[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 14, Volume 5, Parts 1200 to end]
[Revised as of January 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 14CFR1217.102]

[Page 165]
 
                     TITLE 14--AERONAUTICS AND SPACE
 
                          SPACE ADMINISTRATION
 
PART 1217--DUTY-FREE ENTRY OF SPACE ARTICLES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1217.102  Background.

    In order to encourage and facilitate the use of NASA's launch 
services for the exploration and use of space, section 116 of Public Law 
97-446 provided for the duty-free entry into the United States of 
certain articles imported by NASA for its space-related activities or 
articles imported by another person or entity for the purpose of meeting 
its obligations under a launch services agreement with NASA. Such 
articles were certified by NASA to the Commissioner of Customs for duty-
free entry to be launched into space or space parts or necessary and 
uniquely associated support equipment for use in connection with a 
launch into space. This exemption from duty was provided for in 
Subheading 9808.00.80, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTSUS) (19 U.S.C. 1202). Also, HTSUS, Chapter VIII, U.S. note 1, 
pursuant to the same law, provided that return of articles by NASA from 
space to the United States would not be considered an importation, and 
similarly not be subject to a duty.
    As a result of the Uruguay Round agreements of the 1994 General 
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, this authority was revised and expanded 
in scope. It now provides that imports of articles for NASA's use and 
articles imported to implement NASA's international programs, including 
articles to be launched into space, parts thereof, ground support 
equipment, and uniquely associated equipment for use in connection with 
NASA's international programs and launch service agreements would be 
eligible for duty-free customs entry upon certification by NASA to the 
Commissioner of Customs. The revised authorities also provided, in U.S. 
note 1 to subchapter VIII of chapter 98 of the HTSUS, that articles 
brought into the customs territory of the United States by NASA from 
space or from a foreign country as part of a NASA's international 
programs would not be considered imports or subject to customs entry 
requirements.