OAS

Spanish

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - CENTRAL AMERICA- UNITED STATES FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

Chapters 1-5

[ Chapters 6-12 > 13-22 >]

PREAMBLE

The Government of the Republic of Costa Rica, the Government of the Dominican Republic, the Government of the Republic of El Salvador, the Government of the Republic of Guatemala, the Government of the Republic of Honduras, the Government of the Republic of Nicaragua, and the Government of the United States of America, resolved to:

STRENGTHEN the special bonds of friendship and cooperation among their nations and promote regional economic integration;

CONTRIBUTE to the harmonious development and expansion of world trade and provide a catalyst to broader international cooperation;

CREATE an expanded and secure market for the goods and services produced in their territories while recognizing the differences in their levels of development and the size of their economies;

AVOID distortions to their reciprocal trade;

ESTABLISH clear and mutually advantageous rules governing their trade;

ENSURE a predictable commercial framework for business planning and investment;

BUILD on their respective rights and obligations under the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization and other multilateral and bilateral instruments of cooperation;

SEEK to facilitate regional trade by promoting efficient and transparent customs procedures that reduce costs and ensure predictability for their importers and exporters;

ENHANCE the competitiveness of their firms in global markets;

FOSTER creativity and innovation, and promote trade in goods and services that are the subject of intellectual property rights;

PROMOTE transparency and eliminate bribery and corruption in international trade and investment;

CREATE new opportunities for economic and social development in the region;

PROTECT, enhance, and enforce basic workers’ rights and strengthen their cooperation on labor matters;

CREATE new employment opportunities and improve working conditions and living standards in their respective territories;

BUILD on their respective international commitments on labor matters;

IMPLEMENT this Agreement in a manner consistent with environmental protection and conservation, promote sustainable development, and strengthen their cooperation on environmental matters;

PROTECT and preserve the environment and enhance the means for doing so, including through the conservation of natural resources in their respective territories;

PRESERVE their flexibility to safeguard the public welfare;

RECOGNIZE the interest of the Central American Parties in strengthening and deepening their regional economic integration; and

CONTRIBUTE to hemispheric integration and provide an impetus toward establishing the Free Trade Area of the Americas;

HAVE AGREED as follows:

Chapter One

Initial Provisions

Article 1.1: Establishment of a Free Trade Area

The Parties to this Agreement, consistent with Article XXIV of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 and Article V of the General Agreement on Trade in Services, hereby establish a free trade area.

Article 1.2: Objectives

1. The objectives of this Agreement, as elaborated more specifically through its principles and rules, including national treatment, most-favored-nation treatment, and transparency, are to:

(a) encourage expansion and diversification of trade between the Parties;

(b) eliminate barriers to trade in, and facilitate the cross-border movement of, goods and services between the territories of the Parties;

(c) promote conditions of fair competition in the free trade area;

(d) substantially increase investment opportunities in the territories of the Parties;

(e) provide adequate and effective protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in each Party’s territory;

(f) create effective procedures for the implementation and application of this Agreement, for its joint administration, and for the resolution of disputes; and

(g) establish a framework for further bilateral, regional, and multilateral cooperation to expand and enhance the benefits of this Agreement.

2. The Parties shall interpret and apply the provisions of this Agreement in the light of its objectives set out in paragraph 1 and in accordance with applicable rules of international law.

Article 1.3: Relation to Other Agreements

1. The Parties affirm their existing rights and obligations with respect to each other under the WTO Agreement and other agreements to which such Parties are party.

2. For greater certainty, nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Central American Parties from maintaining their existing legal instruments of Central American integration, adopting new legal instruments of integration, or adopting measures to strengthen and deepen these instruments, provided that such instruments and measures are not inconsistent with this Agreement.

Article 1.4: Extent of Obligations

The Parties shall ensure that all necessary measures are taken in order to give effect to the provisions of this Agreement, including their observance, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, by state governments.

Chapter Two

General Definitions

Article 2.1: Definitions of General Application

For purposes of this Agreement, unless otherwise specified:

Central America means the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua;

central level of government means:

(a) for Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, the national level of government; and

(b) for the United States, the federal level of government;

Commission means the Free Trade Commission established under Article 19.1 (The Free Trade Commission);

covered investment means, with respect to a Party, an investment, as defined in Article 10.28 (Definitions), in its territory of an investor of another Party in existence as of the date of entry into force of this Agreement or established, acquired, or expanded thereafter;

customs authority means the competent authority that is responsible under the law of a Party for the administration of customs laws and regulations;

customs duty includes any customs or import duty and a charge of any kind imposed in connection with the importation of a good, including any form of surtax or surcharge in connection with such importation, but does not include any:

(a) charge equivalent to an internal tax imposed consistently with Article III:2 of the GATT 1994, in respect of like, directly competitive, or substitutable goods of the Party, or in respect of goods from which the imported good has been manufactured or produced in whole or in part;

(b) antidumping or countervailing duty that is applied pursuant to a Party’s domestic law; or

(c) fee or other charge in connection with importation commensurate with the cost of services rendered;

Customs Valuation Agreement means the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994;

days means calendar days;

enterprise means any entity constituted or organized under applicable law, whether or not for profit, and whether privately-owned or governmentally-owned, including any corporation, trust, partnership, sole proprietorship, joint venture, or other association;

enterprise of a Party means an enterprise constituted or organized under the law of a Party;

existing means in effect on the date of entry into force of this Agreement;

GATS means the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services;

GATT 1994 means the WTO General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994;

goods of a Party means domestic products as these are understood in the GATT 1994 or such goods as the Parties may agree, and includes originating goods of that Party;

Harmonized System (HS) means the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, including its General Rules of Interpretation, Section Notes, and Chapter Notes, as adopted and implemented by the Parties in their respective tariff laws;

heading means the first four digits in the tariff classification number under the Harmonized System;

measure includes any law, regulation, procedure, requirement, or practice;

national means a natural person who has the nationality of a Party according to Annex 2.1 or a permanent resident of a Party;

originating means qualifying under the rules of origin set out in Chapter Four (Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures);

Party means any State for which this Agreement is in force;

person means a natural person or an enterprise;

person of a Party means a national or an enterprise of a Party;

preferential tariff treatment means the duty rate applicable under this Agreement to an originating good;

procurement means the process by which a government obtains the use of or acquires goods or services, or any combination thereof, for governmental purposes and not with a view to commercial sale or resale or with a view to use in the production or supply of goods or services for commercial sale or resale;

regional level of government means, for the United States, a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico. For Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, “regional level of government” is not applicable;

Safeguards Agreement means the WTO Agreement on Safeguards;

sanitary or phytosanitary measure means any measure referred to in Annex A, paragraph 1 of the SPS Agreement;

SPS Agreement means the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures;

state enterprise means an enterprise that is owned, or controlled through ownership interests, by a Party;

subheading means the first six digits in the tariff classification number under the Harmonized System;

territory means for a Party the territory of that Party as set out in Annex 2.1;

TRIPS Agreement means the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights;

WTO means the World Trade Organization; and

WTO Agreement means the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, done on April 15, 1994.

Annex 2.1

Country-Specific Definitions

For purposes of this Agreement, unless otherwise specified:

natural person who has the nationality of a Party means:

(a) with respect to Costa Rica, a costarricense as defined in Articles 13 and 14 of the Constitución Política de la República de Costa Rica;

(b) with respect to the Dominican Republic, a dominicano as defined in Article 11 of the Constitución de la República Dominicana;

(c) with respect to El Salvador, a salvadoreño as defined in Articles 90 and 92 of the Constitución de la República de El Salvador;

(d) with respect to Guatemala, a guatemalteco as defined in Articles 144, 145 and 146 of the Constitución de la República de Guatemala;

(e) with respect to Honduras, a hondureño as defined in Articles 23 and 24 of the Constitución de la República de Honduras;

(f) with respect to Nicaragua, a nicaragüense as defined in Article 15 of the Constitución Política de la República de Nicaragua; and

(g) with respect to the United States, “national of the United States” as defined in the existing provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act; and

territory means:

(a) with respect to Costa Rica, the land, maritime, and air space under its sovereignty1 and the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf within which it exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction in accordance with international law and its domestic law;

(b) with respect to the Dominican Republic, the land, maritime, and air space under its sovereignty and the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf within which it exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction in accordance with international law and its domestic law;

(c) with respect to El Salvador, the land, maritime, and air space under its sovereignty and the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf within which it exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction in accordance with international law and its domestic law;

(d) with respect to Guatemala, the land, maritime, and air space under its sovereignty and the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf within which it exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction in accordance with international law and its domestic law;

(e) with respect to Honduras, the land, maritime, and air space under its sovereignty and the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf within which it exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction in accordance with international law and its domestic law;

(f) with respect to Nicaragua, the land, maritime, and air space under its sovereignty and the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf within which it exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction in accordance with international law and its domestic law; and

(g) with respect to the United States,

(i) the customs territory of the United States, which includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico,

(ii) the foreign trade zones located in the United States and Puerto Rico, and

(iii) any areas beyond the territorial seas of the United States within which, in accordance with international law and its domestic law, the United States may exercise rights with respect to the seabed and subsoil and their natural resources.

Chapter Three

National Treatment and Market Access for Goods

Article 3.1: Scope and Coverage

Except as otherwise provided, this Chapter applies to trade in goods of a Party.

Section A: National Treatment

Article 3.2: National Treatment

1. Each Party shall accord national treatment to the goods of another Party in accordance with Article III of the GATT 1994, including its interpretive notes, and to this end Article III of the GATT 1994 and its interpretative notes are incorporated into and made part of this Agreement, mutatis mutandis.

2. The provisions of paragraph 1 regarding national treatment shall mean, with respect to a regional level of government, treatment no less favorable than the most favorable treatment that regional level of government accords to any like, directly competitive, or substitutable goods, as the case may be, of the Party of which it forms a part.

3. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to the measures set out in Annex 3.2.

Section B: Tariff Elimination

Article 3.3: Tariff Elimination

1. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Party may increase any existing customs duty, or adopt any new customs duty, on an originating good.

2. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Party shall progressively eliminate its customs duties on originating goods, in accordance with Annex 3.3.1

3. For greater certainty, paragraph 2 shall not prevent a Central American Party from providing identical or more favorable tariff treatment to a good as provided for under the legal instruments of Central American integration, provided that the good meets the rules of origin under those instruments.

4. On the request of any Party, the Parties shall consult to consider accelerating the elimination of customs duties set out in their Schedules to Annex 3.3. Notwithstanding Article 19.1.3(b) (The Free Trade Commission), an agreement between two or more Parties to accelerate the elimination of a customs duty on a good shall supercede any duty rate or staging category determined pursuant to their Schedules to Annex 3.3 for such good when approved by each such Party in accordance with its applicable legal procedures. Promptly after two or more Parties conclude an agreement under this paragraph they shall notify the other Parties of the terms of that agreement.

5. For greater certainty, a Party may:

(a) raise a customs duty back to the level established in its Schedule to Annex 3.3 following a unilateral reduction; or

(b) maintain or increase a customs duty as authorized by the Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO.

6. Annex 3.3.6 applies to the Parties specified in that Annex.

Section C: Special Regimes

Article 3.4: Waiver of Customs Duties

1. No Party may adopt any new waiver of customs duties, or expand with respect to existing recipients or extend to any new recipient the application of an existing waiver of customs duties, where the waiver is conditioned, explicitly or implicitly, on the fulfillment of a performance requirement.

2. No Party may, explicitly or implicitly, condition on the fulfillment of a performance requirement the continuation of any existing waiver of customs duties.

3. Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and Guatemala may each maintain existing measures inconsistent with paragraphs 1 and 2, provided it maintains such measures in accordance with Article 27.4 of the SCM Agreement. Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and Guatemala may not maintain any such measures after December 31, 2009.

4. Nicaragua and Honduras may each maintain measures inconsistent with paragraphs 1 and 2 for such time as it is an Annex VII country for purposes of the SCM Agreement. Thereafter, Nicaragua and Honduras shall maintain any such measures in accordance with Article 27.4 of the SCM Agreement.

Article 3.5: Temporary Admission of Goods

1. Each Party shall grant duty-free temporary admission for the following goods, regardless of their origin:

(a) professional equipment, including equipment for the press or television, software and broadcasting and cinematographic equipment, necessary for carrying out the business activity, trade, or profession of a business person who qualifies for temporary entry pursuant to the laws of the importing Party;

(b) goods intended for display or demonstration;

(c) commercial samples and advertising films and recordings; and

(d) goods admitted for sports purposes.

2. Each Party shall, at the request of the person concerned and for reasons its customs authority considers valid, extend the time limit for temporary admission beyond the period initially fixed.

3. No Party may condition the duty-free temporary admission of a good referred to in paragraph 1, other than to require that such good:

(a) be used solely by or under the personal supervision of a national or resident of another Party in the exercise of the business activity, trade, profession, or sport of that person;

(b) not be sold or leased while in its territory;

(c) be accompanied by a security in an amount no greater than the charges that would otherwise be owed on entry or final importation, releasable on exportation of the good;

(d) be capable of identification when exported;

(e) be exported on the departure of the person referenced in subparagraph (a), or within such other period related to the purpose of the temporary admission as the Party may establish, or within one year, unless extended;

(f) be admitted in no greater quantity than is reasonable for its intended use; and

(g) be otherwise admissible into the Party’s territory under its law.

4. If any condition that a Party imposes under paragraph 3 has not been fulfilled, the Party may apply the customs duty and any other charge that would normally be owed on the good plus any other charges or penalties provided for under its law.

5. Each Party, through its customs authority, shall adopt procedures providing for the expeditious release of goods admitted under this Article. To the extent possible, such procedures shall provide that when such a good accompanies a national or resident of another Party who is seeking temporary entry, the good shall be released simultaneously with the entry of that national or resident.

6. Each Party shall permit a good temporarily admitted under this Article to be exported through a customs port other than that through which it was admitted.

7. Each Party shall provide that its customs authority or other competent authority shall relieve the importer or other person responsible for a good admitted under this Article from any liability for failure to export the good on presentation of satisfactory proof to the importing Party’s customs authority that the good has been destroyed within the original period fixed for temporary admission or any lawful extension.

8. Subject to Chapters Ten (Investment) and Eleven (Cross-Border Trade in Services):

(a) each Party shall allow a vehicle or container used in international traffic that enters its territory from the territory of another Party to exit its territory on any route that is reasonably related to the economic and prompt departure of such vehicle or container;

(b) no Party may require any bond or impose any penalty or charge solely by reason of any difference between the port of entry and the port of departure of a vehicle or container;

(c) no Party may condition the release of any obligation, including any bond, that it imposes in respect of the entry of a vehicle or container into its territory on its exit through any particular port of departure; and

(d) no Party may require that the vehicle or carrier bringing a container from the territory of another Party into its territory be the same vehicle or carrier that takes such container to the territory of another Party.

9. For purposes of paragraph 8, vehicle means a truck, a truck tractor, tractor, trailer unit or trailer, a locomotive, or a railway car or other railroad equipment.

Article 3.6: Goods Re-entered after Repair or Alteration

1. No Party may apply a customs duty to a good, regardless of its origin, that re-enters its territory after that good has been temporarily exported from its territory to the territory of another Party for repair or alteration, regardless of whether such repair or alteration could be performed in the territory of the Party from which the good was exported for repair or alteration.

2. No Party may apply a customs duty to a good, regardless of its origin, admitted temporarily from the territory of another Party for repair or alteration.

3. For purposes of this Article, repair or alteration does not include an operation or process that:

(a) destroys a good’s essential characteristics or creates a new or commercially different good; or

(b) transforms an unfinished good into a finished good.

Article 3.7: Duty-Free Entry of Commercial Samples of Negligible Value and Printed Advertising Materials

Each Party shall grant duty-free entry to commercial samples of negligible value and to printed advertising materials, imported from the territory of another Party, regardless of their origin, but may require that:

(a) such samples be imported solely for the solicitation of orders for goods, or services provided from the territory, of another Party or a non-Party; or

(b) such advertising materials be imported in packets that each contain no more than one copy of each such material and that neither such materials nor packets form part of a larger consignment.

Section D: Non-Tariff Measures

Article 3.8: Import and Export Restrictions

1. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Party may adopt or maintain any prohibition or restriction on the importation of any good of another Party or on the exportation or sale for export of any good destined for the territory of another Party, except in accordance with Article XI of the GATT 1994 and its interpretative notes, and to this end Article XI of the GATT 1994 and its interpretative notes are incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement, mutatis mutandis.2

2. The Parties understand that the GATT 1994 rights and obligations incorporated by paragraph 1 prohibit, in any circumstances in which any other form of restriction is prohibited, a Party from adopting or maintaining:

(a) export and import price requirements, except as permitted in enforcement of countervailing and antidumping duty orders and undertakings;

(b) import licensing conditioned on the fulfillment of a performance requirement, except as provided in a Party’s Schedule to Annex 3.3; or

(c) voluntary export restraints inconsistent with Article VI of the GATT 1994, as implemented under Article 18 of the SCM Agreement and Article 8.1 of the AD Agreement.

3. In the event that a Party adopts or maintains a prohibition or restriction on the importation from or exportation to a non-Party of a good, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent the Party from:

(a) limiting or prohibiting the importation from the territory of another Party of such good of that non-Party; or

(b) requiring as a condition of export of such good of the Party to the territory of another Party, that the good not be re-exported to the non-Party, directly or indirectly, without being consumed in the territory of the other Party.

4. In the event that a Party adopts or maintains a prohibition or restriction on the importation of a good from a non-Party, the Parties, on the request of any Party, shall consult with a view to avoiding undue interference with or distortion of pricing, marketing, or distribution arrangements in another Party.

5. Paragraphs 1 through 4 shall not apply to the measures set out in Annex 3.2.

6. Neither a Central American Party nor the Dominican Republic may, as a condition for engaging in importation or for the import of a good, require a person of another Party to establish or maintain a contractual or other relationship with a dealer in its territory.

7. Neither a Central American Party nor the Dominican Republic may remedy a violation or alleged violation of any law, regulation, or other measure regulating or otherwise relating to the relationship between any dealer in its territory and any person of another Party, by prohibiting or restricting the importation of any good of another Party.

8. For purposes of this Article:

dealer means a person of a Party who is responsible for the distribution, agency, concession, or representation in the territory of that Party of goods of another Party; and

remedy means to obtain redress or impose a penalty, including through a provisional, precautionary, or permanent measure.

