| Title: | PERMANENT NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS - AFGHANISTAN |
|---|---|
| Date: | 2002-05-20 |
| To: | abi |
| Links: | previous, next |
TO: DIRECTORS, FIELD OPERATIONS
FROM: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TRADE PROGRAMS
OFFICE OF FIELD OPERATIONS
SUBJECT: PERMANENT NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS STATUS FOR AFGHANISTAN
DATE: MAY 20, 2002
BACKGROUND:
SECTION 118 (A)(1) OF THE ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1985
(PUBLIC LAW 99-190) PROVIDED THAT THE PRESIDENT COULD DETERMINE
THAT TITLE IV OF THE TRADE ACT OF 1974 SHOULD NO LONGER APPLY TO
AFGHANISTAN, AND AFTER MAKING SUCH A DETERMINATION, PROCLAIM THE
EXTENSION OF NONDISCRIMINATORY TRADE TREATMENT (NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS
TREATMENT) TO PRODUCTS OF AFGHANISTAN. AS A RESULT, PRESIDENTIAL
PROCLAMATION 5437, OF JANUARY 31, 1986, MODIFIED THE HARMONIZED TARIFF
SCHEDULE OF THE UNITED STATES (HTS) TO DENY NONDISCRIMINATORY TRADE
TREATMENT TO THE PRODUCTS OF AFGHANISTAN.
PURSUANT TO SECTION 118 (C)(1), OF PUBLIC LAW 99-190, THE PRESIDENT
HAS DETERMINED THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE TO RESTORE NONDISCRIMINATORY TRADE
TREATMENT TO PRODUCTS OF AFGHANISTAN, AND THEREBY CAUSE SUCH PRODUCTS
TO BE SUBJECT TO THE APPLICABLE COLUMN 1-GENERAL RATE OF DUTY OF THE
HTS, IN ORDER TO NORMALIZE TRADE RELATIONS WITH AFGHANISTAN AND
FACILITATE INCREASED TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES.
ACTION:
PER PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION 7553, DATED MAY 3, 2002, AND
PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER ON MAY 7, 2002, (67 FR 30535),
NONDISCRIMINATORY TRADE TREATMENT WILL APPLY TO PRODUCTS OF AFGHANISTAN
ENTERED, OR WITHDRAWN FROM WAREHOUSE, FOR CONSUMPTION ON OR AFTER
JUNE 6, 2002.
IN ADDITION, PER PROCLAMATION 7553, THE HTS IS MODIFIED BY STRIKING
"AFGHANISTAN" UNDER GENERAL NOTE 3(B), WHICH ENUMERATES THOSE
COUNTRIES WHOSE PRODUCTS ARE SUBJECT TO DUTY RATES SET FORTH IN
RATES OF DUTY COLUMN 2 OF THE TARIFF SCHEDULE. THIS CHANGE IS
EFFECTIVE ON OR AFTER JUNE 6, 2002.
THE AUTOMATED COMMERCIAL SYSTEM HAS BEEN UPDATED TO REFLECT THE
ABOVE REFERENCED MODIFICATIONS. THEREFORE, ABI ENTRIES MAY BE
FILED FOR PRODUCTS OF AFGHANISTAN WITH PAYMENT OF DUTIES AS SET
FORTH IN RATES OF DUTY COLUMN 1-GENERAL SUBCOLUMN, HTS, ENTERED, OR
WITHDRAWN FROM WAREHOUSE FOR CONSUMPTION ON OR AFTER JUNE 6, 2002.
COPIES OF THIS MEMORANDUM SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO PORT DIRECTORS;
ASSISTANT PORT DIRECTORS, TRADE; IMPORT AND ENTRY SPECIALISTS;
INSPECTORS; BROKERS; IMPORTERS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES.
QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS NOTICE FROM THE IMPORTING COMMUNITY
SHOULD BE REFERRED TO THEIR LOCAL CUSTOMS PORT. THE CUSTOMS
PORT OF ENTRY MAY REFER QUESTIONS TO ARLENE LUGO, TRADE AGREEMENTS
BRANCH AT (202) 927-4183, VIA CC:MAIL.
/SIGNED/
ELIZABETH G.DURANT
CC: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FIELD OPERATIONS