[Notices]
 

[Page 25989-25992]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12my97-154]
 
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
 
 
Implementation of the First Round of Accelerated Tariff Eliminations Under Provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement
 
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
 
ACTION: Notification of articles proposed for accelerated tariff elimination under the North American Free Trade Agreement.
 
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SUMMARY: Section 201(b) of the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act of 1993 (``the Act'') grants the President, subject to the consultation and lay-over requirements of section 103(a) of the Act, the authority to proclaim any accelerated schedule for duty elimination that may be agreed to by the United States, Mexico and Canada under Article 302(3) of the North American Free Trade Agreement (``the NAFTA''). This notice is intended to inform the public of those articles on which the United States, Canada and Mexico have provisionally agreed to accelerate the elimination of duties.
 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Office of the United States Trade
Representative, Room 522, 600 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508;
telephone (202) 395-3412; fax: (202) 395-9675.
 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following Federal Register notices provide information on the first round. Request for petitions appeared December 23, 1993 (58 FR 68186); a request for comments on list of products to be considered appeared May 23, 1994 (59 FR 26688). Article 302 of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) permits the Parties to consider and agree to accelerate the elimination of customs duties on goods of a Party. Pursuant to this provision, the United States, Canada and Mexico solicited requests from interested parties in early 1994. At the request of the United States Government, the Parties agreed to consider requests on an expedited basis, and for that reason also agreed to consider a short list of items in the first round.
As a result, approximately 207 8-digit tariff subheadings or parts of subheadings were considered by the three Parties. As a part of the process, USTR requested the advice of the USITC and the private sector trade advisory groups. As has been practice under tariff acceleration rounds conducted under
 
[[Page 25990]]
 
the provisions of the United States-Canada Free Trade Agreement, the United States did not agree to provide accelerated tariff elimination for those products subject to negative advice. In a similar manner, the governments of Canada and Mexico declined to agree to acceleration for products subject to negative comments by their interested parties. The Parties did agree to accelerated tariff elimination on the remaining products, involving all or parts of approximately 80 8-digit tariff lines for which one or more of the Parties have provisionally agreed to eliminate the duties at the conclusion of the necessary domestic procedures. Two annexes are attached listing the agreed products. Annex 1 lists the products for which the United States proposes to immediately eliminate the remaining tariffs. Annex II also shows the U.S. reductions, as well as the comparable reductions agreed to by Canada and Mexico. As a rule, eliminations are being proposed on a reciprocal basis. For products that do not show such reciprocal elimination, it is in most cases due to the fact that duties have already been eliminated. The final column of the annex indicates those few cases where a Party declined to participate in the reductions. As noted above, the relevant private sector advisory committees were consulted throughout this process, and have expressed no objection to eliminating tariffs for the products appearing in Annex I. In addition, the ITC provided a report to USTR indicating that the proposed eliminations would have no harmful impact on the United States.
The Parties intend to implement the accelerated tariff eliminations
effective July 1, 1997. A separate Federal Register notice will be
published shortly providing information on the initiation of a second
round of NAFTA Accelerated Tariff Eliminations.

Peter F. Allgeier,
Associate U.S. Trade Representative for the Western Hemisphere.

