[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 91 (Monday, May 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25989-25992]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12405]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Implementation of the First Round of Accelerated Tariff 
Eliminations Under Provisions of the North American Free Trade 
Agreement

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notification of articles proposed for accelerated tariff 
elimination under the North American Free Trade Agreement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Section 201(b) of the North American Free Trade Agreement 
Implementation Act of 1993 (``the Act'') grants the President, subject 
to the consultation and lay-over requirements of section 103(a) of the 
Act, the authority to proclaim any accelerated schedule for duty 
elimination that may be agreed to by the United States, Mexico and 
Canada under Article 302(3) of the North American Free Trade Agreement 
(``the NAFTA''). This notice is intended to inform the public of those 
articles on which the United States, Canada and Mexico have 
provisionally agreed to accelerate the elimination of duties.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Office of the United States Trade 
Representative, Room 522, 600 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508; 
telephone (202) 395-3412; fax: (202) 395-9675.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following Federal Register notices 
provide information on the first round. Request for petitions appeared 
December 23, 1993 (58 FR 68186); a request for comments on list of 
products to be considered appeared May 23, 1994 (59 FR 26688).
    Article 302 of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) 
permits the Parties to consider and agree to accelerate the elimination 
of customs duties on goods of a Party. Pursuant to this provision, the 
United States, Canada and Mexico solicited requests from interested 
parties in early 1994. At the request of the United States Government, 
the Parties agreed to consider requests on an expedited basis, and for 
that reason also agreed to consider a short list of items in the first 
round.
    As a result, approximately 207 8-digit tariff subheadings or parts 
of subheadings were considered by the three Parties. As a part of the 
process, USTR requested the advice of the USITC and the private sector 
trade advisory groups. As has been practice under tariff acceleration 
rounds conducted under

[[Page 25990]]

the provisions of the United States-Canada Free Trade Agreement, the 
United States did not agree to provide accelerated tariff elimination 
for those products subject to negative advice. In a similar manner, the 
governments of Canada and Mexico declined to agree to acceleration for 
products subject to negative comments by their interested parties.
    The Parties did agree to accelerated tariff elimination on the 
remaining products, involving all or parts of approximately 80 8-digit 
tariff lines for which one or more of the Parties have provisionally 
agreed to eliminate the duties at the conclusion of the necessary 
domestic procedures. Two annexes are attached listing the agreed 
products. Annex 1 lists the products for which the United States 
proposes to immediately eliminate the remaining tariffs. Annex II also 
shows the U.S. reductions, as well as the comparable reductions agreed 
to by Canada and Mexico. As a rule, eliminations are being proposed on 
a reciprocal basis. For products that do not show such reciprocal 
elimination, it is in most cases due to the fact that duties have 
already been eliminated. The final column of the annex indicates those 
few cases where a Party declined to participate in the reductions.
    As noted above, the relevant private sector advisory committees 
were consulted throughout this process, and have expressed no objection 
to eliminating tariffs for the products appearing in Annex I. In 
addition, the ITC provided a report to USTR indicating that the 
proposed eliminations would have no harmful impact on the United 
States.
    The Parties intend to implement the accelerated tariff eliminations 
effective July 1, 1997. A separate Federal Register notice will be 
published shortly providing information on the initiation of a second 
round of NAFTA Accelerated Tariff Eliminations.
Peter F. Allgeier,
Associate U.S. Trade Representative for the Western Hemisphere.

