ADVISORY

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS
Subcommittee on Trade

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Contact: (202) 225-6649
December 22, 1997
No. TR-19

Crane Announces Request for Written Comments on Additional Miscellaneous Trade and Tariff Legislation

    Congressman Philip M. Crane (R-IL), Chairman, Subcommittee on Trade of the Committee on Ways and Means, today announced that the Subcommittee is requesting written public comments for the record from all parties interested in additional technical corrections to recent trade legislation and miscellaneous trade and tariff proposals.

BACKGROUND:

    During the 105th Congress, a number of technical amendments have been proposed to facilitate the implementation of major trade legislation passed during the 103rd and 104th Congresses, including the North American Free Trade Agreements Implementation Act (P.L. 103-182), the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (P.L. 103-465), and the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-295).

    On June 30, 1997, Chairman Crane requested written public comments from parties interested in technical corrections to U.S. trade laws, and legislation introduced by Members to provide temporary suspensions of duty for specific products (TR-10). The request for comments included all such bills introduced by Members to that date during the 105th Congress.

    In response to Chairman Crane's request, the Subcommittee prepared a draft bill, including those provisions which were non-controversial and revenue neutral based on the public comments, Administration review, and estimates by the Congressional Budget Office. The provisions also reflected technical comments by the U.S. International Trade Commission and revisions proposed by the Administration. On October 7, 1997, Chairman Crane introduced H.R. 2622, the "Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 1997." The Committee reported H.R. 2622 to the House on October 31, 1997 (H. Rept. 105-367).

    Chairman Crane is requesting submission of written comments on additional proposals to amend U.S. trade law and on legislation introduced to provide temporary suspensions of duty or other duty changes for specific products. This request for written comments includes all such bills introduced by Members after June 30, 1997, and before the end of the First Session of the 105th Congress.

PROPOSED MISCELLANEOUS TRADE PROVISIONS, DUTY-SUSPENSION, DUTY- REDUCTION, AND DUTY-FREE ENTRY BILLS:

