Bureau of Customs and Border Protection August 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The current regulations in title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations allow CBP to collect a merchandise processing fee (MPF) on imported shipments to recoup administrative expenses. However, ``originating merchandise'' that qualifies to be marked as goods of Canada or of Mexico under the NAFTA are exempted from this fee. CBP is proposing to amend the regulations to clarify that an importer is subject to the same declaration requirement that is established for claiming NAFTA duty preference in order to claim the exemption of the MPF for goods that meet a NAFTA rule of origin even when the goods are unconditionally free. In addition, CBP is proposing to make several technical corrections. CBP is proposing to amend the regulations to clarify that a Certificate of Origin is not required for a commercial importation for which the total value of originating goods does not exceed $2,500. CBP is also proposing to remedy two incorrect addresses and an incorrect Code of Federal Regulations citation.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning the Serially Numbered Substantial Holders or Containers. This request for comment is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)).

This document proposes to amend the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Regulations pertaining to the field organization of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) by extending the geographical limits of the port of St. Louis, Missouri, to include the entire Lambert-St. Louis International Airport after the completion of its ongoing expansion. The expansion of the airport is expected to be complete by March 2006. The extension would also modify the geographic description of the port of St. Louis, Missouri, to align the port boundaries with the Federal Interstate Highways that encircle the St. Louis metropolitan area. The proposed change is part of CBP's continuing program to more efficiently utilize its personnel, facilities, and resources, and to provide better service to carriers, importers, and the general public.

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 provides that by January 1, 2008, United States citizens and nonimmigrant aliens may enter the United States only with passports or such alternative documents as the Secretary of Homeland Security may designate as satisfactorily establishing identity and citizenship. This notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) is the first phase of a joint Department of Homeland Security and Department of State plan to implement these new requirements. This NPRM proposes that, beginning January 8, 2007, United States citizens and nonimmigrant aliens from Canada, Bermuda, and Mexico entering the United States at air ports-of- entry and most sea ports-of-entry, with certain limited exceptions, will generally be required to present a valid passport. This NPRM does not propose to change the requirements for United States citizens and nonimmigrant aliens from Canada, Bermuda, and Mexico entering the United States at land border ports-of-entry and certain types of arrivals by sea (ferries and pleasure vessels) which will be addressed in a separate, future rulemaking.

This document adopts as a final rule, with some changes, interim amendments to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Regulations which were published in the Federal Register on March 25, 2003, as T.D. 03-16, to implement the trade benefit provisions for Andean countries contained in Title XXXI of the Trade Act of 2002. The trade benefits under Title XXXI, also referred to as the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (the ATPDEA), apply to Andean countries specifically designated by the President for ATPDEA purposes. The ATPDEA trade benefits involve the entry of specific apparel and other textile articles free of duty and free of any quantitative restrictions, limitations, or consultation levels; the extension of duty-free treatment to specified non-textile articles normally excluded from duty-free treatment under the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) program if the President finds those articles to be not import- sensitive in the context of the ATPDEA; and the entry of certain imports of tuna free of duty and free of any quantitative restrictions. The regulatory amendments adopted as a final rule in this document reflect and clarify the statutory standards for the trade benefits under the ATPDEA and also include specific documentary, procedural and other related requirements that must be met in order to obtain those benefits.

This document provides an additional 60 days for interested persons to submit comments on the proposed rule to amend the Customs and Border Protection Regulations pertaining to the electronic transmission of passenger manifests for commercial aircraft arriving in and departing from the United States and of passenger and crew manifests for commercial vessels departing from the United States. The proposed rule provides air carriers a choice to make manifest transmissions either for each passenger as passengers check in for the flight, up to but no later than 15 minutes prior to departure, or in batch form (a complete manifest containing all passenger data) no later than 60 minutes prior to departure. The proposed rule also provides for vessel carriers transmitting passenger and crew manifests no later than 60 minutes prior to the vessel's departure from the United States. The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on July 14, 2006, and the comment period was scheduled to expire on August 14, 2006.