[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 37 (Thursday, February 24, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4198]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 24, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Territorial and International Affairs

15 CFR Part 303

[Docket No. 931090-4048]
RIN 0625-AA06

 

Limit on Duty-Free Insular Watches in Calendar Year 1994

AGENCIES: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce; Office of Territorial and International 
Affairs, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends 15 CFR Part 303, which governs duty-
exemption allocations and duty-refund entitlements for watch producers 
in the United States' insular possessions (the Virgin Islands, Guam and 
American Samoa) and the Northern Mariana Islands. The amendments 
establish the total quantity and territorial shares of duty-exemption 
for 1994 and adjust the wages considered creditable towards the 
production incentive certificate (PIC).

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 24, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Faye Robinson, (202) 482-1660.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The insular possessions' watch industry 
provision in Section 110 of Public Law 97-446 (96 Stat. 2331) (1983) 
(19 U.S.C. 1202, note) requires the Secretary of Commerce and the 
Secretary of the Interior, acting jointly, to establish a limit on the 
quantity of watches and watch movements which may be entered free of 
duty during each calendar year. The law also requires the Secretaries 
to establish the shares of this limited quantity which may be entered 
from the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana 
Islands. Regulations on the establishment of these quantities and 
shares are contained in Secs. 303.3 and 303.4 of title 15, Code of 
Federal Regulations (15 CFR 303.3 and 303.4). Section 303.6(h) gives 
the Secretaries authority to make the changes in Sec. 303.14.
    The rule also modifies Sec. 303.14(a)(1)(i) by increasing the 
dollar amount of wages per person that the Departments can consider in 
calculating the producers' allocations and PICs. The limit is raised to 
$35,000 in order to help attract and retain the managerial talent 
necessary to operate efficient watch assembly plants.
    We publish these revisions in proposed form on December 14, 1993 
(58 FR 65294) and invited comments. We received no comments.
    The Departments establish for calendar year 1994 a total quantity 
and respective territorial shares as shown in the following table:


Virgin Islands..............................................   3,600,000
Guam........................................................     500,000
American Samoa..............................................     500,000
Northern Mariana Islands....................................     500,000
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  Total.....................................................   5,100,000
                                                                        

    Under the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1), the 
effective date of this rule need not be delayed for 30 days because 
their rule relieves a restriction. The restriction is relieved by 
raising the amount of wages per person that the Departments can 
consider in calculating the producers' allocations and PICs.
    This rule was not subject to review by the Office of Management and 
Budget under Executive Order 12866.
    This final rule does not contain policies with Federalism 
implications sufficient to warrant preparation of a Federalism 
assessment under Executive Order 12612.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    In accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq., the General Counsel of the Department of Commerce has certified 
that this action will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. Fewer than ten entities are 
directly affected by this action. The commercial benefits of the 
program governed by these regulations, for entities both directly and 
indirectly affected, are less than $10 million per year.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rulemaking involves information collection activities subject 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., which 
are currently approved by the Office of Management and Budget under 
control numbers 0625-0040 and 0625-0134. The amendments will not 
increase the information burden on the public.

List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 303

    Administrative practice and procedure, American Samoa, Customs 
duties and inspection, Guam, Imports, Marketing quotas, Northern 
Mariana Islands, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Virgin 
Islands, Watches and jewelry.

    For reasons set forth above, we are amending part 303 as follows:

PART 303--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 303 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: Public Law 97-446, 96 Stat. 2331 (19 U.S.C. 1202, 
note); Public Law 94-241, 90 Stat. 263 (48 U.S.C. 1681, note).


Sec. 303.14  [Amended]

    2. Section 303.14(a)(1)(i) is amended by removing ``$32,000'' and 
adding ``$35,000'' in its place.
    3. Section 303.14(d)(1) is amended by removing ``Guam,'' before 
American Samoa.
    4. Section 303.14(d)(2) is amended by adding ``and Guam'' after 
Virgin Islands and removing ``share'' and adding ``shares'' in its 
place.
    5. Section 303.14(e) is amended by removing ``4,080,000'' and 
adding ``3,600,000'' in its place.
Joseph A. Spetrini,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
Leslie M. Turner,
Assistant Secretary for Territorial and International Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-4198 Filed 2-23-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M and 4310-93-M