[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 149 (Thursday, August 2, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37886-37990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16279]



[[Page 37885]]

Vol. 83

Thursday,

No. 149

August 2, 2018

Part II





Department of Homeland Security





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U.S. Customs and Border Protection





Department of the Treasury





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19 CFR Parts 113, 181, 190, et al.





 Modernized Drawback; Proposed Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 83 , No. 149 / Thursday, August 2, 2018 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 37886]]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

19 CFR Parts 113, 181, 190, and 191

[USCBP-2018-0029]
RIN 1515-AE23


Modernized Drawback

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland 
Security; Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to amend U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) regulations to implement changes to the drawback 
regulations as directed by the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement 
Act of 2015 (TFTEA). These proposed regulations establish a new process 
for drawback pursuant to TFTEA which liberalizes the merchandise 
substitution standard, simplifies recordkeeping requirements, extends 
and standardizes timelines for filing drawback claims, and requires the 
electronic filing of drawback claims. TFTEA allows a transition period 
wherein drawback claimants will have the choice between filing claims 
under the existing process detailed in the current regulations or 
filing claims under the proposed new process. This document explains 
how filings during the transition period will work, discusses the 
interim policy guidance procedures for filing claims prior to these 
regulations becoming final, and proposes to make TFTEA-related changes, 
dealing with bonds, regarding joint and several liability for the 
importer of the goods and the drawback claimant, and technical 
corrections and conforming changes to CBP regulations. This document 
also proposes to clarify the prohibition on the filing of a 
substitution drawback claim for internal revenue excise tax paid on 
imported merchandise in situations where no excise tax was paid upon 
the substituted merchandise; or the substituted merchandise is the 
subject of a different claim for refund or drawback of tax under any 
provision of the Internal Revenue Code. CBP is proposing these 
amendments regarding excise taxes to protect the revenue by clarifying 
the relationship between drawback claims and Federal excise tax 
liability. Further, CBP proposes to add a basic importation and entry 
bond condition to foster compliance.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 17, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number USCBP-
2018-0029, by one of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Mail: Trade and Commercial Regulations Branch, Regulations 
and Rulings, Office of Trade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 90 K 
Street NE, 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20229-1177.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket title for this rulemaking, and must reference docket number 
USCBP-2018-0029 . All comments received will be posted without change 
to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and 
additional information on the rulemaking process, see the ``Public 
Participation'' heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of the 
document.
    Docket: For access to the docket or to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov. Submitted comments 
may also be inspected during business days between the hours of 9:00 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Office of Trade, Regulations and Rulings, 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 90 K Street NE, 10th Floor, 
Washington, DC. Arrangements to inspect submitted comments should be 
made in advance by calling Mr. Joseph Clark at (202) 325-0118.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randy Mitchell, U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection, Office of Trade, Trade Policy and Programs, 202-863-
6532, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dfadbeb1bba6f1b2b6abbcb7bab3b39fbcbdaff1bbb7acf1b8b0a9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4331222d273a6d2e2a37202b262f2f032021336d272b306d242c35">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation

    Interested persons are invited to participate in this rulemaking by 
submitting written data, views, or arguments on all aspects of the 
proposed rule. CBP also invites comments that relate to the economic, 
environmental, or federalism effects that might result from this 
proposed rulemaking. Comments that will provide the most assistance to 
CBP will reference a specific portion of the proposed rulemaking, 
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include data, 
information, or authority to support such recommended change. See 
ADDRESSES above for information on how to submit comments.

Background

Table of Contents

I. Authority
II. Modernized Drawback
    A. TFTEA-Drawback Modernization Overview \1\
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    \1\ For purposes of this document, ``TFTEA-Drawback'' is the 
term generally used to refer to drawback under section 1313, as 
amended by the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015.
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    1. Transition Period (February 24, 2018-February 23, 2019)
    (a) Claims may be filed under the existing drawback process or 
the TFTEA-Drawback process during the transition period.
    (b) TFTEA-Drawback substitution claims cannot designate imported 
merchandise if the associated entry summary was already included on 
a drawback claim filed prior to February 24, 2018.
    2. Filing Requirements and Deadline
    (a) All TFTEA-Drawback claims are required to be submitted 
electronically in ACE.
    (b) The import entry summary line item must be identified for 
all imported merchandise for TFTEA-Drawback claims.
    (c) TFTEA-Drawback claims have a uniform five-year filing 
deadline from the date of importation of the designated imported 
merchandise.
    3. HTSUS-Based Substitution Standards
    (a) TFTEA-Drawback substitution claims for most manufacturing 
and unused merchandise have new standards based on HTSUS 
classification.
    (b) The new standards do not apply to certain claims if 
substitution is based upon alternative rules (source material for 
sought chemical elements, wine, and finished petroleum derivatives) 
or if pursuant to NAFTA drawback.
    4. ``Lesser of'' Rule for Substitution Claims
    (a) TFTEA-Drawback substitution claims are generally subject to 
a ``lesser of'' rule regarding the amount of duties, taxes, and fees 
to be refunded where the amount to be refunded will be equal to 99 
percent of the lesser of (1) the amount of duties, taxes, and fees 
paid with respect to the imported merchandise; or (2) the amount of 
duties, taxes, and fees that would apply to the substituted 
merchandise if the substituted merchandise were imported.
    (b) The TFTEA-Drawback ``lesser of'' rule does not apply to 
certain claims if substitution is based upon alternative rules (wine 
and finished petroleum derivatives) or if pursuant to NAFTA 
drawback.
    5. Expanded Scope and Calculation Methods for Refunds
    (a) The scope of refunds for direct identification and 
substitution manufacturing drawback claims will be expanded from 
duties to also include taxes and fees.

[[Page 37887]]

    (b) TFTEA-Drawback direct identification claim refunds will be 
calculated based on the invoice value of the designated imported 
merchandise, which is unchanged from the current requirements.
    (c) TFTEA-Drawback substitution claim refunds will be calculated 
based on the per unit average value reported on the line from the 
entry summary that covered the designated imported merchandise.
    (d) The imported merchandise reported on a single entry summary 
line item may not be the basis of a direct identification and a 
substitution claim under TFTEA-Drawback.
    6. Recordkeeping and Proof of Export
    (a) Congress, through TFTEA, changed the starting date for the 
three-year time period for maintaining supporting records for 
drawback claims from the date of payment to the date of liquidation.
    (b) Claimants for manufacturing drawback must provide a 
certification that they are in possession of the relevant bill of 
materials or formula for the manufactured goods, in lieu of actual 
submission thereof, for each claim filed.
    (c) Congress, through TFTEA, permits the future use of an 
electronic export system as automated proof of export for drawback 
claims, but no system will be reliable for this purpose on February 
24, 2018; and, proof of export must be documented in records that 
are summarized for the drawback claim.
    7. Transfers of Merchandise and Liability
    (a) Specific formats for certificates of delivery and specific 
formats for certificates of manufacture and delivery are no longer 
required when drawback products or other drawback-eligible goods are 
transferred between parties, although records of manufacture and 
transfer must be provided and maintained to support the drawback 
claim.
    (b) The first drawback claim to be filed that designates any 
portion of imported merchandise from a given entry summary line item 
will determine the type of drawback eligibility for all other 
imported merchandise covered by that entry summary line item.
    (c) Importers are now jointly and severally liable with drawback 
claimants for refunds associated with their imported merchandise, 
when designated on a drawback claim.
    B. Filing a TFTEA-Drawback Claim
    C. Required TFTEA-Drawback Certifications for Existing 
Manufacturing Rulings and Privileges
    D. Federal Excise Tax and Substitution Drawback Claims
III. Explanation of Proposed Amendments
    A. Proposed New Part 190
    B. Other Conforming Amendments
    C. Amendments Regarding Federal Excise Tax and Substitution 
Drawback Claims
IV. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements
    A. Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory 
Review) and Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review)
    B. Executive Order 13771 (Reducing Regulation and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs)
    C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
    D. Paperwork Reduction Act
V. Proposed Effective/Applicability Dates
VI. Signing Authority
List of Subjects
Proposed Amendments to the Regulations

I. Authority

    Drawback, as provided for in section 313 of the Tariff Act of 1930, 
as amended (19 U.S.C. 1313), is the refund or remission, in whole or in 
part, of duties, taxes, and fees imposed and paid under Federal law 
upon importation or entry and due on the imported merchandise. Drawback 
is a privilege, not a right, subject to compliance with prescribed 
rules and regulations administered by U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP). See 19 U.S.C. 1313(l). Currently, the implementing 
regulations regarding drawback are contained in part 191 of the CBP 
Regulations (title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) (19 CFR 
part 191)) and part 181 of the CBP Regulations (19 CFR part 181, 
subpart E, which pertains to drawback claims under the North American 
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)). Additionally, the Internal Revenue Code 
(IRC) of 1986, as amended (IRC), codified as title 26 of the United 
States Code (26 U.S.C.), is the main body of domestic statutory tax law 
of the United States and includes, inter alia, laws covering Federal 
excise taxes. Federal excise taxes are imposed on the manufacture and 
distribution of certain consumer goods, such as distilled spirits, 
wines, beer, tobacco products, imported taxable fuel and petroleum 
products. These Federal excise taxes, and certain limitations regarding 
drawback claims, are discussed below in the section titled Federal 
Excise Tax and Substitution Drawback Claims.
    In essence, a drawback claim is a request for a refund or remission 
of certain duties, taxes, and fees imposed upon importation which is 
filed with CBP after the merchandise or articles have been exported or 
destroyed. There are three main categories of drawback: Manufacturing 
drawback, rejected merchandise drawback, and unused merchandise 
drawback. Each main category of drawback is discussed, in turn, below.
    Manufacturing drawback may be claimed on exported articles that 
have been manufactured or produced in the United States with imported 
duty-paid merchandise (direct identification manufacturing drawback), 
as well as on exported articles that have been manufactured or produced 
in the United States using domestic merchandise substituted for 
imported duty-paid merchandise meeting the statutory criteria 
(substitution manufacturing drawback). See 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) and (b).
    Rejected merchandise drawback may be available upon the exportation 
or destruction of imported duty-paid merchandise entered or withdrawn 
for consumption meeting the statutory criteria (i.e., not conforming to 
sample or specifications, shipped without consent, determined to be 
defective at the time of import, or ultimately sold at retail and 
returned). See 19 U.S.C. 1313(c).
    Unused merchandise drawback may be claimed on imported merchandise 
that was exported or destroyed without having been used within the 
United States (direct identification unused merchandise drawback) as 
well as on goods that were exported or destroyed without being used 
that were substituted for imported merchandise meeting the appropriate 
criteria (substitution unused merchandise drawback). See 19 U.S.C. 
1313(j)(1) and (2).
    Originally, as provided for in section 3 of the second Act of 
Congress, the Tariff Act of July 4, 1789, drawback of 99% of duties 
paid on imported merchandise (except distilled spirits) was permitted 
if the merchandise was exported within a year. However, drawback 
expanded over time to, among other things, provide for refunds of taxes 
and fees in some situations, allow for merchandise to be destroyed as 
an alternative to exportation, allow for the substitution of goods on 
which drawback could be claimed, and provide more than just a single 
year within which goods must be exported or destroyed.
    Historically, drawback claims were submitted entirely on paper. 
While filing a claim entirely on paper is currently still an option, 
most drawback claims consist of two portions: The electronic 
transmission of the entry summary data for the designated imported 
merchandise via the CBP-authorized electronic data interchange (EDI); 
and the physical delivery of the CBP Form 7551 (Drawback Entry) and all 
required documents supporting the claim. For TFTEA-Drawback claims, 
filers will electronically transmit the drawback entry summary data and 
the entry summary data for the designated imported merchandise to CBP 
and will upload all documents required to support the claim. CBP has 
programmed the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) for receiving

[[Page 37888]]

electronic drawback claims.\2\ An electronically submitted drawback 
claim will not be complete until the claim has been successfully 
transmitted with all required documents uploaded. Information for 
filing a drawback entry is contained in the relevant CBP and Trade 
Automated Interface Requirements (CATAIR) document, which is available 
at: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/ace/catair.
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    \2\ On February 9, 2018, in anticipation of delays regarding the 
proposal and finalization of the TFTEA-Drawback regulations, CBP 
posted interim policy guidance for filing TFTEA-Drawback claims in 
ACE during the transition period, available at: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/entry-summary/ace-process-and-policy. 
This interim policy guidance is discussed in detail below in section 
B, Filing a TFTEA-Drawback Claim.
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    Upon receipt of a claim, CBP conducts an initial review, which 
allows CBP the opportunity to work with claimants to ensure that the 
claim is complete and timely. Once a complete claim is timely filed, 
drawback specialists review the supporting documentation to ensure that 
the claim is properly documented and the amount of the drawback is 
correctly calculated. In many instances, it is necessary for CBP to 
contact claimants to obtain additional supporting documentation, such 
as when there are questions regarding the identity of the merchandise 
in transfer scenarios or to confirm the actual date and fact of 
exportation. If additional information is required, CBP will send a 
request for information (CBP Form 28) to the claimant through the ACE 
portal or through the end of the transition period by physically 
transmitting the request, depending upon the method used to file the 
claim was filed. Claimants generally respond via the method by which 
they were contacted. The increased use of electronic filing and 
correspondence will expedite claim processing and payment.
    Requests for information do not toll the deadlines for timely 
filing. In any event, claimants are bound by the deadlines for claims 
with respect to filing, amending, and perfecting.

