[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 24, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3083-3087]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-294]


========================================================================
Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 15 / Wednesday, January 24, 2007 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 3083]]



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

15 CFR Part 303

[Docket No. 0612243019-7006-01]
RIN: 0625-AA72


Changes in the Insular Possessions Watch, Watch Movement and 
Jewelry Programs 2006

AGENCIES: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce; Office of Insular Affairs, Department of the 
Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Request for Comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Departments of Commerce and the Interior (the Departments) 
propose amending their regulations governing watch duty-exemption 
allocations and the watch and jewelry duty-refund benefits for 
producers in the United States insular possessions (the U.S. Virgin 
Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands). The proposed rule would amend certain regulations by 
updating the maximum total value of watch components per watch that are 
eligible for duty-free entry into the United States under the insular 
program, further clarifying the definition of creditable and non-
creditable wages and fringe benefits, providing more details about the 
calculation of mid-year and annual duty-refund and verification 
process, and making minor editorial changes.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before February 23, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: Address written comments to Faye Robinson, Director, 
Statutory Import Programs Staff, Room 2104, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 14th and Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Faye Robinson, (202) 482-3526, same 
address as above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The insular possessions watch industry 
provision in Sec. 110 of Public Law 97-446 (96 Stat. 2331) (1983), as 
amended by Section 602 of Public Law 103-465 (108 Stat. 4991) (1994), 
and additional U.S. Note 5 to chapter 91 of the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States (`` HTSUS''), as amended by Public Law 
94-241 (90 Stat. 263) (1976) requires the Secretary of Commerce and the 
Secretary of the Interior (``the Secretaries''), acting jointly, to 
establish a limit on the quantity of watches and watch movements that 
may be entered free of duty during each calendar year. The law also 
requires the Secretaries to establish the shares of this limited 
quantity that may be entered from the Virgin Islands, Guam, American 
Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (``CNMI''). 
After the Departments have verified the data submitted on the annual 
application (Form ITA-334P), the producers' duty-exemption allocations 
are calculated from the territorial share in accordance with 15 CFR 
303.14 and each producer is issued a duty-exemption license. The law 
further requires the Secretaries to issue duty-refund certificates to 
each territorial watch and watch movement producer based on the 
company's duty-free shipments and creditable wages paid during the 
previous calendar year.
    Public Law 106-36 (113 Stat. 127) (1999) authorizes the issuance of 
a duty-refund certificate to each territorial jewelry producer for any 
article of jewelry provided for in heading 7113 of the HTSUS that is 
the product of any such territory. The value of the certificate is 
based on creditable wages paid and duty-free units shipped into the 
United States during the previous calendar year. Although the law 
specifically mentions the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa, 
the issuance of the duty-refund certificate would also apply to the 
CNMI due to the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America 
(Pub. L. 94-241), that states that goods from the CNMI are entitled to 
the same tariff treatment as imports from Guam.  See also 19 CFR 
7.2(a). In order to be considered a product of such territories, the 
jewelry must meet the U.S. Customs Service substantial transformation 
requirements (the jewelry must become a new and different article of 
commerce as a result of production or manufacture performed in the 
territory). To receive duty-free treatment, the jewelry must also 
satisfy the requirements of General Note 3(a)(iv) of the HTSUS and 
applicable Customs Regulations (19 CFR 7.3). Section 1562 of Public Law 
108-429 (2004), amended by Public Law 97-446, Public Law 103-465 and 
Public Law 106-36 and authorizes extending the duty refund benefits to 
include the value of usual and customary health insurance, life 
insurance and pension benefits; raising the ceiling on the amount of 
jewelry that qualifies for the duty refund benefit; allowing new 
insular jewelry producers to assemble jewelry and have such jewelry 
treated as an article of the insular possessions for up to 18 months 
after the jewelry company commences assembly operations; allowing duty 
refund certificate holders to secure a duty refund on any articles that 
are imported into the customs territory of the United States by the 
certificate holder duty paid; and providing compensation to insular 
watch producers if tariffs on watches and watch movements are reduced.