  1. H.R. 2148 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) by inserting a new heading for viscose rayon yarn, untwisted or with a twist not exceeding 120 turns/m (provided for in subheading 5403.31.00), except for medium-tenacity rayon filament yarn (2.8 to 4.1 grains per denier) manufactured solely for the purpose of carbonizing, and to provide a reduced duty of 7.5 percent through December 31, 1998.
  2. H.R. 2151 would amend the notes to chapters 61 and 62 of the HTS by adding at the end of each a new note to cover costumes and pieces or component thereof; and, amend note 1(e) of chapter 95 of the HTS by inserting a provision for costumes, and pieces or components thereof.
  3. H.R. 2236 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for Irganox 1520 (CAS No. 110553-27-0) (provided for in subheading 2930.90.29) as duty free through December 31, 1999.
  4. H.R. 2237 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for Irganox 1425 (CAS No. 65140-9-2) (provided for in subheading 2931.00.30) as duty free through December 31, 1999.
  5. H.R. 2238 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for Irganox 565 (CAS No. 991-84-4) (provided for in subheading 2933.69.60) as duty free through December 31, 1999.
  6. H.R. 2239 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for Irganox 1520LR (provided for in subheading 3812.30.60) as duty free through December 31, 1999.
  7. H.R. 2240 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for Irgacure 184 (CAS No. 947-19-3) (provided for in subheading 2914.40.40) as duty free through December 31, 1999.
  8. H.R. 2241 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for Darocure 1173 (CAS No. 7473-98-5) (provided for in subheading 2914.40.40) as duty free through December 31, 1999.
  9. H.R. 2242 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for Irgacure 819 (CAS No. 162881-26-7) (provided for in subheading 2931.00.30) as duty free through December 31, 1999.
  10. H.R. 2243 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for Irgacure 369 (CAS No. 119313-12-1) (provided for in subheading 2934.90.39) as duty free through December 31, 1999.
  11. H.R. 2244 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for Irgacure 1700 (provided for in subheading 3815.90.50) as duty free through December 31, 1999.
  12. H.R. 2245 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for Irgacor 252LD (CAS No. 95154-01-1) (provided for in subheading 2934.20.40) as duty free through December 31, 1999.
  13. H.R. 2246 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for Irgacor 1405 (CAS No. 171054-89-0) (provided for in subheading 2934.90.39) as duty free through December 31, 1999.
  14. H.R. 2268 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for 2-amino-4-(4-aminobenzoylamino)-benzenesulfonic acid sodium salt (CAS No. 167614-37-1) (provided for in subheading 2930.90.29) as duty free through December 31, 2000.
  15. H.R. 2269 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for 2,3-xylenesulfonamide, 5-amino-N-(2-hydroxyethyl) (CAS No. 25797-78-8) (provided for in subheading 2935.00.95) as duty free through December 31, 2000.
  16. H.R. 2270 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for 3-amino-2'-(sulfato-ethylsulfonyl) ethyl benzamide (CAS No. 121315-20-6) (provided for in subheading 2930.90.29) as duty free through December 31, 2000.
  17. H.R. 2271 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for 5-Nitro-2-thiazolamine (CAS No. 121-66-4) (provided for in subheading 2934.10.10) as duty free through December 31, 2000.
  18. H.R. 2287 would apply rates of duty effective after December 31, 1994, to certain water-resistant wool trousers (provided in subheadings 6203.41.05 or 6204.61.10) that were entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, after December 31, 1988, and before January 1, 1995.
  19. H.R. 2322 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for the organo-phosphorus compound ACM (CAS No. 167004-78-6) (provided for in subheading 2931.00.90.30) as duty free through December 31, 1999.
  20. H.R. 2324 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for the synthetic organic coloring matter C.I. Pigment Yellow 109 (CAS No. 106276-79-3) (provided for in subheading 3204.17.04) as duty free through December 31, 1999.
  21. H.R. 2325 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for the synthetic organic coloring matter C.I. Pigment Yellow 110 (CAS No. 106276-80-6) (provided for in subheading 3204.17.04) as duty free through December 31, 1999.
  22. H.R. 2326 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for the organic chemical para-chlorobenzonitrile (CAS No. 623-03-0) (provided for in subheading 2926.90.14) as duty free through December 31, 1999.
  23. H.R. 2334 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for ferroboron (provided for in subheading 7202.99.50) as duty free through December 31, 2000.
  24. H.R. 2336 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for woven fabric, suitable for making industrial and automotive power transmission and timing belts, containing 75 percent or more, by weight, of filaments of polyamides or aromatic polyamides, scoured and heat set and of any weight and having warp or fill stretch properties greater than 75 percent at break (provided for in subheading 5407.41.00) to provide most-favored-nation (MFN) duty rate of 6.7 percent ad valorem through December 31, 2000.
  25. H.R. 2339 would amend the tariff classification of nuclear fuel assemblies by adding a new note to chapter 84 of the HTS to stipulate that subheading 8401.30.00 applies only to fuel rods which are collected into bundles to form fuel assemblies. In addition, the bill would amend the classification of enriched uranium compound shipped abroad and converted into sintered, enriched uranium dioxide pellets and then inserted into zirconium alloy tubing sealed by the means of plugs, which are welded into either end. The provision would be retroactive to January 15, 1996, for eligible goods classified under HTS subheadings 2844.20.00 and 8109.90.00, pursuant to Additional U.S. Note 3 to chapter 84 as added by the bill.
  26. H.R. 2498 would amend the HTS to extend to certain fine jewelry certain trade benefits of insular possessions of the United States under the Production Incentive Certificate program.
  27. H.R. 2520 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for halofenozide (CAS. No. 112226-61-6) (provided for in subheading 2928.00.25) as duty free through December 31, 2000.
  28. H.R. 2521 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for anion exchange resins based on copolymers of phenol/formaldehyde in primary form (provided for in subheading 3914.00.60) as duty free through December 31, 2000.
  29. H.R. 2576 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for -Bromo--nitrostyrene (CAS No. 7166-19-0) (provided for in subheading 2904.90.47) as duty free through December 31, 2000.
  30. H.R. 2583 would amend section 304 of the Tariff Act of 1930 to provide an exemption to the country-of-origin marking requirements for golf club components that are imported for processing into finished golf clubs in the United States; and golf clubs that are produced in the United States.
  31. H.R. 2686 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for beta hydroxyalkylamide (CAS No. 6334-25-4) (provided for in subheading 3824.90.90) as duty free through December 31, 2000.
  32. H.R. 2770 would amend the Tariff Act of 1930 by inserting a new section 484b to provide that large yachts which would otherwise be dutiable, may be imported without the payment of duty if imported with the intention of offer for sale at a boat show in the United States. Payment of duty would be deferred until such a large yacht is sold.
  33. H.R. 2771 would amend Additional U.S. Note 5 to chapter 17 of the HTS relating to the definition of raw value for purposes of the raw sugar import tariff-rate quota.
  34. H.R. 2857 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for 2,6-Dimethyl-m-Dioxan-4-ol Acetate (CAS No. 000828-00-2) (provided for in subheading 2932.99.90) as duty free through December 31, 2000.
  35. H.R. 2899 would amend chapter 87 of the HTS by inserting a new subheading with the article description for subheading 8714.97.00 for bicycle wheel assemblies consisting of rim, carbon-fiber spokes, and hub flange assembled in one piece, or the above plus a rear freewheel/free hub, to provide an MFN duty rate of 1.5 percent ad valorem.
  36. H.R. 3083 would amend subchapter II of chapter 99 of the HTS by inserting a new heading for Grilamid TR90 (CAS. No. 163800-66-6) provided for in subheading 3908.90.70) as duty free through December 31, 1999.

