CSMS Message: 00-000859

0220071

AUGUST 7, 2000

TO: DIRECTORS, FIELD OPERATIONS
PORT DIRECTORS
ASSISTANT PORT DIRECTORS, TRADE

FROM: DIRECTOR, TRADE PROGRAMS

PASS TO: IMPORT AND ENTRY SPECIALISTS, BROKERS, IMPORTERS AND OTHER
INTERESTED PARTIES

SUBJECT: RUSSIAN COPPER WIRE BARS AND THE GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF
PREFERENCES

THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE (USTR)
PUBLISHED A NOTICE OF CORRECTION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER OF MONDAY,
JUNE 26, 2000 (65 FR 39463). THE NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED TO CORRECT THE
HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE OF THE UNITED STATES (HTS) TO REFLECT THE
PROPER TREATMENT OF REFINED COPPER WIRE BARS FROM RUSSIA UNDER THE
GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES (GSP).

IMPORT DATA PROVIDED BY THE U.S. BUREAU OF CENSUS IN 1999 INDICATED
THAT IMPORTS OF REFINED COPPER WIRE BARS FROM RUSSIA HAD EXCEEDED THE
APPLICABLE COMPETITIVE NEED LIMITS (CNL) AS DESCRIBED IN 19 USC
2463(2)(A). BASED ON THIS DATA, ON JULY 1, 1999, THE PRESIDENT REVOKED
DUTY-FREE TREATMENT UNDER THE GSP FOR IMPORTS OF REFINED COPPER
WIRE BARS FROM RUSSIA, CLASSIFIED UNDER SUBHEADING 7403.12.00, HTS.
REVISED CENSUS DATA DEMONSTRATE THAT THE CNL WAS NOT EXCEEDED.

THE USTR NOTICE CORRECTS THE HTS RETROACTIVE TO JULY 1, 1999, ALLOWING
FOR DUTY-FREE TREATMENT UNDER THE GSP OF IMPORTS OF MERCHANDISE
CLASSIFIED UNDER SUBHEADING 7403.12.00 FROM RUSSIA.

IMPORTERS OF RUSSIAN COPPER WIRE BARS CLASSIFIABLE UNDER SUBHEADING
7403.12.00, WHO PAID DUTIES ON THE SUBJECT MERCHANDISE BETWEEN
JULY 1, 1999, AND THE PRESENT, MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND. REQUESTS
FOR REFUNDS MUST BE MADE IN WRITING, AND BE ADDRESSED TO THE PORT
DIRECTOR OF THE PORT OF ENTRY WHERE THE MERCHANDISE WAS ENTERED. TO
EXPEDITE REFUNDS, CUSTOMS RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING BE INCLUDED IN EACH
LETTER:

A. A STATEMENT THAT THE LETTER IS A REQUEST FOR A REFUND AS PROVIDED
FOR IN THE USTR NOTICE OF CORRECTION PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL
REGISTER OF JUNE 26, 2000;

B. THE ENTRY NUMBERS AND LINE ITEMS FOR WHICH REFUNDS ARE BEING
REQUESTED; AND

C. THE AMOUNT TO BE REFUNDED FOR EACH LINE ITEM, AND IF MULTIPLE
ENTRIES ARE INVOLVED, THE TOTAL AMOUNT TO BE REFUNDED FOR ALL
ENTRY SUMMARIES.

PORTS ARE ASKED TO PROCESS ANY SUCH REQUESTS AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS
POSSIBLE.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS NOTICE SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO DIXIE STAPLE,
TRADE AGREEMENTS BRANCH AT (202) 927-1131.

/S/
ELIZABETH G. DURANT