TRADE STATISTICS
GOODS
• Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) provides
applicable tariff rates and statistical categories
for all traded merchandise.
SERVICES
• Services trade statistics are based on surveys
conducted by the Bureau of Economic Analysis
(BEA).
AMENDMENTS TO THE US HTS
WHY? Changing trade patterns and technological advances have occurred since the
last HS amendment in 2007
2012 HTS Changes - Examples
• Film cameras no longer have their own
breakout.
The changes are as follows:
• The Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360 now have their own
54 – Number of chapters affected
95 – Number of subheadings removed subheading in Ch. 9504.50
• Big change to Ch. 64 (footwear) related to
421 – Number of subheadings added
34 – Number of subheadings changed breakouts for “textile flocking” on soles
•Biodiesel – now specifically provided for in 3826.
Sector breakdown of the changes:
• Hybrid-vehicle Battery Technology now has new
Special People, Special Company
subheadings available in chapter 85:
98 relate to the agricultural sector
8507.50 – nickel-metal hydride batteries
27 relate to the chemical sector
8507.60 – lithium-ion batteries
9 to the paper sector
•Foodstuffs –more detail is required.
14 to the textile sector
For example: cranberries, currently considered
5 to the base metal sector
30 to the machinery and hi-tech sector “other,” will get their own breakouts in fruits,
An additional 37 that apply to a variety nuts, and edible mixtures, as well as juices.
• Dairy cows are broken out to include purebred
of other sectors
and other dairy cows.
Source: Mainfreight
AMENDMENTS TO THE US HTS
Potential Impacts:
• Different duties and rates applicable
• These are based on HTS and country of origin (may also need
to review origin requirements as a result of changes)
• Detained shipments by customs agencies as a result of mistakes
Changes may require:
• Updating of enterprise-wide computer systems
• Updating classification databases and changing the current
company products database
• Informing services providers of changes
AMENDMENTS TO THE US HTS
Check for changes to your products:
USITC Publication 4166 includes a 2012 HTS Correlation Table w/2007 Tariffs in the
appendix:
http://www.usitc.gov/tariff_affairs/hts_documents/1205-7FinalReport.pdf
If unsure of classification, can request a binding ruling from Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) (can take up to 90 days to obtain and samples are often requested).
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/legal/rulings/eRulingRequirements.xml
CBP may have already issued rulings on products similar to yours that you can use for
guidance. Can research the results of previous ruling requests by using the Customs Rulings
Online Search System. CROSS also addresses other issues such as value, country of origin
marking, and applicability of trade preference programs.
http://rulings.cbp.gov/
HTS Reform Compliance Plan of Action:
https://na1.salesforce.com/sfc/p/30000000V5lxPahJa77m4PCfMRvz2GxpLSVA8TM=
SERVICES TRADE ESTIMATES
The BEA publishes statistics on US cross-border trade in private services and on services supplied by
majority-owned US and foreign affiliates of MNCs.
Cross-border services transactions are classified into five broad “standard components”: travel;
passenger fares; other transportation, such as freight and port services; royalties and license fees;
other private services, such as financial services, insurance services, and business, professional, and
technical services.
The statistics are based on mandatory surveys of US international services and intangible assets
transactions:
Quarterly surveys for
each “standard
component” are used
to prepare quarterly
and annual statistics
Benchmark surveys
conducted every 5
years
http://www.bea.gov/surveys/iussurv.htm
SERVICES TRADE ESTIMATES
Most VALET services companies would fall under the BE-125, Quarterly Survey of Transactions in Selected Services
and Intangible Assets with Foreign Persons
The BE-125 collects data on the following types of intangible
The BE-125 covers transactions (purchases and sales or, for some
services, only purchases or only sales) with affiliated and unaffiliated
foreign persons in the following types of services:
•
Accounting, auditing and bookkeeping services
•
Advertising services
•
Auxiliary insurance services (except by U.S. insurance companies)
•
Computer and data processing services
•
Construction services
•
Data base and other information services
•
Educational and training services
•
Engineering, architectural, and surveying services
•
Financial services, by non-financial firms (payments only)
•
Industrial engineering services
•
Industrial-type maintenance, installation, alteration, and training
services
•
Legal services
•
Management, consulting, and public relations services (including
allocated expenses)
•
Merchanting services (receipts only)
•
Mining services
•
Operational leasing services
•
Research, development, and testing services
•
Telecommunications services
•
Trade-related services, other than merchanting services
•
Other selected services (The type of service must be specified.)
assets or proprietary rights:
• Industrial processes and products
• Books, compact disks, audio tapes, etc.
