[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 204 (Friday, October 21, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65365-65366]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27310]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

19 CFR Parts 10, 24, 162, 163, and 178

[USCBP-2010-0041; CBP Dec. 11-19]
RIN 1515-AD68


United States-OMAN Free Trade Agreement

AGENCIES: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland 
Security; Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document adopts as a final rule, without change, interim 
amendments to the Customs and Border Protection (``CBP'') regulations 
which were published in the Federal Register on January 6, 2011, as CBP 
Dec. 11-01 to implement the preferential tariff treatment and other 
customs-related provisions of the United States--Oman Free Trade 
Agreement entered into by the United States and the Sultanate of Oman.

DATES: Final rule effective November 21, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Textile Operational Aspects: Nancy 
Mondich, Office of International Trade, (202) 863-6524. Other 
Operational Aspects: Seth Mazze, Office of

[[Page 65366]]

International Trade, (202) 863-6567. Legal Aspects: Elif Eroglu, Office 
of International Trade, (202) 325-0277.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On January 19, 2006, the United States and the Sultanate of Oman 
(the ``Parties'') entered into the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement 
(``OFTA'' or ``Agreement''). The provisions of the OFTA were adopted by 
the United States with the enactment of the United States-Oman Free 
Trade Agreement Implementation Act (the ``Act''), Public Law 109-283, 
120 Stat. 1191 (19 U.S.C. 3805 note), on September 26, 2006. Section 
206 of the Act requires that regulations be prescribed as necessary 
pending the President issuing a proclamation to implement the 
Agreement.
    Following Presidential Proclamation 8332, CBP published on January 
6, 2011, CBP Dec. 11-01 in the Federal Register (76 FR 697), setting 
forth interim amendments to implement the preferential tariff treatment 
and customs-related provisions of the OFTA. In order to provide 
transparency and facilitate their use, the majority of the OFTA 
implementing regulations set forth in CBP Dec. 11-01 were included 
within new subpart P in part 10 of the CBP regulations (19 CFR part 
10). However, in those cases in which OFTA implementation was more 
appropriate in the context of an existing regulatory provision, the 
OFTA regulatory text was incorporated in an existing part within the 
CBP regulations. For a detailed description of the pertinent provisions 
of the Agreement and of the OFTA implementing regulations, please see 
CBP Dec. 11-01.
    Although the interim regulatory amendments were promulgated without 
prior public notice and comments procedures and took effect on January 
6, 2011, CBP Dec. 11-01 provided for the submission of public comments 
that would be considered before adopting the interim regulations as a 
final rule. The prescribed comment period closed on March 7, 2011.

Discussion of Comment Received in Response to CBP Dec. 11-01

    One favorable response was received to the solicitation of comments 
on the interim rule set forth in CBP Dec. 11-01 which recommended that 
the government have more free trade agreements like the OFTA.

Conclusion

    Accordingly, CBP believes that the interim regulations published as 
CBP Dec. 11-01 should be adopted as a final rule without change.

Executive Order 12866

    This document is not a regulation or rule subject to the provisions 
of Executive Order 12866 of September 30, 1993 (58 FR 51735, October 
1993), because it pertains to a foreign affairs function of the United 
States and implements an international agreement, as described above, 
and therefore is specifically exempted by section 3(d)(2) of Executive 
Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    CBP Dec. 11-01 was issued as an interim rule rather than a notice 
of proposed rulemaking because CBP had determined that the interim 
regulations involve a foreign affairs function of the United States 
pursuant to section 553(a)(1) of the Administrative Procedure Act. 
Because no notice of proposed rulemaking was required, the provisions 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), 
do not apply to this rulemaking. Accordingly, this final rule is not 
subject to the regulatory analysis requirements or other requirements 
of 5 U.S.C. 603 and 604.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The collections of information in these regulations are under 
review by the Office of Management and Budget in accordance with the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3507) under 
control number 1651-0117. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, an agency 
may not conduct or sponsor, and an individual is not required to 
respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB 
control number.
    The collections of information in these regulations are in 
Sec. Sec.  10.863, 10.864, 10.881, and 10.884. This information is 
required in connection with claims for preferential tariff treatment 
and for the purpose of the exercise of other rights under the OFTA and 
the Act and will be used by CBP to determine eligibility for a tariff 
preference or other rights or benefits under the OFTA and the Act. The 
likely respondents are business organizations including importers, 
exporters and manufacturers.
    The estimated average annual burden associated with the collection 
of information in this final rule is 0.2 hours per respondent or 
recordkeeper.

Signing Authority

    This document is being issued in accordance with Sec.  0.1(a)(1) of 
the CBP regulations (19 CFR 0.1(a)(1)) pertaining to the authority of 
the Secretary of the Treasury (or his/her delegate) to approve 
regulations related to certain customs revenue functions.

List of Subjects

19 CFR Part 10

    Customs duties and inspection, Exports, Imports, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

19 CFR Part 24

    Accounting, Customs duties and inspection, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

19 CFR Part 162

    Administrative practice and procedure, Customs duties and 
inspection, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

19 CFR Part 163

    Administrative practice and procedure, Customs duties and 
inspection, Exports, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

19 CFR Part 178

    Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Amendments to the CBP Regulations

0
Accordingly, the interim rule amending parts 10, 24, 162, 163, and 178 
of the CBP regulations (19 CFR parts 10, 24, 162, 163, and 178), which 
was published at 76 FR 697 on January 6, 2011, is adopted as a final 
rule without change.

Alan D. Bersin,
Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
    Approved: October 18, 2011.
Timothy E. Skud,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
[FR Doc. 2011-27310 Filed 10-20-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P