[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 97 (Friday, May 17, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24887-24888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12372]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

19 CFR Part 10

[T.D. 96-41]
RIN 1515-AB04


Removal of Customs Regulations Relating to the Steel Voluntary 
Restraint Arrangement Program

AGENCY: U.S. Customs Service, Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: On September 13, 1990, T.D. 90-70 was published in the Federal 
Register (55 FR 37701) to set forth interim amendments to the Customs 
Regulations regarding the entry requirements applicable to imported 
steel products which are subject to voluntary restraint arrangements 
negotiated between the United States and certain steel-exporting 
countries. This document removes those interim regulations as a 
consequence of the expiration of the steel voluntary restraint 
arrangement program.

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 17, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Crowe, Office of Field 
Operations (202-927-0164).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On September 13, 1990, Customs published in the Federal Register 
T.D. 90-70, 55 FR 37701, which amended Part 10 of the Customs 
Regulations (19 CFR Part 10) by setting forth interim regulations 
concerning entry requirements applicable to imported steel products 
subject to voluntary restraint arrangements (VRAs) negotiated between 
the United States and certain steel-exporting countries and enforced 
under the Steel Import Stabilization Act (title VIII of Public Law 98-
573, codified at 19 U.S.C. 2253 note), as amended by the Steel Trade 
Liberalization Program Implementation Act (Public Law 101-221, 103 
Stat. 1886). The interim regulations consisted of new Secs. 10.321-
10.323 (19 CFR 10.321-10.323) and set forth, in Sec. 10.323, the basic 
requirement that a valid and properly executed original export 
certificate or export license, issued by the country of origin of the 
products, shall be submitted at the time of entry of each shipment of 
arrangement products. The interim regulations went into effect on the 
date of publication. On October 22, 1990, Customs published a document 
in the Federal Register at 55 FR 42556 to correct the interim 
regulations by removing paragraph (d) from new interim section 10.323, 
with effect from September 13, 1990. No document was ever published in 
the Federal Register adopting the interim regulations as a final rule.
    As noted in the background discussion set forth in T.D. 90-70, 
section 3(a) of the Steel Trade Liberalization Program Implementation 
Act, cited above, extended the President's authority to enforce the 
VRAs until March 31, 1992, and it was for this reason that 
Sec. 10.322(a) of the interim regulations, in defining the term 
``arrangement'' for purposes of Sec. 10.323, referred specifically to a 
period extending only through that date. Thus, in the absence of a 
further extension of the President's authority and a consequential 
amendment to the interim regulations, it was intended that those 
regulations would by their own terms cease to have effect after March 
31, 1992.
    Since no action was taken by Congress to extend the President's VRA 
enforcement authority beyond March 31, 1992, that authority, and thus 
in effect the VRA program itself, expired on that date and Customs 
thereafter ceased to enforce the interim regulatory provisions. 
Accordingly, because those interim regulations no longer have any 
purpose or effect, Customs believes that it is appropriate to remove 
them.

Inapplicability of Notice and Delayed Effective Date Requirements

    Since this amendment merely conforms the Customs Regulations to 
current legal requirements and has no substantive effect on the public, 
pursuant to the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), it is determined that 
notice and public procedures thereon are unnecessary. For the same 
reasons, it is determined under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) 
that good cause exists for dispensing with a delayed effective date.

Executive Order 12866

    This document does not meet the criteria for a ``significant 
regulatory action'' as specified in Executive Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Pursuant to the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.), it is certified that the amendment will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
because the amendment merely removes regulatory provisions that have 
already ceased to have legal effect. Accordingly, the amendment is not 
subject to the regulatory analysis or other requirements of 5 U.S.C. 
603 and 604.

Drafting Information

    The principal author of this document was Francis W. Foote, Office 
of Regulations and Rulings, U.S. Customs Service. However, personnel 
from other offices participated in its development.

List of Subjects in 19 CFR Part 10

    Customs duties and inspections, Imports, Steel products.

Amendments to the Regulations

    Accordingly, for the reasons set forth above, Part 10, Customs 
Regulations (19 CFR Part 10), is amended as set forth below.

PART 10--ARTICLES CONDITIONALLY FREE, SUBJECT TO A REDUCED RATE, 
ETC.

    1. The general authority citation for Part 10 continues to read as 
follows, and the specific authority citation for Secs. 10.321 through 
10.323 is removed:

    Authority: 19 U.S.C. 66, 1202 (General Note 20, Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States), 1321, 1481, 1484, 1498, 1508, 
1623, 1624, 3314;
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[[Page 24888]]

Sec. 10.321 through 10.323  [Removed]

    2. Sections 10.321 through 10.323 and their center heading are 
removed.
George J. Weise,
Commissioner of Customs.

    Approved: April 29, 1996.
John P. Simpson,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
[FR Doc. 96-12372 Filed 5-16-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P