II. Modernized Drawback

A. TFTEA-Drawback Overview

    On February 24, 2016, the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement 
Act of 2015 (TFTEA) (Pub. L. 114-125, 130 Stat. 122, February 24, 2016) 
was signed into law. Section 906 of TFTEA, Drawback and Refunds, made 
significant changes to the drawback laws which generally liberalize the 
standards for substituting merchandise, ease documentation 
requirements, extend and standardize timelines for filing drawback 
claims, and require electronic filing. However, while the changes are 
significant, on balance, section 906 of TFTEA left most of 19 U.S.C. 
1313 unchanged. In other words, except for the significant changes 
brought about by Section 906 of TFTEA which are discussed below, most 
of the underlying processes involved in drawback remain unchanged. CBP 
also notes that additional steps to further automate or simplify the 
drawback claims process (which may or may not require regulatory 
changes) are anticipated to be announced subsequent to the 
implementation of the changes proposed in this document.
1. Transition Period (February 24, 2018-February 23, 2019)
    (a) Claims may be filed under the existing drawback process or the 
TFTEA-Drawback process during the transition period.
    Section 906(q)(3) of TFTEA provides for a transition period, 
beginning February 24, 2018, and ending February 23, 2019, during which 
claimants may file claims under the current drawback process and 
regulations detailed in part 191 (and under section 313 of the Tariff 
Act of 1930 as in effect on the day before TFTEA was signed into law) 
or under the amended statute and the implementing regulations (proposed 
part 190). February 23, 2019, is the last day of the transition period. 
During the transition period, claimants may choose which process to 
file on a claim-by-claim basis, meaning that claimants may file some 
claims under the old drawback process and some claims under the TFTEA-
Drawback process throughout the entirety of the transition period. For 
purposes of this document, ``TFTEA-Drawback'' is the term generally 
used to refer to drawback under section 1313, as amended by TFTEA, and 
the implementing regulations contained in proposed Part 190.
    While TFTEA-Drawback claims have been accepted in ACE since 
February 24, 2018, it is not until February 24, 2019, that all claims 
must be filed in compliance with the amended statute. Section II.B, 
Filing a TFTEA-Drawback Claim, below, contains information on how to 
file claims, including during the transition period under the interim 
policy guidance procedures announced February 8, 2018, in anticipation 
of the delay in finalizing these proposed regulations. Accordingly, the 
changes proposed in this document have no immediate effect on the 
drawback processes and requirements contained in part 191 of the CBP 
regulations. The transition period allows claimants the opportunity to 
choose which drawback regime to operate under while providing 
additional time, if needed, to complete any programming requirements 
for transmitting claims in ACE.
    (b) TFTEA-Drawback substitution claims cannot designate imported 
merchandise if the associated entry summary was included on a drawback 
claim filed under part 191(and vice versa).
    Claimants are precluded from filing TFTEA-Drawback substitution 
claims for imported merchandise associated with an entry summary if any 
other merchandise covered on that entry summary has been designated as 
the basis of a claim under part 191, including during the transition 
period. Nevertheless, claimants may continue to make claims (including 
substitution claims) under part 191 for these entries through the end 
of the transition period on February 23, 2019. Similarly, claimants are 
precluded from filing any drawback claims under part 191 for imported 
merchandise associated with an entry summary if any other merchandise 
covered on that entry summary has been designated as the basis of a 
TFTEA-Drawback substitution claim, including during the transition 
period. These limitations exist because drawback refund amounts are 
claimed at the entry summary header level (i.e., the aggregate of all 
lines for which drawback was claimed on an entry) for claims under part 
191 and CBP is unable to trace whether merchandise from a specific line 
on an entry summary was designated as the basis for a drawback claim 
under part 191.
2. New Filing Requirements and Deadline
    (a) All TFTEA-Drawback claims are required to be submitted 
electronically in ACE.
    While all TFTEA-Drawback claims must be filed electronically, it is 
not until February 24, 2019 (the first day after the end of the 
transition period), that all drawback claims must be filed 
electronically. See 19 U.S.C. 1313(r)(3)(B). Consequently, claims filed 
under part 191 do not have to be filed electronically. Drawback claims 
must be filed electronically through a combination of transmitting 
certain information to the system and uploading supporting 
documentation.
    By moving to a fully electronic environment as of February 24, 
2019, CBP will be able to better validate all drawback claims based 
upon certain criteria specific to the type of drawback claim, including 
(but not limited to) the timeliness of the claim, the amount of refund 
claimed, and the suitability of

[[Page 37889]]

the merchandise involved. As a result, drawback claimants should 
benefit from expedited processing, review, and payment of claims.
    (b) The import entry summary line item must be identified for all 
imported merchandise for TFTEA-Drawback claims.
    Many of the benefits for drawback claim processing noted above are 
made possible by systematic enhancements in ACE concerning line item 
reporting. Line item reporting, which is required for all TFTEA-
Drawback claims, requires claimants to provide certain relevant 
information for the designated imported merchandise on a drawback claim 
associated with the line item on an entry summary, including the tariff 
classification, quantity, and value, as well as the duties, taxes, and 
fees assessed thereon. Line item reporting will enable more system 
validations at the line level and will help ensure that CBP does not 
overpay refunds.
    (c) TFTEA-Drawback claims have a uniform five-year filing deadline 
from the date of importation of the designated imported merchandise.
    All TFTEA-Drawback claims must be filed not later than 5 years 
after the date the merchandise on which drawback is claimed was 
imported. See 19 U.S.C. 1313(r)(1). Previously, section 1313 provided 
three-year filing deadlines beginning from different starting points 
for various types of claims (e.g., three years from the receipt of 
imported merchandise or three years after the date of importation or 
withdrawal). This five-year deadline does not apply to claims filed 
under the existing drawback laws provided for in part 191 during the 
transition period.
3. HTSUS-Based Substitution Standards
    (a) TFTEA-Drawback substitution claims for most manufacturing and 
unused merchandise have new standards based on HTSUS classification.
    Section 906(b) provides a new standard for determining which 
merchandise may be substituted for imported merchandise as the basis 
for a substitution claim. This standard generally requires that both 
the imported merchandise and the exported merchandise be classified or 
classifiable within the same the 8-digit number in the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) classification. This 
standard replaces the ``same kind and quality'' and ``commercially 
interchangeable'' standards that were applied, respectively, to 
substitution manufacturing drawback claims (19 U.S.C. 1313(b)) and 
substitution unused merchandise drawback claims (19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2)). 
Prior to TFTEA, determining whether goods were of the same kind and 
quality or were commercially interchangeable was a commodity-specific 
question that imposed burdens on claimants (to prove that the 
merchandise met the applicable standard) and on CBP (to research and 
rule on the eligibility of the goods to be substituted). The new 
standards will reduce much of the above-cited burdens by generally 
eliminating uncertainty as to the whether the standard for substitution 
has been met.
    Substitution under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b), for manufacturing drawback 
claims, is subject to a new standard that requires the substituted 
merchandise used in manufacturing to be classifiable under the same 8-
digit HTSUS subheading number as the designated imported merchandise. 
Similarly, substitution under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2), for unused 
merchandise drawback claims, is subject to a new standard that requires 
the substituted merchandise to be classifiable under the same 8-digit 
HTSUS subheading number as the imported merchandise, except that there 
are restrictions with respect to HTSUS basket provisions (i.e., 
subheadings with descriptions that begin with the term ``other''). 
Specifically, and only for unused merchandise drawback claims, 
merchandise cannot be substituted if the 8-digit HTSUS subheading 
number begins with the term ``other'', unless the imported merchandise 
and the substituted merchandise are both classifiable under the same 
10-digit HTSUS statistical reporting number and the description for 
that 10-digit HTSUS statistical reporting number does not begin with 
the term ``other''. See 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(5). In lieu of the HTSUS 
classification for unused merchandise drawback claims, substitution may 
also be based on the first 8 digits of the 10-digit Department of 
Commerce Schedule B number (the code for exporting goods from the 
United States). See 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(6).
    Under the new substitution standards, the correct HTSUS 
classification is a critical aspect of the exercise of reasonable care. 
Accordingly, importers and drawback claimants should take note that 
prospective rulings on classification may be requested pursuant to 19 
CFR 177.1(a)(1).
    (b) The new standards do not apply to certain claims if 
substitution is based upon alternative rules (source material for 
sought chemical elements, wine, and finished petroleum derivatives) or 
if pursuant to NAFTA drawback.
    Certain types of merchandise are exempt from the new substitution 
standards discussed above. Substitution manufacturing claims for sought 
chemical elements have a special rule for source material regardless of 
the 8-digit HTSUS subheading number. See 19 U.S.C. 1313(b)(4) (which 
defines a sought chemical element as either an element from the 
Periodic Table of Elements or a chemical compound consisting of such 
elements). Unused merchandise claims involving wine have a distinct 
standard involving price variations and color. See 19 U.S.C. 
1313(j)(2). Both manufacturing and unused merchandise drawback claims 
for finished petroleum products, if filed under 19 U.S.C. 1313(p), are 
already subject to more specific HTSUS-based substitution standards. 
Substitution manufacturing claims for NAFTA drawback remain subject to 
the ``same kind and quality'' standard in part 181, consistent with 19 
U.S.C. 3333(a)(3).
4. ``Lesser of'' Rule for Substitution Claims
    (a) TFTEA-Drawback substitution claims are generally subject to a 
``lesser of'' rule regarding the amount of duties, taxes, and fees to 
be refunded where the amount to be refunded will be equal to 99 percent 
of the lesser of (1) the amount of duties, taxes, and fees paid with 
respect to the imported merchandise; or (2) the amount of duties, 
taxes, and fees that would apply to the substituted merchandise if the 
substituted merchandise were imported.
    Section 906(g) of TFTEA provides for a ``lesser of'' rule, as a 
safeguard, to ensure that the revenue is protected in light of the 
liberalization and simplification of the standards for substitution 
drawback claims. The ``lesser of'' rule provides that the refund will 
be equal to 99 percent of the lesser of the amount of duties, taxes, 
and fees paid with respect to the imported merchandise and/or that 
would have been paid on the substituted merchandise had it been 
imported. In all claims subject to the ``lesser of'' rule, it is 
incumbent on the claimant to properly calculate the proper amount of 
the claimed refund.
    For manufacturing drawback claims, the substituted merchandise is 
that which was used in manufacturing, in lieu of the designated 
imported merchandise, and the ``lesser of'' comparison is based upon 
the amount of duties, taxes, and fees that would apply to the 
substituted merchandise if it were imported (with this amount reduced 
by the value of the materials recovered during destruction, if 
applicable). See 19 U.S.C. 1313(l)(2)(C). For unused merchandise 
drawback claims, the substituted merchandise is the exported or 
destroyed merchandise and the

[[Page 37890]]

