QB 18-119 2018 Quarterly Quota Limits (Title Amended from Steel Mill Products) - U.S. Customs & Border Protection
On April 30, 2018, the President issued a Presidential Proclamation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 providing for an absolute quota for imports of steel mill products from South Korea, effective for goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on May 1, 2018. See 83 Federal Register 20683, May 07, 2018.
COMMODITY
Steel mill products as specified in Presidential Proclamation 9740.
QUOTA PERIOD for steel mill products
January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018, and subsequent annual periods.
RESTRAINT LEVEL
For steel mill products from South Korea, the absolute quota restraint levels will be managed in quarterly periods. The remaining quarterly quota amounts will be listed in the Quota Status Report as set forth on the U.S. Customs & Border Protection website at the following link: https://www.cbp.gov/document/report/quota-status-reports beginning May 14, 2018.
Note that as of May 11, 2018, one quarterly quota category for the second quarter of 2018 is filled: 9903.80.39
Subheadings 9903.80.05 through 9903.80.58, inclusive, set forth the ordinary customs duty treatment for the steel mill products of any country enumerated in the superior text to such subheadings, subject to the annual aggregate quantitative limitations proclaimed for these subheadings and Imports from any such country in an aggregate quantity under any such subheading during any of the periods January through March, April through June, July through September, or October through December in any year that is in excess of 30 percent of the total aggregate quantity provided for a calendar year for such country, as set forth on the U.S. Customs & Border Protection website, shall not be allowed.
REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS
South Korea Steel Mill Products
For quota merchandise, use entry type code 02, 06, 07, 12, 23, 32, 38, or 52.
The merchandise covered by the quota may also be subject to antidumping and countervailing duties.
In addition to reporting the Chapter 72 and Chapter 73 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification for the imported merchandise, importers shall report the following HTS classifications for imported merchandise subject to the quota: 9903.80.05 through 9903.80.58, inclusive, for steel mill Products
Absolute quota merchandise may not be imported into the U.S for consumption after quota limit is reached, per [19 CFR 132]. Options after the quota limit is reached include warehouse, foreign trade zone, exportation or destruction.
Countries covered: South Korea
Merchandise presented shall be reported and released by the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) until a “hold” status is indicated or quota restraint limit is reached. Questions from the importing community regarding this electronic message should be referred to the appropriate CBP port/center.
AB-2379 Waste Management: Plastic Microfiber - California Legistive Information
An act to add Chapter 6.2 (commencing with Section 42375) to Part 3 of Division 30 of the Public Resources Code, relating to waste management.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2379, as amended, Bloom. Waste management: polyester plastic microfiber.
The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65) prohibits any person, in the course of doing business, from knowingly and intentionally exposing any individual to a chemical known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity without giving a specified warning, or from discharging or releasing such a chemical into any source of drinking water, except as specified. Existing law prohibits the sale of expanded polystyrene packaging material by a wholesaler or manufacturer unless that material is composed of 100% recycled material. Existing law prohibits a person from selling a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term “compostable,” “home compostable,” or “marine degradable” unless, at the time of sale, the plastic product meets the applicable ASTM International standard specification. Existing law prohibits, on and after January 1, 2020, a person, business, or other entity from selling or offering for promotional purposes in this state a personal care product containing plastic microbeads, as specified.
This bill would require that new clothing made from fabric that is composed of more than 50% synthetic material bear a conspicuous label that is visible to the consumer at the point of sale, in the form of a sticker, hang tag, or any other label type, with specified information, including a statement that the garment sheds plastic microfibers when washed. The bill would require new clothing with that material composition, if a care label is required pursuant to federal law, to include additional information on the care label, including that same statement. The bill would prohibit a person from selling or offering for sale new clothing made from fabric that is composed of more than 50% synthetic material that does not bear those labels. The bill would require that these requirements be enforced only through a civil action brought by the Attorney General, a district attorney, or a city attorney. The bill would make these provisions effective on January 1, 2020.
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THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1) Microfiber is a subcategory of microplastic that is shed from synthetic fabric when that fabric is washed.
(2) These small, nondegradable fibers that are less than 5 millimeters in length are a major category of plastic pollution in water, pose a serious threat to the environment, and have been found within fish and shellfish that are consumed by humans.
(3) Garments made from synthetic fabrics, such as polyester, can shed up to 1,900 microfibers per wash.
(4) Polyester is the most widely used fiber in the textiles industry and accounts for about 50 percent of the total fiber market.
(5) Effluent from washing machines and wastewater treatment plants is a significant source of microfiber pollution that enters waterways and the ocean.
(b) It is therefore the intent of the Legislature to do both of the following:
(1) Recognize the emerging threat that microfibers pose to the environment and water quality and provide information to the general public about the sources of microfiber pollution.
