Singapore 2011 TPL for Cotton/MMF Apparel Announced
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a memorandum announcing the 2011 U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SFTA) tariff preference level for certain cotton or man-made fiber (MMF) apparel goods, or apparel goods subject to cotton or MMF restraints, the foregoing that are both cut (or knit-to-shape) and sewn or otherwise assembled in Singapore from fabric or yarn produced or obtained outside the territory of Singapore or of the U.S. (“third country”).
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This TPL is provided for in HTS Chapter 99, Subchapter X, U.S. Note 13 and allows subject apparel to be entered duty-free.
2011 TPL Limit is only 3,125,000 SME, Last Year of TPL
The 2011 Singapore FTA TPL is for the period of January 1 through December 31, 2011 and opens on Monday, January 3, 2011. The TPL limit for this time period is 3,125,000 square meters equivalent (SME).
CBP notes that "SG" should be used as the primary SPI indicator.
(Pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 7747 on the SFTA, this TPL covers subject apparel goods provided for in nearly 300 eight-digit HTS Chapters 61 and 62 tariff numbers, which are assigned variously to HTS subheadings 9910.61.01 through 9910.61.89. These duty rates have decreased each year, and became zero in 2008. In addition, the TPL quantities decrease each year, until it expires on December 31, 2011. See ITT’s Online Archives or 01/06/04 news, 04010605, for BP summary of the SFTA Proclamation.)
Certificate of Eligibility, eCERT Transmission Required
CBP notes that a valid preferential certificate of eligibility is required when making a TPL claim. An original certificate of eligibility will contain a stamp by the Director General of Singapore Customs in box 12 of the certificate. The certificate number must be transmitted in the certificate field and must be reflected in column 34 on the CBP Form 7501. An electronic certification (eCERT) transmission will be required from the Government of Singapore.
BP Note
As of November 8, 2010, the 2010 TPL for subject apparel from Singapore was 64.66% filled and was not estimated to close early.
(QBT-10-114, dated 11/10/10)