Friday, September 13, 2013

Time To Apply for Allocation of Wool TRQs

The Department of Commerce is soliciting applications for an allocation of the 2014 tariff rate quotas on certain worsted wool fabric to persons who cut and sew men's and boys' worsted wool suits, suit-type jackets and trousers or weave who weave worsted wool fabrics in the United States.

DATES: To be considered, applications must be received or postmarked by 5 p.m. on October 15, 2013.

Title V of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 (the Act) created two tariff rate quotas ("TRQs"), providing for temporary reductions in the import duties on limited quantities of two categories of worsted wool fabrics suitable for use in making suits, suit-type jackets, or trousers:

    (1) For worsted wool fabric with average fiber diameters greater than 18.5 microns (Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) heading 9902.51.11) the TRQ allows up to 5.5 million square meters of fabric to enter the U.S. at the reduced rate of duty of 10% (the general rate is 25%); and

    (2) for worsted wool fabric with average fiber diameters of 18.5 microns or less (HTS heading 9902.51.12) the TRQ allows up to 5 million square meters of fabric to enter the U.S. duty-free (the general rate is 25%).

The Act requires that the TRQs be allocated to persons who cut and sew men's and boys' worsted wool suits, suit-type jackets and trousers in the United States.

A 2004 amendment included authority for the Department to allocate a TRQ for a new HTS category, HTS 9902.51.16. This HTS category refers to worsted wool fabrics with average fiber diameters of 18.5 microns or less. The amendment provided that HTS 9902.51.16 is for the benefit of persons (including firms, corporations, or other legal entities) who weave such worsted wool fabrics in the United States suitable for making men's and boys' suits.

    The TRQ for HTS 9902.51.16 provided duty-free entry of up to 2,000,000 square meters annually (the general rate is 25%). The amendment requires that the TRQ be allocated to persons who weave worsted wool fabrics with average fiber diameters of 18.5 microns or less, which are suitable for use in making men's and boys' suits, in the United States.

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