Visa and Certificate of Origin/Eligibility Numbers for the Singapore FTA TPL for Certain Cotton/MMF Apparel
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice regarding the visa and Certificate of Origin/Eligibility numbers for the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement's (SFTA's) tariff preference level (TPL) for certain cotton or man-made fiber (MMF) apparel.
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According to CBP, the SFTA requires a valid preferential Certificate of Origin/Eligibility when making an apparel TPL claim. Singapore apparel that was previously subject to visa/quota restrictions will continue to be subject to those visa/quota restrictions when making a TPL claim.
For TPL Apparel Subject to Quota, Certificate and Visa Will Have Same Number
CBP states that merchandise that is eligible for the TPL and subject to absolute quota will require a Certificate of Origin/Eligibility and an Electronic Visa Information System (ELVIS) visa transmission. CBP states that in such cases, both the certificate and visa will have the same number.
(Singapore has been subject to paperless ELVIS since January 1, 1998. As a result, the requirement for a paper visa has been eliminated, but an ELVIS transmission, with certain information like the visa number, category, quantity, etc., is required.)
(See ITT's Online Archives or 02/26/04 news, 04022640 1, for BP summary of CBP notice announcing the availability of ABI processing for the Singapore TPL effective February 23, 2004. See ITT's Online Archives or 01/06/04 news, 04010610, for BP summary of CBP notices on the SFTA "3rd country" TPL.)
CBP contact - Christine DeRiso (202) 927-5385
CBP message (QBT-04-005, dated 02/25/04) available at
BP Notes
The SFTA apparel TPL applies to imports from Singapore of cotton or MMF apparel, or apparel subject to cotton or MMF restraints, the foregoing that are both cut (or knit-to-shape) and sewn or otherwise assembled in Singapore from fabric or yarn produced or obtained outside the territory of Singapore or of the U.S. ("3rd Country").
This TPL is a temporary provision provided in HTS Chapter 99 Subchapter X, U.S. Note 13 for the years 2004-2011, and is scheduled to decrease by 3,125,000 SME each successive year it is in place.
It covers apparel goods in 282 eight-digit HTS Chapters 61 and 62 tariff numbers, which are assigned variously, to one of 25 different duty rate subdivisions, as specified in HTS 9910.61.01 through 9910.61.89. (These duty rates also decrease each year, until they are zero in 2008).