[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 211 (Thursday, October 30, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64575-64576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25731]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
19 CFR Parts 4, 7, 10, 102, 134 and 177
[USCBP-2007-0100]
RIN 1505-AB49
Uniform Rules of Origin for Imported Merchandise
AGENCIES: Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland
Security; Department of the Treasury.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; re-opening of comment period.
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SUMMARY: This document re-opens the period within which comments may be
submitted in response to the proposed rule to amend the Customs and
Border Protection (``CBP'') regulations to establish uniform rules
governing CBP determinations of the country of origin of imported
merchandise. The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on
July 25, 2008 (73 FR 43385) with comments due on or before September
23, 2008. The comment period was extended by a notice published in the
Federal Register on September 8, 2008 (73 FR 51962), to October 23,
2008. This notice re-opens the comment period to afford interested
parties an opportunity to consider the impact, if any, of the proposed
rule on the country of origin of their goods in view of the publication
of a final rule document in today's Federal Register which sets forth
technical corrections to Sec. Sec. 102.20 and 102.21 of the CBP
regulations (19 CFR 102.20 and 102.21).
DATES: Comments on the proposed rule must be received on or before
December 1, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number, by one
of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments via docket number
USCBP-2007-0100.
Mail: Trade and Commercial Regulations Branch, Regulations
and Rulings, Office of International Trade, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, 799 9th Street, NW., 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20001-4501.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency
name and docket number for this rulemaking. All comments received will
be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided. For detailed instructions on submitting
comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the
``Public Participation'' heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this document.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov. Submitted comments
may be inspected during regular business days between the hours of 9
a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Trade and Commercial Regulations Branch,
Regulations and Rulings, Office of International Trade, U.S. Customs
and Border Protection, 799 9th Street, NW., 5th Floor, Washington, DC
20001-4501. Arrangements to inspect submitted comments should be made
in advance by calling Mr. Joseph Clark at (202) 572-8768.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Monika Brenner, Valuation and Special
Programs, Office of International Trade, 202-572-8835; Heather K.
Pinnock, Tariff Classification and Marking, Office of International
Trade, 202-572-8828.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Participation
Interested persons are invited to participate in this rulemaking by
submitting written data, views, or arguments on all aspects of the
proposed rule. CBP also invites comments that relate to the economic,
environmental, or federalism effects that might result from this
proposed rule. Comments that will provide the most assistance to CBP
will reference a specific portion of the proposed rule, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include data, information, or
authority that support such recommended change. See ADDRESSES above for
information on how to submit comments.
Background
CBP published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal
Register (73 FR 43385) on July 25, 2008, proposing to amend the CBP
regulations to establish uniform rules of origin for imported
merchandise. The proposed rule would extend application of the country
of origin rules codified in 19 CFR part 102. Those rules have proven to
be more objective and transparent and provide greater predictability in
determining the country of origin of imported merchandise than the
system of case-by-case adjudication they would replace. The proposed
change also will aid an importer's exercise of reasonable care. In
addition, the document proposes to amend the country of origin rules
applicable to pipe fitting and flanges, printed greeting cards, glass
optical fiber, and rice preparations. Finally, the proposed rule would
amend the textile regulations set forth in Sec. 102.21 to make
corrections so that the regulations reflect the language of section
334(b)(5) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.
The notice of proposed rulemaking invited the public to comment on
the proposal. Comments on the proposed rule were requested on or before
September 23, 2008. In response to the proposed rule published in the
Federal Register, CBP received correspondence from several parties
requesting an extension of the comment period. In a notice published in
the Federal Register on September 8, 2008 (73 FR 51962), CBP provided
an additional 30 days for interested parties to submit comments on the
proposed rule until October 23, 2008.
Re-Opening of Comment Period
As a result of modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
the United States (HTSUS) in 2007, certain tariff provisions have been
added or removed, and certain goods have been transferred, for tariff
classification purposes, to different or newly-created provisions. CBP
is publishing a document in today's Federal Register which sets forth
technical corrections to Sec. Sec. 102.20 and 102.21 of the CBP
regulations (19 CFR 102.20 and 102.21) in order to align the
regulations with the current version of the HTSUS. The technical
corrections to the tariff shift rules set forth in that document will
enable parties to properly evaluate the impact, if any, of the proposed
rule on the country of origin of their goods. Accordingly, in order to
afford parties the opportunity to enhance their review of the proposed
rule and provide meaningful comment in light of the technical
corrections to Sec. Sec. 102.20 and 102.21, the decision has been made
to re-open the comment period on the proposed rule. Comments are now
due on or before December 1, 2008.
[[Page 64576]]
Dated: October 23, 2008.
Harold M. Singer,
Director, Regulations and Disclosure Law Division, Regulations and
Rulings, Office of International Trade.
Timothy E. Skud,
Deputy Assistant Secretary (Tax, Trade and Tariff Policy), Office of
Tax Policy, United States Treasury Department.
[FR Doc. E8-25731 Filed 10-29-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P