                      Annex 1.--NAFTA Tariff Acceleration Round One--U.S. Tariff Reductions                     
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Short product description             US HS No.             Tariff reduced for              Comment       
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Processed Artichokes................  20059080               Mexico.....................  ......................
Tahini..............................  20081990               Canada.....................  Acceleration on part  
                                                                                           of 8-digit number    
                                                                                           only.                
Trimethoprim........................  29335922               Mexico.....................  Acceleration on part  
                                                                                           of 8-digit number    
                                                                                           only.                
Hexamethylenetetramine..............  29339087               Mexico.....................  ......................
Sulfamethoxazole....................  29350048               Mexico.....................  Acceleration on part  
                                                                                           of 8-digit number    
                                                                                           only.                
Polyethylene tape laminated with      39219050               Canada.....................  Acceleration on part  
 thermoplastic adhesive.                                                                   of 8-digit number    
                                                                                           only.                
Venetian blinds of wood.............  44219040               Canada, Mexico.............  Acceleration on part  
                                                                                           of 8-digit number    
                                                                                           only.                
Elastomeric monofilaments of          54041080               Mexico, Canada.............  Acceleration on part  
 polyurethane.                                                                             of 8-digit number    
                                                                                           only.                
Imitations of Catgut................  56049000               Canada.....................  ......................
Metallized yarn.....................  56050010               Mexico.....................  ......................
                                      56050090                                                                  
Woven fabrics of polyethylene,        59039025               Mexico.....................  Acceleration on part  
 coated or laminated with plastics                                                         of 8-digit number    
 on one side only.                                                                         only.                
Printed Cotton towels...............  63029100               Mexico.....................  Acceleration on part  
                                                                                           of 8-digit number    
                                                                                           only.                
Briquettes for gas fuel barbecues...  68159940               Canada.....................  Acceleration on part  
                                                                                           of 8-digit number    
                                                                                           only.                
Briquettes for gas fuel barbecues...  69149080               Canada.....................  Acceleration on part  
                                                                                           of 8-digit number    
                                                                                           only.                
Screws and bolts, whether or not      731815xx               Canada, Mexico.............  Acceleration on parts 
 with their nuts and washers, for                                                          of 6-digit number    
 aircraft.                                                                                 only.                
Screws and bolts, whether or not      750890xx               Canada.....................  Acceleration on part  
 with their nuts and washers, for                                                          of 8-digit number    
 aircraft, of nickel.                                                                      only.                
Casting-grade zinc, containing by     79011210               Canada, Mexico.............  ......................
 weight less than 99.99% of zinc.                                                                               
Other zinc..........................  79011250               Canada.....................  ......................
Screws and bolts, whether or not      81089030               Canada.....................  Acceleration on part  
 with their nuts and washers, for                                                          of 8-digit number    
 aircraft, of titanium.                                                                    only.                
Electric switches, other than motor   85365080               Mexico,....................  ......................
 starter switches.                                                                                              
Other bicycle parts.................  87149190               Mexico, Canada.............  ......................
Appliance timers....................  910700                 Canada.....................  Acceleration on parts 
                                                                                           of 6-digit number    
                                                                                           only.                
Parts for appliances timers.........  91149030               Canada.....................  Acceleration on part  
                                      91149050                                             of 8-digit number    
                                                                                           only.                
Brushes constituting parts of         96035080               Canada.....................  ......................
 machines.                                                                                                      
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All remaining duties will be eliminated immediately on these products.                                          


                                               ANNEX II.--NAFTA Tariff Acceleration Round One--CONCORDANCE                                              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Product description            US HS No.          Cnd HS No.          Mex HS No.            USA           Mexico       Canada         Comment     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Processed Artichokes..........  20059080            N/A                 20059099            M                US           ...........  US-Mex only.     
Tahini........................  20081990            20081990            20081999            C                US, C        US, M        .................
Sodium Cyanide................  28371100            28371100            28371101            ...............  US, C        ...........  .................
2-Ethyl-hexanol...............  29051600            29051600            29061602            ...............  US, C        M            .................
Lovastatin and simvastatin....  29322950            29322900            29322999            ...............  US, C        M            .................
Trimethoprim..................  29335922            29335900            29335906            M                US, C        M            .................
Enalapril maleate.............  29339053            29339000            29339057            ...............  US, C        M            .................
Hexamethylenetetramine........  29339087            29339000            29339035            M                ...........  M            .................
Sulfamethoxazole..............  29350048            29350000            29350028            M                US, C        M            .................
Sulfamerizine.................  29350042            29350000            29350099            ...............  US, C        M            .................
Vitamin C and its derivatives.  29362700            29362700            29362701            ...............  US, C        ...........  .................
Dexamethasone.................  29372200            29372200            29379909            ...............  US, C        ...........  .................

