[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 228 (Monday, November 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66644-66645]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30934]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation 1205-5]
Proposed Modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States
AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Institution of investigation.
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EFFECTIVE DATE: November 18, 1999.
SUMMARY: On November 18, 1999, the Commission instituted investigation
No. 1205-5, Proposed Modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
the United States, pursuant to section 1205 of the Omnibus Trade and
Competitiveness Act of 1988. Section 1205 directs the Commission to
keep the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) under
continuous review and to recommend modifications to the HTS (1) when
amendments to the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity
Description and Coding System (Harmonized System), and the Protocol
thereto, are recommended by the World Customs Organization (WCO)
(formerly known as the Customs Cooperation Council) for adoption, and
(2) as other circumstances warrant. The Commission's report will set
forth the proposed changes and indicate the necessary changes in the
HTS that would be needed to conform the HTS to the international
nomenclature structure; the report will also include other appropriate
explanatory information on the proposed changes.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eugene A. Rosengarden, Director (202-
205-2592), Office of Tariff Affairs and Trade Agreements, U.S.
International Trade Commission, Washington, DC, 20436. Hearing impaired
individuals are advised that information on this investigation can be
obtained by contacting the TDD terminal on (202) 205-1810.
Background
The majority of the proposed changes included in this investigation
are the result of the work of the WCO and its Harmonized System
Committee (HSC) to update and clarify the Harmonized System
nomenclature, as part of the WCO's long-term program to review the
nomenclature structure on a formal basis. The WCO has recommended the
adoption of certain modifications to the nomenclature of the
international Harmonized System, in accordance with Article 16 of the
Harmonized System Convention, to become effective in January, 2002. The
changes proposed to conform the HTS with the WCO's recommendations, and
to reflect in the HTS certain other decisions taken by the HSC, will be
made available in the Office of the Secretary, Room 112, United States
International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436
(telephone 202-205-2000), and will also be posted on the Commission's
web site at the address indicated below. These changes encompass all
decisions taken by the HSC since the implementation of the last set of
WCO modifications to the Harmonized System on January 1, 1996, as well
as proposed actions subject to further consideration by the HSC during
its sessions in 2000. Future notices will be issued in this
investigation indicating the final resolution of all matters and
decisions taken by the HSC during the course of Commission
consideration.
Other proposed changes included in this investigation are requested
by the U.S. Customs Service, in order to clarify the proper tariff
classification and duty treatment of particular goods (due to decisions
of the Court of International Trade, the HSC, or the Customs Service).
These changes will be treated separately by the Commission both during
the investigation and in the Commission's report.
The Commission will prepare a non-authoritative cross-reference
table to provide guidance to potentially affected parties and to show
the likely existing and future tariff classifications of the goods
concerned. The Customs Service has domestic legal authority for tariff
classification and may provide information, both during the course of
the investigation and after the Commission's report is submitted, that
[[Page 66645]]
indicates different or additional tariff classifications of some goods.
Moreover, the WCO will eventually issue a cross-reference table under
Article 16 of the Harmonized System Convention indicating the agreed
international classifications (existing and future) of the goods
affected by the proposed changes. The latter table may be released
later in the Commission's investigation, and differences between the
international and domestic classification of a few goods may be
suggested (in some cases due to reservations filed by member countries
or to theoretical or asserted classifications for some goods). Thus,
the classifications shown in the Commission's cross-reference table are
subject to change during the study.
Written Submissions
Interested parties are invited to submit written statements
concerning the matters being addressed by the Commission in its report
on this investigation. Commercial or financial information that a
submitter desires to treat as confidential must be submitted on
separate sheets of paper, each clearly marked ``Confidential Business
Information'' at the top. All submissions requesting confidential
treatment must conform with the requirements of Sec. 201.6 of the
Commission's rules of practice and procedure (19 CFR 201.6). All
written submissions, except for confidential business information, will
be made available in the Office of the Secretary of the Commission for
inspection by interested parties. To be assured of consideration by the
Commission, written statements relating to the Commission's report
should be submitted to the Commission at the earliest practical date
and should be received no later than the close of business on December
17, 1999. All submissions should be addressed to the Secretary, United
States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC
20436. The Commission's rules do not authorize filing submissions with
the Secretary by facsimile or by electronic means.
Persons with mobility impairments who will need special assistance
in gaining access to the Commission should contact the Office of the
Secretary at 202-205-2000. General information concerning the
Commission may also be obtained by accessing its Internet server
(http://www.usitc.gov).
List of Subjects
Tariffs/HTS, Harmonized System, WCO, and imports.
Issued: November 22, 1999.
By order of the Commission.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-30934 Filed 11-26-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P
