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Ref: EIC 111/2/11
12 September 2011
Dear Sirs,
Commercial Information Circular No. 545/2011
Certificate of Origin Circular No. 9/2011
US : Final Rule on Rules of Origin applicable to Pipe Fittings and Flanges, Greeting Cards, Glass Optical Fiber and Rice Preparations
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued in the Federal Register (FR) of 2 September 2011 a final rule to adopt the proposed amendments to the country of origin rules codified in part 102 of the CBP regulations applicable to pipe fittings and flanges, greeting cards, glass optical fiber, rice preparations and certain textile and apparel products. This final rule is effective from 3 October 2011. The FR notice is available at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-02/pdf/2011-22588.pdf.
DETAILS
2.The trade was informed via Commercial Information Circular No. 403/2008 cum Certificate of Origin Circular No. 9/2008 of CBP's proposal to amend the CBP regulations to establish uniform rules governing CBP determinations of the country of origin of imported merchandise as well as the proposed amendment to the country of origin rules codified in part 102 of the CBP regulations applicable to the above mentioned products.
3.After analysis of the comments received in response to its proposals, the CBP is adopting as a final rule, without change, the proposed amendments to the country of origin rules codified in part 102 of the CBP regulations applicable to pipe fittings and flanges, greeting cards, glass optical fiber and rice preparations. Details of the changes are as follows:
Pipe Fittings and Flanges -
For goods classified in Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) headings 7301 through 7307, a tariff shift rule is provided for a change within heading 7307 from fitting forgings or flange forgings to fittings or flanges made ready for commercial use by certain processing, including bevelling, bore threading, center or step boring, face machining, heat treating, recoining or resizing, taper boring, machining ends or surfaces other than a gasket face, drilling bolt holes, and burring or shot blasting.
Greeting Cards -
For HTSUS headings 4901 through 4911, which include printed greeting cards, a specific tariff shift rule is created under heading 4909 to provide for a change to that heading from any other heading except from heading 4911 when the change is a result of adding text.
Glass Optical Fiber -
For HTSUS subheading 9001.10, which encompasses optical fibers and optical fiber bundles and cables, a tariff shift rule is provided for a change to that subheading from any other subheading, except from subheading 8544.70 or glass preforms of heading 7002.
Rice Preparations -
For HTSUS subheading 1904.90, which encompasses certain rice preparations, a tariff shift rule is provided for a change to that subheading from any other heading, except from heading 1006 or wild rice of subheading 1008.90.
CBP is also adopting in the final rule two amendments to the rules of origin for certain textile and apparel products. Please refer to Commercial Information Circular No. 539/2011, Certificate of Origin Circular No. 8/2011 cum Notice to Exporters: Series 1 (USA) No. 8/2011 for details.
4.Separately, the CBP has determined not to adopt as a final rule the proposed amendments to the CBP regulations to establish uniform rules governing CBP determinations of the country of origin of imported merchandise and to withdraw the proposal.
ENQUIRIES
5.For enquiries concerning this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5682.
Yours faithfully,
(Miss Carmen CHAN)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry
Note : While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.