[Federal Register: July 28, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 144)]
[Notices]
[Page 45072]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28jy04-97]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Customs and Border Protection
[CBP Dec. 04-23]
Duty-Free Treatment of Articles Imported in Connection With the
2004 FINA World Championships
AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland
Security.
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 2004
Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) World Championships, an
international swimming competition, as a qualifying international
athletic event under subheading 9817.60.00, Harmonized Tariff Schedule
of the United States (HTSUS).
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 28, 2004.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristen K. Ver Steeg, Office of
Regulations and Rulings (202-572-8810).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 1456 of the Tariff Suspension and Trade Act of 2000 (the
Act) (Pub. L. 106-476, 114 Stat. 2101) promulgated the duty-free
treatment provided under subheading 9817.60.00, HTSUS, for certain
articles brought into the United States 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, provides that such articles are free of
duty, taxes, and fees, but are subject to routine inspections. The
authority in section 1456 has been delegated to the Commissioner of
Customs and Border Protection. See Homeland Security Act of 2002
(Public Law 107-296), Treasury Department Order No. 100-16, DHS
Delegation Number 7010.1.
The 2004 World Swimming Championships will be held in Indianapolis,
Indiana, from October 7, 2004, though October 11, 2004. This event is
sponsored by the FINA, which is the international governing body for
all aquatic sports, including swimming. United States Aquatic Sports
(USAS), USA Swimming and the Indiana Sports Corporation will also
sponsor the event, which will feature approximately 600 athletes from
more than 100 countries. The President, USAS, on behalf of the Indiana
Sports Corporation, has requested that the event be designated as a
qualifying international athletic event for purposes of subheading
9817.60.00, HTSUS.
Determination
It is determined that the 2004 FINA World Championships 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 2004 FINA
World Swimming Championships, will be entitled to duty-free treatment.
Robert C. Bonner,
Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
[FR Doc. 04-17116 Filed 7-27-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4820-02-P