Comments Received in Response to the Advanced Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking

    The Department's regulations provide that the current total value 
of watch components per watch and watch movement that are eligible for 
duty-free entry into the U.S. are $800 per watch and $35 per watch 
movement. See 15 CFR 303.14(b)(3). On July 25, 2006, the Department 
received a letter from the U.S. Virgin Islands Watch & Jewelry 
Manufacturers Association requesting that the Department of Commerce 
reexamine the current value limits for watches assembled in the U.S. 
Virgin Islands. The Association asserted that the rising cost of gold 
has made it difficult to continue production of gold watches with the 
current ceilings in place.
    In response to the Association's request, on October 20, 2006, we 
published an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal 
Register. See Insular Possession Watch,

[[Page 3084]]

Watch Movement and Jewelry Programs, 71 FR 61923 (October 20, 2006). 
The notice requested comments on whether to change the maximum value of 
watch components per watch and watch movement that are eligible for 
benefits under the program and provide comments on four possible 
options. We received comments from four parties:
    The first commenter favored removing any restrictions on the value 
of watch components as long as all other program requirements are met.
    The second commenter suggested a ceiling of $2,000 for watch 
components per watch and $200 for watch components per watch movement.
    The third commenter encouraged the Departments to significantly 
increase or eliminate the value limits for watches and watch movements.
    The fourth commenter urged the Departments of Commerce and the 
Interior to eliminate the watch and watch movement value limits from 
the regulations.
    In 1983, the passage of Pub. L. 97-446 added features to the 
insular possessions watch program, which included a duty refund 
provision for watch producers. Contained in the rulemaking, 
implementing Pub. L. 97-446, was the addition of the value limits on 
components for watches and watch movements. (See Allocation of Watch 
Quota for Calendar Year 1983 Among Watch Producers Located in the 
Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa, 48 FR 17579, April 25, 1983) 
(``1983 Final Rule'')
    Since 1983, the value limitations have been raised on several 
occasions, most recently in 1998 and 2004. Although two commenters 
favored eliminating the ceiling all together, we propose raising the 
value limits rather than eliminating them because we believe that the 
original policy reasons for maintaining the ceiling still have merit in 
terms of domestic and international trade policy. In the notice of 
proposed rulemaking (See Allocation of Watch Quota for Calendar Year 
1983 Among Watch Producers Located in the Virgin Islands, Guam and 
American Samoa, 48 FR 7186, February 18, 1983) for the 1983 Final Rule, 
the Departments included value limits in response to language added by 
the Senate Finance Committee report, which required the Secretaries to 
ensure that work performed in the insular possessions adds 
``significantly to the value of the product.'' A basic tenant of the 
policy was to stimulate employment in the insular possessions while not 
creating disproportionate gains for watch producers and maintaining the 
ceiling assures that a balance is maintained. Because there have been 
substantial increases in the price of gold and the dollar has weakened 
against the Euro and the Swiss France, we propose raising the maximum 
total value of watch components per watch and watch movement that are 
eligible for duty-free entry into the U.S., from $800 to $3,000 per 
watch and from $35 to $300 per watch movement to account for increases 
in the price of gold as well as provide allowances for further 
fluctuation. We believe that the increase would provide flexibility to 
producers and has the potential to attract new producers and increases 
in employment while maintaining a correlation between wages paid to 
employees and duty savings. We, therefore, propose increasing the value 
limits on watches and watch movements while maintaining the option to 
further review value limits in future years if circumstances dictate a 
change.

