[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 13533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5588]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


Allocation of Duty-Exemptions for Calendar Year 2012 for Watch 
Producers Located in the United States Virgin Islands

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce; Office of Insular Affairs, Department of the 
Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This action allocates calendar year 2012 duty exemptions for 
watch assembly producers (``program producers'') located in the United 
States Virgin Islands (``USVI'') pursuant to Public Law 97-446, as 
amended by Public Law 103-465, Public Law 106-36 and Public Law 108-429 
(``the Act'').

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Supriya Kumar, Subsidies Enforcement 
Office; phone number: (202) 482-3530; fax number: (202) 501-7952; and 
email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Act, the Departments of the 
Interior and Commerce (``the Departments'') share responsibility for 
the allocation of duty exemptions among program producers in the United 
States insular possessions and the Northern Mariana Islands.
    In accordance with Section 303.3(a) of the regulations (15 CFR 
303.3(a)), the total quantity of duty-free insular watches and watch 
movements for calendar year 2012 is 1,866,000 units for the USVI. This 
amount was established in Changes in Watch, Watch Movement and Jewelry 
Program for the U.S. Insular Possessions, 65 FR 8048 (February 17, 
2000). There are currently no program producers in Guam, American Samoa 
or the Northern Mariana Islands.
    The criteria for the calculation of the calendar year 2012 duty-
exemption allocations among program producers within a particular 
territory are set forth in Section 303.14 of the regulations (15 CFR 
303.14). The Departments have verified and, where appropriate, adjusted 
the data submitted in application form ITA-334P by USVI program 
producers and have inspected these producers' operations in accordance 
with Section 303.5 of the regulations (15 CFR 303.5).
    In calendar year 2011, USVI program producers shipped 53,744 
watches and watch movements into the customs territory of the United 
States under the Act. The dollar amount of corporate income taxes paid 
by USVI program producers during calendar year 2011, and the creditable 
wages and benefits paid by these producers during calendar year 2011 to 
residents of the territory was a combined total of $1,036,055.
    The calendar year 2012 USVI annual duty exemption allocations, 
based on the data verified by the Departments, are as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Annual
                    Program producer                        allocation
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Belair Quartz, Inc......................................         500,000
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    The balance of the units allocated to the USVI is available for new 
entrants into the program or existing program producers who request a 
supplement to their allocation.

    Dated: February 27, 2012.
Judith Wey Rudman,
Acting Director, Office of Policy, Import Administration, International 
Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
    Dated: February 29, 2012.
 Nikolao Pula,
Director of Office of Insular Affairs, Department of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 2012-5588 Filed 3-6-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P; 4310-93-P