Article 3.9: Import Licensing

1. No Party may adopt or maintain a measure that is inconsistent with the Import Licensing Agreement.

2. Promptly after entry into force of this Agreement, each Party shall notify the other Parties of any existing import licensing procedures, and thereafter shall notify the other Parties of any new import licensing procedure and any modification to its existing import licensing procedures, within 60 days before it takes effect. A notification provided under this Article shall:

(a) include the information specified in Article 5 of the Import Licensing Agreement; and

(b) be without prejudice as to whether the import licensing procedure is consistent with this Agreement.

3. No Party may apply an import licensing procedure to a good of another Party unless it has provided notification in accordance with paragraph 2.

Article 3.10: Administrative Fees and Formalities

1. Each Party shall ensure, in accordance with Article VIII:1 of the GATT 1994 and its interpretive notes, that all fees and charges of whatever character (other than customs duties, charges equivalent to an internal tax or other internal charge applied consistently with Article III:2 of the GATT 1994, and antidumping and countervailing duties) imposed on or in connection with importation or exportation are limited in amount to the approximate cost of services rendered and do not represent an indirect protection to domestic products or a taxation of imports or exports for fiscal purposes.

2. No Party may require consular transactions, including related fees and charges, in connection with the importation of any good of another Party.

3. Each Party shall make available and maintain through the Internet a current list of the fees and charges it imposes in connection with importation or exportation.

4. The United States shall eliminate its merchandise processing fee on originating goods.

Article 3.11: Export Taxes

Except as provided in Annex 3.11, no Party may adopt or maintain any duty, tax, or other charge on the export of any good to the territory of another Party, unless such duty, tax, or charge is adopted or maintained on any such good:

(a) when exported to the territories of all other Parties; and

(b) when destined for domestic consumption.

Section E: Other Measures

Article 3.12: Distinctive Products

1. Each Central American Party and the Dominican Republic shall recognize Bourbon Whiskey and Tennessee Whiskey, which is a straight Bourbon Whiskey authorized to be produced only in the State of Tennessee, as distinctive products of the United States. Accordingly, those Parties shall not permit the sale of any product as Bourbon Whiskey or Tennessee Whiskey, unless it has been manufactured in the United States in accordance with the laws and regulations of the United States governing the manufacture of Bourbon Whiskey and Tennessee Whiskey.

2. At the request of a Party, the Committee on Trade in Goods shall consider whether to recommend that the Parties amend the Agreement to designate a good as a distinctive product for purposes of this Article.

Section F: Agriculture

Article 3.13: Administration and Implementation of Tariff-Rate Quotas

1. Each Party shall implement and administer the tariff-rate quotas for agricultural goods set out in Appendix I or, if applicable, Appendix II or III to its Schedule to Annex 3.3 (hereafter “TRQs”) in accordance with Article XIII of the GATT 1994, including its interpretive notes, and the Import Licensing Agreement.

2. Each Party shall ensure that:

(a) its procedures for administering its TRQs are transparent, made available to the public, timely, nondiscriminatory, responsive to market conditions, minimally burdensome to trade, and reflect end user preferences;

(b) any person of a Party that fulfills the Party’s legal and administrative requirements shall be eligible to apply and to be considered for an import license or quota allocation under the Party’s TRQs;

(c) it does not allocate any portion of a quota to an industry association or nongovernmental organization, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement;

(d) solely government authorities administer its TRQs, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement; and

(e) it allocates quotas under its TRQs in commercially viable shipping quantities and, to the maximum extent possible, in the amounts that importers request.

3. Each Party shall strive to administer its TRQs in a manner that allows importers to fully utilize import quotas.

4. No Party may condition application for, or utilization of, import licenses or quota allocations under its TRQs on the re-export of an agricultural good.

5. No Party may count food aid or other non-commercial shipments in determining whether an import quota under its TRQs has been filled.

6. On request of any Party, an importing Party shall consult with the requesting Party regarding the administration of its TRQs.

Article 3.14: Agricultural Export Subsidies

1. The Parties share the objective of the multilateral elimination of export subsidies for agricultural goods and shall work together toward an agreement in the WTO to eliminate those subsidies and prevent their reintroduction in any form.

2. Except as provided in paragraph 3, no Party may introduce or maintain any export subsidy on any agricultural good destined for the territory of another Party.

3. Where an exporting Party considers that a non-Party is exporting an agricultural good to the territory of another Party with the benefit of export subsidies, the importing Party shall, on written request of the exporting Party, consult with the exporting Party with a view to agreeing on specific measures that the importing Party may adopt to counter the effect of such subsidized imports. If the importing Party adopts the agreed-on measures, the exporting Party shall refrain from applying any subsidy to its exports of the good to the territory of the importing Party. If the importing Party does not adopt the agreed-on measures, the exporting Party may apply an export subsidy on its exports of the good to the territory of the importing Party only to the extent necessary to counter the trade-distorting effect of subsidized exports of the good from the non-Party to the importing Party’s territory.

Article 3.15: Agricultural Safeguard Measures

1. Notwithstanding Article 3.3, each Party may apply a measure in the form of an additional import duty on an agricultural good listed in that Party’s Schedule to Annex 3.15, provided that the conditions in paragraphs 2 through 7 are met. The sum of any such additional import duty and any other customs duty on such good shall not exceed the lesser of:

(a) the prevailing most-favored-nation (MFN) applied rate of duty; or (b) the MFN applied rate of duty in effect on the day immediately preceding the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

2. A Party may apply an agricultural safeguard measure during any calendar year if the quantity of imports of the good during such year exceeds the trigger level for that good set out in its Schedule to Annex 3.15.

3. The additional duty under paragraph 1 shall be set according to each Party’s Schedule to Annex 3.15.

4. No Party may apply an agricultural safeguard measure and at the same time apply or maintain:

(a) a safeguard measure under Chapter Eight (Trade Remedies); or

(b) a measure under Article XIX of the GATT 1994 and the Safeguards Agreement; with respect to the same good.

5. No Party may apply or maintain an agricultural safeguard measure:

(a) on or after the date that a good is subject to duty-free treatment under the Party’s Schedule to Annex 3.3; or

(b) that increases the in-quota duty on a good subject to a TRQ.

6. Each Party shall implement an agricultural safeguard measure in a transparent manner. Within 60 days after applying a measure, a Party shall notify any Party whose good is subject to the measure, in writing, and shall provide it relevant data concerning the measure. On request, the Party applying the measure shall consult with any Party whose good is subject to the measure regarding application of the measure.

7. A Party may maintain an agricultural safeguard measure only until the end of the calendar year in which the Party applies the measure.

8. The Commission and the Committee on Agricultural Trade may review the implementation and operation of this Article.

9. For purposes of this Article and Annex 3.15, agricultural safeguard measure means a measure described in paragraph 1.

Article 3.16: Sugar Compensation Mechanism

1. In any year, the United States may, at its option, apply a mechanism that results in compensation to a Party’s exporters of sugar goods in lieu of according duty-free treatment to some or all of the duty-free quantity of sugar goods established for that Party in Appendix I to the Schedule of the United States to Annex 3.3. Such compensation shall be equivalent to the estimated economic rents that the Party’s exporters would have obtained on exports to the United States of any such amounts of sugar goods and shall be provided within 30 days after the United States exercises this option. The United States shall notify the Party at least 90 days before it exercises this option and, on request, shall enter into consultations with the Party regarding application of the mechanism.

2. For purposes of this Article, sugar good means a good provided for in the subheadings listed in subparagraph 3(c) of Appendix I to the Schedule of the United States to Annex 3.3.

Article 3.17: Consultations on Trade in Chicken

The Parties shall consult on, and review the implementation and operation of the Agreement as it relates to, trade in chicken in the ninth year after the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

Article 3.18: Agriculture Review Commission

The Parties shall establish an Agriculture Review Commission in the 14th year after the date of entry into force of this Agreement to review the implementation and operation of the Agreement as it relates to trade in agricultural goods. The Agriculture Review Commission shall evaluate the effects of trade liberalization under the Agreement, the operation of Article 3.15 and possible extension of agricultural safeguard measures under that Article, progress toward global agricultural trade reform in the WTO, and developments in world agricultural markets. The Agriculture Review Commission shall report its findings and any recommendations to the Commission.

Article 3.19: Committee on Agricultural Trade

1. Not later than 90 days after the date of entry into force of this Agreement, the Parties shall establish a Committee on Agricultural Trade, comprising representatives of each Party.

2. The Committee shall provide a forum for:

(a) monitoring and promoting cooperation on the implementation and administration of this Section;

(b) consultation between the Parties on matters related to this Section in coordination with other committees, subcommittees, working groups, or other bodies established under this Agreement; and

(c) undertaking any additional work that the Commission may assign.

3. The Committee shall meet at least once a year unless it decides otherwise. Meetings of the Committee shall be chaired by the representatives of the Party hosting the meeting.

4. All decisions of the Committee shall be taken by consensus, unless the Committee otherwise decides.

Section G: Textiles and Apparel

Article 3.20: Refund of Customs Duties

1. On request of an importer, a Party shall refund any excess customs duties paid in connection with the importation into its territory of an originating textile or apparel good between January 1, 2004 and the date of entry into force of this Agreement for that Party. For purposes of applying this Article, the importing Party shall consider a good to be originating if the Party would have considered the good to be originating had it been imported into its territory on the date of entry into force of this Agreement for that Party.

2. Paragraph 1 shall not apply with respect to textile or apparel goods imported into, or imported from, the territory of a Party if it provides written notice to the other Parties by no later than 90 days before the date of entry into force of this Agreement for that Party that it will not comply with paragraph 1.

3. Notwithstanding paragraph 2, paragraph 1 shall apply with respect to textile or apparel goods imported from the territory of a Party if it provides written notice to the other Parties by no later than 90 days before the date of entry into force of this Agreement for that Party that it shall provide a benefit for textile or apparel goods imported into its territory that the importing and exporting Parties have agreed is equivalent to the benefit provided in paragraph 1.

4. This Article shall not apply to a textile or apparel good that qualifies for preferential tariff treatment under Article 3.21, 3.27, or 3.28.

Article 3.21: Duty-Free Treatment for Certain Goods

1. An importing and an exporting Party may identify at any time particular textile or apparel goods of the exporting Party that they mutually agree fall within:

(a) hand-loomed fabrics of a cottage industry;

(b) hand-made cottage industry goods made of such hand-loomed fabrics; or

(c) traditional folklore handicraft goods.

2. The importing Party shall grant duty-free treatment to goods so identified, if certified by the competent authority of the exporting Party.

Article 3.22: Elimination of Existing Quantitative Restrictions

Not later than the date of entry into force of this Agreement, the United States shall eliminate the existing quantitative restrictions it maintains under the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing as set out in Annex 3.22.

Article 3.23: Textile Safeguard Measures

1. Subject to the following paragraphs, and during the transition period only, if, as a result of the reduction or elimination of a duty provided for in this Agreement, a textile or apparel good of another Party is being imported into the territory of a Party in such increased quantities, in absolute terms or relative to the domestic market for that good, and under such conditions as to cause serious damage, or actual threat thereof, to a domestic industry producing a like or directly competitive good, the importing Party may, to the extent necessary to prevent or remedy such damage and to facilitate adjustment, apply a textile safeguard measure to that good, consisting of an increase in the rate of duty on the good to a level not to exceed the lesser of:

(a) the most-favored-nation (MFN) applied rate of duty in effect at the time the measure is applied; and

(b) the MFN applied rate of duty in effect on the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

2. In determining serious damage, or actual threat thereof, the importing Party:

(a) shall examine the effect of increased imports of the good of the other Party on the particular industry, as reflected in changes in such relevant economic variables as output, productivity, utilization of capacity, inventories, market share, exports, wages, employment, domestic prices, profits, and investment, none of which, either alone or combined with other factors, shall necessarily be decisive; and

(b) shall not consider changes in technology or consumer preference as factors supporting a determination of serious damage or actual threat thereof.

3. The importing Party may apply a textile safeguard measure only following an investigation by its competent authority.

4. If, on the basis of the results of the investigation under paragraph 3, the importing Party intends to apply a textile safeguard measure, the importing Party shall promptly provide written notice to the exporting Party of its intent to apply a textile safeguard measure, and on request shall enter into consultations with that Party. The importing Party and the exporting Party shall begin the consultations without delay and shall complete them within 60 days of the date of receipt of the request. The importing Party shall make a decision on whether to apply a safeguard measure within 30 days of completion of the consultations.

5. The following conditions and limitations apply to any textile safeguard measure:

(a) no Party may maintain a textile safeguard measure for a period exceeding three years;

(b) no Party may apply a textile safeguard measure to the same good of another Party more than once;

(c) on termination of the textile safeguard measure, the Party applying the measure shall apply the rate of duty set out in its Schedule to Annex 3.3, as if the measure had never been applied; and

(d) no Party may maintain a textile safeguard measure beyond the transition period.

6. The Party applying a textile safeguard measure shall provide to the Party against whose good the measure is taken mutually agreed trade liberalizing compensation in the form of concessions having substantially equivalent trade effects or equivalent to the value of the additional duties expected to result from the textile safeguard measure. Such concessions shall be limited to textile or apparel goods, unless the consulting Parties otherwise agree. If the consulting Parties are unable to agree on compensation within 30 days of application of a textile safeguard measure, the Party against whose good the measure is taken may take tariff action having trade effects substantially equivalent to the trade effects of the textile safeguard measure. Such tariff action may be taken against any goods of the Party applying the measure. The Party taking the tariff action shall apply such action only for the minimum period necessary to achieve the substantially equivalent trade effects. The importing Party’s obligation to provide trade compensation and the exporting Party’s right to take tariff action shall terminate when the textile safeguard measure terminates.

7.

(a) Each Party retains its rights and obligations under Article XIX of the GATT 1994 and the Safeguards Agreement.

(b) No Party may apply, with respect to the same good at the same time, a textile safeguard measure and:

(i) a safeguard measure under Chapter Eight (Trade Remedies); or

(ii) a measure under Article XIX of the GATT 1994 and the Safeguards Agreement.

Article 3.24: Customs Cooperation3

1. The customs authorities of the Parties shall cooperate for purposes of:

(a) enforcing or assisting in the enforcement of their respective laws, regulations, and procedures affecting trade in textile or apparel goods;

(b) ensuring the accuracy of claims of origin for textile or apparel goods; and (c) deterring circumvention of laws, regulations, and procedures of any Party or international agreements affecting trade in textile or apparel goods.

2.

(a) On the written request of an importing Party, an exporting Party shall conduct a verification for purposes of enabling the importing Party to determine:

(i) that a claim of origin for a textile or apparel good is accurate, or

(ii) that the exporter or producer is complying with applicable customs laws, regulations, and procedures regarding trade in textile or apparel goods, including:

(A) laws, regulations, and procedures that the exporting Party adopts and maintains pursuant to this Agreement; and

(B) laws, regulations, and procedures of the importing Party and the exporting Party implementing other international agreements regarding trade in textile or apparel goods.

(b) A request under subparagraph (a) shall include specific information regarding the reason the importing Party is requesting the verification and the determination the importing Party is seeking to make.

(c) The exporting Party shall conduct a verification under subparagraph (a)(i), regardless of whether an importer claims preferential tariff treatment for the textile or apparel good for which a claim of origin has been made.

3. The importing Party, through its competent authority, may assist in a verification conducted under paragraph 2(a), or, at the request of the exporting Party, undertake such a verification, including by conducting, along with the competent authority of the exporting Party, visits in the territory of the exporting Party to the premises of an exporter, producer, or any other enterprise involved in the movement of textile or apparel goods from the territory of the exporting Party to the territory of the importing Party.

4.

(a) The competent authority of the importing Party shall provide a written request to the competent authority of the exporting Party 20 days before the proposed date of a visit under paragraph 3. The request shall identify the competent authority making the request, the names and titles of the authorized personnel that will conduct the visit, the reason for the visit, including a description of the type of goods that are the subject of the verification, and the proposed dates of the visit.

(b) The competent authority of the exporting Party shall respond within 10 days of receipt of the request, and shall indicate the date on which authorized personnel of the importing Party may perform the visit. The exporting Party shall seek, in accordance with its laws, regulations, and procedures, permission from the enterprise to conduct the visit. If consent is not provided, the importing Party may deny preferential tariff treatment to the type of goods of the enterprise that would have been the subject of the verification, except that the importing Party may not deny preferential tariff treatment to such goods based solely on a postponement of the visit, if there is adequate reason for such postponement.

(c) Authorized personnel of the importing and exporting Parties shall conduct the visit in accordance with the laws, regulations, and procedures of the exporting Party.

(d) On completion of a visit, the importing Party shall provide the exporting Party with an oral summary of the results of the visit and provide it with a written report of the results of the visit within approximately 45 days of the visit. The written report shall include:

(i) the name of the enterprise visited;

(ii) particulars of the shipments that were checked;

(iii) observations made at the enterprise relating to circumvention; and

(iv) an assessment of whether the enterprise’s production records and other documents support its claims for preferential tariff treatment for:

(A) a textile or apparel good subject to a verification conducted under paragraph 2(a)(i); or

(B) in the case of a verification conducted under paragraph 2(a)(ii), any textile or apparel good exported or produced by the enterprise.

5. On request of a Party conducting a verification under paragraph 2(a), a Party shall provide, consistent with its laws, regulations, and procedures, production, trade, and transit documents and other information necessary to conduct the verification. Where the providing Party designates the information as confidential, Article 5.6 (Confidentiality) shall apply. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Party may publish the name of an enterprise that:

(a) the Party has determined to be engaged in intentional circumvention of laws, regulations, and procedures of any Party or international agreements affecting trade in textile or apparel goods; or

(b) has failed to demonstrate that it produces, or is capable of producing, textile or apparel goods.

6.

(a)

(i) During a verification conducted under paragraph 2(a), if there is insufficient information to support a claim for preferential tariff treatment, the importing Party may take appropriate action, which may include suspending the application of such treatment to:

(A) in the case of a verification conducted under paragraph 2(a)(i), the textile or apparel good for which a claim for preferential tariff treatment has been made; and

(B) in the case of a verification conducted under paragraph 2(a)(ii), any textile or apparel good exported or produced by the enterprise subject to that verification for which a claim for preferential tariff treatment has been made.