``lesser of'' comparison is based upon the amount of duties, taxes, and 
fees that would apply to the exported or destroyed merchandise if it 
were imported (with this amount reduced by the value of the materials 
recovered during destruction, if applicable). See 19 U.S.C. 
1313(l)(2)(B). TFTEA-Drawback claimants must provide the comparative 
value (i.e., the ``lesser of'' comparison for either manufacturing 
drawback claims or for unused merchandise drawback claims), as part of 
a substitution claim.
    (b) The TFTEA-Drawback ``lesser of'' rule does not apply to certain 
claims if substitution is based upon alternative rules (wine and 
finished petroleum derivatives) or if pursuant to NAFTA drawback.
    The ``lesser of'' rule does not apply to claims for wine based on 
19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2) or to claims for finished petroleum products under 
19 U.S.C. 1313(p). See 19 U.S.C. 1313(l)(2)(D). Claims under these 
provisions are subject to other specific limitations. It is important 
to note that sought chemical elements are not exempt from the ``lesser 
of'' rule, even though there is a special rule for the substitution of 
source material. See 19 U.S.C. 1313(b)(4). NAFTA drawback allows for 
substitution manufacturing claims (under certain conditions) and these 
claims are not subject to the ``lesser of'' rule discussed herein, but 
they remain subject to the discrete NAFTA drawback ``lesser of duty'' 
rule regarding the amount of duty owed as compared between the relevant 
countries. See 19 U.S.C. 3333 and 19 CFR 181.44.
5. Expanded Scope and Calculation Methods for Refunds
    (a) The scope of refunds for direct identification and substitution 
manufacturing drawback claims will be expanded from duties to also 
include taxes and fees.
    Section 906(g) of TFTEA provides for the refund of taxes and fees, 
along with duties, for manufacturing drawback claims. See 19 U.S.C. 
1313(l)(2)(C). This is an expansion of the scope of refunds available 
for manufacturing drawback claims (19 U.S.C. 1313(a) and (b)). 
Previously, the statutory provisions for direct identification and 
substitution manufacturing drawback specified only the refund of 
duties. This expansion is specifically provided for claims with respect 
to manufactured articles in paragraph (l)(2)(C) of 19 U.S.C. 1313. 
However, this expansion is not applicable to all drawback claim 
provisions. Refunds of duties, taxes, and fees were already allowed for 
in claims involving unused merchandise prior to the new language 
provided for by TFTEA. See 19 U.S.C. 1313(l)(2)(B). In contrast, there 
was neither any pre-existing authority for refunds of taxes and fees 
for claims involving rejected merchandise nor did TFTEA otherwise 
expand the scope of refunds beyond duties by generally referencing 19 
U.S.C. 1313(l). The provisions that provide for refunds of duties, 
taxes, and fees are limited to unused merchandise and manufacturing 
drawback claims in 19 U.S.C. 1313(l)(2)(B) and (C), respectively.
    There is also a noteworthy difference regarding the statutory 
provisions for substitution manufacturing drawback claims whereby the 
merchandise must be imported duty-paid. See 19 U.S.C. 1313(b)(1). No 
such requirement exists for direct identification manufacturing claims. 
See 19 U.S.C. 1313(a). The result of this difference is that imported 
merchandise that is duty-free may be designated as the basis for a 
direct identification manufacturing drawback claim, but not for a 
substitution manufacturing drawback claim.
    (b) TFTEA-Drawback direct identification claim refunds will be 
calculated based on the invoice value of the designated imported 
merchandise, which is unchanged from the current requirements.
    CBP currently requires all drawback claimants, regardless of the 
type of claim, to calculate drawback refunds based on the invoice value 
of the designated imported merchandise. TFTEA-Drawback direct 
identification claims will continue to be calculated based on the 
invoice value of the designated imported merchandise. This includes all 
drawback claims that are based upon direct identification (e.g., 
manufacturing, rejected merchandise, and unused merchandise drawback 
claims). It should also be noted that all NAFTA drawback claims will 
continue to be calculated based on the invoice value of the designated 
imported merchandise. See 19 U.S.C. 3333 and 19 CFR 181.44.
    (c) TFTEA-Drawback substitution claim refunds will be calculated 
based on the per unit average value reported on the line from the entry 
summary that covered the designated imported merchandise.
    Section 906(g) of TFTEA authorized CBP to calculate refunds based 
upon the per unit average of the duties, taxes, and fees reported on 
the entry summary line item that covered the designated imported 
merchandise if this method would result in simplification of the 
drawback claims process for CBP without posing a risk to the revenue of 
the United States. Per unit averaging requires that the drawback 
claimant calculate the per unit average value of the designated 
imported merchandise (i.e., the entered value for the applicable entry 
summary line item apportioned equally over each unit covered by the 
line item) and request a refund 99% of the amount of duties, taxes and 
fees applicable thereto. The legislative history for Section 906(g) 
clarifies that CBP is authorized to utilize per unit averaging solely 
to allow for the simplification of drawback claims and CBP is not to 
allow for the ``manipulation of claims in order to maximize refunds to 
the detriment of the revenue of the United States.'' See H.R. Rep. no. 
114-376, at 221 (2015). Accordingly, CBP is proposing in these 
regulations to allow the use of per unit averaging in the context of 
substitution manufacturing drawback claims (19 U.S.C. 1313(b)) and 
substitution unused merchandise drawback claims (19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2)), 
but not for direct identification manufacturing drawback claims (19 
U.S.C. 1313(a)), rejected merchandise drawback claims (19 U.S.C. 
1313(c)), or direct identification unused merchandise drawback claims 
(19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(1)).
    This determination was made only after much internal consideration 
as well as outreach to various trade stakeholders. A significant 
justification for the use of per unit averaging exclusively for 
substitution claims is that TFTEA imposed a ``lesser of'' rule for 
drawback claims involving substitution that safeguards against risks to 
the revenue. Simply put, by importing high and low value goods together 
on a single line, the claimant could manipulate the drawback claim 
through per-unit averaging by strategically exporting or destroying the 
low value goods, where the per-unit average of duties, taxes, and fees 
to be refunded was greater than that associated with the low value 
goods. The lesser of rule prevents this type of manipulation. No 
``lesser of'' rule was authorized under TFTEA for direct identification 
claims.
    The application of per unit averaging method of calculating 
drawback refunds requires the equal apportionment of the amount of 
duties, taxes, and fees eligible for drawback for all units covered by 
a single line item on an entry summary to each unit of merchandise (and 
is required for certain substitution drawback claims). In this method, 
the ratio of the total value of imported units as reported on a line 
item divided by the total quantity of imported units reported on a line 
item is to be multiplied by the quantity of units designated as the 
basis for the drawback claim to determine the

[[Page 37891]]

average per unit value. The refund per unit of the designated imported 
merchandise is to be 99% of the duties, taxes, and fees applicable to 
the average per unit value and this amount is calculated to two decimal 
places (and subject to the ``lesser of'' rule).
Example 1. Substitution Unused Merchandise TFTEA-Drawback Claim
    A substitution unused merchandise drawback claim is filed for 500 
exported articles with a value of $110 per unit. The 500 units of 
designated imported merchandise were reported on an entry summary line 
item that covered 1000 units with an entered value of $100,000 and a 
duty rate of 2.5%. Therefore, regarding the amount of duties to be 
refunded pursuant to the ``lesser of'' methodology, the calculation of 
drawback will be based on the per unit value of $100 for the designated 
imported merchandise rather than the value of $110 for the exported 
merchandise.
    The designated imported merchandise has a per unit value of $100. 
This applicable duty rate (2.5%) is applied to the average per unit 
value ($100) to determine the amount of duties apportioned to each unit 
at $2.50.
    The amount available for a drawback refund is 99% of the duties 
paid per unit ($2.50), which is $2.48. This amount of refundable duties 
per unit ($2.48) is multiplied by the quantity of designated imported 
merchandise (500 units) to calculate the total amount available for the 
drawback refund, which is $1,240. Similar calculations must be 
completed for applicable taxes and fees as well.
Example 2. Substitution Manufacturing TFTEA-Drawback Claim
    A substitution manufacturing drawback claim is filed for 200 
exported finished articles with a value of $400 per unit.\3\ The 
designated imported merchandise was reported on an entry summary line 
item that covered 800 units with an entered value of $160,000 
(averaging $200 per unit) and a duty rate of 3.1%. To manufacture the 
finished articles, the manufacturer actually used 600 units of 
substituted domestically sourced merchandise that is classifiable under 
the same 10-digit tariff provision. The domestically sourced 
merchandise has a substituted value of $180 per unit. Therefore, 
regarding the amount of duties to be refunded pursuant to the ``lesser 
of'' methodology, the calculation of drawback will be based on the per 
unit value of $180 for the substituted merchandise rather than the 
value of $200 for the designated imported merchandise.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ It is noteworthy that the value of the exported (or 
destroyed) finished article is not germane to the application of the 
``lesser of'' rule for substitution manufacturing drawback claims. 
The comparison in value is between the value of the designated 
imported merchandise and the substituted merchandise.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The substituted merchandise has a per unit value of $180. This 
applicable duty rate (3.1%) is applied to the average per unit value 
($180) to determine the amount of duties apportioned to each unit at 
$5.58.
    The amount available for a drawback refund is 99% of the duties 
paid per unit ($5.58), which is $5.52. This amount of refundable duties 
per unit ($5.52) is multiplied by the quantity of designated imported 
merchandise (600 units) to calculate the total amount available for the 
drawback refund, which is $3,312. Similar calculations must be 
completed for applicable taxes and fees as well.
    Per unit averaging facilitates verification of the amounts of 
drawback refunds claimed. CBP does not receive invoice data that is 
usefully searchable electronically. By moving to the per unit averaging 
calculation methodology for substitution claims that is based on entry 
summary line data, CBP will gain the ability to automate validations of 
refund calculations made by the claimant. This should lead to faster 
and more efficient processing of claims, which will benefit both 
drawback claimants and CBP. These efficiencies are gained through the 
use of entry summary line item data, which is required for all TFTEA-
Drawback claims, and will enable the per unit averaging calculation to 
take place as an automated verification rather than a manual process.
    (d) The imported merchandise reported on a single entry summary 
line item may not be the basis of a direct identification and a 
substitution claim under TFTEA-Drawback.
    A consequence of using per unit averaging for substitution claims 
under TFTEA-Drawback is that a single entry summary line item cannot be 
used for both direct identification and substitution drawback claims. 
Consequently, CBP proposes to limit each line on an entry summary to 
designation as the basis for either direct identification or 
substitution claims, but never both. Therefore, all associated imported 
merchandise on that line may only be designated as the basis for either 
direct identification or substitution claims under TFTEA-Drawback. If 
both types of claims were allowed on a single line on an entry summary, 
CBP would be unable to issue full refunds for all drawback claims that 
could lawfully be made against a specific entry summary line item in 
some situations. For example, in some situations where substitution 
claims using the per unit average of the line item were to be claimed 
prior to a direct identification claim, the total amount of drawback 
remaining on the line may not be sufficient to pay the proper amount of 
drawback tied to the high value goods.
    CBP has also chosen this proposed policy in expectation of the 
efficiencies to be gained by both claimants and CBP regarding 
calculating and verifying refunds. Accordingly, importers and drawback 
claimants need to be aware of the limitation on line item designations 
prior to importing merchandise or receiving transferred merchandise, 
because the first-filed claim on a line will dictate the type of claim 
available for any remaining merchandise of the same line.
6. Recordkeeping and Proof of Export
    (a) Congress, through TFTEA, changed the starting date for the 
three-year time period for maintaining supporting records for drawback 
claims from the date of payment to the date of liquidation.
    For all TFTEA-Drawback claims, section 906(o) replaced the previous 
requirement to maintain supporting records for three years from the 
date of payment of the claim with the new requirement to maintain 
records for three years from the date of liquidation of the claim. See 
19 U.S.C. 1508(c)(3). This extension of the recordkeeping time period 
provides CBP with more time to request documents needed to verify or 
audit claims. This new timeframe requires claimants with accelerated 
payment privileges to maintain supporting records longer than before 
TFTEA (because claims are paid prior to liquidation for claimants that 
obtain the privilege of accelerated payment).
    (b) Claimants for manufacturing drawback must provide a 
certification that they are in possession of the relevant bill of 
materials or formula for the manufactured goods, in lieu of actual 
submission thereof, for each claim filed.
    Currently, claimants for manufacturing drawback are required to 
provide a bill of materials or formula to CBP upon request, for any 
claim filed. CBP has and will continue to request these records for 
review in the context of verifications, audits, and other 
administrative actions. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure 
that the claims are consistent with the applicable bill(s) of materials 
or formula(s) that accompanied the

[[Page 37892]]

claimant's application to operate under the applicable general or 
specific manufacturing drawback ruling. TFTEA expressly added a 
requirement for substitution manufacturing drawback claims that the 
person making the claim must submit the bill of materials or formula 
identifying the drawback-eligible merchandise and manufactured 
article(s) by the 8-digit HTSUS subheading numbers and the quantities 
of merchandise with each claim. See 19 U.S.C. 1313(b)(3)(A). For 
administrative efficiency and consistency with how drawback claims are 
reviewed and verified, rather than requiring the actual submission of 
these records with each claim, CBP will require a certification in ACE 
as to possession of these records. This certification requirement 
applies to both direct identification and substitution manufacturing 
claims.
    (c) Congress, through TFTEA, permits the future use of an 
electronic export system as automated proof of export for drawback 
claims, but no system will be reliable for this purpose on February 24, 
2018; and, proof of export must be documented in records that are 
summarized for the drawback claim.
    Claimants whose exported goods are the basis for a claim of 
drawback must provide proof that establishes fully the date and fact of 
exportation and the identity of the exporter. These requirements are 
provided for in proposed Sec.  190.72. Under TFTEA-Drawback, proof of 
exportation is required in the form of export summary data that is 
provided as part of a complete drawback claim filed with CBP. However, 
the underlying supporting records must fully prove the exportation 
through records kept in the normal course of business. TFTEA also 
provides for proof of export to be established via an electronic export 
system of the United States, as determined by the Commissioner of CBP. 
See 19 U.S.C. 1313(i). Currently, the Automated Export System (AES) is 
not able to fully establish the required elements. Accordingly, until 
such time as the Commissioner of CBP announces the availability of a 
capable electronic system through a general notice in the Customs 
Bulletin, records kept in the normal course of business shall be used 
to establish fully the date and fact of exportation and the identity of 
the exporter, and such records must be maintained by claimants whose 
exported goods are the basis for a claim of drawback.
7. Transfers of Merchandise and Liability
    (a) Specific formats for certificates of delivery and specific 
formats for certificates of manufacture and delivery are no longer 
required when drawback products or other drawback-eligible goods are 
transferred between parties, although records of manufacture and 
transfer must be provided and maintained to support the drawback claim.
    Section 906 removed the longstanding requirements for the 
submission of Certificates of Delivery (CDs) and Certificates of 
Manufacture and Delivery (CMDs) by stating that no additional 
certificates of transfer or manufacture shall be required 19 U.S.C. 
1313(b), and by stating that no additional certificates of transfer are 
required in 19 U.S.C. 1313(c), (j), and (p). Section 906(l), Drawback 
Certificates, removed the recordkeeping requirements relating to these 
certificates for drawback claims by striking 19 U.S.C. 1313(t). Instead 
of CDs and CMDs, parties involved in transfers of drawback products or 
other drawback-eligible goods must maintain records, which may include 
records kept in the normal course of business, to evidence the 
transfers.
    (b) The first drawback claim to be filed that designates any 
portion of imported merchandise from a given entry summary line item 
will determine the type of drawback eligibility for all other imported 
merchandise covered by that entry summary line item.
    As previously explained in part 5(d), above, there is a limitation 
that imported merchandise on a single entry summary line item cannot be 
designated as the basis for both direct identification and substitution 
drawback claims under TFTEA, due to the different methods of 
calculating refund amounts. Because the transferor can transfer the 
merchandise covered by a specific line item to different transferees, 
the transferees might unwittingly attempt to file different types of 
claims, which is not permitted. In an effort to best inform transferees 
of the possible limitation, if a transferor has already filed a certain 
type of drawback claim designating a portion of merchandise from an 
entry summary line item, or otherwise has knowledge of an already-filed 
claim that does likewise, then the transferor must designate whether 
the merchandise is eligible for substitution or direct identification 
claims and notify the transferee of that designation at the time of 
transfer. This should help transferees to avoid attempting to make 
drawback claims for the transferred merchandise under the mutually 
exclusive bases of direct identification and substitution. If, at the 
time of transfer, the transferor is not aware of a particular type of 
drawback claim already filed relating to the entry summary line item, 
then the designation shall so indicate to the transferee. Notification 
of the designation from the transferor to the transferee must be 
documented in records, which may include records kept in the normal 
course of business. Notwithstanding the designation made, however, the 
type of the first drawback claim to be filed relating to that entry 
summary line item will dictate the type of any subsequent claims 
relating to that same entry summary line item.
    Because this notification requirement is not effective until 
February 24, 2018, parties who anticipate making substitution-based 
claims under TFTEA-Drawback designating imported merchandise that was 
entered and transferred prior to this date, should consult with the 
transferor about whether the transferred merchandise potentially is 
eligible for substitution-based claims under TFTEA-Drawback. Such 
eligibility only exists if the transferred merchandise was not 
previously used as the basis for any non-TFTEA drawback claim, because 
all types of non-TFTEA drawback claims must be calculated based on 
invoice values, which conflicts with the use of per unit averaging when 
determining refunds for imported merchandise on a single entry summary 
line item.
    It is important to note, again, that this notification of 
designation requirement is proposed in an effort to better inform 
claimants of possible limitations on the type of drawback claim that 
can be filed in situations involving transferred merchandise. The 
designation, however, is not a guarantee of the type of claim that can 
be filed. Drawback claimants must remain aware that the first drawback 
claim to be filed on a given entry summary line item will control the 
type of claim that subsequently can be filed in the case of transferred 
merchandise.
    (c) Importers are now jointly and severally liable with drawback 
claimants for refunds associated with their imported merchandise, when 
designated on a drawback claim.
    Section 906(f) established joint and several liability for the 
drawback claimant and the importer of the imported merchandise that is 
designated as the basis of the claim. See 19 U.S.C. 1313(k). 
Accordingly, importers should be aware of this liability when 
transferring imported merchandise to other parties for purposes of 
drawback. Therefore, it is proposed to amend Sec.  113.62 to reflect 
this liability in the import entry bond conditions.