(2) Reduce the amount of microfiber that enters the environment and is subsequently consumed by wildlife.
SEC. 2. Chapter 6.2 (commencing with Section 42375) is added to Part 3 of Division 30 of the Public Resources Code, to read:
CHAPTER 6.2. Microfiber Pollution Education and Reduction
42375. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(a) “Clothing” means an article of apparel intended to be worn by a person, not including hats or shoes.
(b) “Plastic microfiber” means a small synthetic particle that is fibrous in shape, less than 5 millimeters in length, and is released into water through the regular washing of textiles made from synthetic material.
42375.1. (a) New clothing made from fabric that is composed of more than 50 percent synthetic material, if a care label is required for that clothing pursuant to Part 423 (commencing with Section 423.1) of Title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations, shall include on the care label, in addition to the care information and instructions required pursuant to that federal law, the following statement: “This garment sheds plastic microfibers when washed.”
b) New clothing made from fabric that is composed of more than 50 percent synthetic material shall bear a conspicuous label that is visible to the consumer at the point of sale, in the form of a sticker, hang tag, or any other label type, that includes one of the following statements, as applicable: statement: “This garment sheds plastic microfibers when washed, which contributes to marine plastic pollution.”
(c) A person shall not sell or offer for sale new clothing made from fabric that is composed of more than 50 percent synthetic material unless the clothing is labeled in accordance with this section.
(d) This section shall be enforced only through a civil action brought by the Attorney General, a district attorney, or a city attorney.
(e) A violation of subdivision (a), (b), or (c) shall not constitute unfair competition for purposes of Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 17200) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Profession Code.
(f) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2020.
Initiation of AD/CVD Investigations: Certain Quartz Surface Products from the PRC - U.S. Customs & Border Protection
On May 7, 2018, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) initiated its less-than-fair-value and countervailing duty investigations on “Certain Quartz Surface Products from the People’s Republic of China (China)” (Initiation Notices). These investigations have been assigned the following case numbers: A-570-084 and C-570-085.
The Scope of Merchandise covered by these investigations reads as follows:
The merchandise covered by the investigation is certain quartz surface products.1 Quartz surface products consist of slabs and other surfaces created from a mixture of materials that includes predominately silica (e.g., quartz, quartz powder, cristobalite) as well as a resin binder (e.g., an unsaturated polyester). The incorporation of other materials, including, but not limited to, pigments, cement, or other additives does not remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigation. However, the scope of the investigation only includes products where the silica content is greater than any other single material, by actual weight. Quartz surface products are typically sold as rectangular slabs with a total surface area of approximately 45 to 60 square feet and a nominal thickness of one, two, or three centimeters. However, the scope of this investigation includes surface products of all other sizes, thicknesses, and shapes. In addition to slabs, the scope of this investigation includes, but is not limited to, other surfaces such as countertops, backsplashes, vanity tops, bar tops, work tops, tabletops, flooring, wall facing, shower surrounds, fire place surrounds, mantels, and tiles. Certain quartz surface products are covered by the investigation whether polished or unpolished, cut or uncut, fabricated or not fabricated, cured or uncured, edged or not edged, finished or unfinished, thermoformed or not thermoformed, packaged or unpackaged, and regardless of the type of surface finish.
In addition, quartz surface products are covered by the investigation whether or not they are imported attached to, or in conjunction with, non-subject merchandise such as sinks, sink bowls, vanities, cabinets, and furniture. If quartz surface products are imported attached to, or in conjunction with, such non-subject merchandise, only the quartz surface product is covered by the scope.
Subject merchandise includes material matching the above description that has been finished, packaged, or otherwise fabricated in a third country, including by cutting, polishing, curing, edging, thermoforming, attaching to, or packaging with another product, or any other finishing, packaging, or fabrication that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigation if performed in the country of manufacture of the quartz surface products.
The scope of the investigation does not cover quarried stone surface products, such as granite, marble, soapstone, or quartzite. Specifically excluded from the scope of the investigation are crushed glass surface products. Crushed glass surface products are surface products in which the crushed glass content is greater than any other single material, by actual weight.
The products subject to the scope are currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under the following subheading: 6810.99.0010. Subject merchandise may also enter under subheadings 6810.11.0010, 6810.11.0070, 6810.19.1200, 6810.19.1400, 6810.19.5000, 6810.91.0000, 6810.99.0080, 6815.99.4070, 2506.10.0010, 2506.10.0050, 2506.20.0010, 2506.20.0080. The HTSUS subheadings set forth above are provided for convenience and U.S. Customs purposes only. The written description of the scope is dispositive.