(ii) On completion of a verification conducted under paragraph 2(a), if there is insufficient information to support a claim for preferential tariff treatment, the importing Party may take appropriate action, which may include denying the application of such treatment to any textile or apparel good described in clauses (i)(A) and (B).

(iii) During or on completion of a verification conducted under paragraph 2(a), if the importing Party discovers that an enterprise has provided incorrect information to support a claim for preferential tariff treatment, the importing Party may take appropriate action, which may include denying the application of such treatment to any textile or apparel good described in clauses (i)(A) and (B).

(b)

(i) During a verification conducted under paragraph 2(a), if there is insufficient information to determine the country of origin, the importing Party may take appropriate action, which may include detention of any textile or apparel good exported or produced by the enterprise subject to the verification, but for no longer than the period permitted under its law.

(ii) On completion of a verification conducted under paragraph 2(a), if there is insufficient information to determine the country of origin, the importing Party may take appropriate action, which may include denying entry to any textile or apparel good exported or produced by the enterprise subject to the verification.

(iii) During or on completion of a verification conducted under paragraph 2(a), if the importing Party discovers that an enterprise has provided incorrect information as to the country of origin, the importing Party may take appropriate action, which may include denying entry to any textile or apparel good exported or produced by the enterprise subject to the verification.

(c) The importing Party may continue to take appropriate action under any provision of this paragraph only until it receives information sufficient to enable it to make the determination in paragraph 2(a)(i) or (ii), as the case may be, but in any event for no longer than the period permitted under its law.

(d) The importing Party may deny preferential tariff treatment or entry under this paragraph only after providing a written determination to the importer of the reason for the denial.

7. Not later than 45 days after it completes a verification conducted under paragraph 2(a), the exporting Party shall provide the importing Party a written report on the results of the verification. The report shall include all documents and facts supporting any conclusion that the exporting Party reaches. After receiving the report, the importing Party shall notify the exporting Party of any action it will take under paragraph 6(a)(ii) or (iii) or 6(b)(ii) or (iii), based on the information provided in the report.

8. On the written request of a Party, two or more Parties shall enter into consultations to resolve any technical or interpretive difficulties that may arise, or to discuss ways to improve customs cooperation, regarding the application of this Article. Unless the consulting Parties otherwise agree, consultations shall begin within 30 days after delivery of the request, and conclude within 90 days after delivery.

9. A Party may request technical or other assistance from any other Party in implementing this Article. The Party receiving such a request shall make every effort to respond favorably and promptly to it.

Article 3.25: Rules of Origin and Related Matters

Consultations on Rules of Origin

1. On request of a Party, the Parties shall, within 30 days after the request is delivered, consult on whether the rules of origin applicable to a particular textile or apparel good should be modified.

2. In the consultations referred to in paragraph 1, each Party shall consider all data that a Party presents demonstrating substantial production in its territory of the good. The Parties shall consider that there is substantial production if a Party demonstrates that its domestic producers are capable of supplying commercial quantities of the good in a timely manner.

3. The Parties shall endeavor to conclude the consultations within 90 days after delivery of the request. If the Parties reach an agreement to modify a rule of origin for a particular good, the agreement shall supersede that rule of origin when approved by the Parties in accordance with Article 19.1.3(b) (The Free Trade Commission).

Fabrics, Yarns, and Fibers Not Available in Commercial Quantities

4.

(a) At the request of an interested entity, the United States shall, within 30 business days of receiving the request, add a fabric, fiber, or yarn in an unrestricted or restricted quantity to the list in Annex 3.25, if the United States determines, based on information supplied by interested entities, that the fabric, fiber, or yarn is not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the territory of any Party, or if no interested entity objects to the request.

(b) If there is insufficient information to make the determination in subparagraph (a), the United States may extend the period within which it must make that determination by no more than 14 business days, in order to meet with interested entities to substantiate the information.

(c) If the United States does not make the determination in subparagraph (a) within 15 business days of the expiration of the period within which it must make that determination, as specified in subparagraph (a) or (b), the United States shall grant the request.

(d) The United States may, within six months after adding a restricted quantity of a fabric, fiber, or yarn to the list in Annex 3.25 pursuant to subparagraph (a), eliminate the restriction.

(e) If the United States determines before the date of entry into force of this Agreement that any fabrics or yarns not listed in Annex 3.25 are not available in commercial quantities in the United States pursuant to section 112(b)(5)(B) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. § 3721(b)), section 204(b)(3)(B)(ii) of the Andean Trade Preference Act (19 U.S.C. § 3203(b)(3)(B)(ii)), or section 213(b)(2)(A)(v)(II) of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (19 U.S.C. § 2703(b)(2)(A)(v)(II)), the United States shall add such fabrics or yarns in an unrestricted quantity to the list in Annex 3.25.

5. At the request of an interested entity made no earlier than six months after the United States has added a fabric, yarn, or fiber in an unrestricted quantity to Annex 3.25 pursuant to paragraph 4, the United States may, within 30 business days after it receives the request:

(a) delete the fabric, yarn, or fiber from the list in Annex 3.25; or

(b) introduce a restriction on the quantity of the fabric, yarn, or fiber added to Annex 3.25, if the United States determines, based on the information supplied by interested entities, that the fabric, yarn, or fiber is available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the territory of any Party. Such deletion or restriction shall not take effect until six months after the United States publishes its determination.

6. Promptly after the date of entry into force of this Agreement, the United States shall publish the procedures it will follow in considering requests under paragraphs 4 and 5.

De Minimis

7. A textile or apparel good that is not an originating good because certain fibers or yarns used in the production of the component of the good that determines the tariff classification of the good do not undergo an applicable change in tariff classification set out in Annex 4.1 (Specific Rules of Origin), shall nonetheless be considered to be an originating good if the total weight of all such fibers or yarns in that component is not more than ten percent of the total weight of that component.4

8. Notwithstanding paragraph 7, a good containing elastomeric yarns5 in the component of the good that determines the tariff classification of the good shall originate only if such yarns are wholly formed in the territory of a Party.6

Treatment of Sets

9. Notwithstanding the specific rules of origin in Annex 4.1 (Specific Rules of Origin), textile or apparel goods classifiable as goods put up in sets for retail sale as provided for in General Rule of Interpretation 3 of the Harmonized System, shall not be regarded as originating goods unless each of the products in the set is an originating good or the total value of the nonoriginating goods in the set does not exceed ten percent of the adjusted value of the set.

Treatment of Nylon Filament Yarn

10. A textile or apparel good that is not an originating good because certain yarns used in the production of the component of the good that determines the tariff classification of the good do not undergo an applicable change in tariff classification set out in Annex 4.1 (Specific Rules of Origin), shall nonetheless be considered to be an originating good if the yarns are those described in section 204(b)(3)(B)(vi)(IV) of the Andean Trade Preference Act (19 U.S.C. § 3203(b)(3)(B)(vi)(IV)).

Article 3.26: Most-Favored-Nation Rates of Duty on Certain Goods

For a textile or apparel good provided for in chapters 61 through 63 of the Harmonized System that is not an originating good, the United States shall apply its MFN rate of duty only on the value of the assembled good minus the value of fabrics formed in the United States, components knit-to-shape in the United States, and any other materials of U.S. origin used in the production of such a good, provided that the good is sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of another Party or Parties with thread wholly formed in the United States, from fabrics wholly formed in the United States and cut in one or more Parties, or from components knit-to-shape in the United States, or both.7

Article 3.27: Preferential Tariff Treatment for Wool Apparel Goods Assembled in Costa Rica

Annex 3.27 sets out provisions applicable to certain apparel goods of Costa Rica.

Article 3.28: Preferential Tariff Treatment for Non-Originating Apparel Goods of Nicaragua

Annex 3.28 sets out provisions applicable to certain apparel goods of Nicaragua.

Article 3.29: Definitions

For purposes of this Section:

claim of origin means a claim that a textile or apparel good is an originating good or a good of a Party;

exporting Party means the Party from whose territory a textile or apparel good is exported;

importing Party means the Party into whose territory a textile or apparel good is imported;

interested entity means a Party, a potential or actual purchaser of a textile or apparel good, or a potential or actual supplier of a textile or apparel good;

textile or apparel good means a good listed in the Annex to the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, except for those goods listed in Annex 3.29;

textile safeguard measure means a measure applied under Article 3.23.1; and transition period means the five-year period beginning on the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

Section H: Institutional Provisions

Article 3.30: Committee on Trade in Goods

1. The Parties hereby establish a Committee on Trade in Goods, comprising representatives of each Party.

2. The Committee shall meet on the request of a Party or the Commission to consider any matter arising under this Chapter, Chapter Four (Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures), or Chapter Five (Customs Administration and Trade Facilitation).

3. The Committee’s functions shall include:

(a) promoting trade in goods between the Parties, including through consultations on accelerating tariff elimination under this Agreement and other issues as appropriate;

(b) addressing barriers to trade in goods between the Parties, especially those related to the application of non-tariff measures, and, if appropriate, referring such matters to the Commission for its consideration; and

(c) providing to the Committee on Trade Capacity Building advice and recommendations on technical assistance needs regarding matters relating to this Chapter, Chapter Four (Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures), or Chapter Five (Customs Administration and Trade Facilitation).

Section I: Definitions

Article 3.31: Definitions

For purposes of this Chapter:

AD Agreement means the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994;

advertising films and recordings means recorded visual media or audio materials, consisting essentially of images and/or sound, showing the nature or operation of goods or services offered for sale or lease by a person established or resident in the territory of a Party, provided that such materials are of a kind suitable for exhibition to prospective customers, but not for broadcast to the general public;

Agreement on Textiles and Clothing means the WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing;

agricultural goods means those goods referred to in Article 2 of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture;

commercial samples of negligible value means commercial samples having a value, individually or in the aggregate as shipped, of not more than one U.S. dollar, or the equivalent amount in the currency of another Party, or so marked, torn, perforated, or otherwise treated that they are unsuitable for sale or for use except as commercial samples;

consular transactions means requirements that goods of a Party intended for export to the territory of another Party must first be submitted to the supervision of the consul of the importing Party in the territory of the exporting Party for the purpose of obtaining consular invoices or consular visas for commercial invoices, certificates of origin, manifests, shippers’ export declarations, or any other customs documentation required on or in connection with importation;

consumed means

(a) actually consumed; or

(b) further processed or manufactured so as to result in a substantial change in value, form, or use of the good or in the production of another good;

duty-free means free of customs duty;

export subsidies shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Article 1(e) of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture, including any amendment of that article;

goods intended for display or demonstration includes their component parts, ancillary apparatus, and accessories;

goods temporarily admitted for sports purposes means sports requisites for use in sports contests, demonstrations, or training in the territory of the Party into whose territory such goods are admitted;

import licensing means an administrative procedure requiring the submission of an application or other documentation (other than that generally required for customs clearance purposes) to the relevant administrative body as a prior condition for importation into the territory of the importing Party;

Import Licensing Agreement means the WTO Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures;

performance requirement means a requirement that:

(a) a given level or percentage of goods or services be exported;

(b) domestic goods or services of the Party granting a waiver of customs duties or import license be substituted for imported goods;

(c) a person benefiting from a waiver of customs duties or an import license purchase other goods or services in the territory of the Party granting the waiver of customs duties or the import license, or accord a preference to domestically produced goods;

(d) a person benefiting from a waiver of customs duties or an import license produce goods or supply services, in the territory of the Party granting the waiver of customs duties or the import license, with a given level or percentage of domestic content; or

(e) relates in any way the volume or value of imports to the volume or value of exports or to the amount of foreign exchange inflows, but does not include a requirement that:

(f) an imported good be subsequently exported;

(g) an imported good be used as a material in the production of another good that is subsequently exported;

(h) an imported good be substituted by an identical or similar good used as a material in the production of another good that is subsequently exported; or

(i) an imported good be substituted by an identical or similar good that is subsequently exported;

printed advertising materials means those goods classified in Chapter 49 of the Harmonized System, including brochures, pamphlets, leaflets, trade catalogues, yearbooks published by trade associations, tourist promotional materials, and posters, that are used to promote, publicize, or advertise a good or service, are essentially intended to advertise a good or service, and are supplied free of charge; and

SCM Agreement means the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.

Annex 3.2

National Treatment and Import and Export Restrictions

Section A: Measures of Costa Rica

Articles 3.2 and 3.8 shall not apply to:

(a) controls on the import of crude oil, its fuel, derivatives, asphalt, and gasoline pursuant to Law No. 7356 of September 6, 1993;

(b) controls on the export of wood in logs and boards from forests pursuant to Law No. 7575 of April 16, 1996;

(c) controls on the export of hydrocarbons pursuant to Law No. 7399 of May 3, 1994;

(d) controls on the export of coffee pursuant to Law No. 2762 of June 21, 1961;

(e) controls on the import and export of ethanol and crude rums pursuant to Law No. 8 of October 31, 1885;

(f) controls to establish a minimum export price for bananas, pursuant to Law No. 7472 of January 19, 1995; and

(g) actions authorized by the Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO.

Section B: Measures of the Dominican Republic

Articles 3.2 and 3.8 shall not apply to:

(a) controls on the importation of motor vehicles and motorcycles older than five years, and vehicles greater or equal to five tons older than 15 years, pursuant to Law No. 147 of December 27, 2000, and Law No. 12-01 of January 17, 2001;8

(b) controls on the importation of used household appliances, pursuant to Law No. 147 of December 27, 2000;9

(c) controls on the importation of used clothes, pursuant to Law No. 458 of January 3,

(d) controls on the importation of motor vehicles not suitable for operation, pursuant to Decree No. 671-02 of August 27, 2002;10 and

(e) actions by the Dominican Republic authorized by the Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO.

Section C: Measures of El Salvador

Articles 3.2 and 3.8 shall not apply to:

(a) controls on the importation of arms and ammunition, parts, and accessories included in HS Chapter 93, pursuant to Decree No. 655 of July 26, 1999 and its amendment pursuant to Decree No. 1035 of November 13, 2002;

(b) controls on the importation of motor vehicles older than eight years, and on buses and trucks older than 15 years, pursuant to Article 1 of Decree No. 357 of April 6, 2001;11

(c) controls on the importation of sacks and bags made out of jute and other similar textile fibers in subheading 6305.10 pursuant to Article 1 of Decree No. 1097 of July 10, 1953. El Salvador shall eliminate the controls identified in this subparagraph ten years after the date of entry into force of this Agreement; and

(d) actions authorized by the Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO.

Section D: Measures of Guatemala

Articles 3.2 and 3.8 shall not apply to:

(a) controls on the exportation of timber in round logs or worked logs and sawn timber measuring more than 11centimeters in thickness, pursuant to the Ley de Bosques Legislative Decree No. 101-96 of October 31, 1996;

(b) controls on the exportation of coffee pursuant to the Ley del Café, Legislative Decree No. 19-69 of April 22, 1969;

(c) controls on the importation of weapons pursuant to the Ley de Armas y Municiones, Legislative Decree No. 39-89 of June 29, 1989; and

(d) actions authorized by the Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO.

Section E: Measures of Honduras

Articles 3.2 and 3.8 shall not apply to:

(a) controls on the exportation of wood from broadleaved forests pursuant to Decree No. 323-98 of December 29, 1998;

(b) controls on the importation of arms and ammunitions pursuant to Article 292 of Decree No. 131 of January 11, 1982;

(c) controls on the importation of motor vehicles older than seven years and buses older than ten years pursuant to Article 7 of Decree No. 194-2002 of May 15, 2002;12 and

(d) actions authorized by the Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO.

Section F: Measures of Nicaragua

1. Articles 3.2 and 3.8 shall not apply to:

(a) controls on the exportation of basic foodstuffs provided that these controls are used to temporarily alleviate a critical shortage of that particular food item. For the purposes of this subparagraph, “temporarily” means up to one year, or such longer period as the United States and Nicaragua may agree;

(b) controls on the importation of motor vehicles older than seven years pursuant to Article 112 of Decree No. 453 of May 6, 2003;13 and

(c) actions authorized by the Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO.

2. For purposes of paragraph 1, “basic foodstuffs” include the following:

Beans
Brown sugar
Chicken meat
Coffee
Corn
Corn flour
Corn tortillas
Powdered milk
Rice
Salt
Vegetable oil

3. Notwithstanding Articles 3.2 and 3.8, for the first ten years after the date of entry into force of this Agreement, Nicaragua may maintain its existing prohibitions or restrictions on the importation of the used goods set out below:

Tariff Classification Description

Subheading 4012.10 Used retreaded tires14

Subheading 4012.20
Used pneumatic tires15

Heading 63.09

Used clothing
Heading 63.10
Rags, scrap twine, cordage, rope, and cable, and worn out
or unusable articles of twine, cordage, rope, or cables, of
textile materials

(Note: Descriptions are provided for reference purposes only. To the extent of a conflict between the tariff classification and the description, the tariff classification governs.)

Section G: Measures of the United States

Articles 3.2 and 3.8 shall not apply to:

(a) controls on the export of logs of all species;

(b)

(i) measures under existing provisions of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, 46 App. U.S.C. § 883; the Passenger Vessel Act, 46 App. U.S.C. §§ 289, 292, and 316; and 46 U.S.C. § 12108, to the extent that such measures were mandatory legislation at the time of the accession of the United States to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1947 (GATT 1947) and have not been amended so as to decrease their conformity with Part II of the GATT 1947;

(ii) the continuation or prompt renewal of a non-conforming provision of any statute referred to in clause (i); and

(iii) the amendment to a non-conforming provision of any statute referred to in clause (i) to the extent that the amendment does not decrease the conformity of the provision with Articles 3.2 and 3.8;

(c) actions authorized by the Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO; and

(d) actions authorized by the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing.

