Workshop

El Paso, Texas

September 13, 2006

ACE e-Manifest Information Session

Asociacion de Maquiladoras de Cd. Juarez (AMAC)

Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua Mexico

September 13, 2006

ACE e-Manifest Information Session

British Columbia Trucking Association

Langley, British Columbia Canada

September 18-20, 2006

National Association of Foreign Trade Zones

1. h Annual Conference and Expo

Lake Buena Vista, Florida

September 21, 2006

ACE e-Manifest Information Session

Asociacion de Maquiladoras y Exportadoras de Chihuahua AC

Chihuahua Mexico

October 5, 2006

ACE e-Manifest Information Session

Manitoba Trucking Association

Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada

October 16-17, 2006

ACE e-Manifest: Truck Workshops

Buffalo, New York

October 18, 2006

ACE e-Manifest: Truck Workshop

Champlain, New York

October 19, 2006

ACE e-Manifest Information Session

Ontario Trucking Association

Toronto, Ontario Canada

October 30-November 3, 2006

CBP Hosted ACE Exchange II

Tucson, Arizona

December 11-13, 2006

Trade Support Network

Arlington, VA

(For more information on these events see CBP's Web site)

(CBP's event schedule, dated 08/25/06, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/about/modernization/ace_on_the_road.xml.)

3. ATPDEA Short Supply Designation for Certain Polyester & Nylon Yarns Used in Certain Apparel Articles

CBP has posted TBT-06-015 regarding the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreement's (CITA) determination that certain polyester and nylon yarns, classified in HTS 5402.31.6000, 5402.62.0000, and 5605.00.1000, for use in apparel articles containing lace fabrics of such yarns, cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner under the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA).

For subject apparel made from the above yarns, CITA states that claims for short supply under HTS 9821.11.10 and 9821.11.13 may be accepted on or after July 20, 2006, provided the apparel articles meet certain specified requirements. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/25/06 news, 06072525 for BP summary of CITA's notice.) (TBT-06-015, dated 07/27/06, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/tbts/tbt2006/tbt_06_015.ctt/tbt_06_015.doc.)

4. Various Postings to CBP's Web Site

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted various notices to its Web site as follows:

Prohibited bushmeat from African countries seized. CBP has posted to its Web site a press release stating that CBP agriculture specialists at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport have seized approximately 62 pounds of prohibited bushmeat (meat from forests, such as: elephant meat, gorilla meat, cane rat meat, etc.), that has come from African countries, to date this year. CBP also states that there are significant health concerns relating to the consumption of bushmeat. (CBP press release, dated 07/10/06, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/072006/07102006_4.xml.)

Monthly trade payments to CBP over $5 billion, ACE monthly payment feature in second year of operation. CBP has posted to its Web site a press release stating that the monthly collection of duties and fees by CBP has topped $5 billion as the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) monthly payment feature completes its second year of operation. CBP further states that there has been significant growth in ACE monthly payments, with more than $3.5 billion collected this year alone, representing nearly a quarter of the total duties and fees collected by CBP. (CBP press release, dated 07/31/06, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/072006/07312006.xml.)

CBP & Texas National Guard launch next phase of Operation Jump Start. CBP has posted to its Web site a press release stating that the second deployment of the Texas National Guardsmen in support of Operation Jump Start has been received by the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector. (For information on Operation Jump Start see ITT's Online Archives or 05/19/06 news, 06051955 3.) CBP further states that the guardsmen will be deployed as Entry Identification Teams and will provide critical law enforcement support in manning detection equipment on the border as well as in command centers. (CBP press release, dated 08/27/06, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/072006/07182006.xml; Other releases on Operation Jump Start available at: http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/newsroom/fact_sheets/border/fact_sheet_jump_start.ctt/fact_sheet_jump_start.pdf, http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/072006/07282006.xml, and http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/highlights/jumpstart.xml.)