From: Subject: FR Doc E8-25731 Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:17:06 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-25731.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3198 FR Doc E8-25731 
[Federal Register: October 30, 2008 (Volume 73, Number =
211)]
[Proposed Rules]              =20
[Page 64575-64576]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30oc08-20]                        =20

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

19 CFR Parts 4, 7, 10, 102, 134 and 177

[USCBP-2007-0100]
RIN 1505-AB49

=20
Uniform Rules of Origin for Imported Merchandise

AGENCIES: Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland=20
Security; Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; re-opening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document re-opens the period within which comments may be=20
submitted in response to the proposed rule to amend the Customs and=20
Border Protection (``CBP'') regulations to establish uniform rules=20
governing CBP determinations of the country of origin of imported=20
merchandise. The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on=20
July 25, 2008 (73 FR 43385) with comments due on or before September=20
23, 2008. The comment period was extended by a notice published in the=20
Federal Register on September 8, 2008 (73 FR 51962), to October 23,=20
2008. This notice re-opens the comment period to afford interested=20
parties an opportunity to consider the impact, if any, of the proposed=20
rule on the country of origin of their goods in view of the publication=20
of a final rule document in today's Federal Register which sets forth=20
technical corrections to Sec. Sec.  102.20 and 102.21 of the CBP=20
regulations (19 CFR 102.20 and 102.21).

DATES: Comments on the proposed rule must be received on or before=20
December 1, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number, by one=20
of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://fr=
webgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3D=
linklog&to=3Dhttp://www.regulations.gov.=20
Follow the instructions for submitting comments via docket number=20
USCBP-2007-0100.
     Mail: Trade and Commercial Regulations Branch, Regulations=20
and Rulings, Office of International Trade, U.S. Customs and Border=20
Protection, 799 9th Street, NW., 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20001-4501.
     Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency=20
name and docket number for this rulemaking. All comments received will=20
be posted without change to http://fr=
webgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3D=
linklog&to=3Dhttp://www.regulations.gov, including any=20
personal information provided. For detailed instructions on submitting=20
comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the=20
``Public Participation'' heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION=20
section of this document.
     Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or=20
comments received, go to http://fr=
webgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3D=
linklog&to=3Dhttp://www.regulations.gov. Submitted comments=20
may be inspected during regular business days between the hours of 9=20
a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Trade and Commercial Regulations Branch,=20
Regulations and Rulings, Office of International Trade, U.S. Customs=20
and Border Protection, 799 9th Street, NW., 5th Floor, Washington, DC=20
20001-4501. Arrangements to inspect submitted comments should be made=20
in advance by calling Mr. Joseph Clark at (202) 572-8768.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Monika Brenner, Valuation and Special=20
Programs, Office of International Trade, 202-572-8835; Heather K.=20
Pinnock, Tariff Classification and Marking, Office of International=20
Trade, 202-572-8828.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation

    Interested persons are invited to participate in this rulemaking by=20
submitting written data, views, or arguments on all aspects of the=20
proposed rule. CBP also invites comments that relate to the economic,=20
environmental, or federalism effects that might result from this=20
proposed rule. Comments that will provide the most assistance to CBP=20
will reference a specific portion of the proposed rule, explain the=20
reason for any recommended change, and include data, information, or=20
authority that support such recommended change. See ADDRESSES above for=20
information on how to submit comments.

Background

    CBP published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal=20
Register (73 FR 43385) on July 25, 2008, proposing to amend the CBP=20
regulations to establish uniform rules of origin for imported=20
merchandise. The proposed rule would extend application of the country=20
of origin rules codified in 19 CFR part 102. Those rules have proven to=20
be more objective and transparent and provide greater predictability in=20
determining the country of origin of imported merchandise than the=20
system of case-by-case adjudication they would replace. The proposed=20
change also will aid an importer's exercise of reasonable care. In=20
addition, the document proposes to amend the country of origin rules=20
applicable to pipe fitting and flanges, printed greeting cards, glass=20
optical fiber, and rice preparations. Finally, the proposed rule would=20
amend the textile regulations set forth in Sec.  102.21 to make=20
corrections so that the regulations reflect the language of section=20
334(b)(5) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.
    The notice of proposed rulemaking invited the public to comment on=20
the proposal. Comments on the proposed rule were requested on or before=20
September 23, 2008. In response to the proposed rule published in the=20
Federal Register, CBP received correspondence from several parties=20
requesting an extension of the comment period. In a notice published in=20
the Federal Register on September 8, 2008 (73 FR 51962), CBP provided=20
an additional 30 days for interested parties to submit comments on the=20
proposed rule until October 23, 2008.

Re-Opening of Comment Period

    As a result of modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of=20
the United States (HTSUS) in 2007, certain tariff provisions have been=20
added or removed, and certain goods have been transferred, for tariff=20
classification purposes, to different or newly-created provisions. CBP=20
is publishing a document in today's Federal Register which sets forth=20
technical corrections to Sec. Sec.  102.20 and 102.21 of the CBP=20
regulations (19 CFR 102.20 and 102.21) in order to align the=20
regulations with the current version of the HTSUS. The technical=20
corrections to the tariff shift rules set forth in that document will=20
enable parties to properly evaluate the impact, if any, of the proposed=20
rule on the country of origin of their goods. Accordingly, in order to=20
afford parties the opportunity to enhance their review of the proposed=20
rule and provide meaningful comment in light of the technical=20
corrections to Sec. Sec.  102.20 and 102.21, the decision has been made=20
to re-open the comment period on the proposed rule. Comments are now=20
due on or before December 1, 2008.


[[Page 64576]]


    Dated: October 23, 2008.
Harold M. Singer,
Director, Regulations and Disclosure Law Division, Regulations and=20
Rulings, Office of International Trade.
Timothy E. Skud,
Deputy Assistant Secretary (Tax, Trade and Tariff Policy), Office of=20
Tax Policy, United States Treasury Department.
[FR Doc. E8-25731 Filed 10-29-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 9111-14-P