| Title: | STATISTICAL UNITS OF QUANTITY |
|---|---|
| Date: | 1995-06-12 |
| To: | abi |
| Links: | previous, next |
TO : ALL ABI BROKERS.
FROM : JOHN PIERCE
SUBJECT : STATISTICAL UNITS OF QUANTITY
DATE : 06/06/95
5153011
DATE: JUNE 2, 1995
FILE: STA-1-FO:TC:S DAK
FROM : ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
OFFICE OF FIELD OPERATIONS
SUBJECT: REPORTING OF STATISTICAL UNITS OF QUANTITY
THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE HAS BEEN POSTED TO THE ACS BULLETIN BOARD
SYSTEM (OTO-5), ABI, AND THE CUSTOMS ELECTRONIC BULLETIN BOARD
(CEBB):
IT HAS RECENTLY COME TO THE ATTENTION OF IMPORT SPECIALISTS IN
MANY PORTS THAT IMPROPER REPORTING OF STATISTICAL UNITS OF
QUANTITY IN THE IMPORTATION OF AUTOMOTIVE PARTS IS A WIDESPREAD
PRACTICE OF IMPORTERS AND BROKERS.
CHAPTER 87 OF THE HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULES (HTS) CHANGED
SIGNIFICANTLY IN JANUARY, 1995. THE NET QUANTITY UNITS IN MANY
OF THE 10-DIGIT HTS NUMBERS WERE CHANGED FROM "X" TO "KG." MANY
IMPORTERS AND BROKERS HAVE NOT BEEN REPORTING ACCURATE NET
WEIGHTS SINCE THE CHANGES OCCURRED.
IT HAS BEEN THE REGULAR PRACTICE OF SOME IMPORTERS TO PRORATE
GROSS WEIGHTS IN LIEU OF NET WEIGHTS ON MULTI-LINE PARTS ENTRIES
BY USING LINE VALUE AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE
ENTRY. THIS PRACTICE IS CONTRARY TO THE REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS
IN STATISTICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPORTED GOODS IN THE HARMONIZED
SCHEDULES. IT ALSO COMPROMISES STATISTICAL REPORTS WHICH ARE
COMPILED AND RELEASED BY THE BUREAU OF THE CENSUS, DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE. RELIABLE STATISTICS ARE ESSENTIAL NOT ONLY FOR
MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT ARE ALSO
NECESSARY FOR PROPER CONDUCT OF THE BUSINESS OF TRADE TREATY
NEGOTIATIONS.
PRELIMINARY CONTACTS WITH THESE IMPORTERS AND BROKERS HAVE
RESULTED IN SOME IMPROVEMENTS. MANY IMPORTERS AND BROKERS,
HOWEVER, HAVE TOLD IMPORT SPECIALISTS THAT THEY FIND IT DIFFICULT
AND COSTLY TO PRESENT CORRECT STATISTICAL UNITS AND WEIGHTS.
THERE IS NO AUTHORITY IN THE CUSTOMS REGULATIONS TO WAIVE OR
AMEND REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCURATE STATISTICAL REPORTING. IMPORTERS
AND BROKERS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PRESENT ONLY ACCURATE
INFORMATION TO THE CUSTOMS SERVICE UPON ENTRY OF MERCHANDISE.
ACTION:
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, GROSS WEIGHTS MAY NOT BE USED AS NET
UNITS OF QUANTITY ON ENTRIES OF AUTOMOTIVE PARTS AFFECTED BY
THE HTS CHANGES DESCRIBED ABOVE.
FOR THE 90-DAY PERIOD BEGINNING WITH THE DATE OF THIS
MESSAGE, NET WEIGHTS MAY BE PRORATED ON MULTI-LINE PARTS
ENTRIES USING LINE VALUES AS PERCENTAGES OF THE TOTAL VALUE
OF THE ENTRY. OF COURSE, IF NET WEIGHTS ARE AVAILABLE ON
INVOICE LINE ITEMS, THEY SHOULD BE UTILIZED.
UPON EXPIRATION OF THIS 90-DAY PERIOD, ONLY THE ACTUAL NET
WEIGHT OF EACH LINE ITEM WILL BE ACCEPTABLE AS THE REPORTED
STATISTICAL UNIT OF QUANTITY. NON-COMPLYING ENTRIES WILL BE
REJECTED.
SAMUEL H. BANKS
CSMS #95-000857