CSMS Message: 98-000164

TO: ALL ABI FILERS

FROM: OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY

SUBJECT: CHANGE TO TARIFF ENDING DATES

THIS MESSAGE IS TO PROVIDE ADVANCE NOTIFICATION OF A CHANGE
TO THE "ENDING DATE" FIELD ON THE HARMONIZED TARIFF DATABASE.
AS INITIALLY DESCRIBED IN ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE 97-1105,
ISSUED ON NOVEMBER 25, 1997, IT HAS BECOME NECESSARY TO
ACCOMMODATE THE YEAR 2000 REQUIREMENTS IN ALL OF CUSTOMS
RECORDS.

IN THE HARMONIZED TARIFF DATABASE, CUSTOMS CURRENTLY USES
A GENERIC "INFINITY DATE" OF 12/31/99 TO DESCRIBE THE EFFECTIVE
END DATE FOR THOSE TARIFF NUMBERS THAT ARE NOT SCHEDULED TO EXPIRE
AT THE END OF THE CURRENT CALENDAR YEAR.

AS THE YEAR 2000 APPROACHES, THERE WILL BE SOME ACTIVE TARIFF
NUMBERS THAT EXPIRE ON DEC 31, 1999. THUS, IN ORDER TO
DISTINGUISH THOSE TARIFF NUMBERS FROM THE ONES WHICH WILL NOT
EXPIRE ON THAT DATE, THE ENDING DATE OF "999999" HAS BEEN
DEVELOPED TO BECOME THE NEW "INFINITY" END DATE.

THE SAME LOGIC FOR EXPIRATION DATES WILL APPLY TO THE COUNTRY
FILE.

CUSTOMS PLANS TO INSTALL THESE CHANGES ON OR ABOUT JUNE 1, 1998.

WE ARE SUGGESTING THAT YOU CONVERT YOUR DATABASE TO REFLECT THIS
CHANGE.

THIS MESSAGE IS TO PROVIDE INITIAL NOTIFICATION OF THE PROPOSED
CHANGES AND TO INVITE COMMENT FROM THE TRADE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY
FROM SOFTWARE VENDORS AND SELF-PROGRAMMED FILERS.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS MESSAGE MAY BE DIRECTED TO YOUR ABI CLIENT
REPRESENTATIVE OR TO ALFRED MORAWSKI AT (202) 927-1045.

Referenced By

CSMS #98-000655, 98-000569, 98-000551, 98-000547, 98-000546, 98-000443