Proposed Amendments

    As discussed above, we propose to amend Sec.  303.14(b)(3) by 
raising the maximum total value of watch components per watch and watch 
movement that are eligible for duty-free entry into the U.S., from $800 
to $3,000 per watch and from $35 to $300 per watch movement due to 
recent increases in the price of gold.
    We further propose amending Sec. Sec.  303.1(c) and 303.15(b) to 
reflect that the duty-refunds may now be obtained on any articles that 
entered the customs territory of the United States duty paid except for 
any article containing a material which is the product of a country to 
which column 2 rates of duty apply, pursuant to Pub. L. 108-429. The 
proposed rule would further amend Sec.  303.1(c) by removing the 
erroneous reference to ``Headnote 6'' and adding ``additional U.S. note 
5 to chapter 91 of the HTSUS'' in its place.
    We also propose amending Sec.  303.2(a)(8) to correct a minor 
typographical error by adding the closing parenthesis at the end of the 
sentence and amending Sec.  303.2(a)(10) by changing ``watch 
components'' to ``watch movements'' to more accurately define the kind 
of component.
    Further, we propose amending Sec. Sec.  303.2(a)(13), 
303.2(a)(13)(ii), 303.2(a)(13)(ii)(A), 303.2(a)(13)(ii)(B), 
303.2(a)(14), 303.2(a)(14)(ii), 303.2(a)(14)(ii)(A), 
303.2(a)(14)(ii)(B), 303.16(a)(9), 303.16(a)(9)(ii), 
303.16(a)(9)(ii)(A), 303.16(a)(9)(ii)(B), 303.16(a)(10), 
303.16(a)(10)(ii), 303.16(a)(10)(ii)(A) and 303.16(a)(10)(ii)(B) to 
further clarify which wages, health insurance, life insurance and 
pension benefits are creditable in the Departments' calculation of the 
duty-refund benefits and which are not.
    The proposed rule would also amend Sec. Sec.  303.16(a)(9)(i)(C) 
and (a)(10)(i)(D) by clarifying that two program producers may, under 
certain circumstances, work on the same unit of jewelry and receive 
creditable wages and fringe benefits proportionally if both producers 
demonstrate that they have met all the qualifications of the 
regulations and have records sufficient for the Departments' 
verification. However, a non-program jewelry producer may not work 
together with a program jewelry producer on the manufacturing of a 
single article of jewelry and receive creditable wages and benefits.
    A further proposal would amend Sec. Sec.  303.12(a)(1), 303.14(c), 
303.19(a)(1) and 303.20(b) to provide further details about the 
calculation of the mid-year duty-refund and annual duty-refund. We 
modified the criteria for the calculation of the annual duty-refund to 
include health insurance, life insurance and pension benefits, pursuant 
to Public Law 108-429 and modified the criteria for the calculation of 
the mid-year duty refund.
    We propose amending the heading to Sec.  303.5(b) to reflect that 
only verified data is used in the calculation of the duty-exemptions 
and duty-refunds. Also, we propose amending Sec. Sec.  303.5(b)(5) and 
303.17(b)(6) to clarify that the payroll information that should be 
available for use in the verification includes time cards for each 
employee. We further propose amending Sec. Sec.  303.5(c) and 303.17(c) 
to specify that all data must be available at the time of the annual 
verification and that the Departments will not consider further data 
after the verification for the particular year has been completed.
    We propose amending Sec. Sec.  303.13(b) and 303.21(b) by changing 
``post office address'' to ``address'' because some producers might not 
have post office addresses and express mail carriers often will not 
deliver to a post office address.
    Finally, the proposed rule would amend Sec. Sec.  303.2(b)(5) and 
303.16(b)(3) by adding ``duty paid'' so it will be clearer that the 
refund of duties is specifically on items that entered into the Customs 
territory of the United States ``duty paid''.

