USITC Investigates Proposed Modifications to the HTSUS Regarding Chemical Weapons

April 9, 2010: Publication of preliminary report on the USITC website
May 21, 2010: Deadline for public comments on preliminary report
June 25, 2010: Submission of final report to the President

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has proposed modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) to address the control and monitoring of materials in international trade that are capable of being used as chemical weapons or for the production of chemical weapons.

The US tariff system is based on the World Customs Organization's Harmonized Convention System. Like many countries around the globe, being a signatory to this Convention means that when the WCO directs a change, member countries - of which the US is one - must implement the changes into their nation's tariff. In this case, the WCO's recommendations are scheduled to become effective on January 1, 2012.

The USITC is preparing and making available a preliminary report and a final report setting forth the proposed changes to the HTSUS that will be needed to maintain conformity between the tariff and the WCO's Harmonized System, including appropriate explanatory information on the proposed changes. The public is invited to submit any comments until May 21, 2010.

The preliminary report will be forwarded to the President via the United States Trade Representative's office on or about April 9, 2010, and it will be made available for public inspection through the USITC's electronic docket (EDIS) and posted on the USITC website.

As described by the USITC, “the Harmonized System nomenclature provides a uniform structural basis for the customs tariffs and statistical nomenclatures of all major trading countries of the world, including the United States. The Harmonized System comprises the broadest principles of classification and levels of categories in the HTS, that is, the General Rules of Interpretation, Section and Chapter titles, Section and Chapter legal notes, and heading and subheading texts to the 6-digit level of detail. Additional U.S. notes, further subdivisions (8-digit subheadings and 10-digit statistical annotations) and statistical notes, as well as the entirety of chapters 98 and 99 and several appendixes, are national legal and statistical detail added for the administration of the U.S. tariff and statistical programs, and are not part of the international Harmonized System. The proposed changes included in this investigation are set out in a Recommendation promulgated by the World Customs Organization (WCO) on June 26, 2009, in order to update and clarify the international Harmonized System nomenclature.”

Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary, United States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. The USITC's electronic docket (EDIS) is where the public record for this collection of proposals may be viewed.

For more information, contact David Beck, Director, Office of Tariff Affairs and Trade Agreements (202-205-2603, fax 202-205-2616, david.beck@usitc.gov).

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