[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 23, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S4318]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. THURMOND (for himself and Mr. Hollings):
  S. 2614. A bill to amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
States to provide for duty-free treatment on certain manufacturing 
equipment; to the Committee on Finance.


   TO SUSPEND THE DUTY ON CERTAN EQUIPMENT USED IN THE MANUFACTURING 
                                INDUSTRY

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill which 
will suspend the duties imposed on certain manufacturing equipment that 
is necessary for tire production. Currently, this equipment is imported 
for use in the United States because there are no known American 
producers. Therefore, suspending the duties on this equipment would not 
adversely affect domestic industries.
  This bill would temporarily suspend the duty on tire manufacturing 
equipment required to make certain large off-road tires that fall 
between the sizes currently fabricated in the United States. These 
tires would be used primarily in agriculture.
  Mr. President, suspending the duty on this manufacturing equipment 
will benefit the consumer by stabilizing the costs of manufacturing 
these products. In addition to permitting new production in this 
country, these duty suspensions will allow U.S. manufacturers to 
maintain or improve their ability to compete internationally. I hope 
the Senate will consider this measure expeditiously.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be printed in the 
Congressional Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2614

       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.--Subheadings 9902.84.79, 9902.84.83, 
     9902.84.85, 9902.84.87, 9902.84.89, and 9902.84.91 of the 
     Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States are each 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``4011.91.50'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``4011.91'';
       (2) by striking ``4011.99.40'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``4011.99''; and
       (3) by striking ``86 cm'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``63.5 cm''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     apply with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from 
     warehouse for consumption, on or after the date that is 15 
     days after the date of enactment of this Act.
                                 ______