[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 173 (Thursday, September 8, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-22181]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 8, 1994]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation No. 1205-4]

 

Proposed Modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the 
United States, Pursuant to Section 1205 of the Omnibus Trade and 
Competitiveness Act of 1988

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: September 1, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eugene A. Rosengarden, Director, 
Office of Tariff Affairs and Trade Agreements (O/TA&TA) (telephone 202-
205-2592) or Leo A. Webb, Attorney (O/TA&TA) (202-205-2599), U.S. 
International Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20436.

BACKGROUND AND SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION: On September 1, 1994, the 
Commission instituted investigation No. 1205-4, Proposed Modifications 
to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, Pursuant to 
Section 1205 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. 
Section 1205 directs the Commission to keep the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States (HTS) under continuous review and to 
recommend modifications to the HTS (1) when amendments to the 
International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and 
Coding System (Harmonized System or HS) are recommended by the Customs 
Cooperation Council (CCC) for adoption, and (2) as other circumstances 
warrant. Section 1205(a)(2) further directs the Commission to recommend 
such modifications to the HTS, as the Commission considers necessary or 
appropriate, to promote the uniform application of the Convention and 
particularly the Annex thereto.
    On July 5, 1994, the Commission received a letter from the 
Commissioner of Customs requesting that the Commission take action 
under section 1205(a)(2) with respect to the classification of 
petroleum jelly put up for retail sale. The letter notes that the 
Harmonized System Committee of the CCC has determined that such 
petroleum jelly is provided for in subheading 3304.99 of the HS. The 
letter further notes that the United States Customs Service presently 
classifies such petroleum jelly under subheading 2712.10 of the HS. 
However, in the interest of uniformity of application of the Harmonized 
System Convention, the Customs Service has requested that the 
Commission recommend such modifications of the HTS to the President as 
will permit the Customs Service to classify this product under the HTS 
in accordance with the CCC decision while maintaining the currently 
applied rate of duty.
    Accordingly, the Commission is considering a recommendation to the 
President that the HTS be modified: (1) to create a new subheading 
subordinate to subheading 3304.99; and (2) to add a new Additional U.S. 
Note to Chapter 27. The new subheading in Chapter 33 would provide for 
petroleum jelly put up for retail sale at the same rate of duty (i.e., 
Free in columns 1 and 2) as is presently the case under HTS subheading 
2712.10.00. Proposed new subheading 3304.99.10 would appear in the HTS 
as follows--

``3304            Beauty or make-up                                     
                   preparations...:.                                    
                  Other:                                                
3304.99           Other:                                                
3304.99.10        Petroleum jelly put up   Free.............  Free.     
                   for retail sale.                                     
3304.99.50        Other..................  4.9% Free (A* E,   75%.      
                                            IL, J, MX) 1.9%             
                                            (CA).''.                    

    The new Additional U.S. Note to Chapter 27 would read as follows:
    ``5. Subheading 2712.10.00 does not include petroleum jelly, 
suitable for use for the care of the skin, put up in packings of a kind 
sold by retail for such use (subheading 3304.99.10).''.
    The intent of this proposal would be to permit the Customs Service 
to classify such petroleum jelly in a manner consistent with the 
decision of the Harmonized System Committee of the CCC while 
maintaining the currently applied rate of duty.

WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS: Interested parties, including other Federal 
agencies, are invited to submit written statements concerning the 
subject of this investigation. Each statement must be submitted by not 
later than October 19, 1994, in order to be considered by the 
Commission. Commercial or financial information that a party desires 
the Commission to treat as confidential must be submitted on separate 
sheets of paper, each clearly marked ``Confidential Business 
Information'' at the top. All submissions requesting confidential 
treatment must conform with the requirements of Sec. 201.6 of the 
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 201.6). All 
written submissions, except for confidential business information, will 
be made available for inspection by interested persons. All submissions 
should be addressed to the Secretary, United States International Trade 
Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436.
    Hearing-impaired individuals are advised that information on this 
matter can be obtained by contacting our TDD terminal on (202) 205-
2648.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: September 2, 1994.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-22181 Filed 9-7-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P