Annex 3.3

Tariff Elimination

1. Except as otherwise provided in a Party’s Schedule to this Annex, the following staging categories apply to the elimination of customs duties by each Party pursuant to Article 3.3.2:

(a) duties on goods provided for in the items in staging category A in a Party’s Schedule shall be eliminated entirely and such goods shall be duty-free:

(i) for textile or apparel goods:

(A) as of January 1, 2004, with respect to those goods to which Article 3.20.1 applies; or

(B) with respect to any other such goods, on the date this Agreement enters into force; and

(ii) for all other goods, on the date this Agreement enters into force;

(b) duties on goods provided for in the items in staging category B in a Party’s Schedule shall be removed in five equal annual stages beginning on the date this Agreement enters into force, and such goods shall be duty-free, effective January 1 of year five;

(c) duties on goods provided for in the items in staging category C in a Party’s Schedule shall be removed in ten equal annual stages beginning on the date this Agreement enters into force, and such goods shall be duty-free, effective January 1 of year ten;

(d) duties on goods provided for in the items in staging category D in a Party’s Schedule shall be removed in 15 equal annual stages beginning on the date this Agreement enters into force, and such goods shall be duty-free, effective January 1 of year 15;

(e) duties on goods provided for in the items in staging category E in a Party’s Schedule shall remain at base rates for years one through six. Duties on these goods shall be reduced by 8.25 percent of the base rate on January 1 of year seven, and by an additional 8.25 percent of the base rate each year thereafter through year ten. Beginning on January 1 of year 11, duties shall be reduced by an additional 13.4 percent of the base rate annually through year 15, and such goods shall be duty-free effective January 1 of year 15;

(f) duties on goods provided for in the items in staging category F in a Party’s Schedule shall remain at base rates for years one through ten. Beginning January 1 of year 11, duties shall be reduced in ten equal annual stages, and such goods shall be duty-free effective January 1 of year 20;

(g) goods provided for in the items in staging category G in a Party’s Schedule shall continue to receive duty-free treatment; and

(h) goods provided for in the items in staging category H in a Party’s Schedule shall continue to receive most-favored-nation treatment.

2. The base rate of customs duty and staging category for determining the interim rate of customs duty at each stage of reduction for an item are indicated for the item in each Party’s Schedule.

3. For the purpose of the elimination of customs duties in accordance with Article 3.3, interim staged rates shall be rounded down, at least to the nearest tenth of a percentage point or, if the rate of duty is expressed in monetary units, at least to the nearest 0.001 of the official monetary unit of the Party.

4. If this Agreement enters into force for a Central American Party or the Dominican Republic as provided in Article 22.5.2 (Entry into Force), the Party shall apply the rates of duty set out in its Schedule as if the Agreement had entered into force for that Party on the date the Agreement entered into force as provided in Article 22.5.1 (Entry into Force).

5. For purposes of this Annex and a Party’s Schedule, year one means the year the Agreement enters into force as provided in Article 22.5.1 (Entry into Force).

6. Notwithstanding paragraph 5, for purposes of the tariff treatment of textile or apparel goods to which Article 3.20.1 applies, year one shall be the year beginning January 1, 2004. Any Party that provides written notice under Article 3.20.2 shall apply the rates of duty set out in its Schedule for textile or apparel goods as if the Agreement had entered into force for that Party on January 1, 2004.

7. For purposes of this Annex and a Party’s Schedule, beginning in year two, each annual stage of tariff reduction shall take effect on January 1 of the relevant year.

Annex 3.3.4

Implementation of Modifications Approved by the Parties
to Accelerate the Elimination of Customs Duties

In the case of Costa Rica, agreements of the Parties under Article 3.3.4 will be equivalent to the instrument referred to in Article 121.4, third paragraph (protocolo de menor rango) of the Constitución Política de la República de Costa Rica.

Annex 3.3.616

1. Except as otherwise provided in this Annex:

(a) each Central American Party shall provide duty-free treatment to any good imported directly from the territory of the Dominican Republic that meets the rules of origin for the good set out in Chapter Four (Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures); and

(b) the Dominican Republic shall provide duty-free treatment to any good imported directly from the territory of a Central American Party that meets the rules of origin for the good set out in Chapter Four (Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures).

2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1:

(a) each Central American Party may assess a duty of up to 15 percent ad valorem on any good classified under tariff items 1507.90.00, 1508.90.00, 1509.90.00, 1510.00.00, 1511.90.90 (except palm stearin), 1512.19.00, 1512.29.00, 1513.19.00, 1513.29.00, 1514.19.00, 1514.99.00, 1515.19.00, 1515.29.00, 1515.30.00, 1515.40.00, 1515.50.00, 1515.90.10, 1515.90.20, 1515.90.90, 1516.10.00, 1516.20.10, 1516.20.90, 1517.10.00, 1517.90.10, 1517.90.20, 1517.90.90, or 1518.00.00 that is imported directly from the territory of the Dominican Republic and that meets the rules of origin for the good set out in Chapter Four (Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures); and

(b) the Dominican Republic may assess a duty of up to 15 percent ad valorem on any good classified under tariff items 1507.90.00, 1508.90.00, 1509.90.00, 1510.00.00, 1511.90.00 (except palm stearin), 1512.19.00, 1512.29.00, 1513.19.00, 1513.29.10, 1513.29.20, 1514.91.00, 1514.99.00, 1515.19.00, 1515.29.00, 1515.30.00, 1515.40.00, 1515.50.00, 1515.90.90, 1516.10.00, 1516.20.00, 1517.10.00, 1517.90.00, 1518.00.10, or 1518.00.90 that is imported directly from the territory of a Central American Party and that meets the rules of origin for the good set out in Chapter Four (Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures).

3. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, for any good classified under heading 2710, except mineral solvents, 2712, 2713, except subheading 2713.20, or 2715 that meets the rules of origin for the good set out in Chapter Four (Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures):

(a) each Central American Party shall eliminate duties on any such good imported directly from the territory of the Dominican Republic as follows: Duties on such goods shall remain at base rates for years one through five. Beginning on January 1 of year six, duties shall be reduced by eight percent of the base rate annually through year ten. Beginning on January 1 of year 11, duties shall be reduced by an additional 12 percent of the base rate annually through year 14, and such goods shall be duty-free effective January 1 of year 15; and

(b) the Dominican Republic shall eliminate duties on any such good imported directly from the territory of a Central American Party as follows: Duties on such goods shall remain at base rates for years one through five. Beginning on January 1 of year six, duties shall be reduced by eight percent of the base rate annually through year ten. Beginning on January 1 of year 11, duties shall be reduced by an additional 12 percent of the base rate annually through year 14, and such goods shall be duty-free effective January 1 of year 15.

4. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to any good listed in Appendix 3.3.6.4 that meets the rules of origin for the good set out in Chapter Four (Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures).17

5. An importing Party may deny the preferential tariff treatment provided for in paragraphs 1 through 3 of this Annex if the good is produced in a duty-free zone or under another special tax or customs regime in the territory of a Central American Party or the Dominican Republic, as the case may be, provided however that the importing Party shall provide to any such good tariff treatment that is no less favorable than the tariff treatment it applies to the good when produced in its own duty-free zones or other special tax or customs regimes and entered into its territory.

6. The Central American Parties and the Dominican Republic may agree to modify the rules of origin set out in Appendix 3.3.6 (Special Rules of Origin), provided that they notify the United States and provide an opportunity for consultations regarding the proposed modifications at least 60 days before concluding any such agreement.

7. For purposes of this Annex:

(a) any reference in Chapter Four (Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures) to:

(i) a “Party” shall be understood to mean a Central American Party or the Dominican Republic; and

(ii) “Annex 4.1” shall be understood to mean Appendix 3.3.6;

(b) each Central American Party shall provide that a good shall not be considered to be imported directly from the territory of the Dominican Republic if the good:

(i) undergoes subsequent production or any other operation outside the territory of the Dominican Republic, other than unloading, reloading, or any other operation necessary to preserve the good in good condition or to transport the good to its territory; or

(ii) does not remain under the control of customs authorities in the territory of the United States or a non-Party; and

(c) The Dominican Republic shall provide that a good shall not be considered to be imported directly from the territory of a Central American Party if the good:

(i) undergoes subsequent production or any other operation outside the territory of the Central American Party, other than unloading, reloading, or any other operation necessary to preserve the good in good condition or to transport the good to its territory; or

(ii) does not remain under the control of customs authorities in the territory of the United States or a non-Party.

Appendix 3.3.6.4

Exceptions from Preferential Tariff Treatment

    HS No. Description
    0207.11 Chicken
    0207.12 Chicken
    0207.13 Chicken
    0207.14 Chicken
    0402.10 Milk powder
    0402.21 Milk powder
    0402.29 Milk powder
    0703.10 Onions
    0703.20 Garlic
    0713.31 Beans
    0713.32 Beans
    0713.33 Beans
    0901.11 Coffee
    0901.12 Coffee
    0901.21 Coffee
    0901.22 Coffee
    1006.10 Rice
    1006.20 Rice
    1006.30 Rice
    1006.40 Rice
    1101.00 Wheat flour
    1701.11 Sugar
    1701.91 Sugar
    1701.99 Sugar
    2203 Beer
    2207 Alcohol
    2208 Alcohol
    2401.20 Tobacco
    2402.20 Tobacco (only goods containing rubio)
    2403.10 Tobacco

Note: The descriptions provided in this Appendix are for reference purposes only.

Annex 3.11

Export Taxes

Costa Rica may maintain its existing taxes on the export of the following goods:

(a) bananas, pursuant to Law No. 5515 of April 19, 1974 and its amendment (Law No. 5538 of June 18, 1974), and Law No. 4895 of November 16, 1971 and its amendments (Law No. 7147 of April 30, 1990 and Law No. 7277 of December 17, 1991);

(b) coffee, pursuant to Law No. 2762 of June 21, 1961 and its amendment (Law No. 7551 of September 22, 1995); and

(c) meat, pursuant to Law No. 6247 of May 2, 1978 and Law No. 7837 of October 5, 1998.

Annex 3.15

Agricultural Safeguard Measures

General Notes

1. For each good listed in a Party’s Schedule to this Annex for which the agricultural safeguard trigger level is set out in that Schedule as a percentage of the applicable tariff-rate quota (TRQ), the trigger level in any year shall be determined by multiplying the in-quota quantity for that good for that year, as set out in Appendix I or, if applicable, Appendix II or III to the Party’s Schedule to Annex 3.3, by the applicable percentage. For each good listed in a Party’s Schedule to this Annex for which the trigger level is set out as a fixed initial amount in the Party’s Schedule, the trigger level set out in the Schedule shall be the trigger level in year one. The trigger level in any subsequent year shall be determined by adding to that amount the quantity derived by applying the applicable simple annual trigger growth rate to that amount. For purposes of this Annex, the term “year one” shall have the meaning given to that term in Annex 3.3.

2. For purposes of this Annex, prime and choice beef shall mean prime and choice grades of beef as defined in the United States Standards for Grades of Carcass Beef, promulgated pursuant to the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. §§ 1621-1627), as amended.

3.

(a) Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic shall conclude negotiations on the agricultural safeguard trigger levels to be applied to originating goods classified under tariff items 0207.13.91 and 0207.14.91 and subheadings 0402.10, 0402.21, and 0402.29 that are imported directly into the territory of Costa Rica from the territory of the Dominican Republic no later than one year after the date on which this Agreement enters into force with respect to Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic and any agreed trigger levels shall form part of this Annex.18

(b) At the expiration of the one-year period, if Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic have not reached an agreement with respect to the agricultural safeguard trigger levels for goods classified under the tariff items and subheadings listed in subparagraph (a), Costa Rica may apply an agricultural safeguard trigger level for such goods in an amount equivalent to 130 percent of the in-quota quantity of the applicable tariff-rate quota set out in Appendix II of Costa Rica’s General Notes to Annex 3.3.

4.

(a) Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic shall conclude negotiations on the agricultural safeguard trigger levels to be applied to originating goods classified under tariff items 0207.13.91 and 0207.14.91 and subheadings 0402.10, 0402.21, and 0402.29 that are imported directly into the territory of the Dominican Republic from the territory of Costa Rica no later than one year after the date on which this Agreement enters into force with respect to Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic and any agreed trigger levels shall form part of this Annex.19

(b) At the expiration of the one-year period, if Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic have not reached an agreement with respect to the agricultural safeguard trigger levels for goods classified under the tariff items and subheadings listed in subparagraph (a), the Dominican Republic may apply an agricultural safeguard trigger level for such goods in an amount equivalent to 130 percent of the in-quota quantity of the applicable tariff-rate quota set out in Appendix II of the Dominican Republic’s General Notes to Annex 3.3.

5.

(a) The Dominican Republic and Nicaragua shall conclude negotiations on the agricultural safeguard trigger levels to be applied to originating goods classified under tariff items 0207.13.91 and 0207.14.91 that are imported directly into the territory of Nicaragua from the territory of the Dominican Republic no later than one year after the date on which this Agreement enters into force with respect to the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua and any agreed trigger levels shall form part of this Annex.20

(b) At the expiration of the one-year period, if the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua have not reached an agreement with respect to the agricultural safeguard trigger levels for goods classified under the tariff items listed in subparagraph (a), Nicaragua may apply an agricultural safeguard trigger level for such goods in an amount equivalent to 130 percent of the in-quota quantity of the applicable tariff-rate quota set out in Appendix II of Nicaragua’s General Notes to Annex 3.3.

6.

(a) The Dominican Republic and Nicaragua shall conclude negotiations on the agricultural safeguard trigger levels to be applied to originating goods classified under tariff items 0207.13.91 and 0207.14.91 that are imported directly into the territory of the Dominican Republic from the territory of Nicaragua no later than one year after the date on which this Agreement enters into force with respect to the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua and any agreed trigger levels shall form part of this Annex.21

(b) At the expiration of the one-year period, if the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua have not reached an agreement with respect to the agricultural safeguard trigger levels for goods classified under the tariff items listed in subparagraph (a), the Dominican Republic may apply an agricultural safeguard trigger level for such goods in an amount equivalent to 130 percent of the in-quota quantity of the applicable tariff-rate quota set out in Appendix III of the Dominican Republic’s General Notes to Annex 3.3.

7. For purposes of this Annex:

Central America or Dominican Republic good shall mean a good that satisfies the requirements of Chapter Four (Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures), except that operations performed in or material obtained from the United States shall be considered as if the operations were performed in a non-Party and the material was obtained from a non-Party; and United States good shall mean a good that satisfies the requirements of Chapter Four (Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures), except a good produced entirely in and exclusively of materials obtained from the territory of a Central American Party, the Dominican Republic, or a non-Party.

Schedule of Costa Rica

Subject Goods and Trigger Levels

1. For purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 3.15, United States goods that may be subject to an agricultural safeguard measure and the trigger level for each such good are set out below:

Good Tariff Classification Trigger Level Annual Trigger Growth Rate
Beef 02011000, 02012000, 02013000, 02021000, 02022000, 02023000 150 MT 10%
Pork 02031100, 02031200, 02031900, 02032100, 02032200, 02032900 140% of TRQ
Chicken Leg Quarters 02071399, 02071499 130% of TRQ
Liquid Dairy 04011000, 04012000, 04013000 50 MT 10%
Milk Powder 04021000, 04022111, 04022112, 04022121, 04022122, 04022900 130% of TRQ
Butter and Dairy Spreads 04051000, 04052000 130% of TRQ
Cheese 04061000, 04062090, 04063000, 04069010, 04069020, 04069090 130% of TRQ
Ice Cream 21050000 130% of TRQ
Others Dairy Products 04029990, 22029090 130% of TRQ
Tomatoes 07020000 50 MT 10%
Carrots 07061000 50 MT 10%
Sweet Peppers 07096010 50 MT 10%
Potatoes 07101000 50 MT 10%
Beans 07133200, 07133310, 07133390, 07133990 1,200 MT 10%
White Corn 10059030 9,000 MT 10%
Rough Rice 10061090 110% of TRQ
Milled Rice 10062000, 10063010, 10063090, 10064000 110% of TRQ
Vegetable Oil 15079000, 15121900, 15122900, 15152900, 15162090, 15171000, 15179010, 15179090 1,178 MT 5%
High Fructose Corn Syrup 17023020, 17024000, 17026000, 17029090 50 MT 10%

Additional Import Duty

2. For purposes of paragraph 3 of Article 3.15, the additional import duty shall be:

(a) For sweet peppers as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through four, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years five through eight, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years nine through 11, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3.

(b) For vegetable oil and pork as listed in this Schedule: (i) in years one through nine, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years ten through 12, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 13 and 14, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3.

(c) For beef other than prime and choice beef as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through eight, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years nine through 11, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 12 through 14, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3.

(d) For chicken leg quarters as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through 13, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years 14 and 15, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in year 16, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3.

(e) For rice as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through 13, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years 14 through 16, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 17 through 19, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3.

(f) For liquid dairy, cheese, butter, milk powder, ice cream, and other dairy goods as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through 14, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years 15 through 17, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 18 and 19, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3.

(g) For goods listed in this Schedule and not specified in subparagraphs (a) through (f):

(i) in years one through five, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years six through ten, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 11 through 14, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3.

Schedule of the Dominican Republic

Subject Goods and Trigger Levels

1. For purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 3.15, United States goods that may be subject to an agricultural safeguard measure and the trigger level for each such good are set out below:

Good Tariff Classification Trigger Level Annual Trigger Growth Rate
Pork Cuts 02031100, 02031200, 02031900, 02032100, 02032200, 02032910, 02032990 130% of TRQ
Chicken Leg Quarters 02071492 130% of TRQ
Turkey 02072612, 02072710, 02072792, 02072793 130% of TRQ
Milk Powder 04021000, 04021090, 04022110, 04022190, 04022910, 04022990 130% of TRQ
Mozzarella Cheese 04061010 130% of TRQ
Cheddar Cheese 04069020 130% of TRQ
Other Cheeses 04061090, 04062000, 04063000, 04064000, 04069010, 04069030, 04069090 130% of TRQ
Beans 07133100, 07133200, 07133300 130% of TRQ
Fresh Potatoes 07019000 300 MT 10%
Onions 07031000 750 MT 10%
Garlic 07032000 50 MT 10%
Rough & Broken Rice 10061000, 10064000 700 MT 10%
Brown Rice 10062000 130% of TRQ
Milled Rice 10063000 130% of TRQ
Glucose 17023021 130% of TRQ
Vegetable Oil 15079000, 15122900, 15152900, 15171000 3,200 MT 10%
High Fructose Corn Syrup 17025000, 17026010, 17026021, 17026029 50 MT 10%

Additional Import Duty

2. For purposes of paragraph 3 of Article 3.15, the additional import duty shall be:

(a) For cheddar cheese, beans, onions, garlic, high fructose corn syrup, and vegetable oil as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through five, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of the Dominican Republic to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years six through ten, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of the Dominican Republic to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 11 through 14, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of the Dominican Republic to Annex 3.3.

