New Year’s Resolutions for International Trade Professionals

As we eagerly launch into 2008, the Boskage staff would like to share a few New Year’s Resolutions with you and provide an opportunity for you to share a few of yours with us. In a few weeks, we’ll take all of the suggestions received and create a complete list. We’ve started the list with the following resolutions.

As an active member of the international trade community, I commit to:

· Contribute my best efforts and quality to my company’s international compliance program.
· Abide by all government regulations, even when it’s a lot of work.
· Keep updated on current events through trade associations and industry publications.
· Participate in relevant educational opportunities.
· Share knowledge with and assist my colleagues.
· Keep our company’s name out of the “look who has done something bad” list.

It's your turn. Share your New Year's Resolutions with us!

Happy New Year from the staff at Boskage Commerce Publications!

Say "Good-Bye" To Our Old Friend The SIL

On August 21, CBP announced that the Supplemental Information Letter (SIL) procedure would be discontinued and the Post Entry Amendment (PEA) processing test would be extended for another year starting August 21. This change means that the PEA is the only procedure for making post summary adjustments to entries prior to liquidation.

What does this mean to importers and brokers?

The elimination of the SIL means that importers and brokers will not be able to simply write a letter and submit it to CBP any time they find an error. The PEA procedures require that certain errors be reported using the individual amendment letter, while other errors must be reported using a quarterly tracking report. With all of the demands placed on the importer and broker, it can be difficult to for them to keep track of the errors that must be reported using the individual letters and which ones must be added to the quarterly tracking report. We’ve tried to make this task a little easier for you by creating a chart of each type of error and the appropriate method of reporting. (This chart is taken from our Importer's Policy and Procedure Manual, a regularly-updated compliance tool.)

To view this chart and the official announcement from CBP, please click on the links below.

PEA Individual Amendment Letter & Quarterly Report Requirements (PDF)

CBP: Modification and Extension of the Post-Entry Amendment Processing Test (PDF)

2007 HTSUS Print-Ready Supplement

Print Supplement Status?

We've received a lot of calls about the July Supplement to the 2007 HTSUS, so we want to make sure we address it here: At this time the International Tariff Commission (ITC) has no plans to issue a printed supplement to the 2007 HTSUS, with sources citing not enough changes to warrant releasing printed pages. Instead, the ITC is making the changes available online.

The changes were released in two revisions, and can be viewed by clicking the links below.

Revision 1 (Effective 4/6/2007)
Revision 2 (Effective 7/2/2007)

Hint: Click on 'Change Record' to simply see a listing of the changes.


Want A Supplement Anyway? No Problem!

We know that some of you will want to keep your printed editions up-to-date, even though there is no official printed supplement. As a service to our customers, we've compiled all pages contained changes as listed in the change records into one printable document! This unofficial Print Supplement will fit easily into your existing book, and will allow you to modify your printed looseleaf editions with all the most recent changes.

Click here to download your Print Supplement!

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Here are some hints for a smooth update:

1) For best results, print out on 3-hole punched, 8.5” x 11” paper.

2) If your printer allows, we recommend that you print out this document 2-sided (in other words, printed on both sides of the page). The supplement is over 300 pages long, so make sure you have enough paper before you start!

3) Printing on a paper color other than white will allow the supplement pages to stand out inside your base HTSUS book.


Disclaimer: The information contained in the supplement was received from agencies of the United States government. Neither the Editors, nor Boskage Commerce Publications, Ltd., nor the writers, shall be responsible for any errors or omissions in the contents of this book. The text may or may not contain information that is in accordance with U.S. law or regulation. This book attempts to provide accurate and authoritative information concerning the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.