[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 169 (Thursday, August 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 45473]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22110]



[[Page 45473]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service


Quota Categories From Hong Kong Being Monitored for Transshipment 
Concerns

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

ACTION: General notice.

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SUMMARY: This document notifies the public that for the period 
commencing on September 1, 1996, and through September 30, 1996, 
certain textile quota categories from Hong Kong will be placed on a 
``watch list'' and monitored by Customs because of transshipment 
concerns. If the monitoring indicates the probability of transhipment 
during that 30-day monitoring period, Customs will impose additional 
entry requirements on importers to address the problem.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Crichton, Office of Strategic 
Trade (202) 927-0162.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Merchandise that is the product of a country to which restraint 
levels (quotas) or textile visa requirements apply may be entered, or 
attempted to be entered, with a false declaration of country of origin. 
The false claim that the merchandise is the product of a country other 
than the actual country of origin may result in the entered merchandise 
not being subjected to any quota level/visa requirement or being 
subject to a more lenient quota level/visa requirement. The entry of 
textiles and textile products into the commerce of the United States 
under such circumstances violates the bilateral and multilateral 
textile agreements to which the United States is a party, and causes 
significant injury to domestic producers of textiles and textile 
products, thereby compromising orderly international trade in textiles 
and textile products.
    Customs has reason to believe that merchandise in categories 331 
(cotton gloves), 338/339 (cotton knit shirts), 348 (women's cotton 
pants), and 350 (cotton nightwear), may be falsely claimed as country 
of origin Hong Kong. Effective September 1, 1996, and through September 
30, 1996, entries of goods falling under these quota categories will be 
monitored by Customs to determine if transshipment may be occurring. If 
the 30-day monitoring period points to the probability of 
transshipment, Customs will take the following actions: (1) Require the 
importer to file a single entry bond for all merchandise imported into 
the United States under the listed categories that are claimed to be of 
Hong Kong origin; (2) require original signatures by factories/
subcontractors on textile declarations filed by the importer; and (3) 
require the importer to certify that the textile declarations are 
accurate.

    Dated: August 26, 1996.
George Heavey,
Acting Assistant Commissioner, Office of Strategic Trade.
[FR Doc. 96-22110 Filed 8-28-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P