U.S. Extends Normal Trade Relations (Including Column 1 Duty Rates) to Laos Effective February 4, 2005
The Office of U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a Federal Register notice announcing that on September 18, 2003, the United States and Laos signed a trade agreement obligating reciprocal normal trade relations (NTR) treatment between Laos and the United States.
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The USTR states that this trade agreement entered into force on February 4, 2005 (the effective date of this Federal Register notice).
As a result, products of Laos entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after February 4, 2005, are granted NTR treatment by the U.S., including the lower Column 1 rates of duty. The USTR adds that products of the U.S. will also receive reciprocal NTR treatment by Laos as of February 4, 2005.
(This change in status is due a provision in the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-429) which deleted Laos from HTS General Note 3(b) (Rate of Duty Column 2) on/after the effective date published in the Federal Register. )
ACS Has Been Updated to Reflect the February 4, 2005 Effective Date
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an administrative message to all ABI brokers stating that the country code file for Laos has been updated to indicate that Laos is eligible for Column 1 duty rates, effective February 4, 2005.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 12/28/04 news, 04122805 for BP summary of notice on Laos NTR effective date. See ITT's Online Archives or 11/01/04 news, 04110115 for BP summary of the Laos NTR provision in P.L. 108-429.)
USTR Contact: Elena Bryan (202) 395-6813
USTR Notice (FR Pub 02/11/05), available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-2723.pdf.
CBP Admin 05-0148 (dated 02/09/05) available at http://www.brokerpower.com/cgi-bin/adminsearch/admmsg.view.pl?article=2005/2005-0148.ADM