99-31275. Export Certificates for Lamb Meat Subject to Tariff-Rate Quota  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 231 (Thursday, December 2, 1999)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 67481-67483]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-31275]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
    
    Customs Service
    
    19 CFR Parts 132 and 163
    
    [T.D. 99-87]
    RIN 1515-AC54
    
    
    Export Certificates for Lamb Meat Subject to Tariff-Rate Quota
    
    AGENCY: U.S. Customs Service, Department of the Treasury.
    
    ACTION: Interim rule; solicitation of comments.
    
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    SUMMARY: This document amends the Customs Regulations on an interim 
    basis to set forth the form and manner by which an importer establishes 
    that a valid export certificate is in effect for certain fresh, chilled 
    or frozen lamb meat that is the subject of a tariff-rate quota, and the 
    product of a participating country, as defined in interim regulations 
    of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). The export 
    certificate is necessary in this regard in
    
    [[Page 67482]]
    
    order to enable the importer to claim the in-quota rate of duty on the 
    lamb meat.
    
    DATES: Interim rule effective December 2, 1999. This interim rule is 
    applicable to all products entered or withdrawn from warehouse for 
    consumption on or after December 2, 1999. Comments must be received on 
    or before January 31, 2000.
    
    ADDRESSES: Written comments may be addressed to and inspected at the 
    Regulations Branch, U.S. Customs Service, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, 
    NW., 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20229.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Porter, Office of Field 
    Operations, (202-927-5399).
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Background
    
        By Presidential Proclamation No. 7208 dated July 7, 1999, as 
    modified by Presidential Proclamation No. 7214 of July 30, 1999, the 
    President, acting under the authority of section 203 of the Trade Act 
    of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2253), established a tariff-rate quota with respect 
    to certain fresh, chilled or frozen lamb meat exported to the United 
    States on or after July 22, 1999.
        Under a tariff-rate quota, the United States applies one tariff 
    rate, known as the in-quota tariff rate, to imports of a product up to 
    a particular amount, known as the in-quota quantity, and another, 
    higher rate, known as the over-quota rate, to imports of a product in 
    excess of the given amount. The preferential, in-quota tariff rate 
    would be applicable only to the extent that the aggregate in-quota 
    quantity of a product allocated to a country had not been exceeded.
        It is noted that the tariff-rate quota on lamb meat was established 
    in response to a determination by the U.S. International Trade 
    Commission under section 202 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2252) 
    that lamb meat was being imported into the United States in such 
    increased quantities as to substantially threaten serious injury to the 
    domestic lamb meat industry. The tariff-rate quota is temporary in 
    duration, being established for a period of three years and one day. It 
    is intended to help facilitate efforts during this period by the 
    domestic lamb meat industry to adjust to the increased import 
    competition.
        Specifically, the lamb meat covered by the tariff-rate quota 
    consists of fresh, chilled or frozen lamb meat that is classified in 
    subheading 0204.10.00, 0204.22.20, 0204.23.20, 0204.30.00, 0204.42.20, 
    or 0204.43.20 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
    (HTSUS). In order to implement the tariff-rate quota for the described 
    lamb meat, Presidential Proclamation No. 7208 amended subchapter III of 
    Chapter 99, HTSUS, so as to list the in-quota quantities of lamb meat 
    allocated to those countries covered by the tariff-rate quota, together 
    with the in-quota and over-quota rates of duty applicable to the lamb 
    meat.
        Under Presidential Proclamation No. 7214, the United States Trade 
    Representative (USTR) was given authority to administer the tariff-rate 
    quota on the imported lamb meat.
        As part of the implementation of this tariff-rate quota, the USTR 
    is offering exporting countries that have an allocation of the in-quota 
    quantity the opportunity to use export certificates for their lamb meat 
    exports to the United States. While a country does not need to 
    participate in the export-certificate program in order to receive the 
    in-quota tariff rate for its share of the in-quota quantity, using 
    export certificates assures an exporting country that only those 
    exports that it intends for the United States market are counted 
    against its in-quota allocation, and it helps ensure that such imports 
    do not disrupt the orderly marketing of lamb meat in the United States.
        The USTR has issued an interim rule establishing regulations for 
    this export-certificate program (15 CFR part 2014) (64 FR 56429; 
    October 20, 1999). To this end, an exporting country wishing to 
    participate in the export-certificate program must notify the USTR and 
    provide the necessary supporting information. As defined in the USTR 
    interim regulations (15 CFR 2014.2(c)), a participating country is a 
    country that has received an allocation of the in-quota quantity of the 
    tariff-rate quota, and that the USTR has determined, and has so 
    informed Customs, is eligible to use export certificates for their lamb 
    meat products exported to the United States. The USTR has stated that 
    it intends to publish a notice in the Federal Register whenever a 
    country becomes, or ceases to be, a participating country. In this 
    connection, Australia and New Zealand have already requested, and have 
    been approved by USTR, to use export certificates for their lamb meat 
    that is exported to the United States, as noted in the USTR interim 
    rule.
        In accordance with the interim rulemaking of the USTR, Customs is 
    issuing this interim rule in order to set forth a new Sec. 132.16, 
    Customs Regulations (19 CFR 132.16), that prescribes the form and 
    manner by which an importer establishes that a valid export certificate 
    exists, including a unique number for the certificate that must be 
    referenced on the entry or withdrawal from warehouse for consumption. 
    This will ensure that no imports of the specified lamb meat products of 
    a participating country are counted against the country's in-quota 
    allocation unless the products are covered by a proper export 
    certificate. The export certificate is necessary in this regard in 
    order to enable the importer to claim the in-quota rate of duty on the 
    lamb meat.
        In addition, the Interim (a)(1)(A) List set forth as an Appendix to 
    part 163, Customs Regulations (19 CFR part 163, Appendix), that lists 
    the records required for the entry of merchandise, is revised to make 
    reference to the requirement in Sec. 132.15, Customs Regulations (19 
    CFR 132.15) and in new Sec. 132.16, Customs Regulations (19 CFR 
    132.16), that an importer possess a valid export certificate, 
    respectively, for beef or lamb meat subject to a tariff-rate quota and 
    that is a product of a participating country, in order for the importer 
    to be able to claim the applicable in-quota rate of duty.
    
