[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 214 (Wednesday, November 5, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59829-59830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29198]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

15 CFR Part 303

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Insular Affairs
[Docket No. 971021249-7249-01]
RIN 0625-AA50


Proposed Limit on Duty-Free Insular Watches in Calendar Year 1998

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

ACTION: Proposed rule and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This action invites public comment on a proposal to amend the 
ITA regulations, which govern duty-exemption allocations and duty-
refund entitlements for watch producers in the United States' insular 
possessions (the Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa) and the 
Northern Mariana Islands. The proposed amendments would establish the 
total quantity and respective territorial shares of insular watches and 
watch movements which would be allowed to enter the United States free 
of duty during calendar year 1998 and make a minor adjustment to the 
verification of shipments.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 5, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Address written comments to Faye Robinson, Program Manager, 
Statutory Import Programs Staff, Room 4211, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The insular possessions watch industry 
provision in Section 110 of Public Law 97-446 (96 Stat. 2331) (1983) as 
amended by Section 602 of Public Law 103-465 (108 Stat. 4991) (1994) 
additional U.S. Note 5 to chapter 91 of the HTS requires the Secretary 
of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior, acting jointly, to 
establish a limit on the quantity of watches and watch movements which 
may be entered free of duty during each calendar year. The law also 
requires the Secretaries to establish the shares of this limited 
quantity which may be entered from the Virgin Islands, Guam, American 
Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands. Regulations on the 
establishment of these quantities and shares are contained in 
Secs. 303.3 and 303.4 of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations (15 CFR 
303.3 and 303.4). The Departments propose to establish for calendar 
year 1998 a total quantity and respective territorial shares as shown 
in the following table:


Virgin Islands.............................................    2,600,000
Guam.......................................................      500,000
American Samoa.............................................      500,000
Northern Mariana Islands...................................      500,000
                                                                        

Compared to the total quantity established for 1997 (61 FR 55883; 
October 30, 1996), this amount would be a decrease of 500,000 units. 
The proposed Virgin Islands territorial share would be reduced by 
500,000 and the shares for Guam, American Samoa and the Northern 
Mariana Islands would not change. The amount we proposed for the Virgin 
Islands is more than sufficient for the anticipated needs of all the 
existing producers.
    The proposed rule would also modify Sec. 303.6(a). Currently, the 
Departments are able to verify shipments through the U.S. Customs 
Service. However, due to informal entry procedures on some shipments or 
other problems, Commerce is occasionally unable to verify an entry. We 
propose allowing producers to

[[Page 59830]]

provide other means of verification satisfactory to the Secretaries in 
these situations.
    The proposed rule does not contain policies with Federalism 
implications sufficient to warrant preparation of a Federalism 
assessment under Executive Order 12612.
    Regulatory Flexibility Act. In accordance with the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., the Assistant General Counsel 
for Legislation and Regulation has certified to the Chief Counsel, 
Small Business Administration, that the proposed rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
This is because the rulemaking is primarily to make technical changes.
    Paperwork Reduction Act. This rulemaking involves information 
collection activities subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, 
44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. which is currently approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget under control number 0625-0134. The amendments 
would have no effect on the information burden on the public.
    Notwithstanding 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.
    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, we propose to amend 15 CFR Part 303 as 
follows:

PART 303--[AMENDED]


Sec. 303.6  [Amended]

    1. Section 303.6(a) is amended by adding to the second to last 
sentence ``, or verified by other means satisfactory to the 
Secretaries,'' after the words U.S. Customs Service.


Sec. 303.14  [Amended]

    2. Section 303.14(e) is amended by removing ``3,100,000'' and 
adding ``2,600,000'' in its place.
Robert S. LaRussa,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
Allen Stayman,
Director, Office of Insular Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-29198 Filed 11-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M and 4310-93-M