CUSTOMS AMENDS RULES FOR WOOL DUTY REFUND PROGRAM

CUSTOMS AMENDS RULES FOR WOOL DUTY REFUND PROGRAM    U.S. Customs has amended its rules on a interim basis for the refund of duties paid on imports of certain types of wool products.
   On May 18, 2000, President Clinton signed into the law the Trade and Development Act. Title V of the legislation provides tariff relief to U.S. manufacturers of specific wool products. Section 505 of Title V permits the eligibility of U.S. manufacturers to claim a limited refund of duties paid on imports of certain wool products.
   Customs published in the Federal Register on Dec. 26 the rules which set forth the eligibility documentation and procedures to claim refunds on duties paid on certain wool products.
   Since that time, “it has come to Customs attention that certain tariff subheadings … do not accurately reflect the scope of section 505 in regard to the wool products that may substantiate a duty refund for claim year 2000,” the agency said.
   The amendment also covers new tariff provisions for certain worsted wool fabrics and wool yarns added to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), which were published in the Federal Register on Dec. 6 and initiated on Jan. 1, 2001.
   “These new HTSUS tariff provisions affect the administration of the wool duty refund program in that they provide the basis for a wool duty refund for claim years 2001 and 2002,” Customs said.
   For a full review of the interim rule for the wool duty refund program, access online: https://frwebgate3.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=5214012593+138+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve.