[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 14, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 34518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-11945]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

[T.D. 02-25]


Duty-Free Treatment of Articles Imported in Connection with the 
Volvo Ocean Race

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 Volvo 
Ocean Race, a round-the-world international sailing competition, as a 
qualifying international athletic event under subheading 9817.60.00, 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).

EFFECTIVE DATE: Effective for merchandise entered or withdrawn from 
warehouse for consumption on or after March 1, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig A. Walker, Office of Regulations 
& Rulings (202-927-1116).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 1456 of the Tariff Suspension and Trade Act of 2000 (the 
``Act'') (Public Law 106-476, 114 Stat. 2101) promulgated the duty-free 
treatment provided under subheading 9817.60.00, HTSUS, for certain 
articles brought into the U.S. 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 Volvo Ocean Race (formerly known as the Whitbread Round the 
World Race) is a premier international sailing competition that takes 
place every four years and touches five continents and nine countries 
around the world. The current race, with seven teams participating, 
began in Southampton England on September 23, 2001, and is expected to 
take approximately nine months from start to finish. The fifth and 
sixth stopovers during the race are Miami, Florida, and Baltimore/
Annapolis, Maryland.
    Counsel for the Volvo Ocean Race has requested that the event be 
designated as a qualifying international athletic event for purposes of 
subheading 9817.60.00, HTSUS.

Determination

    Section 1456 of the Tariff Suspension and Trade Act of 2000 
provides that the Secretary of 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.
    It is determined that the Volvo Ocean Race 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 Volvo Ocean Race, will be 
entitled to duty-free treatment.

Robert C. Bonner,
Commissioner of Customs.
    Approved: May 8, 2002.
Gordana Earp,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
[FR Doc. 02-11945 Filed 5-13-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P