Administrative Law Requirements

    Regulatory Flexibility Act. In accordance with the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., the Chief Counsel for Regulation 
at the Department of Commerce has certified to the Chief Counsel for 
Advocacy,

[[Page 3085]]

Small Business Administration, that the proposed rule, if promulgated 
as final, will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities. The majority of the changes are being 
proposed to further clarify the definition of creditable and non-
creditable wages and fringe benefits, to provide more details about the 
calculation of mid-year and annual duty-refund and the verification 
process, and to make minor editorial changes. There are currently four 
watch companies in the insular watch program and four jewelry companies 
in the insular jewelry program, all of which are small entities. This 
rulemaking would update the total maximum value of watch components per 
watch that are eligible for duty-free entry into the United States. 
Increases in the price of gold and a weakened dollar against the Euro 
and Swiss franc have driven up the price of gold watch components. 
Therefore, companies are faced with a difficult situation because if 
the value limit is exceeded, the watch becomes ineligible for the duty-
free benefit or the duty refund benefit under the program due to the 
fact that the insular possessions are outside the Customs territory of 
the United States and the watches will not have met the regulatory 
requirements of the program. Adoption of this rule would increase the 
maximum value of watch components per watch that would be eligible for 
duty-free treatment into the United States. This would allow producers 
to increase higher-priced components in their watches. As a result, 
producers would realize an economic benefit in that they would increase 
flexibility in the types of watches they could produce, which may lead 
to increased sales and employment to help the insular economy. There 
would be no adverse economic impact from this proposed change.
    This proposed rule also would not change reporting or recordkeeping 
requirements. The changes in the regulations will also not duplicate, 
overlap or conflict with other laws or regulations. Consequently, the 
changes are not expected to meet the RFA criteria of having a 
``significant'' economic effect on a ``substantial number'' of small 
entities, as stated in 5 U.S.C. 603 et seq. Therefore, a regulatory 
flexibility analysis was not prepared.
    Paperwork Reduction Act. This proposed rulemaking does not contain 
revised collection of information requirements subject to review and 
approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Collection activities are currently 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control numbers 
0625-0040 and 0625-0134.
    Not withstanding any other provision of the law, no person is 
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty 
for failure to comply with a collection of information unless it 
displays a currently valid OMB control number.
    E.O. 12866. It has been determined that the proposed rulemaking is 
not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.

List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 303

    Administrative practice and procedure, American Samoa, Customs 
duties and inspection, Guam, Imports, Marketing quotas, Northern 
Mariana Islands, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Virgin 
Islands, Watches and jewelry.

    For reasons set forth above, the Departments propose to amend 15 
CFR part 303 as follows:

PART 303--WATCHES, WATCH MOVEMENTS AND JEWELRY PROGRAMS

    1. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 303 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: Pub. L. 97-446, 96 Stat. 2331 (19 U.S.C. 1202, note); 
Pub. L. 103-465, 108 Stat. 4991; Pub. L. 94-241, 90 Stat. 263 (48 
U.S.C. 1681, note); Pub. L. 106-36, 113 Stat. 167; Pub. L. 108-429, 
118 Stat. 2582.


Sec.  303.1  [Amended]

    2. Section 303.1 is amended as follows:
    A. Remove ``on watches and watch movements and parts (except 
discrete watch cases) imported into the customs territory of the United 
States.'' from the first sentence of paragraph (c) and add ``on any 
article imported into the customs territory of the United States duty 
paid except for any article containing a material which is the product 
of a country to which column 2 rates of duty apply.'' in its place.
    B. Remove ``Headnote 6'' from the last sentence in paragraph (c) 
and add ``additional U.S. note 5 to chapter 91 of the HTSUS'' in its 
place.
    3. Section 303.2 is amended as follows:
    A. Remove ``American Samoa) and the Northern Mariana Islands.'' 
from the only sentence in paragraph (a)(8) and add ``American Samoa and 
the Northern Mariana Islands).'' in its place.
    B. Remove ``watch components'' from the only sentence in paragraph 
(a)(10) and add ``watch movements'' in its place.
    C. Amend paragraph (a)(13) introductory text by removing ``wages'' 
and adding ``wages and associated'' in its place.
    D. Add one new sentence at the end of paragraph (a)(13)(ii) 
introductory text as set forth below.
    E. Add one new sentence at the end of paragraph (a)(13)(ii)(A) as 
set forth below.
    F. Add one new sentence at the end of paragraph (a)(13)(ii)(B) as 
set forth below.
    G. Revise paragraph (a)(14) introductory text as set forth below.
    H. Add one new sentence at the end of paragraph (a)(14)(ii) 
introductory text as set forth below.
    I. Add one new sentence at the end of paragraph (a)(14)(ii)(A) as 
set forth below.
    J. Add one new sentence at the beginning of paragraph 
(a)(14)(ii)(B) as set forth below.
    K. Remove ``United States during'' from the second sentence of 
paragraph (b)(5) and add ``United States duty paid during'' in its 
place.