[[Page 37893]]

B. Filing a TFTEA-Drawback Claim

    TFTEA-Drawback claims must be filed electronically. A complete 
TFTEA-Drawback claim will consist of the successful transmission of the 
data required for the TFTEA-Drawback entry and the upload of all 
required documents supporting the claim. When submitting the claim, the 
filer must provide, among other things, the drawback entry number, 
filing port code, claimant ID number, drawback provision, total 
drawback claim amount requested, the import entry summary(s) and line 
item number(s) for the designated imported merchandise, other required 
line item data including the HTSUS subheading number at the 10-digit 
level, information on exportation or destruction, and, if applicable, 
the NAFTA coding sheet. Proposed section 190.51 provides detailed 
information about specific data elements, certifications, and 
supporting documents that may be required depending on the particular 
type of drawback claim.
    After transmission, the filer will receive an automated message 
indicating either that the electronic transmission has been accepted or 
rejected. In the case of a rejection, the automated message will inform 
the filer regarding the reason(s) for the rejection. Uploads of 
required forms, and any other supporting documentation should be 
submitted through ACE, Document Image System, after the successful 
electronic transmission. Further, related to filing claims 
electronically, as noted below in the section explaining the proposed 
regulations, a definition for ``drawback office'' has been added to 
Sec.  190.2 clarifying that CBP has the authority to share or transfer 
work between drawback offices at its discretion.
    For the interim period between February 24, 2018 and the date on 
which the new TFTEA-Drawback regulations will become effective, CBP 
developed interim procedures for accepting electronically filed TFTEA-
Drawback claims. Specifically, to enable ACE to recognize and accept 
such claims, notwithstanding the absence of the necessary regulatory 
requirements for a complete TFTEA-Drawback claim, ACE was programed 
with provisional placeholder requirements, modeled on the draft 
regulatory package then under development. Corresponding provisional 
Customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements (CATAIR) Guidelines 
were provided to enable claimants to program their systems to interface 
with these provisional placeholder requirements in ACE. And on February 
9, 2018, CBP posted on its website a document entitled Drawback: 
Interim Guidance for Filing TFTEA Drawback Claims (Interim Guidance), 
to further inform and provide guidance to the trading community 
regarding the temporary procedures for electronically filing TFTEA-
Drawback claims during the interim period until the implementing 
regulations are finalized and operational. This Interim Guidance was 
subsequently twice updated, to provide additional clarity.
    The Interim Guidance explained that the provisional requirements 
for electronically-filed TFTEA-Drawback claims that are reflected in 
the provisional CATAIR and described in the Interim Guidance document 
are placeholders only, and will not be used to process the claims 
beyond their initial acceptance in ACE. The actual final requirements 
for such claims will be established once the rulemaking process is 
complete and the new regulations are implemented and effective. To the 
extent that the final requirements established through rulemaking 
ultimately differ from the provisional placeholders used to accept 
TFTEA-Drawback claims in ACE prior to the effective date of the final 
rule, the Interim Guidance explained that claimants will be permitted 
to perfect their claims in accordance with the new requirements before 
the claims are processed for payment.
    The interim procedures outlined and explained in the Interim 
Guidance will remain in place until this rulemaking is complete and the 
final rule to implement the regulatory changes pending for TFTEA-
Drawback claims is implemented and effective.
    The programming specifics for electronic transmission are explained 
in more detail in the TFTEA-Drawback CATAIR Guidelines, which can be 
accessed at: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/ace/catair. Specific questions 
related to filing TFTEA-Drawback claims may be directed to a client 
representative or the ACE Account Service Desk at 1-866-530-4172 or 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b9f8fafc97eaccc9c9d6cbcdf9dadbc997ddd1ca97ded6cf"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="58191b1d760b2d2828372a2c183b3a28763c302b763f372e">[email protected]</span></a>. Filers should be aware that a delay of more 
than 24 hours in uploading all required accompanying documentation 
after the transmission of the claim data will mean that the filing date 
will be tied to the uploading of documents rather than the date of 
transmitting the claim data. In some instances, this later official 
date of filing could affect the timeliness of a claim.

C. Required TFTEA-Drawback Certifications for Existing Manufacturing 
Rulings and Privileges

    While the processes regarding general and specific manufacturing 
rulings detailed in appendices A and B of the proposed part 190 will be 
largely unchanged from those described in the appendices of part 191, 
TFTEA does have some impact on existing rulings. The existing rulings 
were issued based on the requirements of 19 CFR part 191, which do not 
comport with the TFTEA-Drawback requirements (e.g., the new 
substitution standard and timeframes). Accordingly, in order to 
continue operating under an existing manufacturing ruling, a 
manufacturer or producer must file a supplemental application for a 
limited modification to that ruling. To ensure compliance with the 
TFTEA-Drawback requirements, the limited application must include 
revised parallel columns and a bill of materials or formula, which must 
be annotated with the applicable HTSUS subheading numbers. In addition, 
a certification must be provided to confirm that all TFTEA-Drawback 
claims made under the subject manufacturing ruling will be in 
conformity with all of the applicable statutory and regulatory 
requirements. Any supplemental application to modify a ruling issued 
under 19 CFR part 191 (so that it remains viable for TFTEA-Drawback 
claims) must be submitted to CBP no later than February 23, 2019, which 
is the close of the transition period for drawback claimants. Any 
ruling issued under 19 CFR part 191 that is not modified by this 
deadline will not apply to TFTEA-Drawback claims; and, manufacturers 
and producers would need to apply for a new ruling under 19 CFR part 
190.
    Similar to manufacturing rulings, drawback privileges granted under 
19 CFR part 191 will not comport with TFTEA-Drawback. The privileges 
are the waiver of prior notice of intent to export or destroy and 
accelerated payment. With each claim that is filed under 19 CFR part 
190, a certification of conformity with TFTEA-Drawback is required for 
claimants to continue to operate under one or both privileges if 
granted pursuant to 19 CFR part 191. Unlike for manufacturing rulings, 
these certifications will be made electronically with each TFTEA-
Drawback claim. These certifications are limited to the drawback 
provisions under which they were originally granted in accordance with 
19 CFR part 191, except that privileges granted under 19 U.S.C. 
1313(j)(1) and 19 CFR 191 may be applied to TFTEA-Drawback

[[Page 37894]]

claims made under 1313(j)(1) or 1313(j)(2).
    The certification processes described above are designed to ease 
the administrative burden on CBP while minimizing the disruption to 
those operating under existing manufacturing rulings and/or privileges. 
However, claimants are responsible for performing the requisite due 
diligence prior to filing any TFTEA-Drawback claims; and, the 
consequences of false or inaccurate claims include, but are not limited 
to, the denial of drawback refunds and the associated privileges, noted 
above.

D. Federal Excise Tax and Substitution Drawback Claims

    The Internal Revenue Code (IRC) of 1986, as amended, codified as 
title 26 of the United States Code (26 U.S.C.), is the main body of 
domestic statutory tax law of the United States and includes laws 
covering Federal excise taxes. Federal excise taxes are imposed on the 
manufacture and distribution of certain consumer goods, including upon 
the importation of distilled spirits, wines, beer, tobacco products, 
and certain imported taxable fuel and petroleum products. While there 
are also excise taxes on other products, it is these taxes, because of 
the structure of the tax and the manner in which they are collected, 
that are eligible for drawback under 19 U.S.C. 1313.
1. Distilled Spirits, Wines, and Beer: Imposition of Federal Excise Tax 
and Exemptions
    Chapter 51 of the IRC sets forth excise tax collection and related 
provisions applicable to distilled spirits, wines, and beer. In 
general, this chapter provides that a Federal excise tax is imposed on 
all wines, distilled spirits, and beer produced in or imported into the 
United States. 26 U.S.C. 5001, 5041, 5051.
    Statutory exceptions to the required payment of Federal excise tax 
exist. For example, when wine, distilled spirits, or beer are exported 
after payment or determination of tax, the IRC provides for 
``drawback'' in an amount equal to the tax paid. 26 U.S.C. 5055, 5062. 
Under these provisions, the excise taxes are refunded upon exportation. 
Similarly, drawback is also available when wine, distilled spirits, or 
beer are exported from bonded premises regulated by the Alcohol and 
Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), where no tax has been paid, 
although tax liability attached at the time of production or import. 
While tax must ordinarily be paid upon removal of wine, distilled 
spirits, or beer from TTB-bonded premises, the removal may occur 
``without payment of tax'' for the purpose of export. 26 U.S.C. 
5214(a), 5362(c), 5053(a). Although removed from a TTB-bonded facility, 
the product is still subject to bond and still carries a tax liability 
until the product is exported. 26 U.S.C. 5053, 5175, 5362. Similarly, 
Title 19 also provides for ``drawback equal in amount to the tax found 
to have been paid or determined on . . . bottled spirits and wines 
manufactured or produced in the United States'' upon exportation. 19 
U.S.C. 1313(d). Under these drawback provisions, a refund is made upon 
exportation if tax has already been paid, or if an unpaid tax liability 
exists, it is extinguished upon exportation. The net economic effect is 
identical.
2. Tobacco: Imposition of Federal Excise Tax and Exemptions
    Under Chapter 52 of the IRC, a Federal excise tax is imposed on all 
tobacco products and cigarette papers and tubes manufactured in or 
imported into the United States. 26 U.S.C. 5701. The tax on 
domestically-produced tobacco products and cigarette papers and tubes 
is imposed at the time of manufacture but generally is not paid or 
determined until the products are removed from TTB-bonded premises. 26 
U.S.C. 5702, 5703. Upon exportation of tobacco products and cigarette 
papers and tubes upon which the tax has been paid, the IRC permits 
drawback of the tax paid. 26 U.S.C. 5706. In addition, tobacco products 
and cigarette papers and tubes may be removed from TTB-bonded premises, 
without the payment of Federal excise tax, for export. 26 U.S.C. 5704. 
Under these provisions, the excise tax liability is extinguished upon 
exportation. The net economic effect is identical.
3. Other Excise Taxes
    Chapter 32 of the IRC imposes various excise taxes, including taxes 
on gasoline, diesel fuel, and kerosene (taxable fuel). For example, 26 
U.S.C. 4081 imposes tax on the removal of taxable fuel from any 
refinery or terminal and on entry into the United States for 
consumption, use, or warehousing. The IRC permits the refund of this 
tax when taxable fuel is exported. 26 U.S.C. 6416, 6427. When the 
taxable fuel is imported into an IRS-registered facility, it is taxed 
upon removal from the facility and is not eligible for drawback under 
19 U.S.C. 1313. Some taxable fuel, however, is not imported into an 
IRS-registered facility, in which case the tax is due upon importation 
and may be eligible for drawback under 19 U.S.C. 1313.
4. Federal Excise Taxes Have Been Improperly Refunded
    Under customs law, a form of drawback known as ``substitution 
drawback'' also occurs when products are imported into the United 
States and sufficiently similar products are exported or destroyed. 19 
U.S.C. 1313(j)(2). Treasury Department audits and analyses have 
revealed that for a number of years, CBP has received and approved 
claims for substitution drawback under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2) for 
imported bottled and bulk wine, even in circumstances in which no 
excise tax was paid on the substituted exported merchandise. CBP has 
not identified a record of the first time it granted a section 
1313(j)(2) drawback claim for wine based on exported merchandise on 
which tax had not been paid--a claim for ``double drawback,'' drawback 
of the excise tax on both the imported product and the exported 
product.
    An example of a claim for ``double drawback'' of wine proceeds as 
follows:

    A domestic winery imports 100 liters of wine, pays Federal 
excise tax on the wine, and sells the imported wine in the United 
States. The domestic winery then exports 100 liters of its 
domestically-produced wine from TTB-bonded premises without payment 
of Federal excise tax. The domestic winery files a Sec.  1313(j)(2) 
drawback claim with CBP on the basis that the 100 liters of 
domestically-produced wine are commercially interchangeable with the 
to the 100 liters of imported wine. The domestic winery receives a 
refund of 99 percent of the Federal excise taxes that it paid on the 
100 liters of imported wine.