[[Page 25991]]

                                                                                                                                                        
Tetracycline chlorohydrate....  29413000            29413000            29413001            ...............  US, C        M            .................
Gentamycin....................  29419050            29419000            29419016            ...............  US, C        M            .................
Film without sprocket holes,    37023100            37023100            37023101            ...............  US, C        ...........  .................
 of a width not exceeding 105                                                                                                                           
 mm, for color photography                                                                                                                              
 (polychrome).                                                                                                                                          
Film without sprocket holes,    37024100            37024100            37024101            ...............  US, C        ...........  .................
 of a width exceeding 610 mm                                                                                                                            
 and a length exceeding 200                                                                                                                             
 mm, for color photography                                                                                                                              
 (polychrome).                                                                                                                                          
Film, for color photography     37025300            37025300            37025301            ...............  US, C        ...........  .................
 (polychrome), of a width                                                                                                                               
 exceeding 16 mm but not                                                                                                                                
 exceeding 35 mm and a length                                                                                                                           
 not exceeding 30 m, for                                                                                                                                
 slides.                                                                                                                                                
Film, for color photography     37025400            37025400            37025401            ...............  US, C        ...........  .................
 (polychrome), of a width                                                                                                                               
 exceeding 16 mm but not                                                                                                                                
 exceeding 35 mm and a length                                                                                                                           
 not exceeding 30 m, other                                                                                                                              
 than for slides.                                                                                                                                       
Film, for color photography     37025500            37025500            37025501            ...............  US, C        ...........  .................
 (polychrome), of a width                                                                                                                               
 exceeding 16 mm but not                                                                                                                                
 exceeding 35 and of a length                                                                                                                           
 exceeding 30 m.                                                                                                                                        
Black and white motion picture  37029200            27029290            37029201            ...............  US, C        ...........  .................
 film, of a width not                                                                                                                                   
 exceeding 16 mm and of a                                                                                                                               
 length exceeding 14 m.                                                                                                                                 
Color motion picture film, of   37029400            37029490            37029401            ...............  US, C        ...........  .................
 a width exceeding 16 mm but                                                                                                                            
 not exceeding 35 mm and of a                                                                                                                           
 length exceeding 30 m.                                                                                                                                 
Polyethylene tape laminated     39219050            39219090            39219008            C                US, C        US, M        .................
 with thermoplastic adhesive.                                                                                                                           
Venetian blinds of wood.......  44219040            44219040            44219099            C, M             US, C        US, M        .................
Paper of a kind for use in      48083000            48083090            48083002            ...............  US, C        ...........  .................
 making masking tape.                                                                                                                                   
Elastomeric monofilaments of    54041080            54041090            54041005            M, C             C            US, M        .................
 polyurethane.                                                                                                                                          
Imitations of Catgut..........  56049000            56049000            56049003, 56049004  C                ...........  US           US-Can only.     
Metallized yarn...............  56050010, 56050090  56050000            5605001             M                US, C        M            .................
Woven fabrics of polyethylene,  59039025            59039020            59039002            M                US           ...........  .................
 coated or laminated with                                                                                                                               
 plastics on one side only.                                                                                                                             
Printed Cotton towels.........  63029100            63029100            63029101            M                US           ...........  .................
Briquettes for gas fuel         68159940            68159991, 68159999  68159901, 68159999  C                ...........  US           .................
 barbecues.                                                                                                                                             
Ceramic tableware, other than   69120010,           69120000            69120001, 69120099  ...............  C            M            Mex-Can only.    
 of porcelain or china.          69120020,                                                                                                              
                                 69120035,                                                                                                              
                                 69120039,                                                                                                              
                                 69120041,                                                                                                              
                                 69120044,                                                                                                              
                                 69120045,                                                                                                              
                                 69120046,                                                                                                              
                                 69120048,                                                                                                              
                                 69120059                                                                                                               
Briquettes for gas fuel         69149080            69149000            69149099            C                ...........  US, M        .................
 barbecues.                                                                                                                                             
Screws and bolts, whether or    731815xx            73181500            73181501            C, M             ...........  US, M        .................
 not with their nuts and                                                                                                                                
 washers, for aircraft.                                                                                                                                 
Screws and bolts, whether or    750890xx            75089020            75089099            C                US, C        US, M        .................
 not with their nuts and                                                                                                                                
 washers, for aircraft, of                                                                                                                              
 nickel.                                                                                                                                                
Casting-grade zinc, containing  79011210            79011200            79011201            C, M             US, C        ...........  .................
 by weight less than 99.99% of                                                                                                                          
 zinc.                                                                                                                                                  
Other zinc....................  79011250            ..................  ..................  C                ...........  ...........  .................
Screws and bolts, whether or    81089030            81089090            81089099            C                US, C        US, M        .................
 not with their nuts and                                                                                                                                
 washers, for aircraft, of                                                                                                                              
 titanium.                                                                                                                                              
Scissors & Shears--Blanks and   82130030,           82130020, 82130030  82130001            ...............  ...........  US           .................
 blades.                         82130060,                                                                                                              
                                 82130090                                                                                                               
Tobacco drying machines.......  84199090            84193190            84193105            ...............  US, C        ...........  .................
Parts of tobacco drying         ..................  84199080            84199099            ...............  US, C        M            .................
 machines.                                                                                                                                              
Dishwashers...................  84221100            N/A                 84221101            ...............  US           ...........  Mex-US only.     
Parts of dishwashers..........  84229002,           N/A                 84229002,           ...............  US           ...........  .................
                                 84229004,                               84229003,                                                                      
                                 84220006                                84229004                                                                       
Machines for cleaning by        84243010, 84243090  84243000            84243001            ...............  US, C        M            .................
 pressure.                                                                                                                                              

