CSMS Message: 02-000473

DATE: 04/04/2002

TO: DIRECTORS, FIELD OPERATIONS

FROM: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TRADE PROGRAMS
OFFICE OF FIELD OPERATIONS

SUBJECT: TBT-02-015 UPDATED INFORMATION FOR THE BRASSIERE PROVISION
OF THE CARIBBEAN BASIN TRADE PARTNERSHIP ACT (CBTPA)

REF: TBT-01-045 CBTPA BRASSIERE IMPLEMENTATION INFORMATION
TBT-01-053 BRASSIERE PROVISION IDENTIFIER NUMBERS

BACKGROUND:

TITLE II OF THE TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2000 ("THE ACT"), WHICH
WAS SIGNED INTO LAW ON MAY 18, 2000, AUTHORIZED THE EXPANSION OF TRADE
BENEFITS TO DESIGNATED COUNTRIES IN THE CARIBBEAN BASIN. THIS TRADE
PROGRAM PROVIDES FOR THE ENTRY OF SPECIFIC TEXTILE AND APPAREL ARTICLES
FREE OF DUTY AND FREE OF ANY QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS, LIMITATIONS OR
CONSULTATION LEVELS.

TBT-01-045 AND TBT-01-053 PROVIDED INFORMATION ON THE UNIQUE IDENTIFIER
NUMBER THAT WILL BE REQUIRED FOR CBTPA BRASSIERE PROVISION CLAIMS AND
GRACE PERIODS TO ALLOW IMPORTERS TO OBTAIN A UNIQUE IDENTIFIER NUMBER.

THE IDENTIFIER, DESIGNATED BY U.S. CUSTOMS, WILL BE REPORTED IN BLOCK
34 OF THE CF7501 (VISA FIELD.) THE IDENTIFIER WILL CONSIST OF NINE
CHARACTERS, THE FIRST CHARACTER BEING NUMERIC REPRESENTING THE YEAR OF
ISSUANCE (I.E. "2" FOR 2002), THEN TWO ALPHAS "CB" INDICATING THE
CARIBBEAN BASIN AND THEN A SIX DIGIT SERIAL NUMBER STARTING WITH A "1"
FOR A PRODUCER AND "2" FOR A ENTITY CONTROLLING PRODUCTION. IMPORTERS
MUST SUBMIT THIS NUMBER ON THE ENTRY SUMMARY WHEN PREFERENCE IS BEING
CLAIMED.

ACS PROGRAMMING TO ACCEPT THE UNIQUE IDENTIFIER NUMBER IS CURRENTLY
BEING COMPLETED. CUSTOMS WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN THE PROGRAMMING IS COMPLETE
AND WILL IMPLEMENT THIS REQUIREMENT 30 DAYS FROM THAT ANNOUNCEMENT. THIS
ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE SERVES AS A NOTICE FOR PRODUCERS AND ENTITIES
CONTROLLING PRODUCTION THAT DURING THAT 30-DAY GRACE PERIOD, THEY
SHOULD PROVIDE THE UNIQUE IDENTIFIER NUMBER TO THEIR IMPORTERS.

ANY PRODUCER OR CONTROLLING ENTITY THAT HAS ALREADY FORWARDED A
REQUEST FOR THE NECESSARY IDENTIFIER NUMBER WILL BE RECEIVING THEIR
NUMBER SOON.

ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE ISSUANCE OF THE IDENTIFIER NUMBERS SHOULD
BE ADDRESSED TO:

U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE
OFFICE OF STRATEGIC TRADE
1 PENN PLAZA, TENTH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10119
ATTENTION: MARJORIE DELOACH
DIRECTOR

ACTION:

ONCE CUSTOMS HAS IMPLEMENTED THE REQUIREMENT OF PROVIDING THE UNIQUE
IDENTIFIER NUMBER AT THE TIME OF A CLAIM, IMPORTERS THAT ENTERED
BRASSIERES AT THE NORMAL DUTY RATES AND COULD NOT MAKE A CLAIM BECAUSE
THE IMPORTER DID NOT OBTAIN THE IDENTIFIER CODE FROM THE PRODUCER CAN
AVAIL THEMSELVES OF ALL THE AVAILABLE POST ENTRY PROCEDURES WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF NAFTA 520 (D).

PORTS SHOULD PROCESS THESE CLAIMS PROMPTLY SINCE NO VERIFICATION OF
CLAIMS, UNDER THIS PROVISION ONLY, IS COMPLETED AT THE PORT LEVEL.
VERIFICATION OF CLAIMS CANNOT BE DONE ON AN ENTRY BY ENTRY BASIS.
VERIFYING THE VALIDITY OF CLAIMS MUST BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH AN
AUDIT PROCEDURE.

INFORMATION:

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS ADMINISTRATIVE NOTICE,
PLEASE CALL SUSAN THOMAS, AT (202) 927-3719, OR ROBERT ABELS, AT (202)
927-1959.

/SIGNED/
ELIZABETH G. DURANT

CC: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FIELD OPERATIONS