Chapter 62, Statistical Note 4 Revised (Used for China Ski/Snowboard Pant Quota Exemption)
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sources, a revised version of Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) Chapter 62, Statistical Note 4 - which is used for the China ski/snowboard pants quota exemption -appears in the April 1, 20061 HTS, and a slightly different version will be in the July 1, 20061 HTS.
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(China origin ski/snowboard pants that meet the terms of Statistical Note 4 are exempt from the U.S. quota imposed on China cat 647/648.)
The April 1, 2006 amendment of Note 4 appears to have been a substantive revision, while the July 1, 2006 amendment appears to be more clerical in nature. U.S. government sources state that the April 1, 2006 amendment to Note 4 provides clarification of issues that may have previously been subject to interpretation.
July 1, 2006 Version of Note 4
According to trade sources, the July 1, 2006 version of HTS Chapter 62, Statistical Note 4 will be the 'April 1, 2006 version' but corrected for clerical errors. Sources at the International Trade Commission (ITC) indicate that the July 1st version of the note will read as follows:
"For the purpose of statistical reporting numbers 6203.43.3510, 6204.63.3010, 6210.40.5031, and 6210.50.5031, the term "ski/snowboard pants" means ankle-length pants made of synthetic fabrics, with or without insulation for cold weather protection, with pockets, at least one of which has a zippered or hook and loop closure, sealed seams at the front (up to the zipper or other means of closure) and back rise, hidden leg sleeves with a means of tightening at the ankle, and with one or more of the following: side opening, scuff guards or reinforcement in the seat. A sealed seam is one that is sealed by means of taping, gluing, bonding, cementing, fusing or similar process so that air and water cannot pass through."
(The April 1, 2006 version, which appears to contain certain clerical errors, reads:
For the purpose of subheadings 6203.43.35.10, 6204.63.3010, 6210.40.5031, and 6210.50.5031, the term "ski/snowboard pants" means ankle-length pants made of synthetic fabrics, with or without insulation for cold weather protection, with pockets, at least one of which has a zippered or hook and loop closure, sealed seams at the front (up to the zipper or other means of closure) and back rise, hidden leg sleeves with a means of tightening at the ankle, and with one or more of the following: side openings, scuff guards or reinforcement in the seat. A sealed seam in one that is one is that is sealed by means of taping, gluing, bonding, cementing, fusing or similar process so that air and water cannot pass through.")
Prior to the April 1, 2006 revision, Statistical Note 4 of the 2006 HTS read as follows:
For the purpose of subheadings 6203.43.35.10, 6204.63.3010, 6210.40.5031, and 6210.50.5031, the term "ski/snowboard pants" means ankle-length pants made of synthetic fabrics, with or without insulation for cold weather protection, with zippered or hook and loop enclosed pockets, sealed seams and hidden elastic leg sleeves, and with one or more of the following: side openings, scuff guards or reinforcement in the seat. A sealed seam is one that has been covered, on the back side of the fabric, with tape or a coating to "bridge" the seam so that air and water cannot pass through. The tape or coating may be applied using heat and/or pressure.)
1U.S. government sources have stated that these amendments were the result of changes approved by the Committee for Statistical Annotation of Tariff Schedule (formulated pursuant to section 484(f) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended).
Also, the March 1, 2006 version of the 2006 HTS is noted as (Rev. 1), while the April 1, 2006 version of the 2006 HTS is noted as (Rev. 2).
(See ITT's Online Archives or 02/16/06 news, 06021615, for BP summary of CBP FAQ on China's agreed quotas, including details on ski/snowboard pants.)
Amended Statistical Note 4 available by email, by emailing documents@brokerpower.com