    Comments
    
        Before adopting this interim regulation as a final rule, 
    consideration will be given to any written comments that are timely 
    submitted to Customs. Customs specifically requests comments on the 
    clarity of this interim rule and how it may be made easier to 
    understand. Comments submitted will be available for public inspection 
    in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), 
    Sec. 1.4, Treasury Department Regulations (31 CFR 1.4), and 
    Sec. 103.11(b), Customs Regulations (19 CFR 103.11(b)), on regular 
    business days between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the 
    Regulations Branch, U.S. Customs Service, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, 
    NW., 3rd Floor, Washington DC.
    
    Inapplicability of Notice and Delayed Effective Date Requirements, 
    the Regulatory Flexibility Act, and Executive Order 12866
    
        Pursuant to the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(a), public notice is 
    inapplicable to this interim rule because it is within the foreign 
    affairs function of the United States. Also, for the above reason, 
    there is no need for a delayed effective date under 5 U.S.C. 553(d). 
    Because no notice of proposed rulemaking is required for interim 
    regulations, the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 
    601 et seq.) do not apply; and because this document involves a foreign 
    affairs function of the United States, it is not subject to the 
    provisions of E.O. 12866.
    
    [[Page 67483]]
    
    Paperwork Reduction Act
    
        The collections of information involved in this interim rule have 
    already been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in 
    accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507) 
    and assigned OMB Control Numbers 1515-0065 (Entry summary and 
    continuation sheet) and 1515-0214 (General recordkeeping and record 
    production requirements). This rule does not propose any substantive 
    changes to the existing approved information collections.
        An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
    to respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of 
    information displays a valid control number assigned by OMB.
    
    List of Subjects
    
    19 CFR Part 132
    
        Agriculture and agricultural products, Customs duties and 
    inspection, Quotas, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
    
    19 CFR Part 163
    
        Administrative practice and procedure, Customs duties and 
    inspection, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
    
    Amendment to the Regulations
    
        Accordingly, parts 132 and 163, Customs Regulations (19 CFR parts 
    132 and 163), are amended as set forth below.
    