 
Annex 1.--NAFTA Tariff Acceleration Round One--U.S. Tariff Reductions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Short product description US HS No. Tariff reduced for Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Processed Artichokes................ 20059080 Mexico..................... ......................
Tahini.............................. 20081990 Canada..................... Acceleration on part
of 8-digit number
only.
Trimethoprim........................ 29335922 Mexico..................... Acceleration on part
of 8-digit number
only.
Hexamethylenetetramine.............. 29339087 Mexico..................... ......................
Sulfamethoxazole.................... 29350048 Mexico..................... Acceleration on part
of 8-digit number
only.
Polyethylene tape laminated with 39219050 Canada..................... Acceleration on part
thermoplastic adhesive. of 8-digit number
only.
Venetian blinds of wood............. 44219040 Canada, Mexico............. Acceleration on part
of 8-digit number
only.
Elastomeric monofilaments of 54041080 Mexico, Canada............. Acceleration on part
polyurethane. of 8-digit number
only.
Imitations of Catgut................ 56049000 Canada..................... ......................
Metallized yarn..................... 56050010 Mexico..................... ......................
56050090
Woven fabrics of polyethylene, 59039025 Mexico..................... Acceleration on part
coated or laminated with plastics of 8-digit number
on one side only. only.
Printed Cotton towels............... 63029100 Mexico..................... Acceleration on part
of 8-digit number
only.
Briquettes for gas fuel barbecues... 68159940 Canada..................... Acceleration on part
of 8-digit number
only.
Briquettes for gas fuel barbecues... 69149080 Canada..................... Acceleration on part
of 8-digit number
only.
Screws and bolts, whether or not 731815xx Canada, Mexico............. Acceleration on parts
with their nuts and washers, for of 6-digit number
aircraft. only.
Screws and bolts, whether or not 750890xx Canada..................... Acceleration on part
with their nuts and washers, for of 8-digit number
aircraft, of nickel. only.
Casting-grade zinc, containing by 79011210 Canada, Mexico............. ......................
weight less than 99.99% of zinc.
Other zinc.......................... 79011250 Canada..................... ......................
Screws and bolts, whether or not 81089030 Canada..................... Acceleration on part
with their nuts and washers, for of 8-digit number
aircraft, of titanium. only.
Electric switches, other than motor 85365080 Mexico,.................... ......................
starter switches.
Other bicycle parts................. 87149190 Mexico, Canada............. ......................
Appliance timers.................... 910700 Canada..................... Acceleration on parts
of 6-digit number
only.
Parts for appliances timers......... 91149030 Canada..................... Acceleration on part
91149050 of 8-digit number
only.
Brushes constituting parts of 96035080 Canada..................... ......................
machines.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All remaining duties will be eliminated immediately on these products.
 


ANNEX II.--NAFTA Tariff Acceleration Round One--CONCORDANCE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product description US HS No. Cnd HS No. Mex HS No. USA Mexico Canada Comment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Processed Artichokes.......... 20059080 N/A 20059099 M US ........... US-Mex only.
Tahini........................ 20081990 20081990 20081999 C US, C US, M .................
Sodium Cyanide................ 28371100 28371100 28371101 ............... US, C ........... .................
2-Ethyl-hexanol............... 29051600 29051600 29061602 ............... US, C M .................
Lovastatin and simvastatin.... 29322950 29322900 29322999 ............... US, C M .................
Trimethoprim.................. 29335922 29335900 29335906 M US, C M .................
Enalapril maleate............. 29339053 29339000 29339057 ............... US, C M .................
Hexamethylenetetramine........ 29339087 29339000 29339035 M ........... M .................
Sulfamethoxazole.............. 29350048 29350000 29350028 M US, C M .................
Sulfamerizine................. 29350042 29350000 29350099 ............... US, C M .................
Vitamin C and its derivatives. 29362700 29362700 29362701 ............... US, C ........... .................
Dexamethasone................. 29372200 29372200 29379909 ............... US, C ........... .................
 
[[Page 25991]]
 
