[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 35 (Wednesday, March 25, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2571-S2573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ROTH (for himself and Mr. Lugar):
  S. 1859: A bill to correct the tariff classification of 13'' 
televisions; to the Committee on Finance.


                  the technical correction act of 1998

  Mr. ROTH. Madam President, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
make a technical correction to the diagonal measurement of video 
displays in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTSUS).
  During the Uruguay Round negotiations, the United States agreed to 
phase down U.S. tariffs on ``13-inch'' television receivers, monitors, 
and picture tubes, and on combination TV/VCRs, over the period from 
1995 to 1999. The tariff on receivers and monitors was to be reduced 
from 5 percent to zero, on picture tubes from 15 percent to 7.5 
percent, and on combination TV/VCRs from 3.9 percent to zero. The ``13-
inch'' designation historically has included television products whose 
picture tubes are approximately, but not exactly, 13 inches by diagonal 
measurement. The 1997 HTSUS, however, converted the diagonal picture 
tube measurement into 33.02 centimeters or exactly 13 inches. With the 
implementation of the 1997 HTSUS, the former ``13-inch'' televisions 
have been classified as larger than 13-inches and assessed a higher 
rate of duty.

[[Page S2573]]

  I am proposing this technical correction to amend the HTSUS to allow 
television receivers, monitors, and picture tubes, and combination TV/
VCRs with a diagonal measurement of up to ``34.29 centimeters'' (or 
13.5 inches) to be classified as ``13-inches''. This action is 
consistent with our Uruguay Round commitments.
  I ask unanimous consent that this bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1859

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

     SECTION 1. TARIFF CLASSIFICATION OF 13 INCH TELEVISIONS.

       (a) In general.--Each of the following subheadings of the 
     Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended by 
     striking ``33.02 cm'' in the article description and 
     inserting ``34.29 cm'':
       (1) Subheading 8528.12.12.
       (2) Subheading 8528.12.20.
       (3) Subheading 8528.12.62.
       (4) Subheading 8528.12.68.
       (5) Subheading 8528.12.76.
       (6) Subheading 8528.12.84.
       (7) Subheading 8528.21.16.
       (8) Subheading 8528.21.24.
       (9) Subheading 8528.21.55.
       (10) Subheading 8528.21.65.
       (11) Subheading 8528.21.75.
       (12) Subheading 8528.21.85.
       (13) Subheading 8528.30.62.
       (14) Subheading 8528.30.66.
       (15) Subheading 8540.11.24.
       (16) Subheading 8540.11.44.
       (b) Effective Date.--
       (1) In general.--The amendments made by this Act apply to 
     articles entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for 
     consumption, on or after the date that is 15 days after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.
       (2) Retroactive application.--Notwithstanding section 514 
     of the Tariff Act of 1930 or any other provision of law, upon 
     proper request filed with the Customs Service not later than 
     180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, any entry, 
     or withdrawal from warehouse for consumption, of an article 
     described in a subheading listed in paragraphs (1) through 
     (16) of subsection (a)--
       (A) that was made on or after January 1, 1995, and before 
     the date that is 15 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act,
       (B) with respect to which there would have been no duty or 
     a lesser duty if the amendments made by subsection (a) 
     applied to such entry, and
       (C) that is--
       (i) unliquidated,
       (ii) under protest, or
       (iii) otherwise not final,
     shall be liquidated or reliquidated as though such amendment 
     applied to such entry.
                                 ______