[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 173 (Thursday, September 8, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-22181]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: September 8, 1994]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation No. 1205-4]
Proposed Modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States, Pursuant to Section 1205 of the Omnibus Trade and
Competitiveness Act of 1988
AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Institution of investigation.
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EFFECTIVE DATE: September 1, 1994.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eugene A. Rosengarden, Director,
Office of Tariff Affairs and Trade Agreements (O/TA&TA) (telephone 202-
205-2592) or Leo A. Webb, Attorney (O/TA&TA) (202-205-2599), U.S.
International Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20436.
BACKGROUND AND SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION: On September 1, 1994, the
Commission instituted investigation No. 1205-4, Proposed Modifications
to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, Pursuant to
Section 1205 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988.
Section 1205 directs the Commission to keep the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTS) under continuous review and to
recommend modifications to the HTS (1) when amendments to the
International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and
Coding System (Harmonized System or HS) are recommended by the Customs
Cooperation Council (CCC) for adoption, and (2) as other circumstances
warrant. Section 1205(a)(2) further directs the Commission to recommend
such modifications to the HTS, as the Commission considers necessary or
appropriate, to promote the uniform application of the Convention and
particularly the Annex thereto.
On July 5, 1994, the Commission received a letter from the
Commissioner of Customs requesting that the Commission take action
under section 1205(a)(2) with respect to the classification of
petroleum jelly put up for retail sale. The letter notes that the
Harmonized System Committee of the CCC has determined that such
petroleum jelly is provided for in subheading 3304.99 of the HS. The
letter further notes that the United States Customs Service presently
classifies such petroleum jelly under subheading 2712.10 of the HS.
However, in the interest of uniformity of application of the Harmonized
System Convention, the Customs Service has requested that the
Commission recommend such modifications of the HTS to the President as
will permit the Customs Service to classify this product under the HTS
in accordance with the CCC decision while maintaining the currently
applied rate of duty.
Accordingly, the Commission is considering a recommendation to the
President that the HTS be modified: (1) to create a new subheading
subordinate to subheading 3304.99; and (2) to add a new Additional U.S.
Note to Chapter 27. The new subheading in Chapter 33 would provide for
petroleum jelly put up for retail sale at the same rate of duty (i.e.,
Free in columns 1 and 2) as is presently the case under HTS subheading
2712.10.00. Proposed new subheading 3304.99.10 would appear in the HTS
as follows--
``3304 Beauty or make-up
preparations...:.
Other:
3304.99 Other:
3304.99.10 Petroleum jelly put up Free............. Free.
for retail sale.
3304.99.50 Other.................. 4.9% Free (A* E, 75%.
IL, J, MX) 1.9%
(CA).''.
The new Additional U.S. Note to Chapter 27 would read as follows:
``5. Subheading 2712.10.00 does not include petroleum jelly,
suitable for use for the care of the skin, put up in packings of a kind
sold by retail for such use (subheading 3304.99.10).''.
The intent of this proposal would be to permit the Customs Service
to classify such petroleum jelly in a manner consistent with the
decision of the Harmonized System Committee of the CCC while
maintaining the currently applied rate of duty.
WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS: Interested parties, including other Federal
agencies, are invited to submit written statements concerning the
subject of this investigation. Each statement must be submitted by not
later than October 19, 1994, in order to be considered by the
Commission. Commercial or financial information that a party desires
the Commission to treat as confidential must be submitted on separate
sheets of paper, each clearly marked ``Confidential Business
Information'' at the top. All submissions requesting confidential
treatment must conform with the requirements of Sec. 201.6 of the
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 201.6). All
written submissions, except for confidential business information, will
be made available for inspection by interested persons. All submissions
should be addressed to the Secretary, United States International Trade
Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436.
Hearing-impaired individuals are advised that information on this
matter can be obtained by contacting our TDD terminal on (202) 205-
2648.
By order of the Commission.
Issued: September 2, 1994.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-22181 Filed 9-7-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P