DETAILS FOR SUBMISSIONS OF REQUESTS TO BE HEARD:

    Any person or organization wishing to submit a written statement for the printed record should submit at least six (6) single-space legal-size copies of their statement, along with an IBM compatible 3.5-inch diskette in ASCII DOS Text or WordPerfect 5.1 format only, with their name, address, and hearing date noted on a label, by the close of business, Monday, January 26, 1998, to A.L. Singleton, Chief of Staff, Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives, 1102 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515.

FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS:

    Each statement presented for printing to the Committee by a witness, any written statement or exhibit submitted for the printed record or any written comments in response to a request for written comments must conform to the guidelines listed below. Any statement or exhibit not in compliance with these guidelines will not be printed, but will be maintained in the Committee files for review and use by the Committee.

    1. All statements and any accompanying exhibits for printing must be typed in single space on legal-size paper and may not exceed a total of 10 pages including attachments. At the same time written statements are submitted to the Committee, witnesses are now requested to submit their statements on an IBM compatible 3.5-inch diskette in ASCII DOS or WordPerfect 5.1 format. Witnesses are advised that the Committee will rely on electronic submissions for printing the official hearing record.

    2. Copies of whole documents submitted as exhibit material will not be accepted for printing. Instead, exhibit material should be referenced and quoted or paraphrased. All exhibit material not meeting these specifications will be maintained in the Committee files for review and use by the Committee.

    3. A witness appearing at a public hearing, or submitting a statement for the record of a public hearing, or submitting written comments in response to a published request for comments by the Committee, must include on his statement or submission a list of all clients, persons, or organizations on whose behalf the witness appears.

    4. A supplemental sheet must accompany each statement listing the name, full address, a telephone number where the witness or the designated representative may be reached and a topical outline or summary of the comments and recommendations in the full statement. This supplemental sheet will not be included in the printed record.

    The above restrictions and limitations apply only to material being submitted for printing. Statements and exhibits or supplementary material submitted solely for distribution to the Members, the press and the public during the course of a public hearing may be submitted in other forms.