CBP Implements "Certificate of Eligibility" Requirement for Nicaragua Apparel TPL Effective July 1, 2006
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a notice announcing that effective July 1, 2006, it is implementing a Certificate of Eligibility requirement for the CAFTA-DR Tariff Preference Level (TPL) provided for in HTS Chapter 99, Subchapter XV, U.S. Note 15, for certain Nicaragua apparel.
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Original Certificate of Eligibility Required When Making the TPL Claim
According to CBP, the original Certificate of Eligibility must be submitted to CBP when making the CAFTA-DR TPL claim for subject Nicaragua apparel. CBP states that the first number of the certificate must match the year of presentation, followed by the ISO code "NI" followed by a unique alpha/numeric number. For example, a 2006 certificate, i.e. 6NI123456, must accompany merchandise entered in 2006.
ABI Transmission of the Certificate of Eligibility Number Not Available at This Time
As this is a new requirement, CBP states that ABI transmission of the certificate of eligibility number is not available at this time. Filers can file ABI and manually include the certificate of eligibility number on the CF-7501. CBP states that its field personnel will manually input the certificate number in the certificate field of the QSUP screen.
Once programming is completed, the ports and the trade community will be notified.
(According to CBP this Certificate of Eligibility requirement is being implemented at the request of the government of Nicaragua.)
(See ITT's Online Archives or 04/27/06 news, 06042705, for BP summary stating that ACS programming has been completed for the CAFTA-DR. See ITT's Online Archives or 04/10/06 news, 06041010, for BP's summary of the update on CBP's notice on the CAFTA-DR TPL for Nicaragua Cotton/MMF apparel.)
CBP QBT-06-018, dated 06/16/06, available at: http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/qbts/qbt2006/06_018.ctt/06_018.doc