CBP Again Extends its Document Exams of Certain Knit-to-Shape Garments
According to U.S. government sources, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has again extended its document exams of certain entries of knit-to-shape garments in HTS 6110 which claim a country of origin other than China (i.e., the entry claims that the garment's panels are knit-to-shape in a country other than China and then sent to China to be linked and looped).
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
Sources explain that the first set of document exams began on May 10, 2004, the second set of document exams began during the week of June 14, 2004, and the third set of document exams began on July 12, 2004; all have lasted or are expected to last 30 days.
According to a Textile Development Memo issued by the United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA), and confirmed by U.S. government sources, the countries targeted in the first, second and third sets of these document exams (i.e., the country of origin listed on the knit-to-shape garments' label) are as follows:
- sup>st set - Fiji, Kazakhstan, New Zealand
- sup>nd set - Australia, Israel and Japan
- sup>rd set - Great Britain
(U.S. government sources have previously stated that CBP is conducting these document exams as it found evidence that quota is being circumvented in certain situations, with both the knitting-to-shape and the linking and looping occurring in China, without claiming China as the country of origin.
Sources have also previously stated that these documentation exams are being conducted on a nationwide basis.
For shipments of knit-to-shape garments that are detained, sources have previously stated that importers can expedite the exam process by being able to quickly respond to a CF 28 (Request for Information) with documentation indicating the movement of yarn to the knitter and the movement of knit panels to China. U.S. government sources also stated that such documentation should include commercial transportation and clearance documents (e.g., invoices and packing lists).)
(See ITT's Online Archives or 05/18/04 news, 04051810, and 06/15/04 news, 04061510 for BP summaries on 1st and 2nd sets of document exams.)
USA-ITA TDM (dated 07/16/04). www.usaita.com