    PART 132--QUOTAS
    
        1. The general authority citation for part 132 continues to read as 
    follows, and the specific sectional authority under this part is 
    revised to read as follows:
    
        Authority: 19 U.S.C. 66, 1202 (General Note 20, Harmonized 
    Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS)), 1623, 1624.
        Secs. 132.15 and 132.16 also issued under 19 U.S.C. 1202 
    (additional U.S. Note 3 to Chapter 2, HTSUS; and subchapter III of 
    Chapter 99, HTSUS, respectively), 1484, 1508.
    
    
    Sec. 132.15  [Amended]
    
        2. Section 132.15 is amended by removing from paragraph (c)(1) the 
    parenthetical, ``(see Sec. 162.1c of this chapter)'', and by adding, in 
    its place, the parenthetical, ``(see Sec. 163.4(a) of this chapter)''.
        3. Part 132 is amended by adding a new Sec. 132.16 to read as 
    follows:
    
    
    Sec. 132.16  Export certificate for lamb meat subject to tariff-rate 
    quota.
    
        (a) Requirement. For fresh, chilled or frozen lamb meat classified 
    in HTSUS subheading 0204.10.00, 0204.22.20, 0204.23.20, 0204.30.00, 
    0204.42.20, or 0204.43.20, that is the subject of a tariff-rate quota 
    as provided in subchapter III of Chapter 99, HTSUS, and that is the 
    product of a participating country, as defined in 15 CFR 2014.2(c), the 
    importer must possess a valid export certificate in order to claim the 
    in-quota tariff rate of duty on the lamb meat at the time it is entered 
    or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption. The importer must record 
    the distinct and unique identifying number of the export certificate 
    for the lamb meat on the entry summary or warehouse withdrawal for 
    consumption (Customs Form 7501, column 34), or its electronic 
    equivalent.
        (b) Validity of export certificate. To be valid, the export 
    certificate must meet the requirements of 15 CFR 2014.3(b), and with 
    respect to the requirement of 15 CFR 2014.3(b)(3), the export 
    certificate covering the lamb meat must have a distinctly and uniquely 
    identifiable number.
        (c) Retention and production of certificate to Customs. The export 
    certificate is subject to the recordkeeping requirements of part 163 of 
    this chapter (19 CFR part 163). Specifically, the certificate must be 
    retained for a period of 5 years in accordance with Sec. 163.4(a) of 
    this chapter, and must be made available to Customs upon request in 
    accordance with Sec. 163.6(a) of this chapter.
    
    PART 163--RECORDKEEPING
    
        1. The authority citation for part 163 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 19 U.S.C. 66, 1484, 1508, 1509, 1510, 
    1624.
    
    Appendix to Part 163 [Amended]
    
        2. In the Appendix to part 163, under heading ``IV.'', the list of 
    documents/records or information required for entry of special 
    categories of merchandise is amended by adding the following in 
    appropriate numerical order:
        Secs. 132.15, 132.16 Export certificates, respectively, for beef or 
    lamb meat subject to tariff-rate quota.
    
        Approved: November 18, 1999.
    Raymond W. Kelly,
    Commissioner of Customs.
    
    John P. Simpson,
    Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
    [FR Doc. 99-31275 Filed 12-1-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4820-02-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
12/2/1999
Published:
12/02/1999
Department:
Customs Service
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Interim rule; solicitation of comments.
Document Number:
99-31275
Dates:
Interim rule effective December 2, 1999. This interim rule is applicable to all products entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after December 2, 1999. Comments must be received on or before January 31, 2000.
Pages:
67481-67483 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
T.D. 99-87
RINs:
1515-AC54: Export Certificates for Lamb Meat Subject to Tariff-Rate Quota
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1515-AC54/export-certificates-for-lamb-meat-subject-to-tariff-rate-quota
PDF File:
99-31275.pdf
CFR: (4)
19 CFR 103.11(b)
19 CFR 132.15
19 CFR 132.16
19 CFR 1.4