Sec.  303.2  Definitions and forms.

    (a) * * *
    (13) * * *
    (ii) * * * Only during the time employees are earning creditable 
wages are they entitled to health and life insurance duty refund 
benefits under the program.
    (A) * * * Only during the time employees are earning creditable 
wages are they entitled to health and life insurance duty refund 
benefits under the program.
    (B) * * * Only during the time employees are earning creditable 
wages are they entitled to pension duty refund benefits under the 
program.
* * * * *
    (14) Non-creditable wages and associated non-creditable fringe 
benefits ineligible for the duty refund benefit include, but are not 
limited to, the following:
* * * * *
    (ii) * * * Any health and life insurance costs during the time an 
employee is not earning creditable wages.
    (A) * * * Any health and life insurance costs during the time an 
employee is not earning creditable wages.
    (B) Any pension benefits that were not based on associated 
creditable wages. * * *
* * * * *
    4. Section 303.5 is amended as follows:
    A. Revise the section heading to read as set forth below.

[[Page 3086]]

    B. Remove ``allocation shall'' from the first sentence of paragraph 
(b) introductory text and add ``allocation or duty-refund certificate 
shall'' in its place.
    C. Remove ``payroll, production records'' from paragraph (b)(5) and 
add ``payroll, including time cards, production records'' in its place.
    D. Remove the last sentence of paragraph (c) and add two sentences 
in its place as set forth below.


Sec.  303.5  Application for annual allocations of duty-exemptions and 
duty-refunds.

* * * * *
    (c) * * * It is the responsibility of each program producer to make 
the appropriate data available to the Departments' officials for the 
calendar year for which the annual verification is being performed and 
no further data, from the calendar year for which the audit is being 
completed, will be considered for benefits at any time after the audit 
has been completed. In the event of discrepancies between the 
application and substantiating data before the audit is complete, the 
Secretaries shall determine which data will be used in the calculation 
of the duty refund and allocations.
* * * * *


Sec.  303.12  [Amended]

    5. Section 303.12 is amended as follows:
    A. Remove ``creditable wages paid during'' from the second sentence 
in paragraph (a)(1) and add ``creditable wages, determined from the 
wages as reported on the employer's first two quarterly federal tax 
returns (941-SS), paid during'' in its place.
    B. Remove ``duty refund will remain the same.'' from the fifth 
sentence in paragraph (a)(1) and add ``duty refund will be based on 
verified creditable wages, duty-free shipments into the customs 
territory of the United States, creditable health insurance, life 
insurance and pension benefits and the duty differential, if watch 
tariffs have been reduced during the calendar year.'' in its place.


Sec.  303.13  [Amended]

    6. Section 303.13 is amended by removing ``post office address'' 
from the first sentence of paragraph (b) and adding ``address'' in its 
place.
    7. Section 303.14 is amended as follows:
    A. Revise the section heading to read as set forth below.
    B. In paragraph (b)(3), remove ``35'' and add ``300'' in its place; 
and remove ``800'' and add ``3,000'' in its place.
    C. Revise paragraph (c) to read as follows.


Sec.  303.14  Allocation factors, duty refund calculations and 
miscellaneous provisions.

