| Title: | GATT ANSWERING PHONE INQUIRIE |
|---|---|
| Date: | 1994-12-22 |
| To: | abi |
| Links: | previous, next |
TO : ALL ABI BROKERS.
FROM : ROLAND BERNIER
SUBJECT : GATT ANSWERING PHONE INQUIRIE
DATE : 12/19/94
5353071
DECEMBER 19, 1994
GAT-1-CO:TO:TF RLB
CATEGORY: INA
TO: ALL REGIONAL DIRECTORS (COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS),
DISTRICT, AREA AND PORT DIRECTORS
FROM: DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF TRADE OPERATIONS
RE: GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT)
PASS TO: ALL NATIONAL IMPORT SPECIALISTS, IMPORT SPECIALISTS,
INSPECTORS, ENTRY AND OTHER CUSTOMS PERSONNEL, AND
INTERESTED PARTIES SUCH AS BROKERS AND IMPORTERS
ON DECEMBER 8, 1994, THE PRESIDENT SIGNED INTO LAW THE GENERAL
AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT). SINCE THAT TIME, THE
OFFICE OF TRADE OPERATIONS AT HEADQUARTERS, AS WELL AS MANY FIELD
OFFICES, HAVE RECEIVED INQUIRIES FROM THE TRADE IN RELATION TO
TARIFF ITEM CHANGES, RATES OF DUTY AND THE AVAILABILITY OF
INFORMATION. BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO RESPOND TO THESE INQUIRIES,
GIVEN THE LIMITED AMOUNT OF INFORMATION WE HAVE AT PRESENT, THE
FOLLOWING IS PROVIDED FOR THE GUIDANCE OF ALL PARTIES CONCERNED.
1. U.S. CUSTOMS DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT INFORMATION AT THIS
TIME CONCERNING TARIFF CHANGES AND DUTY RATES. THIS
INFORMATION WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE PRESIDENTIAL
PROCLAMATION IS SIGNED. (CUSTOMS HAS NO AUTHORITY TO ISSUE
INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT THE
PROCLAMATION IS SIGNED). THE PROCLAMATION WILL BE MADE
PUBLIC UPON ITS SIGNING AND PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL
REGISTER.
2. A TAPE WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO BROKERS AND OTHER INTERESTED
PERSONS. THIS WILL BE OF HELP TO ELECTRONIC FILERS IN UPGRADING
THEIR SOFTWARE PACKAGES. 1995 TARIFF CHANGES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR
ELECTRONIC RETRIEVAL BY ABI UERS IN THE USUAL MANNER.
3. THE HARD COPY OF THE TARIFF SCHEDULES IS NOT ANTICIPATED TO
ARRIVE AT THE CUSTOMS DISTRICTS AND PORTS UNTIL THE THIRD OR
FOURTH WEEK IN JANUARY, AT THE EARLIEST. WE REALIZE THIS
WILL PRESENT A PROBLEM, HOWEVER, IF THE INFORMATION IS IN
ACS, THEN THE SYSTEM WILL HAVE TO BE ACCESSED UNTIL SUCH
TIME THAT THE HTS ARRIVES.
4. YOUR ATTENTION IS DIRECTED TO INSTRUCTION NOTICE NUMBER
943490201 DATED DECEMBER 15, 1994, REGARDING IMMEDIATE
DELIVERY PROCEDURES AT YEAR END. IN ADDITION, SOME
INQUIRIES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO SUBMIT
LATE FILES IN ORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DUTY RATE CHANGES
WHEN THEY BECOME EFFECTIVE. DISTRICT AND PORT DIRECTORS ARE
TO USE THEIR DISCRETION IN APPROVING SUCH REQUESTS
5. THE AVAILABILITY OF HTS CHANGES ON THE CUSTOMS ELECTRONIC
BULLETIN BOARD IS DISCUSSED IN ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
ID: 94-1248 DATED 12/13/94. INQUIRIES SHOULD BE ANSWERED
WITH THE INFORMATION FOUND IN THAT MESSAGE.
QUESTIONS MAY BE REFERRED TO THE OFFICE OF TRADE OPERATIONS,
TRADE PROGRAMS BRANCH.
PHILIP METZGER