ITC presses White House to make HTS changes

The U.S. International Trade Commission has recommended to the White House that certain changes to the country’s Harmonized Tariff Schedule be made to conform with the World Customs Organization’s amendments to the global harmonized system.    The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has recommended to the White House that certain changes to the country’s Harmonized Tariff Schedule be made to conform with the World Customs Organization’s (WCO) amendments to the global harmonized system.
   The ITC said the modifications concern classification of edible fish offal; new subdivisions for coniferous and non-coniferous wood; new HTS subheadings for certain types of wood including pine, fir, spruce, beech, birch, poplar, aspen and eucalyptus; and certain bed-nets of warp knit fabrics.
   The WCO approved the changes to the harmonized system nomenclature in June 2015. Countries worldwide must incorporate the changes into their own nomenclature systems. The ITC maintains and updates the U.S. HTS.
   “Following expiration of a 60-day layover period before the Congress, the president is authorized to proclaim the modifications to the HTS,” the ITC said in a statement. The amendments will enter into force on Jan. 1, 2018.
   The ITC’s report, Commission Recommendations to the President to Modify the Tariff Nomenclature in Chapters 3, 44, and 63 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, is available on the USITC website.