(b) For turkey meat, fresh potatoes, and glucose as listed in this Schedule:

(i) for years one through four, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of the Dominican Republic to Annex 3.3;

(ii) for years five through eight, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of the Dominican Republic to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) for years nine through 11, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of the Dominican Republic to Annex 3.3.

(c) For pork cuts as listed in this Schedule:

(i) for years one through nine, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of the Dominican Republic to Annex 3.3;

(ii) for years ten through 12, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of the Dominican Republic to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) for years 13 and 14, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of the Dominican Republic to Annex 3.3.

(d) For chicken leg quarters, mozzarella cheese, milk powder, and rice as listed in this Schedule:

(i) for years one through 14, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of the Dominican Republic to Annex 3.3;

(ii) for years 15 through 17, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of the Dominican Republic to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) for years 18 and 19, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of the Dominican Republic to Annex 3.3.

(e) For other cheese as listed in this Schedule:

(i) for years one through four, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of the Dominican Republic to Annex 3.3;

(ii) for years five through seven, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of the Dominican Republic to Annex 3.3; and

(ii) for years eight and nine, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of the Dominican Republic to Annex 3.3.

Schedule of El Salvador

Subject Goods and Trigger Levels

1. For purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 3.15, United States goods that may be subject to an agricultural safeguard measure and the trigger level for each such good are set out below:

Good Tariff Classification Trigger Level Annual Trigger Growth Rate
Chicken Leg Quarters 02071399, 02071499, 16023200 130% of TRQ
Liquid Dairy 04011000, 04012000, 04013000 130% of TRQ
Milk Powder 04021000, 04022111, 04022112, 04022121, 04022122, 04022900 130% of TRQ
Buttermilk, Curdled Cream and Yogurt 04031000, 04039010, 04039090 130% of TRQ
Butter 04051000, 04052000, 04059090 130% of TRQ
Cheese 04061000, 04062090, 04063000, 04069010, 04069020, 04069090 130% of TRQ
Ice Cream 21050000 130% of TRQ
Other Dairy Products 21069020 130% of TRQ
Pork 02031100, 02031200, 02031900, 02032100, 02032200, 02032900 130% of TRQ
Rough Rice 10061090 110% of TRQ
Milled Rice 10062000, 10063010, 10063090, 10064000 110% of TRQ
Parboiled Rice 1006 110% of TRQ
Beans 07133200, 07133390, 07133310 60 MT 10%
Sorghum 10070090 110% of TRQ
Vegetable Oil 15079000, 15122900, 15152900, 15162090, 15121900 8,000 MT 5%
Canned Meat 16010010, 16010030, 16010080, 16010090, 16024990 400 MT 10%
High Fructose Corn Syrup 17023020, 17024000, 17025000, 17026000 75 MT 10%

Additional Import Duty

2. For purposes of paragraph 3 of Article 3.15, the additional import duty shall be:

(a) For liquid dairy, milk powder, butter, cheese, ice cream, other dairy products, buttermilk, curdled cream and yogurt goods as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through 14, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of El Salvador to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years 15 through 17, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of El Salvador to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 18 and 19, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of El Salvador to Annex 3.3.

(b) For rough rice, milled rice, parboiled rice and chicken leg quarters as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through 13, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of El Salvador to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years 14 and 15, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of El Salvador to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 16 and 17, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of El Salvador to Annex 3.3;

(c) For pork as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through nine, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of El Salvador to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years ten through 12, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of El Salvador to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 13 and 14, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of El Salvador to Annex 3.3.

(d) For vegetable oil and canned meat as listed in this Schedule that are subject to duty elimination under staging category N:

(i) in years one through four, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of El Salvador to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years five through eight, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of El Salvador to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years nine through 11, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of El Salvador to Annex 3.3.

(e) For goods listed in this Schedule and not specified in subparagraphs (a) through (d):

(i) in years one through five, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of El Salvador to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years six through ten, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of El Salvador to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 11 through 14, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of El Salvador to Annex 3.3.

Schedule of Guatemala

Subject Goods and Trigger Levels

1. For purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 3.15, United States goods that may be subject to an agricultural safeguard measure and the trigger level for each such good are set out below:

Good Tariff Classification Trigger Level Annual Trigger Growth Rate
Chicken Leg Quarters 02071399, 02071499, 16023200 130% of TRQ
Liquid Dairy 04011000, 04012000 50 MT 10%
Cheese 04061000, 04062090, 04063000, 04069010, 04069020, 04069090 130% of TRQ
Milk Powder 04021000, 04022111, 04022112, 04022121, 04022122, 04022900, 04039010, 04039090 130% of TRQ
Butter 04051000, 0405200, 04059090, 04013000 130% of TRQ
Ice Cream 21050000 130% of TRQ
Other Dairy Products 22029090 130% of TRQ
Pork 02031100, 02031200, 02031900, 02032100, 02032200, 02032900 130% of TRQ
Rough Rice 10061090 110% of TRQ
Milled Rice 10062000, 10063010, 10063090, 10064000 110% of TRQ
Whole Beans 07133310 50 MT 5%
Vegetable Oil 15162090, 15162010, 15152900, 15122900, 15121900, 15079000 2,600 MT 5%
Pimientos 07096010 25MT 10%
Fresh Tomatoes 07020000 150MT 10%
High Fructose Corn Syrup 17026000 50MT 10%
Fresh Potatoes 07019000 350MT 10%
Onions 07031012 64 MT 10%

Additional Import Duty

2. For purposes of paragraph 3 of Article 3.15, the additional import duty shall be:

(a) For liquid dairy, cheese, milk powder, butter and ice cream goods as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through 14, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Guatemala to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years 15 through 17, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Guatemala to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 18 and 19, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Guatemala to Annex 3.3.

(b) For chicken leg quarters, rough rice, and milled rice as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through 13, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Guatemala to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years 14 and 15, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Guatemala to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 16 and 17, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Guatemala to Annex 3.3.

(c) For pork, fresh potatoes, high fructose corn syrup and vegetable oil as listed in this Schedule that are subject to duty elimination under staging category D:

(i) in years one through five, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Guatemala to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years six through ten, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Guatemala to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 11 through 14, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Guatemala to Annex 3.3.

(d) For whole beans as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through nine, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Guatemala to Annex 3.3;

(ii) for years ten through 12, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Guatemala to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) for years 13 and 14, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Guatemala to Annex 3.3.

(e) For pimientos, onions, tomatoes, vegetable oil, and other dairy goods as listed in this Schedule that are subject to duty elimination under staging category C:

(i) in years one through four, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Guatemala to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years five through seven, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Guatemala to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years eight and nine, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Guatemala to Annex 3.3.

Schedule of Honduras

Subject Goods and Trigger Levels

1. For purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 3.15, United States goods that may be subject to an agricultural safeguard measure and the trigger level for each such good are set out below:

Good Tariff Classification Trigger Level Annual Trigger Growth Rate
Pork 02031100, 02031200, 02031900, 02032100, 02032200, 02032900 130% of TRQ
Chicken Leg Quarters 02071399, 02071499, 16023200 130% of TRQ
Liquid Dairy 04011000, 04012000, 04013000 50 MT 10%
Milk Powder 04021000, 04022111, 04022112, 04022121, 04022122, 04022900 130% of TRQ
Butter 04051000 04052000, 04059090 130% of TRQ
Cheese 04061000, 04062090, 04063000, 04069010, 04069020, 04069090 130% of TRQ
Ice Cream 21050000 130% of TRQ
Other Dairy Products 22029090 130% of TRQ
Rough rice 10061090 110% of TRQ
Milled rice 10061020, 10063010, 10063090, 10064010, 10064090 110% of TRQ
Onions 07031011, 07031012 480 MT 10%
Wheat Flour 11010000 210 MT 10%
Vegetable Oil 15079000, 15121900, 15122900, 15152900, 15162090, 15171000, 15179010, 15179090 3,500 MT 5%
Processed Meat 16010090 140 MT 10%
High Fructose Corn Syrup 17023020, 17024000, 17026000 214 MT 10%

Additional Import Duty

2. For purposes of paragraph 3 of Article 3.15, the additional import duty shall be:

(a) For pork as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through nine, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Honduras to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years ten through 12, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Honduras to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 13 and 14, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Honduras to Annex 3.3.

(b) For chicken leg quarters, rough rice, and milled rice as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through 13, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Honduras to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years 14 and 15, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Honduras to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 16 and 17, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Honduras to Annex 3.3.

(c) For liquid dairy, milk powder, butter, cheese, other dairy goods, and ice cream as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through 14, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Honduras to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years 15 through 17, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Honduras to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 18 and 19, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Honduras to Annex 3.3.

(d) For onions, wheat flour, vegetable oil, processed meat, and high fructose corn syrup goods as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through five, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Honduras to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years six through ten, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Honduras to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 11 through 14, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Honduras to Annex 3.3.

Schedule of Nicaragua

Subject Goods and Trigger Levels

1. For purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 3.15, United States goods that may be subject to an agricultural safeguard measure and the trigger level for each such good are set out below:

Good Tariff Classification Trigger Level Annual Trigger Growth Rate
Beef 02011000, 02012000, 02013000, 02021000, 02022000, 02023000 300 MT 10%
Chicken Leg Quarters 02071399, 02071499, 16023200 130% of TRQ
Liquid Dairy 0401100011, 0401100019, 0401100020, 0401200011, 0401200019, 0401200020, 0401300011, 0401300019, 0401300020 50 MT 10%
Milk Powder 04021000, 04022111, 04022112, 04022121, 04022122, 04022900 130% of TRQ
Butter 04051000, 04052000 130% of TRQ
Cheese 04061000, 04062090, 04063000, 04064000, 04069010, 04069020, 04069090 130% of TRQ
Ice Cream 21050000 130% of TRQ
Other Dairy Products 1901909091, 1901909099, 22029090 130% of TRQ
Onions 07031011, 07031012 450 MT 10%
Beans 07133200 700 MT 10%
Yellow corn 10059020 115% of TRQ
Rough rice 10061090 110% of TRQ
Milled rice 10062000, 10063010, 10063090, 10064000 110% of TRQ
Sorghum 10070090 1,000 MT 10%
High Fructose Corn Syrup 17023020, 17024000, 17025000, 17026000 75 MT 10%

Additional Import Duty

2. For purposes of paragraph 3 of Article 3.15, the additional import duty shall be:

(a) For beef other than prime and choice beef as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through seven, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Nicaragua to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years eight through 11, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Nicaragua to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 12 through 14, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Nicaragua to Annex 3.3.

(b) For chicken leg quarters, rough rice, and milled rice as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through 13, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Nicaragua to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years 14 and 15, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Nicaragua to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 16 and 17, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Nicaragua to Annex 3.3.

(c) For liquid dairy, milk powder, butter, cheese, other dairy goods, and ice cream as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through 14, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Nicaragua to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years 15 through 17, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Nicaragua to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 18 and 19, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Nicaragua to Annex 3.3.

(d) For onions, beans, and high fructose corn syrup goods as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through five, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Nicaragua to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years six through ten, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Nicaragua to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 11 through 14, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Nicaragua to Annex 3.3.

(e) For yellow corn and sorghum as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through nine, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Nicaragua to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years ten through 12, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Nicaragua to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 13 and 14, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of Nicaragua to Annex 3.3.

Schedule of the United States

Subject Goods and Trigger Levels

1. For purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 3.15, Central America or Dominican Republic goods that may be subject to an agricultural safeguard measure and the trigger level for each such good are set out below:22

Good Tariff Classification Trigger Level
Cheese 04061008, 04061018, 04061028, 04061038, 04061048, 04061058, 04061068, 04061078, 04061088, 04062028, 04062033, 04062039, 04062048, 04062053, 04062063, 04062067, 04062071, 04062075, 04062079, 04062083, 04062087, 04062091, 04063018, 04063028, 04063038, 04063048, 04063053, 04063063, 04063067, 04063071, 04063075, 04063079, 04063083, 04063087, 04063091, 04064070, 04069012, 04069018, 04069032, 04069037, 04069042, 04069048, 04069054, 04069068, 04069074, 04069078, 04069084, 04069088, 04069092, 04069094, 04069097 19019036 130% of TRQ
Butter 04013075, 04022190, 04039065, 04039078, 04051020, 04052030, 04059020, 21069026, 21069036 130% of TRQ
Ice Cream 21050020 130% of TRQ
Fluid Fresh and Sour Cream 04013025, 04039016 130% of TRQ
Other Dairy 04022950, 04029170, 04029190, 04029945, 04029955, 04029990, 04031050, 04039095, 04041015, 04049050, 04052070, 15179060, 17049058, 18062026, 18062028, 18062036, 18062038, 18062082, 18062083, 18062087, 18062089, 18063206, 18063208, 18063216, 18063218, 18063270, 18063280, 18069008, 18069010, 18069018, 18069020, 18069028, 18069030, 19011030, 19011040, 19011075, 19011085, 19012015, 19012050, 19019043, 19019047, 21050040, 21069009, 21069066, 21069087, 22029028 130% of TRQ
Peanut Butter 20081115 130% of TRQ
Peanuts 12021080, 12022080, 20081135, 20081160 130% of TRQ

Additional Import Duty

2. For purposes of paragraph 3 of Article 3.15, the additional import duty shall be:

(a) For cheese, butter, ice cream, fluid fresh and sour cream, and other dairy goods as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through 14, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of the United States to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years 15 through 17, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of the United States to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 18 and 19, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of the United States to Annex 3.3.

(b) For peanuts and peanut butter goods as listed in this Schedule:

(i) in years one through five, less than or equal to 100 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of the United States to Annex 3.3;

(ii) in years six through ten, less than or equal to 75 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of the United States to Annex 3.3; and

(iii) in years 11 through 14, less than or equal to 50 percent of the difference between the appropriate MFN rate of duty as determined under Article 3.15.1 and the applicable tariff rate in the Schedule of the United States to Annex 3.3.

Annex 3.22

Elimination of Existing Quantitative Restrictions

1. For Costa Rica:

Category 340/640:

Cotton and man-made fiber shirts, for men and boys
Category 342/642: Cotton and man-made fiber skirts
Category 347/348: Cotton trousers, breeches, and shorts
Category 443: Wool suits, for men and boys
Category 447: Wool trousers, for men and boys

2.

For the Dominican Republic:

Category 338/638:

Knit fabric, cotton, and man-made fiber shirts, for men and boys
Category 339/639: Knit fabric, cotton, and man-made fiber shirts, for women and girls
Category 340/640: Cotton and man-made fiber shirts, for men and boys
Category 342/642: Cotton and man-made fiber skirts
Category 347/348: Cotton trousers, breeches, and shorts
Category 351/651: Cotton and man-made fiber nightwear
Category 433: Wool suits, for men and boys
Category 442: Wool skirts
Category 443: Wool suits, for men and boys
Category 444: Wool suits, for women and girls
Category 448: Wool trousers, for women and girls
Category 633: Man-made fiber suits, for men and boys
Category 647/648: Man-made fiber trousers, breeches, and shorts

3.

For El Salvador:

Category 340/640:

Cotton and man-made fiber shirts, for men and boys

4.

For Guatemala:

Category 340/640:

Cotton and man-made fiber shirts, for men and boys
Category 347/348: Cotton trousers, breeches, and shorts
Category 351/651: Cotton and man-made fiber nightwear
Category 443: Wool suits, for men and boys
Category 448: Wool trousers, for women and girls

