ITC Investigation on Waiving CNLs for Certain Cucumbers, Lithium Carbonates, Pneumatic Radial Tires, Etc.
The International Trade Commission (ITC) has instituted an investigation at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) entitled Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 2006 Review.
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.
A public hearing in connection with this investigation will be held on February 22, 2007 in Washington, DC. Letters of intent to appear at the public hearing are due by the close of business (COB, 5:15 p.m) on February 5, 2007. Pre-hearing statements and briefs are due by the COB on February 8, 2007. Post-hearing statements and briefs are due by the COB on February 27, 2007.
Impact of Waiving GSP CNLs for Certain Country/Tariff Number Combinations
As requested by the USTR, the ITC will provide advice on whether any U.S. industry is likely to be adversely affected by a waiver of the competitive need limits (CNLs) for the following country/Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) tariff number combinations:
| Country | HTS tariff number | Description (See HTS for complete description) |
| India | 2001.10.00 | Cucumbers including gherkins, prepared or preserved by vinegar or acetic acid |
| Argentina | 2836.91.00 | Lithium carbonates |
| Thailand | 4011.20.10 | New pneumatic radial tires, of kind used on buses or trucks |
| India | 5703.10.20 | Hand-hooked carpets and other textile floor coverings, tufted, whether or not made up of wool or fine animal hair |
| Argentina | 7209.99.20 | Calcium silicon ferroalloys |
| Brazil | 7403.11.00 | Refined copper cathodes and sections of cathodes |
| Brazil | 7408.11.60 | Refined copper wire with maximum cross-sectional dimension over 6 mm but not over 9.5 mm |
| India | 8528.12.80 | Color television reception apparatus, other than those with a video display diagonal not over 34.29 cm, incorporating a video recording or reproducing apparatus |
According to the ITC, the USTR has also requested that this advice include the effect of such waivers on consumers.
Subject merchandise is currently GSP-eligible The above-listed country/tariff number combinations are all currently eligible for GSP duty-free benefits. However, if they exceed the CNLs, they will lose their GSP benefits unless they receive a CNL waiver.
ITC Will Provide its Advice in the Form of Reports No Later Than April 11, 2007
The ITC states that it will provide its advice to the USTR no later than April 11, 2007. The ITC will issue two reports: one to the USTR that includes classified information and a public version of the report (will exclude portions of the report that the USTR has classified as confidential as well as any confidential business information).
(See ITT's Online Archives or 01/18/07 news, 07011810, for BP summary of the USTR announcing that it accepted these petitions for review. See ITT's Online Archives or 11/07/06 news, 06110705, for list of 154 products that could lose GSP benefits effective July 1, 2007 (Argentina: 2836.91.00 and India: 8528.12.80 are on the list).
See ITT's Online Archives or 12/21/06 news, 06122100, for BP summary of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (Public Law (P.L.) 109-432), which extended GSP for non-AGOA countries to December 31, 2008 and tightened CNL waivers.
See ITT's Online Archives or 12/22/06 news, 06122205, for BP summary announcing that certain goods from India, Thailand, and Brazil, etc. may lose GSP due to new CNL rules.)
- Letters of intent to appear at the public hearing are due by the COB on February 5, 2007. Pre-hearing statements and briefs are due by the COB. on February 8, 2007. Post-hearing statements and briefs are due by the COB on February 27, 2007.
| Cynthia Foreso | (investigation aspects) | (202) 205-3348 |
| William Gearhart | (legal aspects) | (202) 205-3091 |
ITC Notice, including all dates and deadlines, (Inv. No. 332-483, FR Pub 01/26/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-1283.pdf