Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/international_agreements/free_trade/nafta/resources/cfr.xml
19 CFR 24.23(c) - Merchandise Processing Fee Exemptions and Limitations
19 CFR 102 - NAFTA Marking Rules
19 CFR 134.1(b), (d), (g), (h), (i), (j) - Country of Origin Marking and NAFTA
19 CFR 163 - Appendix to Part 163—Interim (a)(1)(A) List - Recordkeeping and NAFTA
19 CFR 181 - North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Regulations
19 CFR 181 - Appendix (The NAFTA Rules of Origin Regulations)
The Truth About Turn Times: PierPass Video and Journal of Commerce Article Shed New Light
PierPass / http://www.pierpass.org
To increase understanding of the truck turn time issue at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, PierPass has created two important new pieces of content.
The first is a video, “A Day in the Life of the Terminal Gates at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach,” available through this link: http://youtu.be/dPvYq4rZI00
The second is an op-ed article that was published November 7 in the Journal of Commerce, available through this link: http://shar.es/87trh
Commerce Initiates Antidumping Duty Investigations of Imports of Non-Oriented Electrical Steel from the People’s Republic of China, Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, and Taiwan and Countervailing Duty Investigations of Imports of Non-Oriented Electrical Steel from the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwa
International Trade Adminisration / http://www.trade.gov/press/press-releases/
Press Release
Commerce Preliminarily Finds Dumping of Imports of Diffusion-Annealed, Nickel-Plated Flat-Rolled Steel from Japan
International Trade Administration / http://www.trade.gov/press/press-releases/
Press Release
Reports Will Aid Negotiators in AGOA Renewal Discussions
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has launched four investigations to examine the impact that the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference program has had on the economies of sub-Saharan Africa and identify factors that have impacted trade, investment, and the economic climate of the region.
The investigations were requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in a letter received on October 17, 2013. In the request letter, the USTR noted that the Administration is working with its partners in the region and the Congress to renew and potentially modify AGOA, which entered into force on October 1, 2000.
As requested, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will conduct four investigations and provide four reports to the USTR. One report will be a public report, and three reports will be confidential.
- The first investigation, AGOA: Trade and Investment Performance Overview, will assess the impact AGOA has had on the economies of sub-Saharan Africa and identify factors that have impacted the trade, investment, and the economic climate of the region. In this report, the USITC will address AGOA trade performance, utilization, and competitiveness factors; AGOA's effect on the business and investment climate in sub-Saharan Africa; and the relationship between current or potential sub-Saharan African reciprocal trade agreements and the objectives of AGOA. This report will be submitted to USTR on April 17, 2014, and will be released to the public soon thereafter.
- The second investigation, AGOA: Economic Effects of Providing Duty-Free Treatment for Imports, will assess the economic effects of providing duty-free treatment for AGOA imports on U.S. industries and consumers. This report will be confidential and will be delivered to USTR on April 17, 2014.
- The third investigation, U.S. AGOA Rules of Origin: Possible Changes to Promote Regional Integration and Increase Exports to the United States, will identify possible changes to the rules of origin under AGOA with the potential to increase exports from AGOA-eligible countries. This report will be confidential and will be delivered to USTR on April 30, 2014.
- The fourth investigation, EU-South Africa FTA: Impact on U.S. Exports to South Africa, will assess the impact of the EU-South Africa free trade agreement on U.S. exports to South Africa. This report will be confidential and will be delivered to USTR on April 17, 2014.
The USITC will hold one public hearing in connection with the four investigations on January 14, 2014. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on December 13, 2013, with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. For further information, call 202-205-2000.
The USITC also welcomes written submissions for the record for all four investigations. Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary of the Commission at the above address and should be submitted at the earliest practical date but no later than 5:15 p.m. on January 21, 2014. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection.
USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Circular Welded Carbon-Quality Steel Pipe from China
United States International Trade Commission / http://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2013/er1107ll1.htm
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders on circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe from China would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.