    In this example, imported products are introduced into the U.S. 
market, in net effect, free of 99 percent of Federal excise tax. As a 
result, in this example, the U.S. Treasury ultimately receives only one 
percent of the Federal excise tax on the imported products that are 
consumed in the United States. By contrast, domestically-produced wine 
consumed in the United States is fully taxed. This practice results in 
revenue loss from having untaxed goods circulating in commerce. It also 
has the effect of giving imported wine a clear tax advantage in the 
domestic market over domestically produced wine. Because the revenue 
loss (or tax break) comes in the form of a reduction of tax on imported 
product, it puts domestically produced products at a disadvantage as 
compared to imports in the U.S. market.
    This result is inconsistent with the broader statutory excise tax 
regime, which (on net) generally imposes excise taxes on all subject 
goods consumed in the United States, whether produced domestically or 
imported for domestic

[[Page 37895]]

consumption. In the above example, by contrast, the importer/exporter 
winery has (on net) paid no Federal excise tax on the exported wine and 
virtually no Federal excise tax on the imported wine. In net effect, 
the winery has introduced imported wine 99% free of excise tax to 
compete with domestically produced wine that is fully taxed.
    CBP currently permits this practice only with respect to wine. But 
as explained, the IRC imposes excise tax and provides exemptions from 
such tax for other goods, including distilled spirits, beer, tobacco 
products, and certain taxable fuel. Some producers have already 
requested that CBP extend its current treatment of wine to distilled 
spirits, and it is possible that firms dealing in these other goods may 
seek similar treatment.
5. Statutory Prohibition on Double Drawback
    The allowance of substitution drawback claims in circumstances 
where internal revenue taxes have not been paid on the substituted 
product results in imported product being introduced into commerce with 
no net payment of excise tax--a ``double drawback'' that is at odds 
with the broader statutory schemes of both customs drawback and excise 
taxation.
    As noted above, the IRC generally imposes excise taxes upon all 
covered domestic products and products imported for domestic 
consumption. The Customs Modernization and Informed Compliance Act (Mod 
Act), Public Law 103-182, 632, 107 Stat. 2057 (1993) (enacted as Title 
VI of the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act), 
added a clause to 19 U.S.C. 1313(v) providing in relevant part that 
``[m]erchandise that is exported or destroyed to satisfy any claim for 
drawback shall not be the basis of any other claim for drawback.'' This 
provision is best read to preclude, among other things, exported or 
destroyed merchandise from being used as the basis for both a 
substitution drawback claim and a drawback of internal revenue taxes 
upon exportation or destruction. In other words, exported merchandise 
on which excise taxes have been paid can form the basis of a 
substitution drawback claim, but exported products on which no excise 
tax has been paid cannot be used to erase existing tax liability on 
imported products.
    While Congress did not specifically define the term ``drawback'' in 
Sec.  1313(v), its meaning is clear in context and within the broader 
statutory scheme governing drawback and excise taxes. In context, 
drawback encompasses the refund or remission of an excise tax that was 
paid, determined, or otherwise imposed by Federal law. The term is 
often used to refer to the refund of taxes that have been paid 
previously. See, e.g., 19 U.S.C. 1313(a), (c)(1), (j)(1), (j)(2) 
(providing for taxes to be ``refunded as drawback''). But it is not 
limited to refunds, as other provisions use the term more broadly to 
refer to an unpaid tax liability that is extinguished. See, e.g., Sec.  
1313(d) (``there shall be allowed . . . a drawback equal in amount to 
the tax found to have been paid or determined'') (emphasis added); 
sections 1313(n)(2), (n)(4), (o)(3) (using the phrase ``refunded, 
waived, or reduced'' to refer to the extinguishing of tax liability 
under subsections (a), (b), (f), (h), (p), and (q), each of which uses 
the phrase ``drawback''). Nor is section 1313(v)'s use of the term 
``drawback'' limited to drawback of taxes imposed upon importation. 
Section 1313(v) refers to ``any'' claim for drawback. That broad and 
inclusive language contrasts with the language Congress used when it 
referred to only specific types of drawback. See, e.g., sections 
1313(j), (k)(1), and (1)(2)(A), (B), and (C) (referring to drawback 
``under this section''); section 1313(n)(2) (referring to ``NAFTA 
drawback''); section 1313(n)(4) (referring to ``Chile FTA drawback''). 
The fact that Congress expressly limited ``drawback'' in certain 
subsections of section 1313 but did not do so when it referred to 
``any'' drawback in subsection (v) indicates that ``drawback'' is not 
so limited for purposes of this subsection.
    Accordingly, when wine, distilled spirits, beer, tobacco products, 
or other products subject to excise tax are exported from TTB-bonded 
premises ``without payment of tax,'' pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 5214, 5362, 
5053, or 5704, the extinguishment of tax liability upon export is best 
understood as a form of drawback within the broad prohibition of 19 
U.S.C. 1313(v).
    This interpretation is further supported by the broader statutory 
scheme, which operates (in net effect) to subject all wine, distilled 
spirits, and beer consumed in the United States, whether produced 
domestically or imported, to an excise tax. The evident purpose of 
section 1313(v) is to advance that objective by preventing excessive 
revenue loss through multiple claims for drawback based on a single 
export. And to the same end, the statutes that govern withdrawal of 
wine, distilled spirits, beer, or tobacco products from TTB-bonded 
premises authorize regulations that may be necessary to protect 
revenue. See 26 U.S.C. 5175, 5214(a)(4), 5362(c), 5053(a), and 5704(b).
    A contrary interpretation would undermine the statutory scheme of 
excise taxes that applies to imports and cause undue revenue loss. As 
just one example, a contrary reading of the statutory scheme would 
appear to permit an importer of distilled spirits to manufacture 
inexpensive liquor and destroy it, without having paid the excise tax 
imposed on domestically-produced liquor under 26 U.S.C. 5001. The 
importer in this scenario could then use the destruction of that 
domestically-produced liquor to seek a drawback under 19 U.S.C. 
1313(j)(2) of the excise tax on liquor they import. Because the excise 
tax per gallon may far exceed the marginal cost of production of some 
types of liquor,\4\ these manufacturers would receive a significant 
economic benefit, despite having never paid excise taxes on the 
domestically-produced liquor. They would also have avoided excise tax 
payment not once but twice--on both the domestically produced liquor 
and the imported liquor--without, on net, increasing domestic 
production for consumption or export. The statutory framework that 
imposes excise tax on the domestic consumption of alcohol would have 
been almost wholly subverted.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ In 2006, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that 
that the cost of production of neutral grain spirits at about $0.53 
per proof gallon. See ``Economic Feasibility of Ethanol Production 
from Sugar in the United States,'' available at https://www.usda.gov/oce/reports/energy/EthanolSugarFeasibilityReport3.pdf. 
The excise tax on distilled spirits is $13.50 per proof gallon (see 
26 U.S.C. 5001(a)(1)), or more than 25 times the cost of production.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A contrary interpretation would also seem to permit the following 
hypothetical transaction:

    A distilled spirits importer imports 200 gallons of liquor into 
a TTB-bonded facility. It pays excise tax on 100 gallons and sells 
those in the United States. It then exports the remaining 100 
gallons without payment of Federal excise tax. The importer files a 
Sec.  1313(j)(2) drawback claim with CBP on the basis that the 100 
gallons of imported liquor sold in the United States is commercially 
interchangeable with the 100 gallons of imported liquor exported 
without payment of excise tax. The importer receives a refund of 99 
percent of the Federal excise taxes that it paid on the 100 imported 
gallons sold in the United States.

    In this hypothetical, too, imported products would be introduced 
into the U.S. market, in net effect, free of 99 percent of Federal 
excise tax. As a result, the U.S. Treasury would receive only one 
percent of the Federal excise tax on the imported products that are 
consumed in the United States. Such essentially tax-free treatment of 
domestically-consumed imported

[[Page 37896]]

alcohol does not comport with the statutory drawback scheme in the IRC 
or Title 19.
    Because drawback under 19 U.S.C. 1313 does not require CBP to 
verify whether substitute exported merchandise is tax paid, CBP does 
not have records that would identify instances of double drawback at 
issue here. Treasury Department audits and analyses have revealed that 
CBP began refunding excise taxes on wine under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2) in 
approximately 2004 when the San Francisco office permitted drawback for 
such a claim. Some of these drawback claims may have included a double 
refund. It is possible that this change took place due to a 
misunderstanding of a 2004 amendment to the drawback statute designed 
to provide for drawback of the Harbor Maintenance Tax. See 
Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2003, Public Law 
108-429, 118 Stat. 2433, 2579 at section 1557(a)(1) (2004). CBP has 
never issued a ruling or regulation authorizing the current treatment 
with respect to wine. Nevertheless, because CBP has approved 
substitution unused drawback claims based on wine exports for which no 
excise tax has been paid, its treatment of this issue must be changed 
through a notice and comment process. See 19 U.S.C. 1625(c).
    Because of the concern that the statutory scheme was being 
subverted and because of concerns with revenue losses both realized and 
potential, on October 15, 2009, CBP proposed amending title 19 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations to preclude the filing of substitution 
drawback claims for internal revenue excise tax paid on imported 
merchandise in situations where no excise tax was paid upon the 
substituted merchandise or where the substituted merchandise had been 
the subject of a different claim for refund or drawback of excise tax 
under any provision of the IRC. See Drawback of Internal Revenue Excise 
Tax, 74 FR 52928. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) 
within the Department of the Treasury published a related proposed 
rulemaking in the same October 15, 2009, edition of the Federal 
Register (Drawback of Internal Revenue Taxes, 74 FR 52937). Both 
notices solicited public comments on the proposed amendments. 
Subsequently, the notices of proposed rulemaking were withdrawn as 
announced in the Federal Register (75 FR 9359) on March 2, 2010.
    A number of importers of distilled spirits have since sought the 
same treatment for their products that wine currently receives. 
Consistent with the analysis in this document, CBP has denied these 
requests, but has not corrected the treatment of wine through a notice 
and comment process, as required by 19 U.S.C. 1625(c).
6. Impact of Failing To Curtail Double Drawback
    For the reasons explained above, CBP believes that the phrase ``any 
other claim for drawback'' in section 1313(v), read in context of the 
broader statutory scheme, encompasses the refund or remission of an 
excise tax that was paid, determined, or otherwise imposed by Federal 
law. To the extent section 1313(v) can be considered ambiguous, 
however, CBP has determined that there are compelling economic and 
fiscal reasons to resolve any ambiguity to preclude substitution 
drawback claims for excise tax paid on imported merchandise where no 
excise tax was paid on the substituted merchandise.
    As explained below, firms dealing in distilled spirits, beer, 
tobacco products, and certain taxable fuels have a strong economic 
incentive to seek the same double drawback treatment currently afforded 
to wine. If CBP fails to adopt a uniform interpretation and application 
of section 1313(v), firms dealing in other products subject to Federal 
excise tax could also pursue substitution drawback claims similar to 
those that have been made for wine under section 1313(j)(2). The 
statutory provisions governing excise tax on other goods--beer, 
distilled spirits, tobacco products, and certain fuels--are 
substantially similar (and in many material respects, identical) to 
those governing excise tax on wine. Maintaining the current treatment 
of drawback claims for wine risks a growth in future revenue loss 
attributable to double drawback.
    While proponents of the double drawback practice argue that it 
promotes exports, the observed economic effects of the practice do not 
support the view that it is an effective or efficient export promotion 
measure. Double drawback also places domestic products made for 
domestic consumption, which are subject to excise tax across the board, 
at a relative disadvantage to products imported for domestic 
consumption, for which 99 percent of the excise tax may be refunded 
based on a double drawback claim. The interpretation of section 1313(v) 
reflected in this proposed rule would avoid such market-distorting 
disparities.
    A more detailed analysis follows in two parts. First, the available 
trade data suggest that double drawback promotes imports. In contrast, 
the trade data provide little evidence that total wine exports 
increased in response to double drawback. Second, a revenue analysis 
elucidates the incentives that double drawback creates for firms that 
deal in goods other than wine and provides initial projections of U.S. 
Government revenue loss that could result if these firms were provided 
the same double drawback treatment currently available only for 
substituted wine.
7. Analysis of Trade Statistics
    Imported wine that benefits from double drawback enters the U.S. 
market with a substantial tax advantage over domestically produced 
wine. While this tax advantage exists for all imported wine benefiting 
from double drawback, it is largest for imported bulk wine. Because the 
customs value of imported bulk wine is lower than the value for bottled 
wine, excise tax levied by volume comprises a greater percentage of its 
average price, meaning that producers have a stronger economic 
incentive to claim double drawback on bulk wine.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ For most imported wine, the tax is $0.282 per liter. 26 
U.S.C. 5041(b). On a percentage of unit value basis, the tax is 
larger for bulk wine than for bottled wine, because the average 
value of bulk wine is less. The average value of imports of bulk 
wine hovered around $1.10 per liter in the years 2001 to 2016--much 
less than the average value per liter of imported bottled wines, 
which was about five times as great during the same period. See 
Table E.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    U.S. import statistics are consistent with these incentives. Import 
volumes of wine have grown rapidly during the period double drawback 
has been available. In 2004, total U.S. imports of wine, either bottled 
or bulk, were 576 million liters by volume.\6\ See Table B. By 2016, 
that figure had grown to 880 million liters, an increase of over 50 
percent. Id. Much of this increase in imports has been driven by bulk 
wine, which has made rapid gains in U.S. market share. In 2004, 
imported bulk wine accounted for 0.9 percent of domestic wine 
consumption. By 2016, imported bulk wine accounted for 6.2 percent of 
domestic wine consumption. See Table A. By volume, imports of bulk wine 
grew by 875 percent over that period. See Table B. Of course, other 
factors affecting wine trade unrelated to drawback may also have 
affected this growth.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ CBP believes the practice of double drawback began in or 
around 2004. For that reason, this analysis addresses trade 
statistics beginning in 2004.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In contrast to the rapid growth of imports, the U.S. trade 
statistics provide little evidence that total wine exports by volume 
increased from 2004 to 2016. The total volume of wine exports only grew 
by 5.5 percent over that period.

