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ITC Delays Report on Modifying HTS to Make Certain Festive Apparel, Etc. Duty-Free

The International Trade Commission has delayed the due date for its report on modifying the Harmonized Tariff Schedule for certain festive articles to December 13, 2010 (from November 29, 2010). The delay will allow the ITC more time to complete the report, including its recommendations.

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(In September 2010, ITC instituted an investigation into U.S. Customs and Border Protection's request to add a new Chapter 98 U.S. note and amend certain Chapter 98 tariff numbers in order to provide duty-free treatment to certain utilitarian articles (including apparel) 1 that incorporate a festive design, decoration, emblem or motif. The ITC had proposed that the President implement CBP's requested changes, with one further clarifying change. Comments were due by October 22.

Currently, certain utilitarian articles with festive designs and/or motifs are excluded from duty-free treatment in HTS Chapter 95 by note 1(V) to that chapter.)

1The affected articles are tableware, kitchenware (except baking pans, cookie cutters, cookie stamps and presses) and toilet articles of chapter 39, 69 or 70; carpets and other textile floor coverings of chapter 57; apparel and accessories of chapter 61 or 62; and made-up textile articles of chapter 63.

ITC Contact: David Beck -- (202) 205-2603 or david.beck@usitc.gov

(See ITT’s Online Archives or 09/19/10 news, 10091902, for BP summary of ITC announcing this investigation and for additional details on this issue.)