Annex 3.25

Short Supply List

1 Velveteen fabrics classified in subheading 5801.23.
2 Corduroy fabrics classified in subheading 5801.22, containing 85 percent or more by weight of cotton and containing more than 7.5 wales per centimeter.
3 Fabrics classified in subheading 5111.11 or 5111.19, if hand-woven, with a loom width of less than 76 centimeter, woven in the United Kingdom in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Harris Tweed Association, Ltd., and so certified by the Association.
4 Fabrics classified in subheading 5112.30, weighing not more than 340 grams per square meter, containing wool, not less than 20 percent by weight of fine animal hair and not less than 15 percent by weight of man-made staple fibers.
5 Batiste fabrics classified in subheading 5513.11 or 5513.21, of square construction, of single yarns exceeding 76 metric count, containing between 60 and 70 warp ends and filling picks per square centimeter, of a weight not exceeding 110 grams per square meter.
6 Fabrics classified in subheading 5208.21, 5208.22, 5208.29, 5208.31, 5208.32, 5208.39, 5208.41, 5208.42, 5208.49, 5208.51, 5208.52, or 5208.59, of average yarn number exceeding 135 metric.
7 Fabrics classified in subheading 5513.11 or 5513.21, not of square construction, containing more than 70 warp ends and filling picks per square centimeter, of average yarn number exceeding 70 metric.
8 Fabrics classified in subheading 5210.21 or 5210.31, not of square construction, containing more than 70 warp ends and filling picks per square centimeter, of average yarn number exceeding 70 metric.
9 Fabrics classified in subheading 5208.22 or 5208.32, not of square construction, containing more than 75 warp ends and filling picks per square centimeter, of average yarn number exceeding 65 metric.
10 Fabrics classified in subheading 5407.81, 5407.82, or 5407.83, weighing less than 170 grams per square meter, having a dobby weave created by a dobby attachment.
11 Fabrics classified in subheading 5208.42 or 5208.49, not of square construction, containing more than 85 warp ends and filling picks per square centimeter, of average yarn number exceeding 85 metric.
12 Fabrics classified in subheading 5208.51, of square construction, containing more than 75 warp ends and filling picks per square centimeter, made with single yarns, of average yarn number equal to or exceeding 95 metric.
13 Fabrics classified in subheading 5208.41, of square construction, with a gingham pattern, containing more than 85 warp ends and filling picks per square centimeter, made with single yarns, of average yarn number equal to or exceeding 95 metric, and characterized by a check effect produced by the variation in color of the yarns in the warp and filling.
14 Fabrics classified in subheading 5208.41, with the warp colored with vegetable dyes, and the filling yarns white or colored with vegetable dyes, of average yarn number exceeding 65 metric.
15 Circular knit fabric, wholly of cotton yarns, exceeding 100 metric number per single yarn, classified in tariff item 6006.21.aa, 6006.22.aa, 6006.23.aa, or 6006.24.aa.
16 100% polyester crushed panne velour fabric of circular knit construction classified in tariff item 6001.92.aa.
17 Viscose rayon yarns classified in subheading 5403.31 or 5403.32.
18 Yarn of combed cashmere, combed cashmere blends, or combed camel hair classified in tariff item 5108.20.aa.
19 Two elastomeric fabrics used in waistbands, classified in tariff item 5903.90.bb: (1) a knitted outer-fusible material with a fold line that is knitted into the fabric. The fabric is a 45 millimeter wide base substrate, knitted in narrow width, synthetic fiber based (made of 49% polyester/43% elastomeric filament/8% nylon with a weight of 4.4 ounces, a 110/110 stretch, and a dull yarn), stretch elastomeric material with an adhesive (thermoplastic resin) coating. The 45 millimeter width is divided as follows: 34 millimeter solid, followed by a 3 millimeter seam allowing it to fold over, followed by 8 millimeter of solid; (2) a knitted inner-fusible material with an adhesive (thermoplastic resin) coating that is applied after going through a finishing process to remove all shrinkage from the product. The fabric is a 40 millimeter synthetic fiber based, stretch elastomeric fusible consisting of 80% nylon type 6 and 20% elastomeric filament with a weight of 4.4 ounces, a 110/110 stretch, and a dull yarn.
20 Fabrics classified in subheading 5210.21 or 5210.31, not of square construction, containing more than 70 warp ends and filling picks per square centimeter, of average yarn number exceeding 135 metric.
21 Fabrics classified in subheading 5208.22 or 5208.32, not of square construction, containing more than 75 warp ends and filling picks per square centimeter, of average yarn number exceeding 135 metric.
22 Fabrics classified in subheading 5407.81, 5407.82, or 5407.83, weighing less than 170 grams per square meter, having a dobby weave created by a dobby attachment of average yarn number exceeding 135 metric.
23 Cuprammonium rayon filament yarn classified in subheading 5403.39.
24 Fabrics classified in subheading 5208.42 or 5208.49, not of square construction, containing more than 85 warp ends and filling picks per square centimeter, of average yarn number exceeding 85 metric, of average yarn number exceeding 135 metric if the fabric is Oxford construction.
25 Single ring-spun yarn of yarn numbers 51 and 85 metric, containing 50 percent or more, but less than 85 percent, by weight of 0.9 denier or finer micro modal fiber, mixed solely with U.S. origin extra long pima cotton, classified in subheading 5510.30.
26 Tow of viscose rayon classified in heading 55.02.
27 100 percent cotton woven flannel fabrics, single ring-spun yarns of different colors, of yarn numbers 21 through 36 metric, classified in tariff item 5208.43.aa, of 2 x 2 twill weave construction, weighing not more than 200 grams per square meter.
28 Fabrics classified in the following tariff items of average yarn number exceeding 93 metric: 5208.21.aa, 5208.22.aa, 5208.29.aa, 5208.31.aa, 5208.32.aa, 5208.39.aa, 5208.41.aa, 5208.42.aa, 5208.49.aa, 5208.51.aa, 5208.52.aa, 5208.59.aa, 5210.21.aa, 5210.29.aa, 5210.31.aa, 5210.39.aa, 5210.41.aa, 5210.49.aa, 5210.51.aa, or 5210.59.aa.
29 Certain yarns of carded cashmere or of carded camel hair, classified in tariff item 5108.10.aa, used to produce woven fabrics classified in subheading 5111.11 or 5111.19.
30 Acid-dyeable acrylic tow classified in subheading 5501.30, for production of yarn classified in subheading 5509.31.
31 Untextured flat yarns of nylon classified in tariff item 5402.41.aa. The yarns are described as: (1) of nylon, 7 denier/5 filament nylon 66 untextured (flat) semi-dull yarn; multifilament, untwisted or with a twist not exceeding 50 turns/meter; (2) of nylon, 10 denier/7 filament nylon 66 untextured (flat) semi-dull yarn; multifilament, untwisted or with a twist not exceeding 50 turns/meter; or (3) of nylon, 12 denier/5 filament nylon 66 untextured (flat) semi-dull yarn; multifilament, untwisted or with a twist not exceeding 50 turns/meter.
32 Woven fabric classified in tariff item 5515.13.aa, combed of polyester staple fibers mixed with wool, and containing less than 36% by weight of wool.
33 Knitted fabric of 85% spun silk/15% wool (210 grams per square meter), classified in tariff item 6006.90.aa.
34 Woven fabrics classified in subheading 5512.99, containing 100% by weight of synthetic staple fibers, not of square construction, of average yarn number exceeding 55 metric.
35 Woven fabrics classified in subheadings 5512.21 or 5512.29, of 100% acrylic fibers, of average yarn number exceeding 55 metric.
36 Rayon filament sewing thread, classified in subheading 5401.20.
37 Poplin, ring spun, woven fabric of 97% cotton, 3% Lycra, classified in tariff item 5208.32.bb.
38 Polyester/Nylon/Spandex Synthetic Tri-blend (74/22/4%) woven fabric, classified in tariff item 5512.99.aa.
39 Two-way stretch woven fabric of polyester/rayon/spandex (62/32/6%), classified in tariff item 5515.19.aa.
40 Two-way stretch woven fabric of polyester/rayon/spandex (71/23/6%), classified in tariff item 5515.19.aa.
41 Dyed rayon blend (70% rayon/30% polyester) herringbone twill fabric, classified in subheading 5516.92, weighing more than 200 grams per square meter.
42 Printed 100% rayon herringbone fabric, classified in subheading 5516.14, weighing more than 200 grams per square meter.
43 Leaver’s Lace classified in subheading 5804.21 or 5804.29.

Note: This list shall remain in effect until the United States publishes a replacement list that makes changes to the list pursuant to Article 3.25.4 or 3.25.5. Any replacement list shall supersede this list and any prior replacement list, and the United States shall publish the replacement list at the same time that the United States makes a determination pursuant to Article 3.25.4, and six months after the United States makes a determination pursuant to Article 3.25.5. The United States shall transmit a copy of any replacement list to the other Parties at the time it publishes the list.

Annex 3.27

Preferential Tariff Treatment
for Wool Apparel Goods Assembled in Costa Rica

1. Subject to paragraph 4, the United States shall apply a rate of duty that is 50 percent of the MFN rate of duty to men’s, boys’, women’s, and girls’ tailored wool apparel goods in textile categories 433, 435 (suit-type jackets only), 442, 443, 444, 447, and 448, all within headings 6203 and 6204, if they meet all applicable conditions for preferential tariff treatment,23 and are both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of Costa Rica, regardless of the origin of the fabric used to make the goods.

2. For purposes of determining the quantity of square meter equivalents (SME) charged against the limits set out in paragraph 4, the conversion factors listed in Correlation: U.S. Textile and Apparel Category System with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States of America 2003, U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Textiles and Apparel, or successor publication, and reproduced in paragraph 3, shall apply.

3. The treatment described in paragraph 1 shall apply to the following goods:24

CAT SMEF Description Unit of Measure
433 30.10 M&B SUIT-TYPE JACKETS DZ
435 45.10 W&G SUIT-TYPE JACKETS25 DZ
442 15.00 W&G SKIRTS DZ
443 3.76 M&B SUITS NO
444 3.76 W&G SUITS NO
447 15.00 M&B SHORTS, TROUSERS, BREECHES DZ
448 15.00 W&G SHORTS, TROUSERS, BREECHES DZ

4. The treatment described in paragraph 1 shall be limited to goods imported into the territory of the United States up to a quantity of 500,000 SME in each of the first two years after the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

5. Costa Rica and the United States shall consult 18 months after the date of entry into force of this Agreement regarding the operation of this Annex and the availability of wool fabric in the region.

Annex 3.28

Preferential Tariff Treatment
for Non-Originating Apparel Goods of Nicaragua

1. Subject to paragraph 4, the United States shall apply the applicable rate of duty set out in its Schedule to Annex 3.3 to the cotton and man-made fiber apparel goods listed in paragraph 3 and provided for in chapters 61 and 62 of the Harmonized System, if they meet the applicable conditions for preferential tariff treatment other than the condition that they be originating goods, and are both cut or knit to shape, and sewn or otherwise assembled, in the territory of Nicaragua.

2. For purposes of determining the quantity of square meter equivalents (SME) that is charged against the annual quantity, the conversion factors listed in Correlation: U.S. Textile and Apparel Category System with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States of America 2003, U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Textiles and Apparel, or successor publication, and reproduced in paragraph 3, shall apply.

3. The treatment described in paragraph 1 shall apply to the following goods:26

CAT SMEF Description Unit of Measure

237

19.20

PLAYSUITS, SUNSUITS, ETC

DZ
239 6.30 BABIES' GARMENTS & CLOTHING ACCESS KG
330 1.40 COTTON HANDKERCHIEFS DZ
331 2.90 COTTON GLOVES AND MITTENS DPR
332 3.80 COTTON HOSIERY DPR
333 30.30 M&B SUIT-TYPE COATS, COTTON DZ
334 34.50 OTHER M&B COATS, COTTON DZ
335 34.50 W&G COTTON COATS DZ
336 37.90 COTTON DRESSES DZ
338 6.00 M&B COTTON KNIT SHIRTS DZ
339 6.00 W&G COTTON KNIT SHIRTS/BLOUSES DZ
340 20.10 M&B COTTON SHIRTS, NOT KNIT DZ
341 12.10 W&G COTTON SHIRTS/BLOUSES, NOT KNIT DZ
342 14.90 COTTON SKIRTS DZ
345 30.80 COTTON SWEATERS DZ
347 14.90 M&B COTTON TROUSERS/BREECHES/SHORTS DZ
348 14.90 W&G COTTON TROUSERS/BREECHES/SHORTS DZ
349 4.00 BRASSIERES, OTHER BODY SUPPORT GARMENTS DZ
350 42.60 COTTON DRESSING GOWNS, ROBES, ETC. DZ
351 43.50 COTTON NIGHTWEAR/PAJAMAS DZ
352 9.20 COTTON UNDERWEAR DZ
353 34.50 M&B COTTON DOWNFILLED COATS DZ
354 34.50 W&G COTTON DOWNFILLED COATS DZ
359 8.50 OTHER COTTON APPAREL KG
630 1.40 MMF HANDKERCHIEFS DZ
631 2.90 MMF GLOVES AND MITTENS DPR
632 3.80 MMF HOSIERY DPR
633 30.30 M&B MMF SUIT-TYPE COATS DZ
634 34.50 OTHER M&B MMF COATS DZ
635 34.50 W&G MMF COATS DZ
636 37.90 MMF DRESSES DZ
638 15.00 M&B MMF KNIT SHIRTS DZ
639 12.50 W&G MMF KNIT SHIRTS & BLOUSES DZ
640 20.10 M&B NOT-KNIT MMF SHIRTS DZ
641 12.10 W&G NOT-KNIT MMF SHIRTS & BLOUSES DZ
642 14.90 MMF SKIRTS DZ
643 3.76 M&B MMF SUITS NO
644 3.76 W&G MMF SUITS NO
645 30.80 M&B MMF SWEATERS DZ
646 30.80 W&G MMF SWEATERS DZ
647 14.90 M&B MMF TROUSERS/BREECHES/SHORTS DZ
648 14.90 W&G MMF TROUSERS/BREECHES/SHORTS DZ
649 4.00 MMF BRAS & OTHER BODY SUPPORT GARMENTS DZ
650 42.60 MMF ROBES, DRESSING GOWNS, ETC. DZ
651 43.50 MMF NIGHTWEAR & PAJAMAS DZ
652 13.40 MMF UNDERWEAR DZ
653 4.50 M&B MMF DOWNFILLED COATS DZ
654 34.50 W&G MMF DOWNFILLED COATS DZ
659 14.40 OTHER MMF APPAREL KG

4. The treatment described in paragraph 1 shall be limited as follows:

(a) in each of the first five years after the date of entry into force of this Agreement, to goods imported into the territory of the United States up to a quantity of 100,000,000 SME;

(b) in the sixth year, to goods imported into the territory of the United States up to a quantity of 80,000,000 SME;

(c) in the seventh year, to goods imported into the territory of the United States up to a quantity of 60,000,000 SME;

(d) in the eighth year, to goods imported into the territory of the United States up to a quantity of 40,000,000 SME; and

(e) in the ninth year, to goods imported into the territory of the United States up to a quantity of 20,000,000 SME.

Beginning the tenth year after the date of entry into force of this Agreement, this Annex shall cease to apply.

Annex 3.29

Textile or Apparel Goods Not Covered by Section G

HS No. Description
3005.90 Wadding, gauze, bandages, and the like
ex 3921.12 ex 3921.13 Ex
3921.90
Woven, knitted, or non-woven fabrics coated, covered, or laminated with plastics
Ex 6405.20 Footwear with soles and uppers of wool felt
Ex
6406.10
Footwear uppers of which 50% or more of the external surface area is textile material
Ex 6406.99 Leg warmers and gaiters of textile material
6501.00 Hat forms, hat bodies, and hoods of felt; plateaux and manchons of felt
6502.00 Hat shapes, plaited or made by assembling strips of any material
6503.00 Felt hats and other felt headgear
6504.00 Hats and other headgear, plaited or made by assembling strips of any material
6505.90 Hats and other headgear, knitted or made up from lace or other textile material
8708.21 Safety seat belts for motor vehicles
8804.00 Parachutes; their parts and accessories
9113.90 Watch straps, bands, and bracelets of textile materials
9502.91 Garments for dolls
Ex
9612.10
Woven ribbons of man-made fibers, other than those measuring less than 30 millimeters in width and permanently put up in cartridges

Note: Whether or not a textile or apparel good is covered by this Section shall be determined in accordance with the Harmonized System. The descriptions provided in this Annex are for reference purposes only.

Chapter Four

Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures

Section A: Rules of Origin

Article 4.1: Originating Goods

Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, each Party shall provide that a good is originating where:

(a) it is a good wholly obtained or produced entirely in the territory of one or more of the Parties;

(b) it is produced entirely in the territory of one or more of the Parties and

(i) each of the non-originating materials used in the production of the good undergoes an applicable change in tariff classification specified in Annex 4.1, or

(ii) the good otherwise satisfies any applicable regional value content or other requirements specified in Annex 4.1, and the good satisfies all other applicable requirements of this Chapter; or

(c) it is produced entirely in the territory of one or more of the Parties exclusively from originating materials.

Article 4.2: Regional Value Content

1. Where Annex 4.1 specifies a regional value content test to determine whether a good is originating, each Party shall provide that the importer, exporter, or producer may use a calculation of regional value content based on one or the other of the following methods:

(a) Method Based on Value of Non-Originating Materials (“Build-down Method”)

RVC = AV - VNM x 100
AV

(b) Method Based on Value of Originating Materials (“Build-up Method”)

RVC = VOM x 100
AV

where,

RVC is the regional value content, expressed as a percentage;

AV is the adjusted value;

VNM is the value of non-originating materials that are acquired and used by the producer in the production of the good; VNM does not include the value of a material that is self-produced; and

VOM is the value of originating materials acquired or self-produced, and used by the producer in the production of the good.

2. Each Party shall provide that all costs considered for the calculation of regional value content shall be recorded and maintained in conformity with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles applicable in the territory of the Party where the good is produced.

3. Where Annex 4.1 specifies a regional value content test to determine if an automotive good1 is originating, each Party shall provide that the importer, exporter, or producer may use a calculation of the regional value content of that good as provided in paragraph 1 or based on the following method:

Method for Automotive Products (“Net Cost Method”)

RVC = NC - VNM x 100
NC

where,

RVC is the regional value content, expressed as a percentage;

NC is the net cost of the good; and

VNM is the value of non-originating materials acquired and used by the producer in the production of the good; VNM does not include the value of a material that is selfproduced.

4. Each Party shall provide that, for purposes of the regional value content method in paragraph 3, the importer, exporter, or producer may use a calculation averaged over the producer’s fiscal year, using any one of the following categories, on the basis of all motor vehicles in the category or only those motor vehicles in the category that are exported to the territory of one or more of the other Parties:

(a) the same model line of motor vehicles in the same class of vehicles produced in the same plant in the territory of a Party;

(b) the same class of motor vehicles produced in the same plant in the territory of a Party; or

(c) the same model line of motor vehicles produced in the territory of a Party.

5. Each Party shall provide that, for purposes of calculating regional value content under paragraph 3 for automotive materials2 produced in the same plant, an importer, exporter, or producer may use a calculation:

(a) averaged:

(i) over the fiscal year of the motor vehicle producer to whom the good is sold;

(ii) over any quarter or month; or

(iii) over its fiscal year, provided that the good was produced during the fiscal year, quarter, or month forming the basis for the calculation;

(b) in which the average in subparagraph (a) is calculated separately for such goods sold to one or more motor vehicle producers; or

(c) in which the average in subparagraph (a) or (b) is calculated separately for those goods that are exported to the territory of one or more of the Parties.

Article 4.3: Value of Materials

Each Party shall provide that, for purposes of Articles 4.2 and 4.6, the value of a material shall be:

(a) for a material imported by the producer of the good, the adjusted value of the material;

(b) for a material acquired in the territory where the good is produced, the value, determined in accordance with Articles 1 through 8, Article 15, and the corresponding interpretative notes of the Customs Valuation Agreement in the same manner as for imported goods, with such reasonable modifications as may be required due to the absence of an importation; or

(c) for a material that is self-produced, (i) all the expenses incurred in the production of the material, including general expenses, and

(ii) an amount for profit equivalent to the profit added in the normal course of trade.

Article 4.4: Further Adjustments to the Value of Materials

1. Each Party shall provide that, for originating materials, the following expenses, where not included under Article 4.3, may be added to the value of the material:

(a) the costs of freight, insurance, packing, and all other costs incurred in transporting the material within a Party’s territory or between the territories of two or more Parties to the location of the producer;

(b) duties, taxes, and customs brokerage fees on the material paid in the territory of one or more of the Parties, other than duties and taxes that are waived, refunded, refundable, or otherwise recoverable, including credit against duty or tax paid or payable; and

(c) the cost of waste and spoilage resulting from the use of the material in the production of the good, less the value of renewable scrap or by-product.

2. Each Party shall provide that, for non-originating materials, the following expenses, where included under Article 4.3, may be deducted from the value of the material:

(a) the costs of freight, insurance, packing, and all other costs incurred in transporting the material within a Party’s territory or between the territories of two or more Parties to the location of the producer;

(b) duties, taxes and customs brokerage fees on the material paid in the territory of one or more of the Parties, other than duties and taxes that are waived, refunded, refundable, or otherwise recoverable, including credit against duty or tax paid or payable;

(c) the cost of waste and spoilage resulting from the use of the material in the production of the good, less the value of renewable scrap or by-product; and

(d) the cost of originating materials used in the production of the non-originating material in the territory of a Party.