 
Tetracycline chlorohydrate.... 29413000 29413000 29413001 ............... US, C M .................
Gentamycin.................... 29419050 29419000 29419016 ............... US, C M .................
Film without sprocket holes, 37023100 37023100 37023101 ............... US, C ........... .................
of a width not exceeding 105
mm, for color photography
(polychrome).
Film without sprocket holes, 37024100 37024100 37024101 ............... US, C ........... .................
of a width exceeding 610 mm
and a length exceeding 200
mm, for color photography
(polychrome).
Film, for color photography 37025300 37025300 37025301 ............... US, C ........... .................
(polychrome), of a width
exceeding 16 mm but not
exceeding 35 mm and a length
not exceeding 30 m, for
slides.
Film, for color photography 37025400 37025400 37025401 ............... US, C ........... .................
(polychrome), of a width
exceeding 16 mm but not
exceeding 35 mm and a length
not exceeding 30 m, other
than for slides.
Film, for color photography 37025500 37025500 37025501 ............... US, C ........... .................
(polychrome), of a width
exceeding 16 mm but not
exceeding 35 and of a length
exceeding 30 m.
Black and white motion picture 37029200 27029290 37029201 ............... US, C ........... .................
film, of a width not
exceeding 16 mm and of a
length exceeding 14 m.
Color motion picture film, of 37029400 37029490 37029401 ............... US, C ........... .................
a width exceeding 16 mm but
not exceeding 35 mm and of a
length exceeding 30 m.
Polyethylene tape laminated 39219050 39219090 39219008 C US, C US, M .................
with thermoplastic adhesive.
Venetian blinds of wood....... 44219040 44219040 44219099 C, M US, C US, M .................
Paper of a kind for use in 48083000 48083090 48083002 ............... US, C ........... .................
making masking tape.
Elastomeric monofilaments of 54041080 54041090 54041005 M, C C US, M .................
polyurethane.
Imitations of Catgut.......... 56049000 56049000 56049003, 56049004 C ........... US US-Can only.
Metallized yarn............... 56050010, 56050090 56050000 5605001 M US, C M .................
Woven fabrics of polyethylene, 59039025 59039020 59039002 M US ........... .................
coated or laminated with
plastics on one side only.
Printed Cotton towels......... 63029100 63029100 63029101 M US ........... .................
Briquettes for gas fuel 68159940 68159991, 68159999 68159901, 68159999 C ........... US .................
barbecues.
Ceramic tableware, other than 69120010, 69120000 69120001, 69120099 ............... C M Mex-Can only.
of porcelain or china. 69120020,
69120035,
69120039,
69120041,
69120044,
69120045,
69120046,
69120048,
69120059
Briquettes for gas fuel 69149080 69149000 69149099 C ........... US, M .................
barbecues.
Screws and bolts, whether or 731815xx 73181500 73181501 C, M ........... US, M .................
not with their nuts and
washers, for aircraft.
Screws and bolts, whether or 750890xx 75089020 75089099 C US, C US, M .................
not with their nuts and
washers, for aircraft, of
nickel.
Casting-grade zinc, containing 79011210 79011200 79011201 C, M US, C ........... .................
by weight less than 99.99% of
zinc.
Other zinc.................... 79011250 .................. .................. C ........... ........... .................
Screws and bolts, whether or 81089030 81089090 81089099 C US, C US, M .................
not with their nuts and
washers, for aircraft, of
titanium.
Scissors & Shears--Blanks and 82130030, 82130020, 82130030 82130001 ............... ........... US .................
blades. 82130060,
82130090
Tobacco drying machines....... 84199090 84193190 84193105 ............... US, C ........... .................
Parts of tobacco drying .................. 84199080 84199099 ............... US, C M .................
machines.
Dishwashers................... 84221100 N/A 84221101 ............... US ........... Mex-US only.
Parts of dishwashers.......... 84229002, N/A 84229002, ............... US ........... .................
84229004, 84229003,
84220006 84229004
Machines for cleaning by 84243010, 84243090 84243000 84243001 ............... US, C M .................
pressure.
 
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Excavating machines........... 84295950 84295910, 84295901 ............... US, C ........... .................
84295920,
84295990
Parts for excavating machines. 84314100, 84214990 84314190 84314101, ............... US, C M .................
84314103,
84314199
Other parts for excavating .................. 84314990 84314902, 84314999 ............... US, C M .................
machines.
Clothes dryers................ 84512100 N/A 84512101, 84512199 ............... US ........... US-Mex only.
Metal casting machines........ 84543000 84543010, 84543090 84543001 ............... US, C ........... .................
Metal processing machines..... 84798100 84798110, 84798190 84798101 ............... US, C ........... .................
Electric switches, other than 85365080 85365010, 85365001, M ........... ........... US-Mex only.
motor starter switches. 85365080, 85365010,
85365091, 85365011
85365099
Other bicycle parts........... 87149190 .................. .................. M, C ........... ........... .................
Bicycle Hubs, other than 87149305, 87149300 87149301 ............... ........... M .................
coaster braking hubs and hub 84719315,
brakes, and free-wheel 84719324,
sprocket-wheels. 84719328,
84719335,
84719370
Bicycle parts, other than of 87149910, 87149920 87149901 ............... ........... M Can-Mex only.
subheading No. 8714.91, 87149950,
8714.92, 8714.93, 8714.94, 87149960,
8714.95 or 8714.96. 87149980,
87149990
Appliance timers.............. 91070040, 91070080 91070010, 91070001 C ........... US, M .................
91070020,
91070090
Parts for appliance timers.... 91149030, 91149050 91149020, 91149001, 91149099 C ........... US .................
91149030,
91149090
Brushes constituting parts of 96035080 96035090 96035001 C ........... US, M .................
machines.
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All remaining tariffs will be eliminated immediately. The 3rd, 4th and 5th columns show the reductions each county provides for the other NAFA parties.
 
[FR Doc. 97-12405 Filed 5-9-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M

Source:  U.S. Customs & Border Protection, US Department of Homeland Security