07/19/2024
US Adjusts Aluminum and Steel Imports from Mexico
Check out this week's Customs Corner to read about the new requirements for imports of aluminum and steel from Mexico, NCSD’s August webinar schedule, and more.
1) US Adjusts Aluminum and Steel Imports from Mexico
Federal Register 89 FR 57339 and 89 FR 57347 announce new requirements and duty rates for imports of aluminum and steel and their derivative articles from Mexico.
The new rules for aluminum include:
- A "country of smelt" and "country of most recent cast" requirement for aluminum imports from Mexico. Aluminum products containing primary aluminum smelted or cast in China, Russia, Belarus, or Iran will face increased duties unless exempted.
- Aluminum imports eligible for exemption must be accompanied by a certificate of analysis confirming they do not contain primary aluminum smelted or cast in the specified countries. Definitions for "primary country of smelt," "secondary country of smelt," and "country of most recent cast" are provided.
- Importers must provide information to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) identifying the smelting and casting countries of the aluminum. CBP will implement these requirements promptly.
- These modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) will be effective from July 10, 2024.
- Aluminum products from Mexico admitted to U.S. foreign trade zones before the effective date will be subject to previous proclamations upon entry for consumption after the effective date.
- Any inconsistent provisions in previous proclamations and Executive Orders are superseded.
The new rules for steel include:
- A "melt and pour" requirement for steel imports from Mexico. Steel products melted and poured in countries other than Mexico, Canada, or the United States will face increased duties. Exemptions apply to products melted and poured in these three countries.
- Importers must provide information to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) identifying the countries where the steel was melted and poured. CBP will implement these requirements promptly.
- These modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) will be effective from July 10, 2024.
- Steel products from Mexico admitted to U.S. foreign trade zones before the effective date will be subject to previous proclamations upon entry for consumption after the effective date.
- Any inconsistent provisions in previous proclamations and Executive Orders are superseded.
2) NCSD’s August Webinar Schedule
To register for these free webinars, click on the registration link for the coordinating webinar below. All registrants will receive the link for the webinar the day before the event, but entry into the webinar is on a first-come, first-served basis as seats are limited. After the live event, this and other previously recorded webinars will be available for replay at Trade Outreach Webinars | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov).
NCSD’s August Webinar Schedule:
Tuesday, August 6, 2024: Feeling Festive or Not: Chapter 95 – The “Feeling Festive or Not: Chapter 95” is part of the 2024 Educations Commodity Specific Webinar Series hosted by the National Commodity Specialist Division, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade. This webinar is on the classification if festive articles in 9505. Among other things we will be discussing artificial Christmas trees v. freshly cut natural trees and their impact on the environment.
Thursday, August 8, 2024: Keeping it Sharp, the Knives of Heading 8211 – The “Keeping it Sharp, the Knives of Heading 8211” is part of the 2024 Educations Commodity Specific Webinar Series hosted by the National Commodity Specialist Division, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade. This webinar will discuss the knives that are classified within heading 8211, the included GRI 1 set provision and how to calculate the ad valorem equivalent rate, and a general overview of country-of-origin issues as they pertain to knives.
Tuesday, August 13, 2024: Tufted, Felt and Other Textile Floor Coverings of 5703-5705 – The “Tufted, Felt and Other Textile Floor Coverings of 5703-5705” is part of the 2024 Educations Commodity Specific Webinar Series hosted by the National Commodity Specialist Division, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade. The webinar will focus on the manufacturing techniques and structure of tufted, felt, and other textile floor coverings of headings 5703-5705 aimed to facilitate the identification and correct classification of these types of floor coverings. The webinar will include a discussion of pre- and post-consumer efforts by the industry and steps consumers can take to lessen the environmental impact of industrial and carpet waste on the planet. This webinar is the third in the webinar series covering textile floor coverings and can be viewed in conjunction with prior webinars covering knotted textile floor coverings of heading 5701 (2022) and woven textile floor coverings of heading 5702 (2023).
Thursday, August 22, 2024: Reusable Bags and Cases of Heading 4202 – The “Reusable Bags and Cases of Heading 4202” is part of the 2024 Educations Commodity Specific Webinar Series hosted by the National Commodity Specialist Division, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade. The webinar will cover the classification of reusable bags, containers, and cases of Heading 4202 which may be used in lieu of disposable and single use containers.
Wednesday, August 28, 2024: Other Articles of Aluminum – The “Other Articles of Aluminum” is part of the 2024 Educations Commodity Specific Webinar Series hosted by the National Commodity Specialist Division, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade. This webinar will cover the classification and applicability of section 301 trade remedies for articles of aluminum in heading 7616 that are not more specifically provided in any other heading in the tariff. Will also discusses CBP’s Green Trade Strategy noting that aluminum is one of the greenest metals because it is sustainable and recyclable and provides examples of eco environmentally friendly products including aluminum sports/water bottles, and frames, mounting rails and parts for solar panels, wind deflectors and wind turbines.
3) Entry Type 86 Estimated Date of Arrival Requirement Deploys July 25, 2024
CSMS # 61421135 confirms an update in ACE will enforce this by requiring ET86 submissions to include the Reference Identifier Qualifier code "EDA" in the SE20 record, with the EDA reported as MMDDYY. Submissions missing this information will be rejected with errors 282 (EDA REQUIRED FOR ENTRY TYPE 86) or 288 (ONLY ONE SE20 FOR EDA ALLOWED).
This change, supporting automated enforcement of Section 321 requirements, has been available in the ACE certification environment since July 11, 2024. Future developments will ensure that no party receives Section 321 clearance for more than $800 in shipments on a given day. More details can be found in CSMS # 61264910 (July 5, 2024).
4) CPSC eFiling Quick Start Guide
The Consumer Product and Safety Commission announced the recent publication of their eFiling Quick Start Guide. This document is intended to support importers and their trade partners through the beginning stages of eFiling implementation. The guide compiles eFiling requirements, guidance on common questions and challenges, implementation best practices, and actionable steps for importers to navigate the various stages required to prepare for eFiling.
The eFiling Quick Start Guide serves as a resource for importers as CPSC transitions to the eFiling voluntary stage and full implementation takes place in or around 2025. Importers may leverage this document to better understand the eFiling initiative and the Product Registry as they begin testing the eFiling process.
5) New CPSC Import Shipment Tracking Tool
CPSC has launched a new shipment tracking tool. You can now obtain the status of your shipment by entering your entry number into the tool, eliminating the need to email CPSC for a status update.
The link to the tool is included below where additional instructions and guidance are also provided.
CPSC Import Shipment Tracking Tool | CPSC.gov
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