[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 31, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15376-15377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-7878]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation No. 332-388]
Simplification of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
States
AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Release of proposed schedule for public comment.
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EFFECTIVE DATE: March 25, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eugene A. Rosengarden, Director,
Office of Tariff Affairs and Trade Agreements (O/TA&TA) (202-205-2592),
or staff members listed below. The O/TA&TA fax number is 202-205-2616.
Mr. Rosengarden may also be reached via Internet e-mail at
[email protected]. Hearing impaired individuals are advised that
information on this matter can be obtained by contacting our TDD
terminal on 202-205-1810. Media representatives should contact Margaret
O'Laughlin, Public Affairs Officer (202-205-1819). This notice, and any
subsequent notices published pursuant to section 332(g) of the Tariff
Act of 1930, may be obtained from the ITC Internet web server: http://
www.usitc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 5, 1997, the Commission
instituted investigation No. 332-388, Simplification of the Harmonized
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS); subsequently, on February
25, 1998, the Commission issued a revised schedule for the subject
investigation. That revised schedule calls for the publication of draft
HTS chapters for public comment on April 1, 1999, with the deadline for
public comments being June 30, 1999.
The request letter directed the Commission to work to alleviate
compliance and administrative burdens; to utilize concession duty-rate
levels scheduled to be effective on January 1, 2004; to suggest
simplification of the nomenclature structure without proposing duty-
rate changes having a significant effect on U.S. industry and trade; to
suggest appropriate ways to reflect column 2 (statutory) duty rates; to
convert specific, compound and complex rates of duty to their ad
valorem equivalents, where possible, using data for the three most
recent calendar years; and to propose appropriate simplification of
statistical reporting categories. However, for this initial draft,
trade data for 1997 only have been used for such conversions; slight
adjustments in the proposed rates should be expected when the complete
data are employed.
Due to the length of the draft schedule and cross-reference table,
they are being made available over the Internet only, and the
electronic files in PDF format have been placed on the Commission's web
site for inspection and/or downloading. A printed copy of the draft
schedule has been placed in the Secretary's docket section, and a
second copy is available in O/TA&TA. Questions may be directed to the
following staff members:
General comments: Eugene A. Rosengarden, Director (202-205-2595) Office
of Tariff Affairs and Trade Agreements
General legal notes: Janis L. Summers, Attorney-adviser (202-205-2605)
Chapters 1-24: Ronald H. Heller, Nomenclature Analyst (202-205-2596)
Chapters 25-26: Lawrence A. DiRicco, Nomenclature Analyst (202-205-
2606)
Chapters 27-40: Frederick Schottman, Nomenclature Analyst (202-205-
2077)
Chapters 41-49: Ronald H. Heller (202-205-2596)
Chapters 50-63: Janis L. Summers (202-205-2605)
Chapters 64-83: Lawrence A. DiRicco (202-205-2606)
Chapters 84-85: Craig M. Houser, Nomenclature Analyst (202-205-2597)
Chapters 86-89: Lawrence A. DiRicco (202-205-2606)
Chapters 90-91: Craig M. Houser (202-205-2597)
Chapters 92-97: Lawrence A. DiRicco (202-205-2606)
Statistical reporting: Gil Whitson (202-205-2602)
WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS: Interested persons or entities are invited to
submit written statements on the draft simplified HTS. Written
statements should be submitted as quickly as possible, and follow-up
statements are permitted; but all statements must be received at the
Commission by the close of business on June 30, 1999, in order to be
considered and made part of the record. The Commission notes that it is
particularly interested in receiving input from the private sector
regarding the proposed treatment of particular goods, as well as
general comments about the changes suggested by the draft simplified
HTS. Commercial or financial information which a submitter desires the
Commission to treat as confidential must be submitted on separate
sheets of paper, each 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 available for inspection
by interested persons. All submissions should be addressed to the
Office of the Secretary, United States International Trade Commission,
500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436. The Commission's rules do not
authorize filing of submissions with the Secretary by facsimile or
electronic means.
Issued: March 26, 1999.
[[Page 15377]]
By order of the Commission.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-7878 Filed 3-30-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P