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August 15, 2011 Recent Customs Quota Book Transmittals U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Customs, CBP) publishes directives related to absolute and tariff-rate quotas for both textile and non-textile commodities on the agency's "Quota Book Transmittals (QBTs)" web page. Customs' "QBT" page provides notices of quota opening and closing dates, lists quota levels assigned for given products and quota periods and provides special instructions for the processing of quota entries and on other quota-related issues. Recent QBT directives include the following:
Customs' "Quota Book Transmittals (QBTs)" web page, which contains archived QBTs, can be accessed online at:
US retail sales grew 0.5pc in July, but at slowest rate in 12 months US RETAIL sales increased 0.5 per cent in July month to month as inventories grew for an 18th month - but at the slowest rate in more than a year, according to Commerce Department statistics. Consumers are continuing to spend, and that accounts for 70 per cent of American economic activity, reported Newark's Journal of Commerce, which also noted that the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's preliminary August index on consumer sentiment fell to 54.9, hitting its lowest point since May 1980. More Americans bought cars, furniture, clothing and petrol in July with sales rising 0.3 per cent month to month, showing the best performance since March, said the Commerce Department, noting that these statistics exclude petrol pump sales. The Commerce Department said inventories rose 0.3 per cent in June after an 0.1 per cent drop in May. Wholesale inventories increased 0.6 per cent, while retailers' and manufacturers stocks grew 0.2 per cent. July's retail data reflected well on the prospects of container shipping as increases for several categories mean larger imported box volumes. Sales increased 0.5 per cent for furniture, 1.4 per cent for electronics and 0.5 per cent at specialty clothing stores. But department stores suffered a 0.8 per cent month-to-month decline. Sales at a broader category of general merchandise stores, which includes department stores and big-box retailers, were flat in July following a 0.5 per cent increase in June.
On August 4, 2011 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that the Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 specialty sugar tariff-rate quota (TRQ) was being increased by 10,000 STRV. In addition, the FY 2012 raw and refined sugar TRQs were also announced. Raw sugar entering under the FY 2012 TRQ will be permitted to enter the U.S. beginning September 1, 2011 which is one month earlier than the normal October 1 start date. The USDA news release is available at:
Tons News, for current and past issues of Tons News by E-mail request from tonsnews@tonslogistics.com or call (310) 338-0337. ________________________________________ Tons News is compiled from a number of public sources that, to the best of Tons knowledge, are true and correct. It is our intent to present only accurate information. However, in the event any information contained herein is erroneous, Tons accepts no liability or responsibility.
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