The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release regarding the impact of recently enacted competitive need limitation (CNL) waiver amendments to the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program contained in the "Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006."
The International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued a press release stating that on December 14, 2006, a majority of the six Commissioners voted to revoke 21 antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) duty orders on certain carbon steel products, including carbon steel plate from Taiwan, corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products from various countries1, and cut-to-length carbon steel plate from various countries2.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that the 2007 annual $125 user fee that is assessed for each Customs broker permit and national permit held by an individual, partnership, association, or corporation is due by January 19, 2007.
In the December 13, 2006 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBP Bulletin) (Vol. 40, No. 51), CBP published a notice proposing to revoke two classification rulings as follows:
The International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued a press release and Federal Register notice stating that on November 15, 2006, five Commissioners voted to revoke the existing antidumping (AD) duty order on silicon metal from Brazil (A-427-801).
In the December 6, 2006 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (CBPBulletin)(Vol. 40, No. 50), CBP published a notice revoking a ruling and treatment as follows:
Shipper's NewsWire reports that the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is encouraging exporters to continue making voluntary self-disclosures of possible export violations. BIS notes that while some companies have become concerned that such disclosures lead to investigations and severe penalties, these fears are mostly unfounded. (American Shipper Pub 12/06/06, www.americanshipper.com)
The International Trade Administration (ITA) frequently issues notices on antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) duty orders which Broker Power considers to be "minor" in importance as they concern actions that occur after an order is issued and neither announce nor cause any changes to an order's duty rates, scope, affected firms, or effective period. The ITA also issues other notices which Broker Power considers to be "minor" in importance.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) and the International Trade Commission (ITC) have each issued a notice initiating an automatic five-year Sunset Review on the antidumping (AD) duty order for folding gift boxes from China.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff has issued a statement announcing the Bush Administration's intention to work with Congress to reform the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) by strengthening security measures to better facilitate the increased interest among some international allies in joining the program. Among other things, Secretary Chertoff noted that countries that are willing to assist the U.S. in doing effective checks on travelers could be put on track to enter the program soon. (DHS Statement, dated 11/28/06, available at http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1164753617598.shtm)