As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations, the existing orders on imports of this product from China will remain in place.
Chairman Irving A. Williamson and Commissioners Shara L. Aranoff, Dean A. Pinkert, David S. Johanson, and Meredith M. Broadbent voted in the affirmative. Commissioner F. Scott Kieff did not participate in this investigation.
Today's action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on this five-year (sunset) review.
The Commission's public report Circular Welded Carbon-Quality Steel Pipe from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-447 and 731-TA-1116 (Review), USITC Publication 4435, November 2013) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.
Copies may be requested after December 9, 2013, by emailing pubrequest@usitc.gov, calling 202- 205-2000, or writing to the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by fax at 202-205-2104.
USITC Makes Determination in Five-Year (Sunset) Review Concerning Low-Enricked Uranium from France
U.S. International Trade Commission / http://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2013/er1113ll1.htm
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty order on low-enriched uranium from France would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.
As a result of the Commission's affirmative determination, the existing order on imports of this product from France will remain in place.
Chairman Irving A. Williamson and Commissioners Dean A. Pinkert and David S. Johanson voted in the affirmative. Commissioner Meredith M. Broadbent voted in the negative. Commissioners Shara L. Aranoff and F. Scott Kieff did not participate in this review.
Today's action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on this five-year (sunset) review.
The Commission's public report Low-Enriched Uranium from France (Inv. No. 731-TA-909 (Second Review), USITC Publication 4436, November 2013) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the review.
Copies may be requested after December 17, 2013, by emailing pubrequest@usitc.gov, calling 202- 205-2000, or writing to the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by fax at 202-205-2104.
CBP Seizes 1 Pound of Cocaine and 3 Pounds of Marijuana in Aguadilla
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/11142013.xml
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized this week, approximately 1 pound (447 grams) of cocaine and 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms) of marihuana at the Rafael Hernandez Airport in Aguadilla, during separate inspections.
During random examination of arriving parcels, CBP selected one of the parcels posted from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to Toronto, Canada. Concealed within the bottom flaps of a box, officers detected a white powder. A field test of a sample of the powder reacted positive to cocaine. The seized cocaine, weighing approximately 1 pound, has an estimated value of $33,500.
On a separate incident, a CBP canine alerted to a package en-route to Barbados from New York, NY, and manifested as “Truck oil filters, air filters and light auto parts.” Inside the package, officers found two aluminum cans that contained a plastic vacuum sealed bag with a substance that tested positive to marijuana, with an approximate weight of 3 pounds and an approximate street value of $5,850.
“Smuggling organizations try to conceal their loads by any means possible and use many venues to avoid detection from law enforcement,” stated Juan Hurtado, San Juan area port director. “Our officers remain vigilant managing all risk factors to deter these smuggling attempts.”
CBP officers contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, who responded. The contraband was seized.
CBP’s dual mission is to facilitate travel in the United States while we secure our borders, our people and our visitors from those that would do us harm like terrorists and terrorist weapons, criminals, and contraband. CBP officers are charged with enforcing not only immigration and customs laws, but they enforce over 400 laws for 40 other agencies and have stopped thousands of violators of U.S. law.
Why Crush Ivory?
U.S. Fish & Wildlife / http://www.fws.gov/LE/elephant-ivory-crush.html
On Thursday, November 14, 2013, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will destroy some six tons of elephant ivory seized over the years by its special agents and wildlife inspectors in connection with violations of U.S. wildlife laws and treaties.
More than 30,000 elephants are killed each year for the illegal ivory trade. Elephant poaching is at its highest level in decades and it continues to rise. These animals are being slaughtered across Africa to meet an insatiable global demand for ivory. Scores of the park rangers who work to protect them have also been killed.
We’re sending a message to ivory traffickers and their customers that the United States will not tolerate this illegal trade. We’re standing with nations that have already destroyed their illegal ivory and showing our commitment to working with partners around the world to stop this trafficking and save elephants.
Learn More
Watch YouTube Video:
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE U.S. IVORY CRUSH