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Quartz surface products may also generally be referred to as engineered stone or quartz, artificial stone or quartz, agglomerated stone or quartz, synthetic stone or quartz, processed stone or quartz, manufactured stone or quartz, and Bretonstone®.
Cold-Drawn Mechanical Tubing from China, Germany, India, Italy, Korea and Switzerland Injures U.S. Industry - US International Trade Commission
The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of cold-drawn mechanical tubing from China, Germany, India, Italy, Korea, and Switzerland that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.
Vice Chairman David S. Johanson, and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson and Meredith M. Broadbent voted in the affirmative. Chairman Rhonda K. Schmidtlein and Commissioner Jason E. Kearns did not participate in the votes.
As a result of the USITC’s affirmative determinations, Commerce will issue antidumping duty orders on imports of this product from China, Germany, India, Italy, Korea, and Switzerland.
The Commission also made negative findings concerning critical circumstances with regard to imports of this product from China, Italy, and Korea. As a result, imports of cold-drawn mechanical tubing from China, Italy, and Korea will not be subject to retroactive antidumping duties.
The Commission’s public report Cold-Drawn Mechanical Tubing from China, Germany, India, Italy, Korea, and Switzerland (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-1362-1367 (Final), USITC Publication 4790, May 2018) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.
The report will be available by June 16, 2018; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.
U.S. Launches Review of Thailand's GSP Eligibility Based on Concerns with Market Access for U.S. Pork -
U.S. International Trade Representative
Washington, D.C. – The Office of the United States Trade Representative announced today that it is accepting a petition from the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) challenging Thailand’s eligibility for the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) trade preference program.
“GSP eligibility criteria are a core element to the success and fairness of the program,” said Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Jeffrey Gerrish. “Congress directs USTR to ensure that beneficiary countries are permitting equitable and reasonable market access for American goods. The petition from the National Pork Producers Council raises important questions regarding Thailand’s compliance with this criterion for GSP eligibility.”
USTR’s acceptance of the NPPC petition will result in a public review of Thailand’s GSP eligibility, including a public hearing and comment period. Details on the review will be announced in an upcoming Federal Register notice.
Background
The NPPC petition filed on April 16, 2018 alleges that Thailand fails to meet the GSP criterion requiring countries to provide “equitable and reasonable access” to its market. The NPPC alleges that Thailand maintains an array of import restrictions on U.S. pork, including a ban on uncooked pork and offal products and a ban on imports of pork produced with ractopamine. NPPC contends that Thailand has not adopted a “maximum residue limit” for ractopamine in line with the United Nations’ Codex Alimentarius standard and has not otherwise produced a science-based risk assessment justifying its regulation. Further, NPPC alleges that the government of Thailand rarely, if ever, grants import licenses for U.S. pork and that the few shipments that are licensed are charged excessive inspection fees.
A separate review of Thailand’s GSP eligibility based on a petition filed by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) remains ongoing.
For more information on the GSP program, visit the GSP page on the USTR website here.
TSA Prepares for Record-Breaking Summer Travel Season - Transportation Security Administration
WASHINGTON — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is preparing for another record-breaking travel season this summer, as 243 million passengers and crew are projected to pass through security checkpoints nationwide between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Last summer, TSA screened more than 239 million passengers and crew during the same period, which included four of the top ten busiest days in the agency’s history.
To support this surge, TSA began planning with airline and airport partners to increase screening capabilities earlier this year. The agency has also increased its checkpoint staff by more than 600 officers since the beginning of the year and expects to increase by another 1,000 officers before the peak of this year’s summer travel season. Additionally, TSA plans to have approximately 50 more Passenger Screening Canine (PSC) teams operational this summer.
“TSA screens over 2 million passengers on an average day throughout the year and expects to screen over 2.6 million a day during peak periods of the busy summer travel season,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “Our officers are committed to ensuring the highest level of security for the traveling public even as passenger volume increases year after year.”
As a reminder, TSA recently completed the roll-out of enhanced screening procedures and there are a few things passengers can do to assist TSA with keeping wait times to a minimum this summer:
- Always check personal belongings/carry-ons for prohibited items before going to the airport.
- Check with the airlines and airports to determine wait times during peak periods. The MyTSA App is also a great resource to help figure out when you should get to the airport.
- Pack your carry-on so that it can be easily screened. Examples of personal electronic items that should be scanned separately include laptops, tablets, e-readers, and cameras. Additionally, TSA may provide instructions to remove items from your bag such as foods, powders, and any materials that can clutter bags and obstruct clear images on the X-ray machine.
For additional travel tips, read
“TSA’s 5 Essential Summer Travel Tips” and follow @AskTSA and @TSA on Twitter and Facebook.