2012 DR-CAFTA TPLs for Costa Rica Wool Apparel/Swimsuits Announced
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a memorandum on the 2012 duty-free DR-CAFTA1 tariff preference level (TPL) for certain non-originating Costa Rica apparel of wool or subject to wool restraints and mastectomy swimsuits, as provided for in HTS Chapter 99, Subchapter XV, U.S. Notes 16 and 17.
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The following 2012 Costa Rica TPLs opened on January 3, 2012 for the January 1 through December 31, 2012 period:
TPLs for Tailored Apparel of Wool or Subject to Wool Restraints
There are two TPLs for wool apparel goods that are both (1) cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of Costa Rica and (2) meet all applicable conditions for preferential tariff treatment set forth in HTS General Note 29 (other than that they are originating goods), provided that such goods comply with the requirements set forth in Chapter Rules 1, 3, 4 and 5 of General Note 29(n) for Chapter 62.
Tailored apparel/wool restraints. The TPL for tailored apparel of wool or subject to wool restraints is 500,000 square meter equivalents (SME). Goods subject to the TPL should be entered under HTS subheading 9915.62.05.
Tailored apparel of wool fabric. The TPL for tailored apparel of wool made from certain wool fabrics is 500,000 SME. Goods subject to the TPL should be entered under HTS subheading 9915.62.15.
Goods that quality for both TPLs. Goods that qualify for both of these TPLs shall be imported under and counted first toward the TPL for tailored wool apparel (9915.62.15), until that limit is reached; and then shall be imported under and counted toward the tailored apparel/wool restraints TPL (9915.62.05), provided the additional requirements in Chapter Rules 1, 3, 4 and 5 of General Note 29(n) for Chapter 62 are also met.
Ensembles. Whenever goods are classified under this provision as ensembles in combination with an ensemble provision in HTS Chapter 61 or 62, the reporting HTS number shall be for the specific component apparel article in the ensemble, as opposed to the ensemble HTS number. Each specific apparel article in the ensemble must be classified separately with the appropriate HTS Chapter 61 or 62 provision, in combination with 9915.62.05 or 9915.62.15.
TPL for Mastectomy Swimsuits
The TPL limit for certain women’s knitted or crocheted swimwear (provided for in subheading 6112.41.00 or 6112.49.00) specially designed to accommodate post-mastectomy breast prostheses, that are both cut or knit to shape and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of Costa Rica and meet the applicable conditions for preferential tariff treatment set forth in HTS General Note 29 (other than that they be originating goods), is 119,102 SME.
Goods subject to this TPL should be entered under HTS subheading 9915.61.03 or 9915.61.04.
(As of December 27, 2011, the 2011 TPL had the following fill rates: (1) tailored apparel/wool restraints were 15.92% filled; (2) tailored apparel of wool fabric was 10.48% filled; and (3) Mastectomy swimsuits were 0.00% filled.)
1U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement
(QBT-11-581, dated 12/22/11)