[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2142-2143]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-493]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Determination of Eligibility for Retroactive Duty Treatment Under 
the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade 
Agreement

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 205(b) of the Dominican Republic-Central 
America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (the 
Act), the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is providing notice 
of her determination that Costa Rica is an eligible country for 
purposes of retroactive duty treatment as provided in Section 205 of 
the Act.

DATES: Effective Date: January 14, 2009.

[[Page 2143]]


ADDRESSES: Inquiries may be mailed, delivered, or faxed to Caroyl 
Miller, Deputy Special Textile Negotiator, Office of the United States 
Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508, fax 
number, (202) 395-5639.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caroyl Miller, Office of the United 
States Trade Representative, 202-395-3026.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 205(a) of the Act (Pub. L. 109-53; 
119 Stat. 462, 483; 19 U.S.C. 4034) provides that certain entries of 
textile or apparel goods of designated eligible countries that are 
parties to the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free 
Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) made on or after January 1, 2004 may be 
liquidated or reliquidated at the applicable rate of duty for those 
goods established in the Schedule of the United States to Annex 3.3 of 
the CAFTA-DR. Section 205(b) of the Act requires the USTR to determine, 
in accordance with Article 3.20 of the CAFTA-DR, which CAFTA-DR 
countries are eligible countries for purposes of Section 205(a). 
Article 3.20 provides that importers may claim retroactive duty 
treatment for imports of certain textile or apparel goods entered on or 
after January 1, 2004 and before the entry into force of CAFTA-DR from 
those CAFTA-DR countries that will provide reciprocal retroactive duty 
treatment or a benefit for textile or apparel goods that is equivalent 
to retroactive duty treatment.
    Pursuant to Section 205(b) of the Act, I have determined that Costa 
Rica will provide an equivalent benefit for textile or apparel goods of 
the United States within the meaning of Article 3.20 of the CAFTA-DR. I 
therefore determine that Costa Rica is an eligible country for purposes 
of Section 205 of the Act.

Susan C. Schwab,
U.S. Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. E9-493 Filed 1-13-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W9-P