[[Page 37897]]

See Table B. Disaggregating exports into those eligible for drawback 
and those ineligible for drawback casts further doubt on the effect of 
drawback on total exports. Exports from the United States to NAFTA 
countries, Canada and Mexico, are not eligible for substitution 
drawback. Therefore, they are not subsidized through the double 
drawback mechanism. Yet the volume of U.S. wine exports to these 
countries experienced a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.3 
percent, while export volumes to countries for which substitution 
drawback was available experienced a 0.01 percent CAGR over the same 
period. See Table D.
    Although the value of U.S. bottled wine exports has risen from 2004 
to 2016 (from $600 million to $1.05 billion), the average unit value of 
the exports also increased during that period (from $2.30 to $6.10). 
See Table B and Table E. At the same time, volumes of bottled wine 
exports fell by a third. See Table B. U.S. wine export values grew 
substantially faster (5.2 percent CAGR) than did export volumes (0.4 
percent CAGR) from 2004 to 2016. See Table B and Table C. This suggests 
that the increase in bottled wine exports by value was driven by price 
increases in the average unit value of the exports, not by an increase 
in export volumes. Because the excise tax on wine is levied by volume 
and not by value, this suggests that the increase in the value of 
exports is not directly connected to the availability of double 
drawback and is due to other factors.
    While U.S. trade statistics do not indicate a significant increase 
in total wine exports, they do indicate a change in the composition of 
exports while double drawback has been available. From 2004 to 2016, 
the share of exported wine in bulk containers rose from 20.8 percent to 
50.6 percent by volume, consistent with the shift in composition of 
imports discussed above. See Table B. This growth in the share of bulk 
exports is only evident for exports to non-NAFTA countries, which rose 
from 16.2 percent to 55.2 percent. See Table D. Exports to NAFTA 
countries, which are not eligible for double drawback, show no shift 
toward bulk exports over that period. See id. In addition, while U.S. 
exports of bulk wine have grown during the period from 2004 to 2016, 
growth in the volume of bulk wine imports has been much greater. 
Overall, during the same period, there has been an increase in the U.S. 
trade deficit for wine--including for bulk wine. See Table C.
    In short, while it is not possible to say that double drawback is 
the primary driver of the wine trade trends, available trade data are 
consistent with the view that double drawback may have promoted wine 
imports but that it has not been an effective export promotion measure.
8. Revenue Loss Analysis
    Maintaining the current double drawback treatment of wine and 
extending that treatment to other products subject to excise tax--
distilled spirits, beer, tobacco products, and certain taxable fuels--
would cause significant revenue loss to the U.S. Government.
(a) Data
    Because drawback claims have not previously captured the tax-paid 
status on substituted exports, the exact amount of revenue lost to 
double drawback involving imported wine is not certain. Nevertheless, 
analysis of CBP import data and individual drawback claims at the firm 
level permit a reasonable estimate of the historical revenue loss from 
double drawback treatment of wine imports.\7\ Because CBP has not kept 
drawback summary statistics based on tariff category and type of tax, 
this estimate with respect to wine is based on an analysis of 
individual drawback claims made by firms involved in wine trade and 
comparing the ratios of drawback claimed for duties with those claimed 
for taxes to differentiate between shipments of bulk and bottled wine. 
These firm-level data are statutorily-protected from public disclosure. 
See 26 U.S.C. 6103 (confidentiality of tax return information); 18 
U.S.C. 1905 (Trade Secrets Act). With respect to other products, 
Treasury's estimates are based on current excise tax revenue for each 
product.\8\ The estimated rate at which firms are projected to take 
advantage of double drawback (``takeup rate'') is informed by the 
economic incentives and data described below--chiefly, excise tax as a 
share of product value, and the potential growth in exports resulting 
from the expansion of double drawback treatment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See U.S. International Trade Commission Interactive DataWeb, 
available at https://dataweb.usitc.gov/ (trade data by product 
classification, volume, value, and country of origin, retrieved from 
the U.S. Census Bureau).
    \8\ See IRS Statistics of Income Tax Stats--Excise Tax 
Statistics, available at https://www.irs.gov/statistics/soi-tax-stats-excise-tax-statistics/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(b) Theory, Assumptions, and Estimate
    Excise taxes on most products addressed in this rule are applied 
based on volume, not as a percentage of value. For example, the 
standard excise tax on wine is $1.07 per wine gallon.\9\ The greater 
the ratio of excise tax to product value, the greater the incentive to 
avoid payment of the tax through means such as double drawback. The 
historical experience with respect to wine bears this out: Excise tax 
as a share of customs value has been about 5 percent for bottled wine 
and 25 percent for bulk wine in recent years. See Table E. Based on 
differences in the tariff rates for bottled and bulk wine that are 
reflected in the amounts of individual drawback transactions, Treasury 
estimates the takeup rate for double drawback of wine to be 13 percent 
for bottled imports and 24 percent for bulk imports. The difference in 
these rates indicates that tax as a share of value is an important 
determinant of takeup rate. For some products, such as beer, tax as a 
share of customs value is similar to that of wine. For other products 
subject to excise tax, tax as a share of value is much higher than it 
is for wine--sometimes exceeding 100 percent. Indeed, for some 
distilled spirits, excise tax can be many multiples the cost of 
production.\10\ Excise tax as a share of tobacco products' value is 
also much higher than it is as a share of the value of wine.\11\ This 
dynamic creates a strong incentive for firms that deal in these other 
products to seek double drawback of excise taxes paid on imports by 
inexpensively manufacturing domestic products for either export or 
destruction. Because of the strength of this incentive, firms dealing 
in these products likely would take advantage of double drawback at 
higher rates than the wine industry has historically if it were 
available to them.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ 26 U.S.C. 5041(b).
    \10\ For example, the average customs value of exported grain 
alcohol is $2.78 per proof gallon (USITC DataWeb, supra note 7) 
while the tax is $13.50 per proof gallon (26 U.S.C. 5001(a)(1)). The 
customs value includes profits and other expenses in addition to the 
cost of production. In 2006, the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
estimated the cost of production of neutral grain spirits at about 
$0.53 per proof gallon. See ``Economic Feasibility of Ethanol 
Production from Sugar in the United States,'' supra note 1.
    \11\ See Table E; infra note 19.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A second factor of particular concern is the market-distorting 
incentive for re-routing shipments that an expansion of double drawback 
would create. Double drawback creates an incentive for firms that both 
import and export to route a shipment destined for another country 
through the United States to claim excise tax relief on imports into 
the United States. Under this approach, first, a firm imports 200 units 
of, for example, distilled spirits. It removes 100 units from customs 
custody for domestic sale and pays excise tax for their import. It then 
imports the second 100 units into TTB bond, without

[[Page 37898]]

having paid excise tax on their import and then exports the product 
from bond, and also uses that exportation to seek drawback under 19 
U.S.C. 1313(j)(2) of the import tax paid on the first 100 units. The 
first 100 units of distilled spirits would then have been consumed 
domestically at 1 percent of the normal tax rate, without increasing 
domestic production or net exports. Depending on the cost of shipping, 
firms would have an incentive to route shipments destined for other 
countries through the United States--without increasing domestic 
production or exports--to claim double drawback on their U.S. imports. 
In the analysis, we assume trade re-routing of all distilled spirits 
from Canada and Mexico bound for non-NAFTA countries is feasible. We 
also assume that trade re-routing of gin, vodka, and grain alcohol 
worldwide is feasible, though the analysis does not rely on substantial 
rerouting of these products.
    The following estimates also assume a 7 percent reduction in 
revenue loss by comparison to the historical data concerning wine due 
to the Craft Beverage Modernization Act (CBMA), Public Law 115-97, 
Sec.  13801-13808 (2017). The CBMA provides lower overall effective tax 
rates for smaller producers than for larger producers. This assessment 
of the effects of the CBMA is based on the assumption that most double 
drawback claims would be taken by large multinational firms paying the 
full rate on marginal imports above the limit identified in the CBMA. 
The transaction costs involved in drawback support the view that 
drawback most benefits larger firms that are involved in both exporting 
and importing.
    The following estimates further assume that double drawback of 
wine, distilled spirits, and beer would grow with real GDP. That is, 
Treasury assumes that consumption of excise-taxed beverages, and 
drawback on those taxes, would grow with the overall economy. Treasury 
uses the Administration's forecast of taxable fuel and tobacco excise 
tax revenue to estimate change over time. Both of these forecasts 
decrease slightly over time, consistent with recent trends in excise 
revenue.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ Excise Tax Statistics, supra note 8. From 2010 to 2016, 
excise tax revenue for imported beer, wine, and distilled spirits 
grew much more quickly than revenue for tobacco products or taxable 
fuels. See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In total, the incentives for firms that deal in distilled spirits, 
beer, tobacco products, and certain fuels--in addition to the continued 
double drawback treatment of wine--could cause a revenue loss of $674 
million to $3.3 billion on an average annual basis over the next ten 
years, if double drawback treatment were extended to commodities other 
than wine and not eliminated.\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ These estimates are in nominal U.S. dollars, whereas the 
figures in the Executive Orders 13563 and 12866 analysis are in 
undiscounted and discounted 2016 U.S. dollars. Because of this 
difference, only a rough estimate of the total transfers from the 
rule and this alternate analysis can be determined. This estimate 
can be determined by adding the revenue losses of extending double 
drawback to the rule's undiscounted net transfers from the U.S. 
Government to trade members.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(c) Wine
    In fiscal year 2015, CBP paid $54.9 million in excise tax refunds 
and had initial tax collections from wine imports of $335 million, 
according to CBP data.\14\ As noted above, the tax as a share of 
customs value is 5 percent for bottled wine and 25 percent for bulk 
wine. The estimated takeup rate--that is, the rate of double drawback 
claims--is 13 percent for bottled imports and 25 percent for bulk 
imports, demonstrating that tax as a share of value is an important 
determinant of the takeup rate. Assuming that double drawback continues 
to grow with real GDP, the current treatment of wine is estimated to 
cause between $51 million and $69 million in revenue loss to the U.S. 
Government annually over the next ten years.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ See id. Refunds or drawback paid in any given year may be 
paid for imports made in previous years. The $54.9 million figure is 
a summation of individual drawback claims from CBP data that are 
statutorily-protected from public disclosure. TTB publishes the $335 
million figure. See TTB Statistical Release, ``Tax Collections 
Cumulative Summary, FY 2015,'' available at https://www.ttb.gov/statistics/final15.pdf.
    \15\ These estimates are slightly different from the wine double 
drawback estimates shown in Table 49 of the Executive Orders 13563 
and 12866 analysis. This is because these estimates are in nominal 
U.S. dollars, whereas the figures in Table 49 are in undiscounted 
2016 U.S. dollars.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(d) Distilled Spirits
    With respect to distilled spirits, fiscal year 2016 excise tax 
revenue from imports was $1.5 billion, according to TTB collections 
data. A large portion of imports are, however, imported into TTB bond 
and then are treated as domestic collections. U.S. Census Bureau data 
suggest actual import excise tax revenue is closer to $2.6 billion.\16\ 
The tax as a share of customs value for distilled spirits--currently 
$13.50 per proof gallon \17\--is 5 to 8 times higher than it is for 
wine, creating a significantly greater incentive to export to take 
advantage of double drawback. Further, as noted above, the tax is much 
higher than the cost of production for inexpensive distilled 
spirits.\18\ For this reason, Treasury expects strong behavioral 
responses to generate substitution drawback claims if distilled spirits 
become eligible for double drawback, including purposeful destruction 
of inexpensive distilled spirits and routing of goods destined for 
other countries through the United States when feasible. We estimate 
that up to 45 percent of imported spirits would be commercially viable 
predicates for double drawback claims.\19\ Varying the projected takeup 
rate between 25 percent and 75 percent for these claims, annual U.S. 
Government revenue loss from allowing double drawback on distilled 
spirits is estimated to range from $312 million to $937 million 
annually over ten years.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ Accessed through the USITC DataWeb, supra note 7.
    \17\ 26 U.S.C. 5001(a)(1). The CBMA reduces the excise tax on a 
portion of imported goods. The estimates reported in this analysis 
assume the CBMA is extended indefinitely, reducing the revenue loss 
by roughly 7 percent.
    \18\ See supra note 10.
    \19\ For the years 2014-2016, vodka, gin, and grain alcohol 
imports represented 34% of total spirits imports. Because the cost 
of production for these spirits is so low relative to the tax, we 
expect a strong behavioral response, including increased exports, 
trade re-routing, and destruction, such that all imports could 
qualify for duty drawback. In contrast, brandy, liqueurs, and 
cordials are relatively high value spirits, making destruction and 
increased exports less feasible. For these products, we assume that 
opportunities to claim double drawback are limited by current 
exports, which amount to 2 percent of current spirits imports. 
Finally, we assume that all spirits exports from Canada and Mexico 
to non-NAFTA countries could be re-routed through the United States 
to take advantage of double drawback. Using United Nations 
International Trade Statistics data for 2014-2016, we estimate that, 
at current trade levels, this re-routing would generate double 
drawback claims for up to 8 percent of US spirits imports. Adding 
these shares of imports together, without rounding, sums to 45 
percent of US imports.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(e) Beer
    With respect to beer, fiscal year 2016 excise tax revenue from 
imports was $542 million, according to TTB collections data. The tax of 
$18 per barrel is 12.3 percent of the value of imports and 15.5 percent 
of the value of exports,\20\ suggesting firms have a stronger incentive 
to claim double drawback on beer than bottled wine. However, 
qualifying, non-NAFTA exports of beer amount to only 4 percent of 
imports, suggesting limited scope for

