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ITC's Final Report on HTS Changes for 2012 (Part 2: Ch. 1 - 5)

The International Trade Commission has issued a final report in connection with its investigation of proposed 2012 WCO-recommended modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S., pursuant to section 1205 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 19881. This is Part 2 of a series of summaries of these proposed modifications, and covers changes to Chapters 1-5.

(These WCO-recommended HTS changes, which are intended to be rate-neutral, are scheduled to take effect via proclamation on January 1, 2012; however, they can take effect no sooner than 30 days after the proclamation is published in the Federal Register).

Amendments to HTS Section I, Chapters 1-5

The following are the recommended amendments to HTS Section I (Live Animals; Animal Products) covering chapters 1-5 (see report for full descriptions/details):

Chapter 1: Live Animals

Chapter 2: Meat and Edible Meat Offal

Chapter 3:Fish and Crustaceans, Molluscs and Other Aquatic Invertebrates

Chapter 4: Dairy Produce; Birds Eggs; Natural Honey; Edible Products of Animal Origin, Not Elsewhere Specified or Included

(Note that no changes are proposed for Chapter 5.)

1Section 1205 directs the ITC to keep the HTS under continuous review and to recommend to the President modifications thereto, (1) when amendments to the international Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (Harmonized System, International HS), and the Protocol thereto, are recommended by the World Customs Organization (WCO) for adoption; and/or (2) as other circumstances warrant.

2General Note 4(d) lists Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) country/tariff number combinations that are not eligible for GSP duty-free treatment.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 06/09/11 news, 11060918, for BP summary of Part 1 of this report which provides an overview of the HTS chapters that will be affected by the proposed modifications.

See ITT's Online Archives or 03/09/11 news, 10090315, for BP summary of the ITC announcing its investigation on proposed changes to the HTS for January 2012.)

(ITC Inv. No. 1205-7 (Final Report), dated June 2010)