[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 225 (Tuesday, November 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69988-69989]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-29793]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Determination Under the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Trade Representative has determined that 
Guyana is making substantial progress toward implementing and following 
the customs procedures required by the Caribbean Basin Trade 
Partnership Act and, therefore, imports of eligible products from 
Guyana qualify for the enhanced trade benefits provided under the Act.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 9, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Wilson, Director for 
Central America and the Caribbean, Office of the United States Trade 
Representative, (202) 395-5190.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act 
(Title II of the Trade and Development Act of 2000, Pub. L. No. 106-
200) (CBTPA) expands the trade benefits available to Caribbean and 
Central American countries under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery 
Act (CBERA). The CBTPA reduces or eliminates tariffs and eliminates 
quantitative restrictions on certain products that previously were not 
eligible for preferential treatment under the CBERA. The enhanced trade 
benefits provided by the CBTPA are available to imports of eligible 
products from countries that (1) are designated as ``CBTPA beneficiary 
countries,'' and (2) have implemented and follow, or are making 
substantial progress toward implementing and following, certain customs 
procedures, drawn from Chapter 5 of the North American Free Trade 
Agreement, that allow U.S. Customs to verify the origin of the 
products.
    On October 2, 2000, the President designated all 24 current 
beneficiaries under the CBERA as ``CBTPA beneficiary countries.'' 
Proclamation 7351 delegated to the United States Trade Representative 
(USTR) the authority to determine whether the designated CBTPA 
beneficiary countries have implemented and follow, or are

[[Page 69989]]

making substantial progress toward implementing and following, the 
customs procedures required by the CBTPA. The President directed the 
USTR to announce any such determinations in the Federal Register and to 
implement any such determinations in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of 
the United States (HTS).
    Based on information and commitments provided by the Government of 
Guyana, I have determined that Guyana is making substantial progress 
toward implementing and following the customs procedures required by 
the CBTPA. Accordingly, pursuant to the authority vested in the USTR by 
Proclamation 7351, general note 17(a) to the HTS, U.S. note 7 to 
subchapter II of chapter 98 of the HTS, and U.S. note 1 to subchapter 
XX of chapter 98 of the HTS are each modified by inserting in 
alphabetical sequence in the list of eligible CBTPA beneficiary 
countries the name ``Guyana.'' General note 17(d) to the HTS is 
modified by striking ``duty-free'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
``tariff'' and by striking ``October 2, 2000'' and inserting in lieu 
thereof ``the date announced in one or more Federal Register notices 
issued by the United States Trade Representative as the date on which 
each CBTPA beneficiary country qualifies for the tariff treatment 
provided in this note.'' The foregoing modifications to the HTS are 
effective with respect to articles entered, or withdrawn from warehouse 
for consumption, on or after November 9, 2000. The USTR will publish 
additional notices in the Federal Register announcing any 
determinations that other CBTPA beneficiary countries have satisfied 
the required customs procedures.

Richard Fisher,
Deputy United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 00-29793 Filed 11-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M