Article 4.5: Accumulation

1. Each Party shall provide that originating goods or materials of one or more of the Parties, incorporated into a good in the territory of another Party, shall be considered to originate in the territory of that other Party.

2. Each Party shall provide that a good is originating where the good is produced in the territory of one or more of the Parties by one or more producers, provided that the good satisfies the requirements in Article 4.1 and all other applicable requirements in this Chapter.

Article 4.6: De Minimis

1. Except as provided in Annex 4.6, each Party shall provide that a good that does not undergo a change in tariff classification pursuant to Annex 4.1 is nonetheless originating if the value of all non-originating materials used in the production of the good and that do not undergo the applicable change in tariff classification does not exceed ten percent of the adjusted value of the good, provided that the value of such non-originating materials shall be included in the value of non-originating materials for any applicable regional value content requirement and that the good meets all other applicable requirements in this Chapter.

2. With respect to a textile or apparel good, Article 3.25.7 (Rules of Origin and Related Matters) applies in place of paragraph 1.

Article 4.7: Fungible Goods and Materials

1. Each Party shall provide that an importer may claim that a fungible good or material is originating where the importer, exporter, or producer has:

(a) physically segregated each fungible good or material; or

(b) used any inventory management method, such as averaging, last-in-first-out (LIFO) or first-in-first-out (FIFO), recognized in the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles of the Party in which the production is performed or otherwise accepted by the Party in which the production is performed.

2. Each Party shall provide that the inventory management method selected under paragraph 1 for a particular fungible good or material shall continue to be used for that good or material throughout the fiscal year of the person that selected the inventory management method.

Article 4.8: Accessories, Spare Parts, and Tools

1. Each Party shall provide that a good’s standard accessories, spare parts, or tools delivered with the good shall be treated as originating goods if the good is an originating good and shall be disregarded in determining whether all the non-originating materials used in the production of the good undergo the applicable change in tariff classification, provided that:

(a) the accessories, spare parts, or tools are classified with and not invoiced separately from the good, regardless of whether they appear specified or separately identified in the invoice itself; and

(b) the quantities and value of the accessories, spare parts, or tools are customary for the good.

2. If a good is subject to a regional value content requirement, the value of accessories, spare parts, or tools shall be taken into account as originating or non-originating materials, as the case may be, in calculating the regional value content of the good.

Article 4.9: Packaging Materials and Containers for Retail Sale

Each Party shall provide that packaging materials and containers in which a good is packaged for retail sale shall, if classified with the good, be disregarded in determining whether all the non-originating materials used in the production of the good undergo the applicable change in tariff classification set out in Annex 4.1 and, if the good is subject to a regional value content requirement, the value of such packaging materials and containers shall be taken into account as originating or non-originating materials, as the case may be, in calculating the regional value content of the good.

Article 4.10: Packing Materials and Containers for Shipment

Each Party shall provide that packing materials and containers for shipment shall be disregarded in determining whether a good is originating.

Article 4.11: Indirect Materials Used in Production

Each Party shall provide that an indirect material shall be considered to be an originating material without regard to where it is produced.

Article 4.12: Transit and Transshipment

Each Party shall provide that a good shall not be considered to be an originating good if the good:

(a) undergoes subsequent production or any other operation outside the territories of the Parties, other than unloading, reloading, or any other operation necessary to preserve the good in good condition or to transport the good to the territory of a Party; or

(b) does not remain under the control of customs authorities in the territory of a non- Party.

Article 4.13: Sets of Goods

1. Each Party shall provide that if goods are classified as a set as a result of the application of rule 3 of the General Rules of Interpretation of the Harmonized System, the set is originating only if each good in the set is originating and both the set and the goods meet all other applicable requirements in this Chapter.

2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, a set of goods is originating if the value of all the nonoriginating goods in the set does not exceed 15 percent of the adjusted value of the set.

3. With respect to a textile or apparel good, Article 3.25.9 (Rules of Origin and Related Matters) applies in place of paragraphs 1 and 2.

Article 4.14: Consultation and Modifications

1. The Parties shall consult regularly to ensure that this Chapter is administered effectively, uniformly, and consistently with the spirit and objectives of this Agreement, and shall cooperate in the administration of this Chapter.

2. A Party that considers that a specific rule of origin set out in Annex 4.1 requires modification to take into account developments in production processes, lack of supply of originating materials, or other relevant factors may submit a proposed modification along with supporting rationale and any studies to the Commission for consideration.

3. On submission by a Party of a proposed modification under paragraph 2, the Commission may refer the matter to an ad hoc working group within 60 days or on such other date as the Commission may decide. The working group shall meet to consider the proposed modification within 60 days of the date of referral or on such other date as the Commission may decide.

4. Within such period as the Commission may direct, the working group shall provide a report to the Commission, setting out its conclusions and recommendations, if any.

5. On receipt of the report, the Commission may take appropriate action under Article 19.1.3(b) (The Free Trade Commission).

6. With respect to a textile or apparel good, paragraphs 1 through 3 of Article 3.25 (Rules of Origin and Related Matters) apply in place of paragraphs 2 through 5.

Section B: Origin Procedures

Article 4.15: Obligations Relating to Importations

1. Each Party shall grant any claim for preferential tariff treatment made in accordance with this Chapter, unless the Party issues a written determination that the claim is invalid as a matter of law or fact.

2. A Party may deny preferential tariff treatment to a good if the importer fails to comply with any requirement in this Chapter.

3. No Party may subject an importer to any penalty for making an invalid claim for preferential tariff treatment if the importer:

(a) did not engage in negligence, gross negligence, or fraud in making the claim and pays any customs duty owing; or

(b) on becoming aware that such a claim is not valid, promptly and voluntarily corrects the claim and pays any customs duty owing.

4. Each Party may require that an importer who claims preferential tariff treatment for a good imported into its territory:

(a) declare in the importation document that the good is originating;

(b) have in its possession at the time the declaration referred to in subparagraph (a) is made a written or electronic certification as described in Article 4.16, if the certification forms the basis for the claim;

(c) provide a copy of the certification, on request, to the importing Party’s customs authority, if the certification forms the basis for the claim;

(d) when the importer has reason to believe that the declaration in subparagraph (a) is based on inaccurate information, correct the importation document and pay any customs duty owing;

(e) when a certification by a producer or exporter forms the basis for the claim, either provide or have in place, at the importer’s option, an arrangement to have the producer or exporter provide, on request of the importing Party’s customs authority, all information relied on by such producer or exporter in making such certification; and

(f) demonstrate, on request of the importing Party’s customs authority, that the good is originating under Article 4.1, including that the good satisfies the requirements of Article 4.12.

5. Each Party shall provide that, where a good was originating when it was imported into its territory, but the importer of the good did not make a claim for preferential tariff treatment at the time of importation, that importer may, no later than one year after the date of importation, make a claim for preferential tariff treatment and apply for a refund of any excess duties paid as the result of the good not having been accorded preferential tariff treatment on presentation to its customs authority of:

(a) a written declaration, stating that the good was originating at the time of importation;

(b) on request of its customs authority, a copy of a written or electronic certification if a certification forms the basis for the claim, or other information demonstrating that the good was originating; and

(c) such other documentation relating to the importation of the good as its customs authority may require.

6. Each Party may provide that the importer is responsible for complying with the requirements of paragraph 4, notwithstanding that the importer may have based its claim for preferential tariff treatment on a certification or information that an exporter or producer provided.

7. Nothing in this Article shall prevent a Party from taking action under Article 3.24.6 (Customs Cooperation).

Article 4.16: Claims of Origin

1. Each Party shall provide that an importer may make a claim for preferential tariff treatment based on either:

(a) a written or electronic3 certification by the importer, exporter, or producer; or

(b) the importer’s knowledge that the good is an originating good, including reasonable reliance on information in the importer’s possession that the good is an originating good.4

2. Each Party shall provide that a certification need not be made in a prescribed format, provided that the certification is in written or electronic form, including but not limited to the following elements:

(a) the name of the certifying person, including as necessary contact or other identifying information;

(b) tariff classification under the Harmonized System and a description of the good;

(c) information demonstrating that the good is originating;

(d) date of the certification; and

(e) in the case of blanket certification issued as set out in paragraph 4(b), the period that the certification covers.

3. Each Party shall provide that a certification by the producer or exporter of the good may be completed on the basis of:

(a) the producer’s or exporter’s knowledge that the good is originating; or

(b) in the case of an exporter, reasonable reliance on the producer’s written or electronic certification that the good is originating.

No Party may require an exporter or producer to provide a written or electronic certification to another person.

4. Each Party shall provide that a certification may apply to:

(a) a single shipment of a good into the territory of a Party; or

(b) multiple shipments of identical goods within any period specified in the written or electronic certification, not exceeding 12 months from the date of the certification.

5. Each Party shall provide that a certification shall be valid for four years after the date it was issued.

6. Each Party shall allow an importer to submit a certification in the language of the importing Party or the exporting Party. In the latter case, the customs authority of the importing Party may require the importer to submit a translation of the certification in the language of the importing Party.

Article 4.17: Exceptions

No Party may require a certification or information demonstrating that the good is originating where:

(a) the customs value of the importation does not exceed 1,500 U.S. dollars or the equivalent amount in the currency of the importing Party, or such higher amount as may be established by the importing Party, unless the importing Party considers the importation to be part of a series of importations carried out or planned for the purpose of evading compliance with the certification requirements; or

(b) it is a good for which the importing Party does not require the importer to present a certification or information demonstrating origin.

Article 4.18: Obligations Relating to Exportations

1. Each Party shall provide that:

(a) an exporter or a producer in its territory that has provided a written or electronic certification in accordance with Article 4.16 shall, on request, provide a copy to the appropriate authority of the Party;

(b) a false certification by an exporter or a producer in its territory that a good to be exported to the territory of another Party is originating shall be subject to penalties equivalent to those that would apply to an importer in its territory that makes a false statement or representation in connection with an importation, with appropriate modifications; and

(c) when an exporter or a producer in its territory has provided a certification and has reason to believe that the certification contains or is based on incorrect information, the exporter or producer shall promptly notify in writing every person to whom the exporter or producer provided the certification of any change that could affect the accuracy or validity of the certification.

2. No Party may impose penalties on an exporter or a producer for providing an incorrect certification if the exporter or producer voluntarily notifies in writing all persons to whom it has provided the certification that it was incorrect.

Article 4.19: Record Keeping Requirements

1. Each Party shall provide that an exporter or a producer in its territory that provides a certification in accordance with Article 4.16 shall maintain, for a minimum of five years from the date the certification was issued, all records and documents necessary to demonstrate that a good for which the producer or exporter provided a certification was an originating good, including records and documents concerning:

(a) the purchase of, cost of, value of, and payment for, the exported good;

(b) the purchase of, cost of, value of, and payment for, all materials, including indirect materials, used in the production of the exported good; and

(c) the production of the good in the form in which it was exported.

2. Each Party shall provide that an importer claiming preferential tariff treatment for a good imported into the Party’s territory shall maintain, for a minimum of five years from the date of importation of the good, all records and documents necessary to demonstrate the good qualified for the preferential tariff treatment.

Article 4.20: Verification

1. For purposes of determining whether a good imported into its territory from the territory of another Party is an originating good, each Party shall ensure that its customs authority or other competent authority may conduct a verification by means of:

(a) written requests for information from the importer, exporter, or producer;

(b) written questionnaires to the importer, exporter, or producer;

(c) visits to the premises of an exporter or producer in the territory of the other Party, to review the records referred to in Article 4.19 or observe the facilities used in the production of the good, in accordance with the framework that the Parties develop pursuant to Article 4.21.2;

(d) for a textile or apparel good, the procedures set out in Article 3.24 (Customs Cooperation); or

(e) such other procedures to which the importing and exporting Parties may agree.

2. A Party may deny preferential tariff treatment to an imported good where:

(a) the exporter, producer, or importer fails to respond to a written request for information or questionnaire within a reasonable period, as established in the importing Party’s law;

(b) after receipt of a written notification for a verification visit to which the importing and exporting Parties have agreed, the exporter or producer does not provide its written consent within a reasonable period, as established by the importing Party’s law; or

(c) the Party finds a pattern of conduct indicating that an importer, exporter, or producer has provided false or unsupported declarations that a good imported into its territory is an originating good.

3. Except as provided in Article 3.24.6(d) (Customs Cooperation), a Party conducting a verification shall provide the importer a determination, in writing, of whether the good is originating. The Party’s determination shall include factual findings and the legal basis for the determination.

4. If an importing Party makes a determination under paragraph 3 that a good is not originating, the Party shall not apply that determination to an importation made before the date of the determination where:

(a) the customs authority of the exporting Party issued an advance ruling regarding the tariff classification or valuation of one or more materials used in the good under Article 5.10 (Advance Rulings);

(b) the importing Party’s determination is based on a tariff classification or valuation for such materials that is different than that provided for in the advance ruling referred to in subparagraph (a); and

(c) the customs authority issued the advance ruling before the importing Party’s determination.

5. Where an importing Party determines through verification that an importer, exporter, or producer has engaged in a pattern of conduct in providing false or unsupported statements, declarations, or certifications that a good imported into its territory is originating the Party may suspend preferential tariff treatment to identical goods covered by subsequent statements, declarations, or certifications by that importer, exporter, or producer until the importing Party determines that the importer, exporter, or producer is in compliance with this Chapter.

Article 4.21: Common Guidelines

1. The Parties shall agree on and publish common guidelines for the interpretation, application, and administration of this Chapter and the relevant provisions of Chapter Three (National Treatment and Market Access for Goods) and shall endeavor to do so by the date of entry into force of this Agreement. The Parties may agree to modify the common guidelines.

2. The Parties shall endeavor to develop a framework for conducting verifications pursuant to Article 4.20.1(c).

Article 4.22: Definitions

For purposes of this Chapter:

adjusted value means the value determined in accordance with Articles 1 through 8, Article 15, and the corresponding interpretative notes of the Customs Valuation Agreement, adjusted, if necessary, to exclude any costs, charges, or expenses incurred for transportation, insurance, and related services incident to the international shipment of the merchandise from the country of exportation to the place of importation;

class of motor vehicles means any one of the following categories of motor vehicles:

(a) motor vehicles provided for in subheading 8701.20, motor vehicles for the transport of 16 or more persons provided for in subheading 8702.10 or 8702.90, and motor vehicles of subheading 8704.10, 8704.22, 8704.23, 8704.32, or 8704.90, or heading 87.05 or 87.06;

(b) motor vehicles provided for in subheading 8701.10 or subheadings 8701.30 through 8701.90;

(c) motor vehicles for the transport of 15 or fewer persons provided for in subheading 8702.10 or 8702.90, and motor vehicles of subheading 8704.21 or 8704.31; or

(d) motor vehicles provided for in subheadings 8703.21 through 8703.90;

fungible goods or materials means goods or materials that are interchangeable for commercial purposes and whose properties are essentially identical;

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles means recognized consensus or substantial authoritative support given in the territory of a Party with respect to the recording of revenues, expenses, costs, assets, and liabilities, the disclosure of information, and the preparation of financial statements. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles may encompass broad guidelines for general application, as well as detailed standards, practices, and procedures;

good means any merchandise, product, article, or material;

goods wholly obtained or produced entirely in the territory of one or more of the Parties means:

(a) plants and plant products harvested or gathered in the territory of one or more of the Parties;

(b) live animals born and raised in the territory of one or more of the Parties;

(c) goods obtained in the territory of one or more of the Parties from live animals;

(d) goods obtained from hunting, trapping, fishing, or aquaculture conducted in the territory of one or more of the Parties;

(e) minerals and other natural resources not included in subparagraphs (a) through (d) extracted or taken from the territory of one or more of the Parties;

(f) fish, shellfish, and other marine life taken from the sea, seabed, or subsoil outside the territory of one or more of the Parties by vessels registered or recorded with a Party and flying its flag;

(g) goods produced on board factory ships from the goods referred to in subparagraph (f), provided such factory ships are registered or recorded with that Party and fly its flag;

(h) goods taken by a Party or a person of a Party from the seabed or subsoil outside territorial waters, provided that a Party has rights to exploit such seabed or subsoil;

(i) goods taken from outer space, provided they are obtained by a Party or a person of a Party and not processed in the territory of a non-Party;

(j) waste and scrap derived from (i) manufacturing or processing operations in the territory of one or more of the Parties, or

(ii) used goods collected in the territory of one or more of the Parties, provided such goods are fit only for the recovery of raw materials;

(k) recovered goods derived in the territory of one or more of the Parties from used goods, and utilized in the territory of one or more of the Parties in the production of remanufactured goods; and

(l) goods produced in the territory of one or more of the Parties exclusively from goods referred to in subparagraphs (a) through (j), or from their derivatives, at any stage of production;

identical goods means “identical goods” as defined in the Customs Valuation Agreement;

indirect material means a good used in the production, testing, or inspection of a good, but not physically incorporated into the good, or a good used in the maintenance of buildings or the operation of equipment associated with the production of a good, including:

(a) fuel and energy;

(b) tools, dies, and molds;

(c) spare parts and materials used in the maintenance of equipment and buildings;

(d) lubricants, greases, compounding materials, and other materials used in production or used to operate equipment and buildings;

(e) gloves, glasses, footwear, clothing, safety equipment, and supplies;

(f) equipment, devices, and supplies used for testing or inspecting the good;

(g) catalysts and solvents; and

(h) any other goods that are not incorporated into the good but whose use in the production of the good can reasonably be demonstrated to be a part of that production;

material means a good that is used in the production of another good, including a part or an ingredient;

material that is self-produced means an originating material that is produced by a producer of a good and used in the production of that good;

model line means a group of motor vehicles having the same platform or model name;

net cost means total cost minus sales promotion, marketing, and after-sales service costs, royalties, shipping and packing costs, and non-allowable interest costs that are included in the total cost;

net cost of the good means the net cost that can be reasonably allocated to the good under one of the following methods:

(a) by calculating the total cost incurred with respect to all goods produced by that producer, subtracting any sales promotion, marketing and after-sales service costs, royalties, shipping and packing costs, and non-allowable interest costs that are included in the total cost of all such goods, and then reasonably allocating the resulting net cost of those goods to the good;

(b) calculating the total cost incurred with respect to all goods produced by that producer, reasonably allocating the total cost to the good, and then subtracting any sales promotion, marketing and after-sales service costs, royalties, shipping and packing costs, and non-allowable interest costs that are included in the portion of the total cost allocated to the good; or

(c) reasonably allocating each cost that forms part of the total cost incurred with respect to the good so that the aggregate of these costs does not include any sales promotion, marketing, and after-sales service costs, royalties, shipping and packing costs, and non-allowable interest costs, provided that the allocation of all such costs is consistent with the provisions regarding the reasonable allocation of costs set out in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles;

non-allowable interest costs means interest costs incurred by a producer that exceed 700 basis points above the yield on debt obligations of comparable maturities issued by the central level of government of the Party in which the producer is located;

non-originating good or non-originating material means a good or material that is not originating under this Chapter;

packing materials and containers for shipment means the goods used to protect a good during its transportation and does not include the packaging materials and containers in which a good is packaged for retail sale;

producer means a person who engages in the production of a good in the territory of a Party;

production means growing, mining, harvesting, fishing, raising, trapping, hunting, manufacturing, processing, assembling, or disassembling a good;

reasonably allocate means to apportion in a manner appropriate under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles;

recovered goods means materials in the form of individual parts that are the result of: (a) the disassembly of used goods into individual parts; and (b) cleaning, inspecting, testing, or other processes as necessary for improvement to sound working condition;

remanufactured goods means goods classified under Harmonized System chapter 84, 85, or 87 or heading 90.26, 90.31, or 90.32, except goods classified under heading 84.18 or 85.16, that:

(a) are entirely or partially comprised of recovered goods; and

(b) have a similar life expectancy and enjoy a factory warranty similar to such a new good;

total cost means all product costs, period costs, and other costs for a good incurred in the territory of one or more of the Parties;

used means used or consumed in the production of goods; and

value means the value of a good or material for purposes of calculating customs duties or for purposes of applying this Chapter.