[[Page 25992]]

                                                                                                                                                        
Excavating machines...........  84295950            84295910,           84295901            ...............  US, C        ...........  .................
                                                     84295920,                                                                                          
                                                     84295990                                                                                           
Parts for excavating machines.  84314100, 84214990  84314190            84314101,           ...............  US, C        M            .................
                                                                         84314103,                                                                      
                                                                         84314199                                                                       
Other parts for excavating      ..................  84314990            84314902, 84314999  ...............  US, C        M            .................
 machines.                                                                                                                                              
Clothes dryers................  84512100            N/A                 84512101, 84512199  ...............  US           ...........  US-Mex only.     
Metal casting machines........  84543000            84543010, 84543090  84543001            ...............  US, C        ...........  .................
Metal processing machines.....  84798100            84798110, 84798190  84798101            ...............  US, C        ...........  .................
Electric switches, other than   85365080            85365010,           85365001,           M                ...........  ...........  US-Mex only.     
 motor starter switches.                             85365080,           85365010,                                                                      
                                                     85365091,           85365011                                                                       
                                                     85365099                                                                                           
Other bicycle parts...........  87149190            ..................  ..................  M, C             ...........  ...........  .................
Bicycle Hubs, other than        87149305,           87149300            87149301            ...............  ...........  M            .................
 coaster braking hubs and hub    84719315,                                                                                                              
 brakes, and free-wheel          84719324,                                                                                                              
 sprocket-wheels.                84719328,                                                                                                              
                                 84719335,                                                                                                              
                                 84719370                                                                                                               
Bicycle parts, other than of    87149910,           87149920            87149901            ...............  ...........  M            Can-Mex only.    
 subheading No. 8714.91,         87149950,                                                                                                              
 8714.92, 8714.93, 8714.94,      87149960,                                                                                                              
 8714.95 or 8714.96.             87149980,                                                                                                              
                                 87149990                                                                                                               
Appliance timers..............  91070040, 91070080  91070010,           91070001            C                ...........  US, M        .................
                                                     91070020,                                                                                          
                                                     91070090                                                                                           
Parts for appliance timers....  91149030, 91149050  91149020,           91149001, 91149099  C                ...........  US           .................
                                                     91149030,                                                                                          
                                                     91149090                                                                                           
Brushes constituting parts of   96035080            96035090            96035001            C                ...........  US, M        .................
 machines.                                                                                                                                              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All remaining tariffs will be eliminated immediately. The 3rd, 4th and 5th columns show the reductions each county provides for the other NAFA parties. 

[FR Doc. 97-12405 Filed 5-9-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M