Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 21:03:10 GMT Server: ApacheSSL-1.2.4/0.8.1 Last-Modified: Tue, 27 Aug 1996 16:28:14 GMT ETag: "4fd1a-1343-3223221e" Content-Length: 4931 Accept-Ranges: bytes Connection: close Content-Type: text/html
NEW CUSTOMS WEB SITE. A New Customs WWW Site opened on August 1, 1996. While Customs intends to eventually have rulings, Title 19 of the U.S. Code, the Customs Regulations, the HTUSA and other such information available here, there is little content available so far.
INFORMED COMPLIANCE. Customs has issued a lengthy paper on its Informed Compliance Strategy, to communicate its strategy and process for maximizing compliance. This includes reasonable care checklists and questions.
TRANSSHIPMENT. Customs lists transshipment violators, and suggests "reasonable care" to avoid such problems.
REASONABLE CARE. The Customs Service has issued a discussion draft regarding every importer's obligation to use reasonable care. This link provides a brief explanation, and a link to the full text of Customs' draft.
HARBOR MAINTENANCE FEE. The government has appealed to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit the decision of the Court of International Trade which found the imposition of harbor maintenance fees on exports to be unconstitutional. An explanation of this issue and its current status is contained in this link.
PENALTIES AND PRIOR DISCLOSURE. Customs has released two discussion drafts regarding penalties. One details the procedures for Petitions for Relief, Seizures, Penalties and Liquidated Damages. A second has proposed regulatory amendments for implementation of the Prior Disclosure provisions of the civil penalty statute, to conform with changes mandated by the Customs Modernization Act. These pages provide brief explanations of these as well as links to the complete text of Customs' drafts.
TEXTILE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN MARKING. Customs' Country of Origin Requirements for Textiles changed on July 1, 1996 in accordance with provisions of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. This page provides a brief explanation and a link to the full text of these changes.
RECORDKEEPING COMPLIANCE. The Customs Service has proposed procedures for importer recordkeeping compliance programs. This page provides a brief explanation and a link to the complete text of Customs' draft.
CUSTOMS' POINT OF VIEW. Customs publishes a magazine called Global Trade Talk which covers issues concerning international trade and the role of the Customs Service in facilitating such trade and in enforcing U.S. trade law. This page provides summaries, commentary and full-text links to recent articles of interest.
Commerce
PROPOSED REGULATIONS. Proposed Antidumping and Countervailing Duty regulations are available for downloading.
United States Trade Representative
TRADE POLICY. Recent Developments at the USTR can be found on this page. These include information on the 1996 Trade Policy Agenda and Annual Report, the 1996 Inventory of Foreign Trade Barriers, and the decision of the U.S. regarding protection of intellectual property rights.
Federal Trade Commission
TEXTILE MARKING. The FTC has requested comments on proposed changes to its Textile Marking Requirements.
MADE IN USA. The FTC is considering altering Made in USA claims in product advertising and labeling.
Return To The Trade Law Home Page.
This Page Last Modified on 8/01/96.
Riggle and Craven
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Chicago, IL 60603
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