Annex 4.6

Exceptions to Article 4.6

Article 4.6 shall not apply to:

(a) a non-originating material classified under chapter 4 of the Harmonized System, or a non-originating dairy preparation containing over ten percent by weight of milk solids classified under subheading 1901.90 or 2106.90, that is used in the production of a good classified under chapter 4 of the Harmonized System;

(b) a non-originating material classified under chapter 4 of the Harmonized System, or a non-originating dairy preparation containing over ten percent by weight of milk solids classified under subheading 1901.90, that is used in the production of the following goods: infant preparations containing over ten percent in weight of milk solids classified under subheading 1901.10; mixes and doughs, containing over 25 percent by weight of butterfat, not put up for retail sale, classified under subheading 1901.20; dairy preparations containing over ten percent by weight of milk solids, classified under subheading 1901.90 or 2106.90; heading 21.05; beverages containing milk classified under subheading 2202.90; or animal feeds containing over ten percent by weight of milk solids classified under subheading 2309.90;

(c) a non-originating material classified under heading 08.05 or subheadings 2009.11 through 2009.30 that is used in the production of a good classified under subheadings 2009.11 through 2009.30, or in fruit or vegetable juice of any single fruit or vegetable, fortified with minerals or vitamins, concentrated or unconcentrated, classified under subheading 2106.90 or 2202.90;

(d) a non-originating material classified under heading 09.01 or 21.01, that is used in the production of a good classified under heading 09.01 or 21.01;

(e) a non-originating material classified under heading 10.06 that is used in the production of a good classified under heading 11.02 or 11.03 or subheading 1904.90;

(f) a non-originating material classified under chapter 15 of the Harmonized System that is used in the production of a good classified under chapter 15 of the Harmonized System;

(g) a non-originating material classified under heading 17.01 that is used in the production of a good classified under heading 17.01 through 17.03;

(h) a non-originating material classified under chapter 17 of the Harmonized System that is used in the production of a good classified under subheading 1806.10; or

(i) except as provided under subparagraph (a) through (h) and in the specific rules of origin under Annex 4.1, a non-originating material used in the production of a good classified under chapter 1 through 24 of the Harmonized System unless the non-originating material is classified under a different subheading than the good for which origin is being determined.


Chapter Five

Customs Administration and Trade Facilitation

Article 5.1: Publication

1. Each Party shall publish, including on the Internet, its customs laws, regulations, and general administrative procedures.

2. Each Party shall designate or maintain one or more inquiry points to address inquiries by interested persons concerning customs matters and shall make available on the Internet information concerning the procedures for making such inquiries.

3. To the extent possible, each Party shall publish in advance any regulations of general application governing customs matters that it proposes to adopt and provide interested persons the opportunity to comment prior to their adoption.

Article 5.2: Release of Goods

1. Each Party shall adopt or maintain simplified customs procedures for the efficient release of goods in order to facilitate trade between the Parties.

2. Pursuant to paragraph 1, each Party shall ensure that its customs authority or other competent authority shall adopt or maintain procedures that:

(a) provide for the release of goods within a period no greater than that required to ensure compliance with its customs laws and, to the extent possible, within 48 hours of arrival;

(b) allow goods to be released at the point of arrival, without temporary transfer to warehouses or other facilities; and

(c) allow importers to withdraw goods from customs before and without prejudice to the final determination by its customs authority of the applicable customs duties, taxes, and fees.1

Article 5.3: Automation

Each Party’s customs authority shall endeavor to use information technology that expedites procedures for the release of goods. When deciding on the information technology to be used for this purpose, each Party shall:

(a) use, to the extent possible, international standards;

(b) make electronic systems accessible to the trading community;

(c) provide for electronic submission and processing of information and data before arrival of the shipment to allow for the release of goods on arrival;

(d) employ electronic or automated systems for risk analysis and targeting;

(e) work towards developing compatible electronic systems among the Parties’ customs authorities, to facilitate government to government exchange of international trade data; and

(f) work towards developing a set of common data elements and processes in accordance with World Customs Organization (WCO) Customs Data Model and related WCO recommendations and guidelines.

Article 5.4: Risk Management

Each Party shall endeavor to adopt or maintain risk management systems that enable its customs authority to focus its inspection activities on high-risk goods and that simplify the clearance and movement of low-risk goods, while respecting the confidential nature of the information it obtains through such activities.

Article 5.5: Cooperation

1. With a view to facilitating the effective operation of this Agreement, each Party shall endeavor to provide the other Parties with advance notice of any significant modification of administrative policy or other similar development related to its laws or regulations governing importations that is likely to substantially affect the operation of this Agreement.

2. The Parties shall cooperate in achieving compliance with their respective laws and regulations pertaining to:

(a) the implementation and operation of the provisions of this Agreement governing importations or exportations, including claims of origin and origin procedures;

(b) the implementation and operation of the Customs Valuation Agreement;

(c) restrictions or prohibitions on imports or exports; and

(d) other customs matters as the Parties may agree.

3. Where a Party has a reasonable suspicion of unlawful activity related to its laws or regulations governing importations, the Party may request another Party to provide specific confidential information normally collected in connection with the importation of goods.

4. For purposes of paragraph 3, “a reasonable suspicion of unlawful activity” means a suspicion based on relevant factual information obtained from public or private sources, comprising one or more of the following:

(a) historical evidence of non-compliance with laws or regulations governing importations by an importer or exporter;

(b) historical evidence of non-compliance with laws or regulations governing importations by a manufacturer, producer, or other person involved in the movement of goods from the territory of one Party to the territory of another Party;

(c) historical evidence that some or all of the persons involved in the movement from the territory of the other Party to the territory of another Party of goods within a specific product sector have not complied with a Party’s laws or regulations governing importations; or

(d) other information that the requesting Party and the Party from whom the information is requested agree is sufficient in the context of a particular request.

5. A Party’s request under paragraph 3 shall be in writing, shall specify the purpose for which the information is sought, and shall identify the requested information with sufficient specificity for the other Party to locate and provide the information.

6. The Party from whom the information is requested shall, in accordance with its law and any relevant international agreements to which it is a party, provide a written response containing such information.

7. Each Party shall endeavor to provide another Party with any other information that would assist that Party in determining whether imports from or exports to that Party are in compliance with the other Party’s laws or regulations governing importations, in particular those related to the prevention of smuggling and similar infractions.

8. For purposes of facilitating regional trade, each Party shall endeavor to provide the other Parties with technical advice and assistance for the purpose of improving risk assessment techniques, simplifying and expediting customs procedures, advancing the technical skill of personnel, and enhancing the use of technologies that can lead to improved compliance with regard to laws or regulations governing importations.

9. Building on the mechanisms established in this Article, the Parties shall strive to explore additional avenues of cooperation to enhance each Party’s ability to enforce its laws and regulations governing importations, including by concluding a mutual assistance agreement between their respective customs authorities within six months after this Agreement is signed. The Parties shall examine whether to establish other channels of communication to facilitate the secure and rapid exchange of information and to improve coordination on importation issues.

Article 5.6: Confidentiality

1. Where a Party providing information to another Party in accordance with this Chapter designates the information as confidential, the other Party shall maintain the confidentiality of the information. The Party providing the information may require written assurances from the other Party that the information will be held in confidence, will be used only for the purposes specified in the other Party’s request for information, and will not be disclosed without the Party’s specific permission.

2. A Party may decline to provide information requested by another Party where that Party has failed to act in conformity with assurances provided under paragraph 1.

3. Each Party shall adopt or maintain procedures in which confidential information, including information the disclosure of which could prejudice the competitive position of the person providing the information, submitted in accordance with the administration of the Party’s customs laws, shall be protected from unauthorized disclosure.

Article 5.7: Express Shipments

Each Party shall adopt or maintain expedited customs procedures for express shipments while maintaining appropriate customs control and selection. These procedures shall:

(a) provide a separate, expedited customs procedure for express shipments;

(b) provide for the submission and processing of information necessary for the release of an express shipment before the express shipment arrives;

(c) allow submission of a single manifest covering all goods contained in a shipment transported by an express shipment service, through, if possible, electronic means;

(d) to the extent possible, provide for clearance of certain goods with a minimum of documentation; and

(e) under normal circumstances, provide for clearance of express shipments within six hours after submission of the necessary customs documents, provided the shipment has arrived.

Article 5.8: Review and Appeal

Each Party shall ensure that with respect to its determinations on customs matters, importers in its territory have access to:

(a) a level of administrative review independent of the employee or office that issued the determination; and

(b) judicial review of the determination.

Article 5.9: Penalties

Each Party shall adopt or maintain measures that allow for the imposition of civil or administrative penalties and, where appropriate, criminal sanctions for violations of its customs laws and regulations, including those governing tariff classification, customs valuation, country of origin, and claims for preferential treatment under this Agreement.

Article 5.10: Advance Rulings

1. Each Party, through its customs authority or other competent authority shall issue, before a good is imported into its territory, a written advance ruling at the written request of an importer in its territory, or an exporter or producer2 in the territory of another Party with regard to:

(a) tariff classification;

(b) the application of customs valuation criteria for a particular case, in accordance with the application of the provisions set out in the Customs Valuation Agreement;

(c) the application of duty drawback, deferral, or other relief from customs duties;

(d) whether a good is originating in accordance with Chapter Four (Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures);

(e) whether a good re-entered into the territory of a Party after being exported to the territory of another Party for repair or alteration is eligible for duty free treatment in accordance with Article 3.6 (Goods Re-entered after Repair or Alteration);

(f) country of origin marking;

(g) the application of quotas; and

(h) such other matters as the Parties may agree.

2. Each Party shall provide that its customs authority or other competent authority shall issue an advance ruling within 150 days after a request, provided that the requester has submitted all information that the Party requires, including, if the authority requests, a sample of the good for which the requester is seeking an advance ruling. In issuing an advance ruling, the authority shall take into account facts and circumstances the requester has provided.

3. Each Party shall provide that advance rulings shall be in force from their date of issuance, or another date specified in the ruling, provided that the facts or circumstances on which the ruling is based remain unchanged.

4. The issuing Party may modify or revoke an advance ruling after the Party notifies the requester. The issuing Party may modify or revoke a ruling retroactively only if the ruling was based on inaccurate or false information.

5. Subject to any confidentiality requirements in its law, each Party shall make its advance rulings publicly available.

6. If a requester provides false information or omits relevant facts or circumstances relating to the advance ruling, or does not act in accordance with the ruling’s terms and conditions, the importing Party may apply appropriate measures, including civil, criminal, and administrative actions, monetary penalties, or other sanctions.

Article 5.11: Implementation

For each Central American Party and the Dominican Republic:

(a) Articles 5.2.2(b) and (c) and 5.7 shall apply one year after the date of entry into force of this Agreement;

(b) Articles 5.1.1, 5.1.2, 5.4, and 5.10 shall apply two years after the date of entry into force of this Agreement; and

(c) Article 5.3 shall apply three years after the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

Article 5.12: Capacity Building

The Parties recognize the importance of trade capacity building activities in facilitating the implementation of this Chapter. Accordingly, the initial capacity building priorities of the working group on customs administration and trade facilitation under the Committee on Trade Capacity Building should be related to implementation of this Chapter and any other priorities that the Committee designates.

__________________________________________________________


Chapter Two

1 For greater certainty, the territory of Costa Rica includes Coco Island.

Chapter Three

1 For greater certainty, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Central American Party and the Dominican Republic shall provide that any originating good is entitled to the tariff treatment for the good set out in its Schedule to Annex 3.3, regardless of whether the good is imported into its territory from the territory of the United States or any other Party. An originating good may include a good produced in a Central American Party or the Dominican Republic with materials from the United States.

2 For greater certainty, this paragraph applies, inter alia, to prohibitions or restrictions on the importation of remanufactured goods.

3 Paragraphs 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 of this Article shall not apply between the Central American Parties or between any Central American Party and the Dominican Republic.

4 For greater certainty, when the good is a fiber, yarn, or fabric, the “component of the good that determines the tariff classification of the good” is all of the fibers in the yarn, fabric, or group of fibers.

5 For greater certainty, the term “elastomeric yarns” does not include latex.

6 For purposes of this paragraph, “wholly formed” means that all the production processes and finishing operations, starting with the extrusion of filaments, strips, film, or sheet, and including slitting a film or sheet into strip, or the spinning of all fibers into yarn, or both, and ending with a finished yarn or plied yarn, took place in the territory of a Party.

7 For purposes of this paragraph, “wholly formed,” when used in reference to fabrics, means that all the production processes and finishing operations, starting with the weaving, knitting, needling, tufting, felting, entangling, or other process, and ending with a fabric ready for cutting or assembly without further processing, took place in the United States. The term “wholly formed,” when used in reference to thread, means that all the production processes, starting with the extrusion of filaments, strips, film, or sheet, and including slitting a film or sheet into strip, or the spinning of all fibers into thread, or both, and ending with thread, took place in the United States.

8 The controls identified in this subparagraph do not apply to remanufactured goods.

9 The controls identified in this subparagraph do not apply to remanufactured goods.

10 The controls identified in this subparagraph do not apply to remanufactured goods.

11 The controls identified in this subparagraph do not apply to remanufactured goods.

12The controls identified in this subparagraph do not apply to remanufactured goods.

13 The controls identified in this subparagraph do not apply to remanufactured goods.

14 The controls identified in this subparagraph do not apply to remanufactured goods.

15 The controls identified in this subparagraph do not apply to remanufactured goods.

16 For greater certainty, an importer may elect to make a claim for preferential tariff treatment either under this Annex or under a Party’s Schedule to Annex 3.3, provided that the good meets the applicable rules of origin.

17 Notwithstanding paragraph 4, a good classified under heading 2208, except tariff item 2208.90.10, that meets the rules of origin for the good set out in Chapter Four (Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures) that is imported directly from the territory of El Salvador into the territory of the Dominican Republic or from the territory of the Dominican Republic into the territory of El Salvador shall not be subject to duties.

18 For greater certainty, Costa Rica shall apply note 7(b) of Costa Rica’s General Notes to Annex 3.3 to such goods.

19 For greater certainty, the Dominican Republic shall apply note 7(b) of the Dominican Republic’s General Notes to Annex 3.3 to such goods.

20 For greater certainty, Nicaragua shall apply note 7(b) of Nicaragua’s General Notes to Annex 3.3 to such goods.

21 For greater certainty, the Dominican Republic shall apply note 11(b) of the Dominican Republic’s General Notes to Annex 3.3 to such goods.

22 For purposes of determining the country-specific application of agricultural safeguard measures, the United States shall apply the non-preferential rules of origin that it applies in the normal course of trade.

23 For greater certainty, the applicable conditions for preferential tariff treatment include Chapter Rules 1, 3, and 4 for Chapter 62 of the specific rules of origin in Annex 4.1 (Specific Rules of Origin).

24 For purposes of this paragraph:

DZ means dozen;

M&B means men’s and boys’;

NO means number;

SMEF means SME factor; and

W&G means women’s and girls’.

25 For category 435, preferential tariff treatment is available only for suit-type jackets classified in subheading 6204.31 and tariff items 6204.33.aa, 6204.39.aa, and 6204.39.dd.

26 For purposes of this paragraph:

DZ means dozen;

KG means kilogram;

DPR means dozen pairs;

M&B means men’s and boys’;

MMF means man-made fiber;

NO means number;

SMEF means SME factor; and

W&G means women’s and girls’.

Chapter Four

1 Paragraph 3 applies solely to goods classified under the following headings and subheadings: 8407.31 through 8407.34 (engines), 8408.20 (diesel engines for vehicles), 84.09 (parts of engines), 87.01 through 87.05 (motor vehicles), 87.06 (chassis), 87.07 (bodies), and 87.08 (motor vehicle parts).

2 Paragraph 5 applies solely to automotive materials classified under the following headings and subheadings: 8407.31 through 8407.34 (engines), 8408.20 (diesel engines for vehicles), 84.09 (parts of engines), 87.06 (chassis), 87.07 (bodies), and 87.08 (motor vehicle parts).

3 Each Central American Party and the Dominican Republic shall authorize importers to provide electronic certifications beginning no later than three years after the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

4 Each Central American Party and the Dominican Republic shall implement subparagraph (b) no later than three years after the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

Chapter Five

1 A Party may require an importer to provide sufficient guarantee in the form of a surety, a deposit, or some other appropriate instrument, covering the ultimate payment of the customs duties, taxes, and fees in connection with the importation of the good.

2 For greater certainty, an importer, exporter, or producer may submit a request for an advance ruling through a duly authorized representative.