* * * * *
    (c) Calculation of the value of the mid-year production incentive 
certificates. (1) The value of each producer's certificate shall equal 
the producer's average creditable wage per unit shipped during the 
first six months of the calendar year multiplied by the sum of:
    (i) The number of units shipped up to 300,000 units times a factor 
of 90%; plus
    (ii) Incremental units shipped up to 450,000 units times a factor 
of 85%; plus
    (iii) Incremental units shipped up to 600,000 units times a factor 
of 80%; plus
    (iv) Incremental units shipped up to 750,000 units times a factor 
of 75%.
    (2) Calculation of the value of the annual production incentive 
certificates. The value of each producer's certificate shall equal the 
producer's average creditable benefit per unit based on creditable 
wages, health insurance, life insurance and pension benefits plus any 
duty differential, if applicable, averaged from the amount of duty free 
units shipped during the calendar year multiplied by the sum of the 
following to obtain the total verified amount of the annual duty-refund 
per company. This amount would then be adjusted by deducting the amount 
of the mid-year duty-refund already issued.
    (i) The number of units shipped up to 300,000 units times a factor 
of 90%; plus
    (ii) Incremental units shipped up to 450,000 units times a factor 
of 85%; plus
    (iii) Incremental units shipped up to 600,000 units times a factor 
of 80%; plus
    (iv) Incremental units shipped up to 750,000 units times a factor 
of 75%.
    (3) The Departments may make adjustments for these data in the 
manner set forth in Sec.  303.5(c).
* * * * *


Sec.  303.15  [Amended]

    8. Section 303.15 is amended by removing ``on watches and watch 
movements and parts (except discrete watch cases) imported into the 
customs territory of the United States.'' From the first sentence of 
paragraph (b) and adding ``on any article imported into the customs 
territory of the United States duty paid except for any article 
containing a material which is the product of a country to which column 
2 rates of duty apply.'' in its place.
    9. Section 303.16 is amended as follows:
    A. Amend paragraph (a)(9) introductory text by removing ``wages and 
creditable fringe benefits'' and adding ``wages and associated 
creditable fringe benefits and creditable duty differentials' in its 
place.
    B. Remove ``two producers'' from the first sentence of paragraph 
(a)(9)(i)(C) and add ``two program producers'' in its place.
    C. Add one new sentence at the end of paragraph (a)(9)(ii) 
introductory text as set forth below.
    D. Add one new sentence at the end of paragraph (a)(9)(ii)(A) as 
set forth below.
    E. Add one new sentence at the end of paragraph (a)(9)(ii)(B) as 
set forth below.
    F. Revise paragraph (a)(10) introductory text as set forth below.
    G. Add one new sentence at the end of paragraph (a)(10)(ii) 
introductory text as set forth below.
    H. Add one new sentence at the end of paragraph (a)(10)(ii)(A) as 
set forth below.
    I. Add one new sentence at the beginning of paragraph 
(a)(10)(ii)(B) as set forth below.
    J. Remove ``working on the premises of the company office and'' 
from the first sentence of paragraph (a)(10)(i)(D) and add ``working on 
the premises of the company office; wages paid to employees working 
with a non-program producer to create a single piece of HTSUS heading 
7113 jewelry whether or not it entered the United States free of duty; 
and'' in its place.
    K. Remove ``United States during'' from the second sentence of 
paragraph (b)(3) and add ``United States duty paid during'' in its 
place.


Sec.  303.16  Definitions and forms.

