II 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 108 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 25 (legislative day, January 5), 2011 Mr. Ensign introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to modify the tariffs on certain footwear, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Affordable Footwear Act of 2011.

2.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)Average collected duties on imported footwear are among the highest of any product sector, totaling approximately $1,900,000,000 during 2006. (2)Duty rates on imported footwear are among the highest imposed by the United States Government, with some as high as the equivalent of 67.5 percent ad valorem. (3)The duties currently imposed by the United States were set in an era during which high rates of duty were intended to protect production of footwear in the United States. (4)Footwear produced in the United States supplies only about 1 percent of the total United States market for footwear. This production is concentrated in distinct product groupings, which are not impacted by the provisions of this Act. (5)Low- and moderate-income families spend a larger share of their disposable income on footwear than higher-income families. (6)Footwear duties, which are higher on lower-price footwear, serve no purpose and are a hidden, regressive tax on those people in the United States least able to pay.

3.

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that— (1)the reduction or elimination of duties on the importation of certain footwear articles would provide significant benefits to United States consumers, particularly lower-income families; (2)there is no production in the United States of many footwear articles; (3)the reduction or elimination of duties on such articles will not negatively impact manufacturing or employment in the United States; and (4)the reduction or elimination of duties on such articles will result in reduced retail prices for consumers.

4.

Elimination of duties on certain footwear

(a)

Definitions

The Additional U.S. Notes to chapter 64 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States are amended— (1)in Note 1— (A)in paragraph (b), by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and (B)by adding at the end the following: (c)The term footwear for men covers footwear of American sizes 6 and larger for males and does not include footwear commonly worn by both sexes; and (d)The term footwear for women covers footwear of American sizes 4 and larger whether for females or of types commonly worn by both sexes. ; and (2)by adding at the end the following: 5.For the purposes of this chapter: (a)The term work footwear encompasses, in addition to footwear having a metal toe-cap, specialized footwear for men or for women that: (i)has outer soles of rubber or plastics; (ii)is of a kind designed for use by persons employed in occupations, such as those related to the agricultural, construction, industrial, public safety, and transportation sectors; and (iii)has special features to protect against hazards in the workplace (such as resistance to chemicals, compression, grease, oil, penetration, slippage, or static build-up). (b)The term work footwear does not cover: (i)sports footwear, tennis shoes, basketball shoes, gym shoes, training shoes, and the like; (ii)footwear designed to be worn over other footwear; (iii)footwear with open toes or open heels; or (iv)footwear, except footwear covered under heading 6401, of the slip-on type or other footwear that is held to the foot without the use of laces or a combination of laces and hooks or other fasteners. 6.For purposes of this chapter, the term house slippers means footwear of the slip-on type designed solely for casual indoor use. The term house slippers includes: (i)footwear with outer soles not over 3.5 mm in thickness, consisting of cellular rubber, non-grain leather, or textile material; (ii)footwear with outer soles not over 2 mm in thickness consisting of polyvinyl chloride, whether or not backed; and (iii)footwear which, when measured at the ball of the foot, has sole components (including any inner and mid-soles) with a combined thickness not over 8 mm as measured from the outer surface of the uppermost sole component to the bottom surface of the outer sole and which, when measured in the same manner at the area of the heel, has a thickness equal to or less than that at the ball of the foot. 7.For purposes of subheadings 6402.91.52, 6402.99.35, 6403.91.62, 6403.91.93, and 6404.19.21, the dollar amounts specified as the value of a good shall be as follows: In calendar years 2011 through 2015, $20/pair. In calendar years 2016 through 2021, $23/pair. In calendar years 2022 through 2028, $26/pair. In calendar years 2029 and thereafter, $29/pair. 8.For purposes of this chapter, the constituent material of an outer sole of rubber or plastics to which textile materials are attached or into which such materials are otherwise incorporated shall be deemed to be only of rubber or plastics. . (b)

