In just a matter of weeks, the long-awaited changes to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule will go into effect. The Presidential Trade Proclamation, which enforces these new alterations, was signed by President Obama at the end of December. According to Export.gov, the 2012 revisions include 204 amendments in 53 HTS chapters. Overall, the changes will affect 108 different HTS headings.

The majority of the changes are food-related, with a significant portion in the seafood industry. Changes will also affect products such as water-pipe tobacco, biodiesel, and video game machines, among others. The revisions, which take place every five years, are intended to enhance safety of products (particularly for the food industry) as well as improve accuracy and details of newer products.

Is your company prepared for this transition? For a detailed list of 2012 HTS code revisions, click here.

Zepol's ComplianceMonitor™ tool shows that in September 2011, 132 new Ruling letters were reported by the U.S. government in regards to U.S. imports. In September of last year, 296 rulings were reported. In 2011, the vast majority of the ruling letters were for textiles. The other rulings were split between household products including brooms and mops, photographic equipment and toys and games. The textile imports included footwear, woven fabrics and coats among other items.

Being aware of the most recent compliance changes is of critical importance if your company wishes to avoid potential penalties. ComplianceMonitor™ proactively alerts users of the most recent updates for your imported products, allowing you to stay up-to-date and on top of your game. Learn more today!

Whether intended or not, products imported to the United States that fail to comply with all rules and regulations, experience dire consequences. The recent federal raid of Gibson Guitar Corporation proves that the compliance procedure should not be taken lightly. On August 24th, federal agents raided the guitar company’s factory and seized guitars, wood, and electronic records. Agents explained the raid was due to illegal ebony and rosewood being imported from India. Indian law states that unfinished goods of this type of wood cannot be exported; only finished goods are permitted for export. Due to the amendment of the Lacey Act in 2008 which prohibits the purchase of products exported in violation of a foreign country's laws, Gibson Guitars is held liable.

Even though the company utilizes a broker to aid their import process of wood, the legal responsibility rests on the importer. Zepol’s ComplianceMonitor™ tool was created to assist in ensuring import compliance for importers as well as brokers. The tool proactively alerts users when critical compliance information changes for the products they import, thereby saving valuable time and potential severe penalties.

Zepol’s ComplianceMonitor™ tool reported that 340 new Antidumping and Countervailing letters were released in August by the U.S. government concerning imports to the United States. There were only 42 letters released in August of last year. Some product categories involved in the letters include iron and steel, wood, paper, and food items (such as seafood and wheat). Many times these products are imported at unfairly low or subsidized prices, potentially causing harm to domestic producers.

Being aware of the most recent compliance changes is of critical importance if your company wishes to avoid potential penalties. ComplianceMonitor™ proactively alerts users of the most recent updates for your imported products, allowing you to stay up-to-date and on top of your game. Learn more today!