[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 87 (Monday, May 6, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30414-30415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-11131]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

[T.D. 02-21]


Duty-Free Treatment of Articles Imported in Connection With the 
2002 World Basketball Championship for Men

AGENCY: Customs Service, Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of designation of international athletic event for 
purposes of preferential tariff provision.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public of the designation of the 2002 
World Basketball Championship for Men to be held in Indianapolis, 
Indiana, August 29, 2002, through September 8, 2002, as a qualifying 
international athletic event under subheading 9817.60.00, Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 6, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
T. James Min II, Office of Regulations & Rulings (202-927-1203).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 1456 of the Tariff Suspension and Trade Act of 2000 (the 
``Act'') (Pub. L. 106-476, 114 Stat. 2101) promulgated the duty-free 
treatment provided under subheading 9817.60.00, HTSUS, for certain 
articles brought into the United States for certain international 
athletic events. Subheading 9817.60.00, HTSUS, which implements section 
1456(a) of the Act, states:

    Any of the following articles not intended for sale or 
distribution to the public: personal effects of aliens who are 
participants in, officials of, or accredited members of delegations 
to, an international athletic event held in the United States, such 
as the Olympics and Paralympics, the Goodwill Games, the Special 
Olympics World Games, the World Cup Soccer Games, or any similar 
international athletic event as the Secretary of the Treasury may 
determine, and of persons who are immediate family members of or 
servants to any of the foregoing persons; equipment and materials 
imported in connection with any such foregoing event by or on behalf 
of the foregoing persons or the organizing committee of such an 
event, articles to be used in exhibitions depicting the culture of a 
country participating in such an event; and, if consistent with the 
foregoing, such other articles as the Secretary of the Treasury may 
allow.

    Section 1456(b) of the Act, as implemented in Note 6 of Subchapter 
XII, HTSUS, provides that ``[a]ny article exempt from duty under 
heading 9817.60.00 shall be free of taxes and fees that may otherwise 
be applicable, but shall not be free or otherwise exempt or excluded 
from routine or other inspections as may be required by the Customs 
Service.''
    The 2002 World Basketball Championship for Men will be held in 
Indianapolis, Indiana, from August 29, 2002, through September 8, 2002. 
This event is sponsored by the Federation Internationale de Basketball 
(FIBA), which is basketball's international governing body. USA 
Basketball and the Indianapolis Sports Corporation also will sponsor 
the event, which features 16 national men's teams from five continents. 
These teams will be from the United States, Angola, Algeria, Argentina, 
Brazil, Canada, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, China, Lebanon, Yugoslavia, 
Turkey, Spain, Germany, Russia, and New Zealand. A total of 62 games 
will be played over the 11-day event.
    The Managing Director of the 2002 World Basketball Championship for 
Men has requested that the event be designated as a qualifying 
international athletic event for purposes of subheading 9817.60.00, 
HTSUS.

[[Page 30415]]

Determination

    Section 1456 of the Tariff Suspension and Trade Act of 2000 
provides that the Secretary of the Treasury may determine that 
international athletic events not explicitly mentioned in the statute 
qualify as similar to those mentioned for purposes of the duty-free 
treatment provided for in subheading 9817.60.00, HTSUS.
    Noting that the 2002 World Basketball Championship for Men is 
organized by FIBA, the international governing body for basketball, and 
that the event includes finalists from over five continents, it is 
therefore determined that the event qualifies as a ``similar 
international athletic event'' in accordance with section 1456 of the 
Tariff Suspension and Trade Act of 2000. Therefore, articles meeting 
the conditions and requirements set forth in subheading 9817.60.00, 
HTSUS, imported in connection with the 2002 World Basketball 
Championship for Men, will be entitled to duty-free treatment.

Robert C. Bonner,
Commissioner of Customs.
    Approved: April 30, 2002.
Timothy E. Skud,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
[FR Doc. 02-11131 Filed 5-3-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P