CUSTOMS EXTENDS COMMENT PERIOD FOR RULE CHANGE ON ADMINISTRATIVE RULINGS

CUSTOMS EXTENDS COMMENT PERIOD FOR RULE CHANGE ON ADMINISTRATIVE RULINGS    U.S. Customs have extended by 30 days the comment period for a proposed rulemaking that would amend Customs regulations that concern the issuance of administrative rulings and related written determinations.
   The agency said the changes would amend its rulings process to include Customs modernization provisions in the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, and to “clarify current administrative practice and otherwise improve the layout and readability of the present regulatory texts.”
   The deadline for comments has been extended to Oct. 17, from Sept. 17, which was the end of the original 60-day comment period. Customs said it had received a letter from an international trade association requesting a 60-day extension to the public comment period, because the association was having difficulty contacting its members during the summer season. The agency, however, opted to extend the period 30 days, saying it was balancing the associations needs to collect information from all interested parties, with the need to act quickly on “a matter that is of critical importance for the international trade community.”
   Comments on the rulemaking should be sent to Customs’ Office of Regulations and Rulings. For more information on the rulemaking, access https://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2001_register&docid=01-17630-filed.pdf , or contact John Elkins, Textiles Branch, at (202) 927-2380.