Country of Origin Marking Rules for Textiles and Textile Products Advanced in Value, Improved in Condition, or Assembled Abroad

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

Country of Origin Marking Rules for Textiles and Textile Products

Advanced in Value, Improved in Condition, or Assembled Abroad

AGENCY: U.S. Customs Service; Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Proposed interpretation; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On June 15, 1998, a document was published in the Federal

Register advising the public that Customs is proposing a new

interpretation concerning the country of origin rules for certain

imported textile and textile products. Customs proposed that 19 CFR

12.130(c) should not control for purposes of country of origin marking

of textile and textile products, and that Chapter 98, Subchapter II,

U.S. Note 2(a), Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States does

not apply for country of origin marking purposes. The document

solicited comments, requesting that comments be received on or before

August 14, 1998. A document extending the period of time until

September 30, 1998, for interested members of the public to submit

comments on the proposal was published in the Federal Register on July

24, 1998. This document further extends the comment period.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 18, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be addressed to, and inspected at, the

Regulations Branch, Office of Regulations and Rulings, U.S. Customs

Service, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20229.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Monika Brenner, Special Classification

and Marking Branch, Office of Regulations and Rulings, (202) 927-1675.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

A document was published in the Federal Register (63 FR 32697) on

June 15, 1998, advising the public that Customs is proposing a new

interpretation concerning the country of origin rules for certain

imported textile and textile products. Customs proposed that 19 CFR

12.130(c) should not control for purposes of country of origin marking

of textile and textile products, and that Chapter 98, Subchapter II,

U.S. Note 2(a), Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States does

not apply for country of origin marking purposes. The document

solicited comments, requesting that comments be received on or before

August 14, 1998.

On July 24, 1998, Customs published a document in the Federal

Register (63 FR 39931) extending the comment period until September 30,

1998.

Customs has now received a request to further extend the comment

period to allow interested parties to have more time to consider the

proposal and to explore how the proposed changes may impact the FTC

rules on ``Made in USA''. Customs believes the request for more time

has merit. Accordingly, the period of time for submission of comments

is being extended until December 18, 1998.

All comments submitted will be available for public inspection in

accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), section

1.4, Treasury Department Regulations (31 CFR 1.4) and Sec. 103.11(b),

Customs Regulations (19 CFR 103.11(b)), between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

on normal business days at the address stated above.

Dated: September 25, 1998.

Stuart P. Seidel,

Assistant Commissioner, Office of Regulations and Rulings.

[FR Doc. 98-26210 Filed 9-29-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4820-02-P