CBP Administrative Messages, Web Postings, Etc.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued its weekly tariff rate quota and tariff preference level commodity report as of December 31, 2007. This report includes TRQs on various products such as beef, sugar, dairy products, peanuts, cotton, cocoa products, tobacco, certain BFTA, DR-CAFTA, Israel FTA, JFTA, MFTA, SFTA, UAFTA (AFTA) and UCFTA (Chile FTA) non-textile TRQs, etc. Each report also includes the AGOA, ATPDEA, BFTA, DR-CAFTA, CBTPA, Haitian HOPE, MFTA, NAFTA, SFTA, and UCFTA TPLs and TRQs for qualifying apparel and/or other textile articles, the TRQs on worsted wool fabrics, etc. (CBP's weekly TRQ/TPL commodity report, dated 12/31/07, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/commodity/)
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1. Weekly TRQ/TPL Commodity Report as of December 31, 2007
2. CBP Announces Opening of Additional 2008 TRQs
CBP has posted notices announcing the January 2, 2008 scheduled opening of the following 2008 tariff rate quotas:
Certain Cotton Shirting Fabrics Suitable for Use in Making Men's and Boys' Shirts (QBT-07-572)1
Ethyl Alcohol (QBT-07-594)
Infant Formula (QBT-07-603)
Edam and Gouda Cheeses (QBT-07-604)
Italian-Type Cheeses (QBT-07-605)
Swiss or Emmentaler Cheese (Note 22) (QBT-07-606)
American-Type Cheese, Including Colby (QBT-07-607)
Cheese and Cheese Substitutes (QBT-07-608)
Swiss or Emmentaler Cheese (Note 25) (QBT-07-609)
Butter and Fresh or Sour Cream (QBT-07-610)
See future issues of ITT for details of these TRQ openings.
1See today's ITT, 08010415, for BP summary of the ITA's announcement of the 2008 TRQ allocations for cotton woven shirting fabric.
(QBTs are available here http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/qbts/qbt2007/ (select applicable QBT number from list))
3. Updated Focused Assessment Exhibit on IPR Posted
CBP has posted to its Web site an updated version of its Focused Assessment Program Exhibit 5U entitled "Intellectual Property Rights Technical Information for Pre-Assessment Survey (TIPS)." CBP notes that its Focused Assessment exhibits are used by CBP regulatory auditors when conducting focused assessmments and also serve as guidance for importers. (Exhibit 5U, posted 12/18/07, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/reg_audit/focused_assessment/fap_documents/exh5u.ctt/exh5u.pdf.)
4. Overviews for Various ACE Account Types
CBP has posted to its Web site Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) overviews for various types of ACE portal accounts:
| - Importers | - Cartmen and Lightermen |
| - Facility Operators | - Foreign Trade Zone Operators |
| - Service Providers | - Brokers |
| - Carriers | - Sureties |
(Overviews, dated 12/17/07, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/about/modernization/accounts/.)
5. CBP Posts Summary of AESTIR Changes for December 17, 2007
CBP has posted a summary of changes to the Automated Export System Trade Interface Requirements (AESTIR) to its Web site, indicating that Version 1.0 was changed on December 17, 2007 as follows:
Appendix D - Export Port Code
The following code was changed:
- 4 (Pittsburgh, PA) - deleted vessel as an acceptable method of transportation
(CBP summary of changes, dated 12/17/07, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/export/aes/tech_docs/aestir/june04_intro/june04_summary_of_chngs.ctt/june04_summary_of_chngs.doc)
6. Various Postings to CBP's Web Site
CBP has posted the following documents to its Web site:
Tips for new importers and exporters. This document provides information for new importers and exporters on how to obtain information on various topics, including licensing, classification rulings, quota requirements, bills, use of a Customs broker, etc. (Document, dated 12/17/07, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/communications_to_trade/diduknow.xml.)
Nexus program description. CBP has posted a document describing its NEXUS program which allows pre-screened, low risk travelers to be processed with little or no delay by U.S. and Canadian officials at designated highway lanes, at a NEXUS kiosk at Canadian Preclearance airports, and at certain marine reporting locations. (Document, dated 12/26/07, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/trusted_traveler/nexus_prog/nexus.xml.)
How to renew a NEXUS membership. CBP has posted guidance on how to renew a NEXUS membership, noting that CBP and the Canada Border Services Agency are asking that NEXUS members begin their application renewal 90 days prior to the expiration date. (Guidance, dated 12/26/07, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/trusted_traveler/nexus_prog/renew_nexus.xml.)
Secure Border Initiative monthly newsletter. CBP has posted the December 2007 issue of its Secure Border Initiative Monthly newsletter. The December 2007 issue contains articles on the conditional acceptance of Project 28, public scoping sessions on the environmental impact of SBI, etc. (December 2007 newsletter available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/border_security/sbi/sbi_monthly_newsletter/sbi_monthly_12_07.ctt/sbi_monthly_12_07.pdf.)
Atlanta CBP officers intercept counterfeit handbags. CBP has issued a press release announcing that CBP in Atlanta made a significant seizure of handbags bearing the counterfeit trademarks for "Louis Vuitton" with a suggested retail price of more than $4 million. (Press release, dated 12/20/07, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/12202007.xml.)
CBP finds mealy bugs in new type of flower. CBP has issued a press release announcing that a CBP Agricultural Specialist discovered a tiny immigrant insect, embedded in a fresh cut flower shipment. The press release notes that this is the first time this insect has been seen in this type of flower in the U.S. (Press release, dated 12/26/07, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/12262007_2.xml.)