Modification of tariffs on certain footwear

(1)Heading 6401 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended by adding the following new subheading after subheading 6401.92.60 with the article description having the same degree of indentation as the article description for subheading 6401.92.60: 6401.92.70Vulcanized rubber lug boot bottoms for actual use in fishing wadersFree75% . (2)Heading 6402 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended as follows: (A)By striking subheading 6402.19.15 and inserting the following with the superior text having the same degree of indentation as the article description for subheading 6402.19.15, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act: Other: 6402.19.17 For women5.1%Free (AU, BH, CA, CL, D, E, IL, J+, JO, MA, MX, OM, P, PE, R, SG)35% 6402.19.19 OtherFree35% . (B)In subheading 6402.91.05, by striking the matter in the general and special rate of duty columns and inserting Free in the general rate of duty column. (C)In subheading 6402.91.16, by striking the matter in the general and special rate of duty columns and inserting Free in the general rate of duty column. (D)By striking subheading 6402.91.40 and inserting the following, with the superior text having the same degree of indentation as the article description for subheading 6402.91.40, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act: Footwear having uppers of which over 90 percent of the external surface area (including any accessories or reinforcements such as those mentioned in note 4(a) to this chapter) is rubber or plastics except (1) footwear having a foxing or foxing-like band applied or molded at the sole and overlapping the upper and (2) footwear (other than footwear having uppers which, from a point 3 cm above the top of the outer sole, are entirely of non-molded construction formed by sewing the parts together and having exposed on the outer surface a substantial portion of functional stitching) designed to be worn over, or in lieu of, other footwear as a protection against water, oil, grease, or chemicals or cold or inclement weather: 6402.91.42 Work footwear6%Free (AU, BH, CA, CL, D, E, IL, J+, JO, MA, MX, OM, P, PE, R, SG)35% 6402.91.43 OtherFree35% . (E)By striking subheading 6402.91.50 and inserting the following, with the superior text having the same degree of indentation as the superior text to subheading 6402.91.50, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act: Footwear designed to be worn over, or in lieu of, other footwear as a protection against water, oil, grease, or chemicals or cold or inclement weather: 6402.91.52Footwear, except vulcanized footwear and footwear with waterproof molded bottoms, including bottoms comprising an outer sole and all or part of the upper, where protection against water is imparted by the use of a coated or laminated fabric, designed to be used in lieu of, but not over, other footwear, valued over the dollar amount specified in additional U.S. note 7 to this chapter, and if designed for men or women the height of which does not exceed 8 inches (20.32 cm) or if designed for other persons the height of which does not exceed 7 inches (17.72 cm) Free66% 6402.91.54Other37.5%Free (CA, D, IL, MX, R)6% (P)3.7% (JO)1.5% (SG)18.7% (AU)20.8% (MA)26.2% (CL)82.5% (BH)33.7% (OM, PE)66% . (F)In each of the following subheadings, by striking the matter in the general and special rate of duty columns and inserting Free in the general rate of duty column: (i)Subheading 6402.91.90. (ii)Subheading 6402.99.04. (iii)Subheading 6402.99.12. (iv)Subheading 6402.99.31. (G)By striking subheading 6402.99.33 and inserting the following, with the superior text having the same degree of indentation as the article description for subheading 6402.99.33, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act: Footwear designed to be worn over, or in lieu of, other footwear as a protection against water, oil, grease, or chemicals or cold or inclement weather: 6402.99.35Footwear, except vulcanized footwear and footwear with waterproof molded bottoms, including bottoms comprising an outer sole and all or part of the upper, where protection against water is imparted by the use of a coated or laminated textile fabric, designed to be used in lieu of, but not over, other footwear, valued over the dollar amount specified in additional U.S. note 7 to this chapterFree66% 6402.99.37Other37.5%Free (CA, D, IL, MX, R)6% (P)3.7% (JO)15% (SG)17.7% (AU)20.8% (MA)26.2% (CL)22.5% (BH)33.7% (OM, PE)66% . (H)In each of the following subheadings, by striking the matter in the general and special rate of duty columns and inserting Free in the general rate of duty column: (i)Subheading 6402.99.40. (ii)Subheading 6402.99.60. (iii)Subheading 6402.99.70. (3)Heading 6403 