International TradeNewsletter - February 12, 2002
In this Issue...
U.S. Customs Service
February 12, 2002
- Customs Service is proposing to introduce the Border Release Advanced
Screening and Selectivity (BRASS) Program, an improved automated and
electronic system that will replace the line-release method of processing
certain repetitive and high-volume shipments of merchandise into the United
States. Unlike the current DOS-based line-release method, the BRASS program is
a Windows-based program, and will provide for the centralized processing of
requests for BRASS privileges at designated border locations. U.S. Customs is
requesting comments on the proposed regulations that will implement the BRASS
program. Comments must be received on or before April 2, 2002. A copy
of the proposed regulations and instructions for submitting comments is
available at
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-2466-filed.
- U.S. Customs has added the names of two companies to the list of Hong Kong
factories convicted of transshipping textile products and deletes 22
factories from the list. Importers should use reasonable care when placing
orders with a manufacturer named on the list, or when having work
sub-contracted to a named manufacturer. U.S. Customs will detain shipments
from the listed manufacturers until production records are presented to
confirm production. A copy of the updated list is available at
http://www.cebb.customs.treas.gov/public/cgi/cebb.exe?mode=fi&area=13&name=T-TBT99S.TXT.
- U.S. Customs has issued an interim rule extending the deadline to file a
wool duty refund claim for calendar year 2000 until December 31, 2002. For
further information visit
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-1664-filed or contact a Holland & Knight trade attorney.
- The U.S. Customs Service has posted a list of the first disbursements made
under the Byrd Amendment. The Byrd Amendment, formally known as the Continued
Dumping and Offset Subsidy Act, requires the Customs Service to distribute
duties collected in antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) cases to
the injured U.S. industries. Before the Byrd Amendment took effect, the funds
used to go to the general treasury. The U.S. Customs notice states that, to
date, over $200 million have been disbursed. A table listing the disbursements
by AD/CV case number can be accessed at
http://www.customs.gov/impoexpo/annual_report_table2.xls.
The Byrd Amendment is currently the subject of a World Trade Organization
challenge by eleven WTO members, which if successful, could require the United
States to repeal or to rewrite the law, as it has been required to do with the
Foreign Sales Corporation tax law. (For more information see Volume 2, Issue 2
of the Holland & Knight Trade Alert.)