• Trademarks
• Performances and events pre-recorded on motion picture
film and TV tape
• Broadcast and recording of live performances and events
• General use computer software
• Business format franchises
• Other intangible assets
Frequency: must be filed within 45 days after the close of each
fiscal quarter (or within 90 days after the close of the final
quarter of the U.S. reporter’s fiscal year).
Who must report/Exemption: A BE-125 report is required
from when receipts from affiliated and unaffiliated foreign
persons exceeded $6 million during the previous fiscal year, or
can be expected to exceed $6 million in the current year; or
payments exceeded $4 million during the pervious fiscal year,
or can be expected to exceed $4 million in the current year.
The BE-120 Benchmark Survey of Transactions in Selected
Services and Intangible Assets with Foreign Persons is conducted
every five years (the last was reported in 2007; the new BE-120
will be reported in 2012). A BE-120 report is required when
receipts exceed $2,000,000 during the fiscal year or payments
exceed $1,000,000 during the fiscal year.
http://www.bea.gov/surveys/pdf/surveysu.pdf
SERVICES TRADE ESTIMATES
Benchmark (census) surveys
•
Mailed to U.S. persons who have previously filed a report and all U.S. persons who have not previously filed but who
are believed likely to have transactions in the covered services
•
Reporting thresholds are intended to capture the entire universe of transactions in the covered services
•
Respondents whose transactions fall below the thresholds are exempt from reporting data by type of service
Quarterly sample surveys
•
Have a higher reporting threshold than the benchmark surveys
•
To ensure that published statistics cover the entire universe of transactions in non-benchmark years, BEA adds to the
reported data estimates for transactions of services not covered by the annual surveys
•
For companies required to report on the benchmark surveys but whose transactions fall below the reporting threshold
for the annual surveys, transactions have tended to be small and fairly evenly divided between exports and imports,
and no estimates have been included for them
•
Estimating methodologies allow for the preparation of estimates of trade in services on a monthly basis rather than
only on a quarterly or annual basis.
INTERNATIONAL SERVICES DATA
http://www.bea.gov/international/international_services.htm
U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS IN PRIVATE SERVICES – A Guide to the Surveys Conducted by the BEA
http://www.bea.gov/scb/pdf/INTERNAT/INTSERV/Meth/itguide.pdf
U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS – A Guide to Services Classifications
http://www.bea.gov/international/concepts_estimation_methods.htm
Questions concerning these surveys may be addressed to BEA's Balance of Payments Division; telephone (202) 606-5588 between 8:00 a.m. and
4:30 p.m., eastern time; or via email to internationalaccounts@bea.gov
SERVICES TRADE ESTIMATES
Changes were also made in June 2011 to definitions and classifications of some cross border services,
affecting international transaction accounts. Services trade statistics are currently being updated to reflect
these changes (October 2011).
WHY?
Changes result from a multiyear effort to modernize and enhance BEA's international economic accounts in
order to more closely align the accounts with international guidelines. Changes include:
•
•
•
•
•
Reclassification within services of cruise fares from passenger fares to travel
Reclassification within services of the distribution rights for film and television recordings from “other” private services
to royalties and license fees
Reclassification of postal services from U.S. government miscellaneous services to “other” transportation
Exclusion of expenditures of foreign nationals working at international organizations in the United States from “other”
private services and inclusion of their earnings in compensation of employees. Foreign nationals living in the United
States and employed by international organizations located in the United States were previously treated as foreign
residents, therefore their purchases of goods and services were included in U.S. exports of services. Under
international guidelines, these foreign nationals are treated as U.S. residents. As a result, their purchases are no longer
treated as exports and their compensation is included because international organizations are considered nonresident
entities regardless of their location.
Change in the recording of U.S. government income on holdings of special drawing rights (SDRs) from a net basis to a
gross basis.
http://www.bea.gov/international/bp_web/ita_and_iip_changes_2011.htm
SERVICES TRADE ESTIMATES
http://www.bea.gov/iTable/iTable.cfm?ReqID=6&step=1
SERVICES TRADE ESTIMATES
U.S. International Services Cross-Border Trade in 2010 and Services Supplied Through Affiliates in 2009 published October 2011
http://www.bea.gov/scb/pdf/2011/10%20October/1011_services%20text.pdf
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