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended as follows: (A)By striking subheading 6403.40.30 and inserting the following, with the superior text having the same degree of indentation as the article description for subheading 6403.40.30, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act: Welt footwear: 6403.40.35 With pigskin uppersFree20% 6403.40.38 Other5%Free (AU, BH, CA, CL, D, E, IL, J+, JO, MA, MX, OM, P, PE, R, SG)20% . (B)By striking subheading 6403.51.90 and inserting the following, with the superior text having the same degree of indentation as the article description for subheading 6403.51.90, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act: For other persons: 6403.51.92 For women10%Free (AU, BH, CA, CL, D, E, IL, J+, JO, MA, MX, OM, P, PE, R)2.5% (SG)20% 6403.51.94 OtherFree20% . (C)By striking subheading 6403.59.15 and the preceding superior text and inserting the following, with the superior text having the same degree of indentation as the article description for subheading 6403.59.15, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act: Other:   Turn or turned footwear: 6403.59.17   For men or women2.5%Free (AU, BH, CA, CL, D, IL, J+, JO, MA, MX, OM, P, PE, R, SG)10% 6403.59.18   OtherFree10% . (D)By striking subheading 6403.91.60 and inserting the following, with the superior text having the same degree of indentation as the article description for subheading 6403.91.60, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act: For men, youths and boys: 6403.91.61Work footwear8.5%Free (AU, BH, CA, CL, D, E, IL, J+, JO, MA, MX, OM, P, PE, R, SG)20% 6403.91.62Slip-on footwear, other than such footwear with sole components (including any mid-soles but excluding any inner soles) which when measured at the ball of the foot have a combined thickness less than 13.5 mm, valued over the dollar amount specified in additional U.S. note 7 to this chapter8.5%Free (AU, BH, CA, CL, D, E, IL, J+, JO, MA, MX, OM, P, PE, R, SG)20% 6403.91.65OtherFree20% . (E)By striking subheading 6403.91.90 and inserting the following, with the superior text having the same degree of indentation as the article description for subheading 6403.91.90, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act: For other persons: 6403.91.92 Work footwear10%Free (AU, BH, CA, CL, D, E, IL, J+, JO, MA, MX, OM, P, PE, R)2.5% (SG)20% 6403.91.93Slip-on footwear, other than such footwear with a heel over 15 mm in height as measured from the bottom of the sole or sole components (including any mid-soles but excluding any inner soles) which when measured at the ball of the foot have a combined thickness less than 13.5 mm, valued over the dollar amount specified in additional U.S. note 7 to this chapter10%Free (AU, BH, CA, CL, D, E, IL, J+, JO, MA, MX, OM, P, PE, R)2.5% (SG)20% 6403.91.95Other10%Free (AU, BH, CA, CL, D, E, IL, J+, JO, MA, MX, OM, P, PE, R)2.5% (SG)20% . (F)By striking subheading 6403.99.60 and the preceding superior text and inserting the following, with the superior text having the same degree of indentation as the article description for subheading 6403.99.60, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act: Other:   For men, youths and boys: 6403.99.62   House slippers8.5%Free (AU, CA, BH, CL, K, IL, J+, JO, MA, MX, P, R, SG)20% 6403.99.64   Work footwearFree20% 6403.99.66   Other for men8.5%Free (AU, CA, BH, CL, D, IL, J+, JO, MA, MX, OM, P, PE, R, SG)20% 6403.99.68   OtherFree20% . (G)By striking subheading 6403.99.75 and inserting the following, with the superior text having the same degree of indentation as the article description for subheading 6403.99.75, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act: Valued not over $2.50/pair: 6403.99.77 House slippersFree20% 6403.99.78 Other7%Free (AU, BH, CA, CL, D, E, IL, J+, JO, MA, MX, OM, P, PE, R, SG)20% . (H)By striking subheading 6403.99.90 and inserting the following, with the superior text having the same degree of indentation as the article description for subheading 6403.99.90, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act: Valued over $2.50 per pair: 6403.99.91 House slippers10%Free (AU, BH, CA, CL, D, IL, J+, JO, MA, MX, OM, P, PE, R)2.5% (SG)20% 6403.99.93 Work footwear10%20% 6403.99.95 Other for women10%Free (AU, BH, CA, CL, D, IL, J+, JO, MA, MX, OM, P, PE, R)2.5% (SG)20% 6403.99.97 OtherFree20% . (4)Heading 6404 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended as follows: (A)In each of the following subheadings, by striking the matter in the general and special rate of duty columns and inserting Free in the general rate of duty column: (i)Subheading 6404.11.20. (ii)Subheading 6404.11.40. (iii)Subheading 6404.11.50. (iv)Subheading 6404.11.60. (v)Subheading 6404.11.70. (B)By striking subheading 6404.11.80 and inserting