[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 214 (Monday, November 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56740-56741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28171]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Customs Service


Solicitation of Applications for TECRO/AIT Carnet Issuing and 
Guaranteeing Association

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

ACTION: General notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public of the signing of a bilateral 
carnet agreement between the Taipei Economic and Cultural 
Representative in the United States (TECRO) and the American Institute 
in Taiwan (AIT) for the temporary admission of goods, commercial 
samples and professional equipment. It further informs the public that 
Customs is soliciting applications from those associations in the 
United States which are willing and capable of issuing and guaranteeing 
any TECRO/AIT carnets pursuant to the Agreement.

DATES: Applications must be received by January 3, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written applications should be addressed to Assistant 
Commissioner, Field Operations, U.S. Customs Service, 1031 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20229.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
William Scopa, Office of Field Operations 202-927-3112, or Sharon 
Goodson, International Organizations and Agreements Division 202-927-
0971.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    This notice advises the public of the signing of a bilateral carnet 
agreement between the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative in 
the United States (TECRO) and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) 
for the temporary admission of goods, commercial samples and 
professional equipment. In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, also 
published in this issue of the Federal Register, Customs is proposing 
to amend its regulations which apply to carnets to reflect this new 
agreement.
    A carnet is an international customs document, backed by an 
internationally valid guarantee, which may be used for the temporary 
admission of merchandise. The carnet is used in place of the usual 
national customs documentation and guarantees the payment of duties 
(including taxes) which may become due if the requirements of the 
carnet are not satisfied.
    Taiwan is currently ineligible to accede to the ATA Carnet 
Convention, under which carnets facilitate trade among more than fifty 
contracting parties. Thus, Taiwan has sought access to the carnet 
facility through the recently concluded TECRO/AIT Carnet Agreement. 
This agreement was negotiated pursuant to the authority contained in 22 
U.S.C. 3305.

Solicitation for Applications

    As a result of the signing of the TECRO/AIT Carnet agreement, it is 
necessary for Customs to solicit applications for an organization to 
issue and guarantee TECRO/AIT carnets.
    Generally, a domestic association in participating countries that 
are members of the International Bureau of Chambers of Commerce issues 
carnets to residents for use abroad. The issuing association must be 
approved by the Commissioner of Customs.
    A domestic association in participating countries that are members 
of the International Bureau of Chambers of Commerce also generally 
guarantees the payment of duties and other sums to its respective 
customs authorities in the event of noncompliance with the conditions 
or the procedures for which the carnet is used. The guaranteeing 
association is jointly and severally liable

[[Page 56741]]

with the carnet holder for the payment of the sums. The guaranteeing 
association also must be approved by the Commissioner of Customs.
    Pursuant to Sec. 114.11, Customs Regulations (19 CFR 114.11), an 
association, in order to be approved by Customs, must provide in 
writing that it will undertake to perform the functions and fulfill the 
obligations specified in the Agreement to which the United States 
accedes. For the convenience of parties interested in applying to 
become the issuing and/or guaranteeing association under the TECRO/AIT 
Carnet Agreement, the text of the agreement is filed with this document 
at the Office of the Federal Register. Copies of the Agreement may also 
be obtained by contacting an individual identified in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT provision of this document.
    To be considered, applications must be received not later than 
January 3, 1997. Applications should be sent to the address listed 
under the heading ADDRESSES, which appears near the beginning of this 
document.

    Approved: October 29, 1996.
George J. Weise,
Commissioner of Customs.
[FR Doc. 96-28171 Filed 11-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-M