CBP Announces GSP Treatment For Certified "Folklore" Wall Hangings and Pillow Covers from Argentina
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted a notice to its Web site stating that effective August 20, 2004, certain wall hangings of wool or fine animal hair, not knitted or crocheted (HTS 6304.99.10) and certain pillow covers of wool or fine animal hair (HTS 6304.99.40) that are entered or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after August 20, 2004 are eligible for Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) duty-free treatment provided that the proper GSP requirements are met.
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(CBP explains that the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has negotiated a GSP certified hand-loomed and folklore agreement with Argentina pursuant to Section XI, Additional U.S. Note (AUSN) 2 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS).)
According to CBP, importers who pay duties on these articles that are entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after August 20, 2004, can avail themselves of all the available post entry procedures with the exception of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) 520(d).
Certification for Each Shipment Will Be in the Form of a Triangular Stamp
According to CBP, the certification for each shipment will be in the form of a triangular stamp placed on the invoice. The stamp will include the following: (1) the name, signature, title and department of a government official authorized to issue the certification, (2) the date the certification was signed, and (3) a statement in English that the fabrics or products covered by this certification are either: hand-loomed fabrics of the cottage industry, hand-made cottage industry products made of hand loomed fabrics, or traditional handicraft textile products.
CBP states that the certification requirement may not be waived. If the certification is not provided at the time of entry, CBP states that the merchandise should be considered dutiable and classified in the alternative tariff schedule provisions for these products.
CBP notice (TBT-04-025, dated 08/10/04) available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/tbts/TBT2004/tbt_04_025.ctt/tbt_04_025.doc