[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 228 (Monday, November 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66644-66645]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30934]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation 1205-5]


Proposed Modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the 
United States

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: November 18, 1999.

SUMMARY: On November 18, 1999, the Commission instituted investigation 
No. 1205-5, Proposed Modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of 
the United States, pursuant to section 1205 of the Omnibus Trade and 
Competitiveness Act of 1988. Section 1205 directs the Commission to 
keep the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) under 
continuous review and to recommend modifications to the HTS (1) when 
amendments to the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity 
Description and Coding System (Harmonized System), and the Protocol 
thereto, are recommended by the World Customs Organization (WCO) 
(formerly known as the Customs Cooperation Council) for adoption, and 
(2) as other circumstances warrant. The Commission's report will set 
forth the proposed changes and indicate the necessary changes in the 
HTS that would be needed to conform the HTS to the international 
nomenclature structure; the report will also include other appropriate 
explanatory information on the proposed changes.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eugene A. Rosengarden, Director (202-
205-2592), Office of Tariff Affairs and Trade Agreements, U.S. 
International Trade Commission, Washington, DC, 20436. Hearing impaired 
individuals are advised that information on this investigation can be 
obtained by contacting the TDD terminal on (202) 205-1810.

Background

    The majority of the proposed changes included in this investigation 
are the result of the work of the WCO and its Harmonized System 
Committee (HSC) to update and clarify the Harmonized System 
nomenclature, as part of the WCO's long-term program to review the 
nomenclature structure on a formal basis. The WCO has recommended the 
adoption of certain modifications to the nomenclature of the 
international Harmonized System, in accordance with Article 16 of the 
Harmonized System Convention, to become effective in January, 2002. The 
changes proposed to conform the HTS with the WCO's recommendations, and 
to reflect in the HTS certain other decisions taken by the HSC, will be 
made available in the Office of the Secretary, Room 112, United States 
International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436 
(telephone 202-205-2000), and will also be posted on the Commission's 
web site at the address indicated below. These changes encompass all 
decisions taken by the HSC since the implementation of the last set of 
WCO modifications to the Harmonized System on January 1, 1996, as well 
as proposed actions subject to further consideration by the HSC during 
its sessions in 2000. Future notices will be issued in this 
investigation indicating the final resolution of all matters and 
decisions taken by the HSC during the course of Commission 
consideration.
    Other proposed changes included in this investigation are requested 
by the U.S. Customs Service, in order to clarify the proper tariff 
classification and duty treatment of particular goods (due to decisions 
of the Court of International Trade, the HSC, or the Customs Service). 
These changes will be treated separately by the Commission both during 
the investigation and in the Commission's report.
    The Commission will prepare a non-authoritative cross-reference 
table to provide guidance to potentially affected parties and to show 
the likely existing and future tariff classifications of the goods 
concerned. The Customs Service has domestic legal authority for tariff 
classification and may provide information, both during the course of 
the investigation and after the Commission's report is submitted, that

[[Page 66645]]

indicates different or additional tariff classifications of some goods. 
Moreover, the WCO will eventually issue a cross-reference table under 
Article 16 of the Harmonized System Convention indicating the agreed 
international classifications (existing and future) of the goods 
affected by the proposed changes. The latter table may be released 
later in the Commission's investigation, and differences between the 
international and domestic classification of a few goods may be 
suggested (in some cases due to reservations filed by member countries 
or to theoretical or asserted classifications for some goods). Thus, 
the classifications shown in the Commission's cross-reference table are 
subject to change during the study.

Written Submissions

    Interested parties are invited to submit written statements 
concerning the matters being addressed by the Commission in its report 
on this investigation. Commercial or financial information that a 
submitter desires to treat as confidential must be submitted on 
separate sheets of paper, each clearly 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 made available in the Office of the Secretary of the Commission for 
inspection by interested parties. To be assured of consideration by the 
Commission, written statements relating to the Commission's report 
should be submitted to the Commission at the earliest practical date 
and should be received no later than the close of business on December 
17, 1999. All submissions should be addressed to the Secretary, United 
States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 
20436. The Commission's rules do not authorize filing submissions with 
the Secretary by facsimile or by electronic means.
    Persons with mobility impairments who will need special assistance 
in gaining access to the Commission should contact the Office of the 
Secretary at 202-205-2000. General information concerning the 
Commission may also be obtained by accessing its Internet server 
(http://www.usitc.gov).

List of Subjects

    Tariffs/HTS, Harmonized System, WCO, and imports.

    Issued: November 22, 1999.

    By order of the Commission.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-30934 Filed 11-26-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P