[[Page 37899]]

takeup of double drawback. Varying the projected takeup rate between 10 
percent and 30 percent on existing imports and exports, and varying the 
increase in qualifying exports between 10 percent and 30 percent, 
annual U.S. Government revenue loss from extending double drawback to 
beer is estimated to range from $9 million to $28 million annually over 
ten years.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ In 2016, the average customs value of imported beer was 
$145.98 per barrel while the average free alongside ship (FAS) value 
of exports was $116.06 per barrel. See USITC DataWeb, supra note 7. 
The U.S. Census Bureau defines ``customs value'' and ``FAS export 
value'' in their Guide to Foreign Trade Statistics, Sec.  8, 
available at https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/guide/sec2.html#customs_value. Treasury uses customs value and FAS value, 
because data on cost of production are not available.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(f) Tobacco Products
    With respect to tobacco products, fiscal year 2016 excise tax 
revenue on imports was $829 million according to TTB collections data. 
The tax incentives to claim double drawback are especially strong for 
tobacco products. For instance, in 2016, the Federal excise tax on a 
carton of cigarettes was 199 percent of the average customs value of a 
carton of imported cigarettes and 408 percent of the average export 
value of a carton of cigarettes exported from the United States based 
on U.S. Census Bureau trade data.\21\ The tax rate by value is about 40 
times larger for cigarettes than that for bottled wine, suggesting the 
incentive to claim drawback on cigarettes is considerably larger than 
the incentive to claim drawback on wine. Extending the double drawback 
treatment to tobacco products would create significant incentives to 
shift production of tobacco products overseas. It would also create a 
great incentive for importers to contract with domestic producers to 
match imports and exports for drawback; the incentive would be to 
import products for domestic sale and export domestically produced 
cigarettes. Because domestically produced tobacco products account for 
95 percent of domestic tobacco consumption, Treasury assumes that 
tobacco firms would gradually respond by contracting with importers and 
setting up foreign production facilities. Accounting for this slow 
ramp-up in drawback claims, Treasury estimates that between 3 percent 
and 18 percent of excise revenue on tobacco products would be lost due 
to an extension of double drawback to tobacco products over the next 10 
years, or between $332 million and $2.2 billion annually.\22\ In the 
long run, Treasury estimates that U.S. Government revenue losses would 
be substantially higher, with increasing shifts of domestic production 
overseas.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ In 2016, the average customs value of 1,000 imported 
cigarettes was $25.335 while the average FAS value of 1,000 exported 
cigarettes was $12.345. See USITC DataWeb, supra note 6. The Federal 
excise tax on 1,000 cigarettes is $50.33. 26 U.S.C. 5701(b)(1).
    \22\ The range of possible outcomes is large, primarily due to 
uncertainty in the timing of firm responses rather than the 
magnitude of response. Specifically, Treasury does not know how 
quickly tobacco companies might set up new or use existing overseas 
production operations to serve the U.S. market.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(g) Taxable Fuels
    Finally, with respect to taxable fuels, current annual excise tax 
revenue on imports is roughly $2 billion according to U.S. Census 
Bureau data on imports of gasoline and diesel fuel.\23\ Due to the lack 
of detailed data on fuel imports, differentiating between those 
importations eligible for drawback under 19 U.S.C. 1313 and those that 
are not, it is quite difficult to estimate the takeup rate on 
substitution drawback for taxable fuels. Even a small takeup rate, 
however, could have a significant economic impact. Assuming, for 
example, that 1 percent to 5 percent of imported fuel receives double 
drawback of excise taxes, the U.S. Government revenue loss would range 
between $20 million and $98 million annually over ten years.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ Retrieved from USITC DataWeb, supra note 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

9. Conclusion
    This proposed rule would protect the integrity of excise tax 
revenue collections by ensuring that 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2) substitution 
drawback is not employed to evade the statutory prohibition on using a 
single exportation as the basis for two drawback claims. It would 
preclude the filing of substitution drawback claims for excise tax paid 
on imported merchandise in situations where no excise tax was paid upon 
the substituted merchandise or limit the amount of drawback allowable 
to the amount of taxes paid (and not returned by refund, credit, or 
drawback) on the substituted merchandise, and thus eliminate double 
drawback. CBP invites comments from interested members of the public on 
this proposal.

                    Table A--Import Shares by Volume of Total U.S. Table Wine Consumption \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Imported wine container size
                                                                                \2\
                                                                 --------------------------------
                              Year                                                   Over four     Imported sum
                                                                   Two liters or   liters (bulk)
                                                                  less (bottles)        \3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004............................................................            26.0             0.9            26.9
2005............................................................            26.8             1.8            28.6
2006............................................................            26.5             3.6            30.1
2007............................................................            27.2             3.8            30.9
2008............................................................            25.4             4.6            30.0
2009............................................................            24.5             8.7            33.2
2010............................................................            25.7             6.5            32.2
2011............................................................            24.6             7.7            32.3
2012............................................................            22.8            12.7            35.5
2013............................................................            23.5             8.9            32.4
2014............................................................            21.9             7.3            29.2
2015............................................................            22.9             6.6            29.5
2016............................................................            21.9             6.2            28.1
2004-2016:
    CAGR \4\ (Pct)..............................................            -1.4            17.1             0.4
    Total growth (Pct)..........................................           -15.7           567.2             4.5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sources:
U.S. International Trade Commission, ``Interactive Tariff and Trade DataWeb,'' accessed February 2, 2018.
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, ``Tax Collections,'' accessed March 2, 2018.
1. Total U.S. wine consumption is estimated using gross excise tax collections and tax rates for wine.
2. The ITC website explains that: ``General Imports measure the total physical arrivals of merchandise from
  foreign countries, whether such merchandise enters consumption channels immediately or is entered into bonded
  warehouses under Customs custody or from Foreign Trade Zones.''
3. The amount of imported wine in containers between 2 and 4 liters in size is negligible and is omitted from
  the table.

[[Page 37900]]

 
4. CAGR is compound annual growth rate.
Note: Wine trade data in the table include Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) 10-digit imports codes 2204215005,
  2204215015, 2204215015, 2204215025, 2204215030, 2204215035, 2204215040, 2204215045, 2204215046, 2204215050,
  2204215055, 2204215060, and 2204296000.


                            Table B--Volume of U.S. Total Wine Exports and General Imports by Container Size (All Countries)
                                         [Millions of liters of wine with not over 14 percent alcohol by volume]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Total exports \1\                                  General imports \2\
                                                 --------------------------                          --------------------------
                                                   Container       Size                   Pct share    Container       Size                   Pct share
                      Year                       --------------------------   Exported     in large  --------------------------   Imported     in large
                                                   Two liters    Over two       sum       containers   Two liters   Over four       sum       containers
                                                    or less       liters                                or less       liters
                                                   (bottles)      (bulk)                               (bottles)    (bulk) \3\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004............................................          259           68          327         20.8          556           20          576          3.5
2005............................................          177          100          278         36.2          602           40          642          6.2
2006............................................          189          138          327         42.3          615           84          699         12.0
2007............................................          207          169          376         45.0          661           92          753         12.2
2008............................................          209          201          410         49.0          623          112          735         15.2
2009............................................          177          171          349         49.2          612          218          830         26.3
2010............................................          171          196          368         53.4          658          168          826         20.3
2011............................................          185          190          375         50.8          673          211          884         23.9
2012............................................          196          167          364         46.1          659          365         1024         35.6
2013............................................          207          172          379         45.4          671          255          926         27.5
2014............................................          195          176          371         47.5          655          219          874         25.1
2015............................................          205          180          385         46.7          685          197          882         22.3
2016............................................          171          175          345         50.6          685          195          880         22.2
2004-2016:
    CAGR \4\ (Pct)..............................         -3.4          8.2          0.4          7.7          1.8         20.9          3.6         16.7
    Total growth (Pct)..........................        -34.1        156.6          5.5        143.2         23.2        875.0         52.8        538.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, ``Interactive Tariff and Trade DataWeb,'' accessed February 2, 2018.
1. The ITC describes total exports as ``Domestic exports plus foreign exports'' on their website.
2. The ITC website explains that ``General Imports measure the total physical arrivals of merchandise from foreign countries, whether such merchandise
  enters consumption channels immediately or is entered into bonded warehouses under Customs custody or from Foreign Trade Zones.''
3. The amount of imported wine in containers between 2 and 4 liters in size is negligible and is omitted from the table.
4. CAGR is compound annual growth rate.
Note: Wine trade data in the table include Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) 10-digit exports codes 2204214000 and 2204290020. HTS imports codes used
  include 2204215005, 2204215015, 2204215025, 2204215030, 2204215035, 2204215040, 2204215045, 2204215046, 2204215050, 2204215055, 2204215060, and
  2204296000.


                             Table C--Value of U.S. Total Wine Exports and General Imports by Container Size (All Countries)
                                      [Millions of U.S. dollars of wine with not over 14 percent alcohol by volume]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Total exports, free                              General imports, general
                                                  alongside ship (FAS) \1\                                customs value \2\
                                                 --------------------------                          --------------------------
                                                   Container       Size       Exported    Pct share    Container       Size       Imported    Pct share
                      Year                       --------------------------     sum        in large  --------------------------     sum        in large
                                                   Two liters    Over two                 containers   Two liters   Over four                 containers
                                                    or less       liters                                or less       liters
                                                   (bottles)      (bulk)                               (bottles)    (bulk) \3\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004............................................          600           82          682         12.0        2,658           19        2,677          0.7
2005............................................          452           91          543         16.8        2,891           35        2,926          1.2
2006............................................          616          121          737         16.4        3,153           67        3,220          2.1
2007............................................          635          151          786         19.2        3,494           77        3,571          2.2
2008............................................          645          182          827         22.0        3,511          114        3,625          3.1
2009............................................          549          202          751         26.9        3,029          157        3,186          4.9
2010............................................          702          212          914         23.2        3,143          149        3,292          4.5
2011............................................          869          213        1,082         19.7        3,420          225        3,645          6.2
2012............................................          905          199        1,104         18.0        3,458          400        3,858         10.4
2013............................................        1,037          235        1,272         18.5        3,652          281        3,933          7.1
2014............................................          921          240        1,161         20.7        3,708          242        3,950          6.1
2015............................................        1,035          227        1,262         18.0        3,709          202        3,911          5.2
2016............................................        1,050          205        1,255         16.3        3,779          217        3,996          5.4
2004-2016:
    CAGR \4\ (Pct)..............................          4.8          7.9          5.2          2.6          3.0         22.5          3.4         18.5
    Total growth (Pct)..........................         75.0        150.0         84.0         35.9         42.2      1,042.1         49.3        665.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, ``Interactive Tariff and Trade DataWeb,'' accessed February 15, 2018.
The ITC describes total exports as ``Domestic exports plus foreign exports'' on their website. The U.S. Census Bureau provides definitions of FAS export
  value and customs value in their Guide to Foreign Trade Statistics, Sec.   8, available at https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/guide/sec2.html#customs_value.
1. The ITC website explains that ``General Imports measure the total physical arrivals of merchandise from foreign countries, whether such merchandise
  enters consumption channels immediately or is entered into bonded warehouses under Customs custody or from Foreign Trade Zones.''

