[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 210 (Thursday, October 29, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 68619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23983]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Notice of Effective Date of Modifications to the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States Concerning the United States-
Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Office of United States Trade Representative is announcing 
the effective date of modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule 
of the United States (HTSUS) concerning the United States-Colombia 
Trade Promotion Agreement (USCTPA).

DATES: This notice is applicable on January 1, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Assistant General Counsel Erin Rogers 
(202) 395-9126 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    Section 1206(a) of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 
1988 (1988 Act) (19 U.S.C. 3006(a)) authorizes the President to 
proclaim modifications to the HTSUS based on the recommendations of the 
U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) under section 1205 of the 
1988 Act (19 U.S.C. 3005) if the President determines that the 
modifications conform to U.S. obligations under the International 
Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System 
(Convention) and do not run counter to the national economic interest 
of the United States. The ITC has recommended modifications to the 
HTSUS pursuant to section 1205 of the 1988 Act to conform the HTSUS to 
amendments made to the Convention.
    Proclamation 8818 of May 14, 2012, implemented the USCTPA with 
respect to the United States and, pursuant to section 201 of the USCTPA 
Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3805 note), the staged reductions in duty 
that the President determined to be necessary or appropriate to carry 
out or apply articles 2.3, 2.5, 2.6, and 3.1.13, and Annex 2.3 
(including the schedule of United States duty reductions with respect 
to originating goods) of the USCTPA.
    The United States and Colombia are parties to the Convention. 
Because changes to the Convention are reflected in slight differences 
of form between the national tariff schedules of the United States and 
Colombia, Annexes 3 and 4.1 of the USCTPA must be changed to ensure 
that the tariff and certain other treatment accorded under the USCTPA 
to originating goods will continue to be provided under the tariff 
categories that were proclaimed in Proclamation 8818. The United States 
and Colombia have agreed to make these changes.
    Section 201 of the USCTPA Implementation Act authorizes the 
President to proclaim such modifications or continuation of any duty, 
such continuation of duty-free or excise treatment, or such additional 
duties, as the President determines to be necessary or appropriate to 
carry out or apply articles 2.3, 2.5, 2.6, and 3.1.13, and Annex 2.3 
(including the schedule of United States duty reductions with respect 
to originating goods) of the USCTPA.
    In Proclamation 10053 of June 29, 2020, pursuant to section 201 of 
the USCTPA Implementation Act and section 1206(a) of the 1988 Act (19 
U.S.C. 3006(a)), the President proclaimed certain modifications to the 
HTSUS (see Proclamation 10053, clause (17)), and further proclaimed 
that the modifications would become effective on the date announced by 
the U.S. Trade Representative in the Federal Register, after the 
applicable conditions set forth in the USCTPA have been fulfilled. The 
modifications are effective with respect to goods entered for 
consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 
that date. See Proclamation 10053, clause (18). The modifications are 
set out in Annex V of the ITC's Publication 5060, incorporated by 
reference in Proclamation 10053.

B. Announcement of the Effective Date of Modifications to the HTSUS 
Pursuant to Proclamation 10053

    The U.S. Trade Representative is announcing that the conditions 
referenced in clause (18) of Proclamation 10053 have been fulfilled and 
that the modifications set out in Annex V of Publication 5060 will take 
effect on January 1, 2021, with respect to goods entered for 
consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 
that date.

Joseph Barloon,
General Counsel, Office of the United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2020-23983 Filed 10-28-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F1-P