[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 17, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S5791]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. THURMOND (for himself and Mr. Hollings):
  S. 915. A bill to amend the Harmonized Tariff schedule of the United 
States to suspend temporarily the duty on certain manufacturing 
equipment; to the Committee on Finance.


                      duty suspension legislation

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce, along with 
Senator Hollings, a bill which will suspend the duties imposed on 
certain equipment used to manufacture earthmoving tires. Currently, 
these machines are not manufactured in the United States nor is a 
substitute readily available. Therefore, suspending the duties on these 
items would not adversely affect domestic industries.
  Mr. President, suspending the duty on these machines will benefit the 
consumers of earthmoving tires. Currently, demand for these tires 
exceeds supply and this suspension would not harm other manufacturers. 
I hope the Senate will consider this measure expeditiously.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 915

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SUSPENSION OF DUTY ON CERTAIN MANUFACTURING 
                   EQUIPMENT.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 99 of the 
     Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended by 
     inserting in numerical sequence the following new headings:

  ``9902.84.79  Calendaring or      Free    No        No       On or
                 other rolling               change    change   before
                 machines for                                   12/31/
                 rubber, valued at                              2000
                 not less than
                 $2,200,000 each,
                 numerically
                 controlled, or
                 parts thereof
                 (provided for in
                 subheading
                 8420.10.90,
                 8420.91.90, or
                 8420.99.90) and
                 material holding
                 devices or
                 similar
                 attachments
                 thereto..........
    9902.84.81  Shearing machines   Free    No        No       On or
                 used to cut                 change    change   before
                 metallic tissue                                12/31/
                 capable of a                                   2000
                 straight cut of 5
                 m or more, valued
                 at not less than
                 $750,000 each,
                 numerically
                 controlled
                 (provided for in
                 subheading
                 8462.31.00)......
    9902.84.83  Machine tools for   Free    No        No       On or
                 working wire of             change    change   before
                 iron or steel for                              12/31/
                 use in products                                2000
                 provided for in
                 subheading
                 4011.20.10,
                 valued at not
                 less than
                 $375,000 each,
                 numerically
                 controlled, or
                 parts thereof
                 (provided for in
                 subheading
                 8463.30.00)......
    9902.84.85  Extruders of a      Free    No        No       On or
                 type used for               change    change   before
                 processing                                     12/31/
                 rubber, valued at                              2000
                 not less than
                 $2,000,000 each,
                 numerically
                 controlled, or
                 parts thereof
                 (provided for in
                 subheading
                 8477.20.00 or
                 8477.90.80)......
    9902.84.87  Machinery for       Free    No        No       On or
                 molding,                    change    change   before
                 retreading, or                                 12/31/
                 otherwise forming                              2000
                 uncured,
                 unvulcanized
                 rubber for use in
                 processing
                 products provided
                 for in subheading
                 4011.20.10,
                 valued at not
                 less than
                 $800,000 each,
                 capable of
                 holding cylinders
                 measuring 114
                 centimeters or
                 more in diameter,
                 numerically
                 controlled, or
                 parts thereof
                 (provided for in
                 subheading
                 8477.51.00 or
                 8477.90.80)......
    9902.84.89  Sector mold press   Free    No        No       On or
                 machines used for           change    change   before
                 curing or                                      12/31/
                 vulcanizing                                    2000
                 rubber, valued at
                 not less than
                 $1,000,000 each,
                 weighing 135,000
                 kg or more,
                 numerically
                 controlled, or
                 parts thereof
                 (provided for in
                 subheading
                 8477.90.80)......
    9902.84.91  Sawing machines,    Free    No        No       On or
                 valued at not               change    change   before
                 less than                                      12/31/
                 $600,000 each,                                 2000.''
                 weighing 18,000
                 kg or more, for
                 working cured,
                 vulcanized rubber
                 described in
                 heading 4011
                 (provided for in
                 subheading
                 8465.91.00)......
 

       (b) Effective Date.--
       (1) General rule.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     applies with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from 
     warehouse for consumption, on the date that is 15 days after 
     the date of enactment of this Act.
       (2) Retroactive application to certain entries.--
     Notwithstanding section 514 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 
     U.S.C. 1514) or any other provision of law, upon proper 
     request filed with the Customs Service before the 90th day 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, any entry, or 
     withdrawal from warehouse for consumption, of any goods 
     described in subheading 9902.84.79, 9902.84.81, 9902.84.83, 
     9902.84.85, 9902.84.87, 9902.84.89, or 9902.84.91 of the 
     Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (as added by 
     subsection (a)) that was made--
       (A) on or after May 1, 1997; and
       (B) before the 15th day after the date of enactment of this 
     Act;

     shall be liquidated or reliquidated as though such entry or 
     withdrawal occurred on the date that is 15 days after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Madam President, today, I, along with Senator Thurmond, 
introduce duty suspension legislation designed to permit the import of 
certain tire manufacturing equipment into the United States duty free. 
U.S. companies do not manufacture the custom equipment to be imported, 
and therefore its importation will not displace domestic sourcing. 
Moreover, because the product at issue is manufacturing equipment, it 
will assist in the creation of additional jobs in the tire 
manufacturing industry.
  I believe that this is the most appropriate use of duty suspension 
legislation. The custom imported product will not displace any product 
manufactured in the United States. Moreover, the imported product will 
assist in creating more productive capacity in the United States. This 
equipment will be used to manufacture a product that heretofore was not 
made in the United States. I am therefore hopeful that this new 
capacity can be used to supply both domestic and foreign needs and will 
increase employment in the tire manufacturing industry.
                                 ______