CSMS Message: 95-000759

TO : ALL ABI BROKERS.

FROM : LISA CROSBY

SUBJECT : GSP-AMENDMENTS

DATE : 08/01/95

5213071
AUGUST 1, 1995

CATEGORY: GSP CO:TP LAC

TO : PORT DIRECTORS

FROM : DIRECTOR
TRADE COMPLIANCE DIVISION

RE : PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION 6813 OF JULY 28, 1995,
AMENDING THE GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES

PASS TO: IMPORT SPECIALISTS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES SUCH AS
BROKERS AND IMPORTERS

BACKGROUND:

PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNED PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION 6813 ON JULY
28, 1995, AMENDING THE GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES (GSP).
SOME OF THESE CHANGES TOOK EFFECT BEFORE EXPIRATION OF THE GSP AT
MIDNIGHT ON JULY 31, 1995. OTHER AMENDMENTS ARE EFFECTIVE AFTER
EXPIRATION OF THE GSP. NONETHELESS, THESE AMENDMENTS REMAIN
IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY DEFINE WHAT BENEFITS WILL BE AVAILABLE
SHOULD THE GSP BE RE-AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS.

ACTION:

1. A) EFFECTIVE WITH RESPECT TO ARTICLES ENTERED OR WITHDRAWN
FROM WAREHOUSE FOR CONSUMPTION ON OR AFTER JULY 31, 1995,
THE RATES OF DUTY 1-SPECIAL SUBCOLUMN FOR HTS SUBHEADINGS
0713.31.40, 1102.30.00, 1103.14.00, 4104.39.20, 7113.11.50,
7113.20.50, 9401.40.00, 9401.61.60, 9401.69.80, 9403.30.80,
9403.40.90, 9403.50.90 ARE MODIFIED BY DELETING THE SYMBOL
"A " IN PARENTHESES, AND BY INSERTING THE SYMBOL "A" IN LIEU
THEREOF.

B) AS A CONFORMING CHANGE, GENERAL NOTE 4(D) TO THE HTS IS
MODIFIED BY DELETING THE FOLLOWING FROM SUCH NOTE:
"0713.31.40 THAILAND", "1102.30.00 THAILAND", "1103.14.00
THAILAND", "4104.39.20 THAILAND", "7113.11.50 THAILAND",
"7113.20.50 THAILAND", "9401.40.00 THAILAND", "9401.61.60
THAILAND", "9401.69.80 THAILAND", "9403.30.80 THAILAND",
"9403.40.90 THAILAND", "9403.50.90 THAILAND".

C) SINCE THE ABOVE AMENDMENTS TOOK EFFECT ON JULY 31, 1995
AND SINCE THE GSP DID NOT EXPIRE UNTIL MIDNIGHT ON JULY 31,
1995, THE NET EFFECT OF THESE AMENDMENTS WAS TO AUTHORIZE
DUTY-FREE TREATMENT FOR THESE GOODS FOR ONE DAY. (OF
COURSE, THESE AMENDMENTS WILL BE SIGNIFICANT IF THE GSP IS
RE-AUTHORIZED.) IMPORTERS OF THAI GOODS CLASSIFIED IN THE
ABOVE PROVISIONS THAT WERE ENTERED ON JULY 31, 1995, MAY
HAVE FILED THEIR ENTRY SUMMARIES AS DUTIABLE BECAUSE THEY
WERE UNAWARE OF THESE CHANGES. IF SO, THESE IMPORTERS MAY
WRITE TO THE PORT DIRECTOR AT THE APPROPRIATE PORT OF ENTRY
REQUESTING THAT THE AFFECTED ENTRY SUMMARIES BE LIQUIDATED
AS FREE OF DUTY. GOODS THAT WERE ENTERED AFTER JULY 31,
1995, MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR DUTY-FREE ENTRY IF THE GSP IS
RENEWED RETROACTIVELY BY CONGRESS. THEREFORE, THESE
IMPORTERS MAY ALSO WISH TO WRITE TO THE APPROPRIATE PORT
DIRECTORS, IDENTIFYING THE AFFECTED ENTRY SUMMARIES, AND
REQUESTING THAT THEY BE LIQUIDATED AS DUTY-FREE IF THE GSP
IS RENEWED RETROACTIVELY. NORMAL PROTEST RIGHTS ARE ALSO
AVAILABLE AS A MEANS TO CORRECT ANY INCORRECT DUTY RATES.

D) EVEN THOUGH THE GSP IS EXPIRED, IMPORTERS OF THAI GOODS
CLASSIFIED IN THE ABOVE PROVISIONS MAY BEGIN TRANSMITTING
THE SPECIAL PROGRAM INDICATOR "A" AS A PREFIX TO THE TARIFF
NUMBER FOR FUTURE IMPORTATIONS OF THESE GOODS. USE OF THE
SPECIAL PROGRAM INDICATOR CONSTITUTES THE IMPORTER'S REQUEST
FOR A REFUND SHOULD THE GSP BE RENEWED RETROACTIVELY.

2. EFFECTIVE WITH RESPECT TO ARTICLES ENTERED OR WITHDRAWN FROM
WAREHOUSE FOR CONSUMPTION ON OR AFTER SEPTEMBER 29, 1995,
GENERAL NOTE 4 TO THE HTS, LISTING THOSE COUNTRIES WHOSE
PRODUCTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS OF THE GSP, IS MODIFIED
BY DELETING "MALDIVES" FROM THE LIST OF INDEPENDENT
COUNTRIES IN GENERAL NOTE 4(A), AND DELETING "MALDIVES" FROM
THE LIST OF LEAST-DEVELOPED BENEFICIARY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
IN GENERAL NOTE 4(B).

3. EFFECTIVE WITH RESPECT TO ARTICLES ENTERED OR WITHDRAWN FROM
WAREHOUSE FOR CONSUMPTION ON OR AFTER AUGUST 15, 1995,
GENERAL NOTE 4 TO THE HTS, LISTING THOSE COUNTRIES WHOSE
PRODUCTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS OF THE GSP, IS MODIFIED
BY INSERTING "MOLDOVA" IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER IN THE LIST OF
INDEPENDENT COUNTRIES IN GENERAL NOTE 4(A).

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS NOTICE MAY BE REFERRED TO CAROL
ARGENTINE AT 202-927-0021 OR LISA CROSBY AT 202-927-0163.

PHILIP METGZER