U.S. Customs Extends Drawback Comment Period

(Journal of Commerce Online – R.G.Edmonson)

Proposed change would eliminate drawback on goods subject to excise taxes

Exporters and other interested parties have an additional month to tell Customs and Border Protection what they think about a controversial change in drawback regulations. The agency on Wednesday extended the comment period past the original deadline of December 14 to January 12, 2010, on a proposed rule change that would keep importers from claiming drawback on goods subject to U.S. excise taxes.

Companies have been able to recover 99% of the excise taxes they pay on imported goods if they export “commercially interchangeable” products. It’s widely used in the alcohol, tobacco and petroleum industries. Read more here.