the following, with the superior text having the same degree of indentation as the article description for subheading 6404.11.80, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act: Valued over $6.50 but not over $12/pair: 6404.11.81Covering the ankleFree$1.58/pr. + 35% 6404.11.83Other tennis shoes, basketball shoes, gym shoes, training shoes and the like, for men or for women90¢/pair + 20%Free (AU, BH, CA, CL, D, E, IL, J+, MA, MX, OM, P, PE, R)38¢/pr. + 9% (JO)87¢/pr. + 9% (SG)$1.58/pr. + 35% 6404.11.85OtherFree$1.58/pr. + 35% . (C)By striking subheading 6404.11.90 and inserting the following, with the superior text having the same degree of indentation as the article description for subheading 6404.11.90, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act: Valued over $12/pair: 6404.11.91Covering the ankleFree35% 6404.11.93Other tennis shoes, basketball shoes, gym shoes, training shoes and the like for men or for women20%Free (CA, D, IL, JO, MX, P, R)8% (SG)10% (AU)11.1% (MA)14% (CL)12% (BH)18% (OM, PE)35% 6404.11.95OtherFree35% . (D)In subheading 6404.19.15, by striking the matter in the general and special rate of duty columns and inserting Free in the general rate of duty column. (E)By striking subheading 6404.19.20 and inserting the following, with the superior text having the same degree of indentation as the article description for subheading 6404.19.20, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act: Footwear designed to be worn over, or in lieu of, other footwear as a protection against water, oil, grease, or chemicals or cold or inclement weather: 6404.19.21Footwear, except vulcanized footwear and footwear with waterproof molded bottoms, including bottoms comprising an outer sole and all or part of the upper, where protection against water is imparted by the use of a coated or laminated textile fabric, designed to be used in lieu of, but not over, other footwear, valued over the dollar amount specified in additional U.S. note 7 to this chapter, and if designed for men or women the height of which does not exceed 8 inches (20.32 cm) or if designed for other persons the height of which does not exceed 7 inches (17.72 cm)Free66% 6404.19.23Other37.5%Free (CA, D, IL, MX, R)6% (P)3.7% (JO)15% (SG)18.7% (AU)20.8% (MA)26.2% (CL)22.5% (BH)33.7% (OM, PE)66% . (F)In each of the following subheadings, by striking the matter in the general and special rate of duty columns and inserting Free in the general rate of duty column: (i)Subheading 6404.19.25. (ii)Subheading 6404.19.30. (iii)Subheading 6404.19.35. (iv)Subheading 6404.19.40. (v)Subheading 6404.19.50. (vi)Subheading 6404.19.60. (vii)Subheading 6404.19.70. (viii)Subheading 6404.19.80. (ix)Subheading 6404.19.90. (x)Subheading 6404.20.20. (xi)Subheading 6404.20.40. (xii)Subheading 6404.20.60. (5)Heading 6405 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended as follows: (A)By striking subheading 6405.10.00 and inserting the following, with the superior text having the same degree of indentation as the article description for subheading 6405.10.00, as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Act: 6405.10With uppers of leather or composition leather: 6405.10.10Footwear for men8.5%Free (AU, BH, CA, CL, D, E, IL, J+, JO, MA, MX, OM, P, PE, R)2.5% (SG)20% 6405.10.20Tennis shoes, basketball shoes, gym shoes, training shoes and the like, for women10%Free (AU, BH, CA, CL, D, E, IL, J+, JO, MA, MX, OM, P, PE, R)2.5% (SG)20% 6405.10.30OtherFree20% . (B)In each of the following subheadings, by striking the matter in the general and special rate of duty columns and inserting Free in the general rate of duty column: (i)Subheading 6405.20.30. (ii)Subheading 6405.20.90. (iii)Subheading 6405.90.90.

5.

Haiti relief enhancement

Section 213A of the Caribbean Basic Economic Recovery Act (19 U.S.C. 2703a) is amended— (1)by redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as subsections (h) and (i), respectively; and (2)by inserting after subsection (f) the following: (g)

Special rule for footwear

(1)

In general

Footwear that is the product or manufacture of Haiti and is imported directly from Haiti into the customs territory of the United States shall be accorded tariff treatment identical to the tariff treatment that is accorded under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement to footwear described in the same 8-digit subheading of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. (2)

Requirement

Footwear qualifies for the treatment provided for under paragraph (1) if it satisfies the applicable rule of origin set out in Article 4.1 of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement. (3)

Agreement defined

For purposes of this subsection, the term Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 4002). .