    (a) * * *
    (9) * * *
    (ii) * * * Only during the time employees are earning creditable 
wages are they entitled to health and life insurance duty refund 
benefits under the program.
    (A) * * * Only during the time employees are earning creditable 
wages are they entitled to health and life insurance duty refund 
benefits under the program.
    (B) * * * Only during the time employees are earning creditable 
wages are they entitled to pension duty refund benefits under the 
program.
* * * * *
    (10) Non-creditable wages and associated non-creditable fringe 
benefits ineligible for the duty refund benefit include, but are not 
limited to, the following:
* * * * *

[[Page 3087]]

    (ii) * * * Any health and life insurance costs during the time an 
employee is not earning creditable wages.
    (A) * * * Any health and life insurance costs during the time an 
employee is not earning creditable wages.
    (B) Any pension benefits that were not based on associated 
creditable wages. * * *
* * * * *
    10. Section 303.17 is amended as follows:
    A. Revise the section heading to read as set forth below.
    B. Remove ``payroll, production records'' from paragraph (b)(6) and 
add ``payroll, including time cards, production records'' in its place.
    C. Remove the last sentence of paragraph (c) and add two sentences 
in its place as set forth below.


Sec.  303.17  Application for annual duty-refunds.

* * * * *
    (c) * * * It is the responsibility of each program producer to make 
the appropriate data available to the Departments' officials for the 
calendar year for which the annual verification is being performed and 
no further data, from the calendar year for which the audit is being 
completed, will be considered for benefits at any time after the audit 
has been completed. In the event of discrepancies between the 
application and substantiating data before the audit is complete, the 
Secretaries shall determine which data will be used in the calculation 
of the duty refund and allocations.
* * * * *


Sec.  303.19  [Amended]

    11. Section 303.19 is amended as follows:
    A. Remove ``creditable wages paid during'' from the second sentence 
in paragraph (a)(1) and add ``creditable wages, determined from the 
wages as reported on the employer's first two quarterly federal tax 
returns (941-SS), paid during'' in its place.
    B. Remove ``duty refund will remain the same.'' from the fifth 
sentence in paragraph (a)(1) and add ``duty refund will be based on 
verified creditable wages, duty-free shipments into the customs 
territory of the United States, creditable health insurance, life 
insurance and pension benefits and the duty differential, if watch 
tariffs have been reduced during the calendar year.'' in its place.
    12. Section 303.20 is amended as follows:
    A. Revise the section heading to read as set forth below.
    B. Revise paragraph (b) to read as follows.


Sec.  303.20  Duty refund calculations and miscellaneous provisions.

* * * * *
    (b) Calculation of the value of the mid-year production incentive 
certificates. (1) The value of each producer's certificate shall equal 
the producer's average creditable wage per unit shipped during the 
first six months of the calendar year multiplied by the sum of:
    (i) The number of units shipped up to 300,000 units times a factor 
of 90%; plus
    (ii) Incremental units shipped up to 450,000 units times a factor 
of 85%; plus
    (iii) Incremental units shipped up to 600,000 units times a factor 
of 80%; plus
    (iv) Incremental units shipped up to 750,000 units times a factor 
of 75%.
    (2) Calculation of the value of the annual production incentive 
certificates. The value of each producer's certificate shall equal the 
producer's average creditable benefit per unit based on creditable 
wages, health insurance, life insurance and pension benefits plus any 
duty differential, if applicable, averaged from the amount of duty free 
units shipped during the calendar year multiplied by the sum of the 
following to obtain the total verified amount of the annual duty-refund 
per company. This amount would then be adjusted by deducting the amount 
of the mid-year duty-refund already issued.
    (i) The number of units shipped up to 300,000 units times a factor 
of 90%; plus
    (ii) Incremental units shipped up to 450,000 units times a factor 
of 85%; plus
    (iii) Incremental units shipped up to 600,000 units times a factor 
of 80%; plus
    (iv) Incremental units shipped up to 750,000 units times a factor 
of 75%.
    (3) The Departments may make adjustments for these data in the 
manner set forth in Sec.  303.17(c).
* * * * *


Sec.  303.21  [Amended]

    13. Section 303.21 is amended by removing ``post office address'' 
from the first sentence of paragraph (b) and adding ``address'' in its 
place.

    Dated: January 18, 2007.
David Spooner,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, Department of Commerce.
    Dated: January 9, 2007.
Nikolao Pula,
Director for Insular Affairs, Department of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 07-294 Filed 1-23-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P, 4310-93-P