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Greetings!
Happy New Year and Gung Hay Fat Choy! Last month's import/export highlights include: State proposes to amend the ITAR to revise Categories VI, VII, XIX & XX; State proposed to amend the ITAR regarding brokering activities; OFAC issues general licenses to allow certain petroleum-related activities in South Sudan; CBP seeks comments on CAFTA-DR information collection requirements; CBP announces April 18 deadline for filing retroactive GSP claims; and the WCO posts amended 2012 HTS.
As always, thank you for reading! Jennifer Kessinger, Tammie Krauskopf
& Ruta Riley
globaltradeexpertise
info@globaltradeexpertise.com
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Department of State Proposes to Amend ITAR to revise Categories VI, VII, XIX, and XX of the USML
In December 2011, Department of State issued several proposed rules in the Federal Register amending the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to revise the following categories of the United States Munitions List (USML):
Category VI (surface vessels of war and special naval equipment) - the rule proposes to revise Category VI of the USML to describe more precisely the combatant vessels and other naval equipment warranting control on the USML. Comments on this proposed rule are due by February 6, 2012.
Category VII (ground vehicles) - the rule proposes to revise Category VII of the USML to describe more precisely the military ground vehicles warranting control on the USML. Comments on this proposed rule are due by January 20, 2012.
Category XIX (gas turbine engines) - rule establishes USML Category XIX for gas turbine engines to describe gas turbine engines and associated equipment warranting control on the USML. Comments on this proposed rule are due by January 20, 2012.
Category XX (submersible vessels and related articles) - the rule proposes to revise Category XX of the USML. Comments on this proposed rule are due by February 6, 2012.
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Department of State Proposes to Amend ITAR Regarding Brokering Activities
Comments are due by February 17, 2012
On December 19, 2011, the Department of State published a proposed rule in the Federal Register that amends part 129 and other related sections of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) relating to brokers and brokering activities.
The proposed amendments are intended to clarify relevant activity definitions and registration requirements, the scope of brokering activities, prior approval requirements and exemptions, procedures for obtaining prior approval and guidance, and reporting and recordkeeping of such activities.
Comments to the State Department on the proposed rule are due by February 17, 2012.
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OFAC Issues General Licenses to Allow Certain Petroleum-Related Activities in South Sudan
 On December 8, 2011, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) posted a final rule in the Federal Register amending the Sudanese Sanctions Regulations (SSR) by issuing two general licenses that authorize, to the extent otherwise prohibited by the SSR, (1) all activities involving the petroleum and petrochemical industries in the Republic of South Sudan and related financial transactions, and (2) the transshipment of goods, technology, and services through Sudan to or from the Republic of South Sudan and related financial transactions.
OFAC is also amending an existing general license to broaden its authorization with respect to the importation of certain Sudanese-origin services and to add an authorization for activities related to Sudanese persons' travel to the United States.
Finally, OFAC is making certain technical changes to the SSR, including changes to reflect the establishment of the independent state of the Republic of South Sudan and the separation of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan from the Government of Sudan.
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CBP Seeks Comments on CAFTA-DR Information Collection Requirement
Comments are due by February 3, 2012.
 On December 5, 2011, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) posted a notice in the Federal Register seeking comments on an information collection requirement concerning the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR).
Comments to BCP are due on February 3, 2012.
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CBP Announces April 18 Deadline for Filing Retroactive GSP Claims
On December 12 and 13, 2011, CBP posted on its website notices announcing that it has begun processing refunds for entries filed via the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) with the Special Program Indicator (SPI) A, for duties deposited on GSP-eligible goods during the period from January 1, 2011, through November 4, 2011.
According to the notices, claims for retroactive GSP benefits, on non-ABI entries or entries filed without the SPI A, must be filed by April 18, 2012, and should be filed at the port where the goods were entered.
Please note the CBP issued a correction to the December 12, 2011 notice stating that the deadline for filing retroactive GSP claims was May 3, 2012.
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HTS Amended; USITC Posts Preliminary Version of 2012 HTSUS
 On December 29, 2011, President Obama signed Proclamation 8771 which amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) pursuant to the World Customs Organization (WCO) recommendations. While the changes became effective internationally on January 1, 2012, they will become effective in the U.S. on February 3, 2012.
WCO's recommendations include changes to 54 different Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) chapters. According to the WCO press release, the 2012 version of the Harmonized Schedule (HS) includes a total of 220 sets of amendments: 98 relating to the agricultural sector; 27 to the chemical sector; 9 to the paper sector; 14 to the textile sector; 5 to the base metal sector; 30 to the machinery sector; and an additional 37 that apply to a variety of other sectors.
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has posted on its website the updated, preliminary version of the 2012 HTSUS. This version will not be available in printed format.
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Calendar of Events
Upcoming Trade Events & Seminars
 Our website has a comprehensive listing of import and export conferences held throughout the country, as well as Customs training, EAR training, ITAR training, and other training. Below is a small sampling of what's available in the coming months:
7th Annual Export Control Forum - Bureau of Industry and Security
February 27 - 28, 2012 - Irvine, CA - $525
Complying with U.S. Export Controls - Bureau of Industry and Security
February 7 - 8, 2012 - New Orleans, LA - Details not yet posted
How to Develop an Export Management and Compliance Program - Bureau of Industry and Security
February 9, 2012 -New Orleans, LA - Details not yet posted
Complying with U.S. Export Controls - Bureau of Industry and Security
February 15 - 16, 2012 - Orlando, FL - $469
Complying with U.S. Export Controls - Bureau of Industry and Security
March 6 - 7, 2012 - Birmingham, AL - $450
Complying with International Traffic in Arms Regulations - Bureau of Industry and Security
March 8, 2012 - Birmingham, AL - $199
Essentials of U.S. Export Controls - Bureau of Industry and Security
March 14, 2012 - Shreveport, LA - $210
Technology Controls- Bureau of Industry and Security
March 15, 2012 - Shreveport, LA - $210
Encryption Controls - Bureau of Industry and Security
March 16, 2012 - Shreveport, LA- $210
Complying with U.S. Export Controls - Bureau of Industry and Security
March 15 - 16, 2012 - San Diego, CA - $210
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Who's Hiring?
A Summary of Current Trade Job Opportunities
 As a service to the international trade community, Global Trade Expertise compiles links to trade job opportunities from many different sources. New trade job listings are posted frequently on our website.
To sort the job opportunities by region, fields, or levels, click on the appropriate category or tag in the right column on our Trade Jobs webpage. |
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Thanks again for your interest in our newsletter!
Sincerely,
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Jennifer Kessinger, Tammie Krauskopf & Ruta Riley
Attorneys & Consultants
jk@globaltradeexpertise.com
Tel. 925.876.1381 (Jennifer Kessinger)
tk@globaltradeexpertise.com
Tel. 708.707.4087 (Tammie Krauskopf)
rr@globaltradexpertise.com
Tel. (630) 862-8123
www.globaltradeexpertise.com
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