[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