[[Page 37901]]

 
2. The amount of imported wine in containers between 2 and 4 liters in size is negligible and is omitted from the table.
3. CAGR is compound annual growth rate.
Note: Wine trade data in the table include Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) 10-digit exports codes 2204214000 and 2204290020. HTS imports codes used
  include 2204215005, 2204215015, 2204215025, 2204215030, 2204215035, 2204215040, 2204215045, 2204215046, 2204215050, 2204215055, 2204215060, and
  2204296000.


                          Table D--Volume of U.S. Total Wine Exports \1\ by Destination
                     [Millions of liters of wine with not over 14 percent alcohol by volume]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Exports to     Pct share in   Exports to non-  Pct share in
                      Year                             NAFTA           large           NAFTA           large
                                                     countries    containers \2\     countries      containers
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004............................................              37            56.7             290            16.2
2005............................................              35            50.7             243            34.1
2006............................................              40            38.0             287            42.9
2007............................................              50            37.2             325            46.2
2008............................................              55            39.8             354            50.5
2009............................................              48            29.4             301            52.3
2010............................................              42            33.3             325            56.0
2011............................................              46            33.4             329            53.2
2012............................................              53            30.9             311            48.6
2013............................................              50            18.0             330            49.6
2014............................................              57            22.6             314            52.0
2015............................................              61            27.0             324            50.4
2016............................................              55            25.6             291            55.2
2004-2016:
    CAGR \3\ (Pct)..............................             3.3            -6.4             0.0            10.8
    Total growth (Pct)..........................            47.6           -54.8             0.2           240.6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Treasury calculations based on import data from U.S. International Trade Commission, ``Interactive
  Tariff and Trade DataWeb,'' accessed March 2, 2018.
1. The ITC website describes total exports as ``Domestic exports plus foreign exports.''
2. Large containers is defined here as containers over 2 liters in size.
3. CAGR is compound annual growth rate.
Note: Wine trade data in the table include Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) 10-digit exports codes 2204214000
  and 2204290020.


             Table E--Average Value of U.S. Total Wine Exports and General Imports and Effective Tax Rates by Container Size (All Countries)
                                       [U.S. dollars per liter of wine with not over 14 percent alcohol by volume]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Average value per liter of total exports \1\       Average value per liter of general imports \2\
                                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Two liters or less      Over two liters (bulk)      Two liters or less      Over four liters (bulk)
                      Year                                (bottles)        --------------------------         (bottles)                    \3\
                                                 --------------------------                          ---------------------------------------------------
                                                   Value per    Tax/value    Value per    Tax/value    Value per    Tax/value    Value per    Tax/value
                                                   liter \4\      (pct)        liter        (pct)        liter        (pct)        liter        (pct)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004............................................          2.3         12.2          1.2         23.5          4.8          5.9          1.0         29.8
2005............................................          2.5         11.1          0.9         31.2          4.8          5.9          0.9         32.3
2006............................................          3.3          8.7          0.9         32.2          5.1          5.5          0.8         35.4
2007............................................          3.1          9.2          0.9         31.6          5.3          5.3          0.8         33.8
2008............................................          3.1          9.1          0.9         31.2          5.6          5.0          1.0         27.8
2009............................................          3.1          9.1          1.2         24.0          4.9          5.7          0.7         39.2
2010............................................          4.1          6.9          1.1         26.2          4.8          5.9          0.9         31.9
2011............................................          4.7          6.0          1.1         25.3          5.1          5.6          1.1         26.5
2012............................................          4.6          6.1          1.2         23.8          5.2          5.4          1.1         25.8
2013............................................          5.0          5.6          1.4         20.7          5.4          5.2          1.1         25.7
2014............................................          4.7          6.0          1.4         20.7          5.7          5.0          1.1         25.6
2015............................................          5.0          5.6          1.3         22.4          5.4          5.2          1.0         27.6
2016............................................          6.1          4.6          1.2         24.1          5.5          5.1          1.1         25.4
2004-2016:
    CAGR \5\ (Pct)..............................          8.5         -7.8         -0.2          0.2          1.2         -1.2          1.3         -1.3
    Total growth (Pct)..........................        165.7        -62.4         -2.6          2.6         15.4        -13.3         17.1        -14.6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, ``Interactive Tariff and Trade DataWeb,'' accessed February 2-15, 2018.
1. The ITC describes total exports as ``Domestic exports plus foreign exports'' on their website.
2. The ITC website explains that ``General Imports measure the total physical arrivals of merchandise from foreign countries, whether such merchandise
  enters consumption channels immediately or is entered into bonded warehouses under Customs custody or from Foreign Trade Zones.''
3. The amount of imported wine in containers between 2 and 4 liters in size is negligible and is omitted from the table.
4. The tax as a share of value is approximated by dividing the most common tax rate (28.266 cents per liter) by the average customs value per liter.
5. CAGR is compound annual growth rate.
Note: Wine trade data in the table include Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) 10-digit exports codes 2204214000 and 2204290020. HTS imports codes used
  include 2204215005, 2204215015, 2204215025, 2204215030, 2204215035, 2204215040, 2204215045, 2204215046, 2204215050, 2204215055, 2204215060, and
  2204296000.


[[Page 37902]]

III. Explanation of Proposed Regulations

    The following proposed regulatory amendments are generally based on 
19 U.S.C. 1313, including the new requirements, timeframes, and related 
operational decisions necessitated by TFTEA. When proposed regulatory 
language is based, at least in part, on authority other than 19 U.S.C. 
1313, these instances are noted below.

A. Proposed New Part 190

    CBP based the regulatory structure of the proposed new part 190 on 
the current part 191 in order to ease the transition for drawback 
practitioners by attempting to ensure, wherever possible, that the 
numerical regulations in each part correspond with each other. In some 
regulations, while the name of a section has changed, the content of 
the proposed section generally aligns with the content of the 
corresponding section in part 191. For example, Sec.  191.10, 
Certificate of delivery, deals with transfers of merchandise and 
requirements related to certificates of delivery as evidence of the 
transfers. However, proposed Sec.  190.10, Transfer of merchandise, 
also deals with transfers of merchandise but it is not called 
``certificate of delivery'' because TFTEA eliminated certificates of 
delivery (as well as certificates of manufacture and delivery). In 
other instances, it was necessary to reserve a section (e.g., Sec.  
190.76, Landing certificate) if the corresponding section in part 191 
was no longer required or to add a new section (e.g., Sec.  190.63, 
Liability for drawback claims) if there was no corresponding section in 
part 191. However, for the most part, the regulations in proposed part 
190 directly correspond with those in part 191. Accordingly, when 
describing the proposed regulations, comparisons to the corresponding 
section in part 191 are included to facilitate the transition to TFTEA-
Drawback. Generally, these comparisons will note the major differences 
between the proposed regulation and the corresponding regulation in 
part 191 (such as in regulations dealing with substitution which is now 
generally based on the HTSUS), or, in many cases, will indicate that 
there are no differences (other than the references being to sections 
in part 191) or that the differences are minor. These minor differences 
will usually include grammatical or stylistic edits (for example, 
changing ``shall'' to ``will'' or ``must'') or nomenclature changes 
(for example, changing ``Customs'' to ``CBP'' such as in ``CBP 
custody'' or ``CBP supervision'').
    New part 190 is drafted with a scope section and a section 
regarding claims filed under NAFTA followed by 19 subparts: General 
Provisions; Manufacturing Drawback; Unused Merchandise Drawback; 
Rejected Merchandise; Completion of Drawback Claims; Verification of 
Claims; Exportation and Destruction; Liquidation and Protest of 
Drawback Entries; Waiver of Prior Notice of Intent to Export; 
Accelerated Payment of Drawback; Internal Revenue Tax on Flavoring 
Extracts and Medicinal or Toilet Preparations (Including Perfumery) 
Manufactured From Domestic Tax-Paid Alcohol; Supplies for Certain 
Vessels and Aircraft; Meats Cured With Imported Salt; Materials for 
Construction and Equipment of Vessels and Aircraft Built for Foreign 
Ownership and Account; Foreign-Built Jet Aircraft Engines Processed in 
the United States; Merchandise Exported From Continuous CBP Custody; 
Distilled Spirits, Wines, or Beer Which Are Unmerchantable or Do Not 
Conform to Sample or Specifications; Substitution of Finished Petroleum 
Derivatives; Merchandise Transferred to a Foreign Trade Zone From CBP 
Custody; Drawback Compliance Program.
    Section 190.0 briefly describes the scope of the new proposed part 
190 dealing with drawback as amended by TFTEA.
    Section 190.0a states that claims involving NAFTA are provided for 
in part 181. This section contains only grammatical changes from the 
corresponding section in part 190.
Subpart A--General Provisions
    Section 190.1 briefly describes the authority of the Commissioner 
of CBP to prescribe, and of the Secretary of the Treasury to approve, 
rules and regulations regarding drawback. It is proposed to amend the 
corresponding section in part 191 as well as to identify Treasury 
Department Order Number 100-16 and DHS Delegation Order 7010.3 as 
sources of authority. See 19 CFR part 0.
    Section 190.2 lists definitions used throughout the proposed part 
190. This section differs from the corresponding section in part 191 in 
that the definitions for certificate of delivery, certificate of 
manufacture and delivery, and commercially interchangeable merchandise 
have been removed and the definitions for the following terms were 
added: Bill of materials; document; drawback office; formula; 
intermediate party; per unit averaging; schedule B; sought chemical 
element; and wine.
    Section 190.3 provides information regarding the duties, taxes, and 
fees subject or not subject to drawback. This proposed regulation 
differs from the corresponding regulation in part 191 in that it 
generally provides for refunds of duties, taxes, and fees based on the 
changes to 19 U.S.C. 1313(l) stemming from TFTEA. This proposed 
regulation differs from the current corresponding regulation in part 
191 by allowing drawback on the merchandise processing fee (MPF) 
generally, whereas 19 CFR 191.3(a)(4) limits drawback on MPF to 
situations only involving claims under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j) and 19 U.S.C. 
1313(p)(2)(A)(iii) or (iv). Consistent with the Miscellaneous Trade and 
Technical Corrections Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-429), which amended 19 
U.S.C. 1313 to allow, inter alia, harbor maintenance taxes (HMT) 
refunds, this proposed regulation also allows drawback on HMT for 
claims under the provisions which provide for drawback of tax.\24\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ Title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations may also refer 
to the harbor maintenance tax as the harbor maintenance fee (HMF).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Similarly, but subject to the limitations under 19 U.S.C. 1313 
prior to being amended by TFTEA, this document proposes to update 19 
CFR 191.3 by creating a new paragraph (a)(5) to allow drawback on HMT, 
but limited to situations involving only claims under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j) 
and 19 U.S.C. 1313(p)(2)(A)(iii) or (iv). In addition, 19 CFR 
191.3(b)(1) is revised to otherwise prohibit HMT refunds except under 
the provisions specified in proposed new paragraph (a)(5). Relatedly, 
section 191.3 is retitled as ``duties, taxes, and fees subject or not 
subject to drawback'' for clarifying purposes.
    Section 190.4 provides information regarding drawback and 
merchandise in which the U.S. Government has an interest. This section 
replicates the corresponding section in part 191.
    Section 190.5 states that drawback is available on goods shipped to 
Guantanamo Bay and that drawback under 1313(j)(1) is permitted on 
merchandise shipped to certain insular possessions and trust 
territories. This section differs from the corresponding section in the 
current part 191 because the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical 
Corrections Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-429), amended 19 U.S.C. 1313 by 
adding paragraph (y) to allow drawback under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(1) on 
entries shipped from the customs territory of the United States to the 
U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Wake Island, Midway Islands, 
Kingman Reef, Guam, Canton Island, Enderbury Island, Johnston Island, 
and Palmyra Island.

[[Page 37903]]

Accordingly, while this 2004 change was not previously made in part 
191, this document proposes to clarify this modification in proposed 
Sec.  190.5 and in existing Sec.  191.5. Further, consistent with 
proposed Sec.  190.5, it is proposed to amend Sec.  191.5 to clarify 
that drawback is not allowable on merchandise shipped to Puerto Rico 
from elsewhere in the customs territory of the United States because 
Puerto Rico is part of the customs territory of the United States (see 
19 CFR 101.1).
    Section 190.6 specifies who has the authority to sign or 
electronically certify drawback documents. This section differs from 
the corresponding section in part 191 in that it provides for 
electronic signatures, removes references to Certificates of Delivery 
and Certificates of Manufacture and Delivery, and includes additional 
references to bill of materials and formulas.
    Section 190.7 provides information on general manufacturing 
drawback rulings, states that the process to modify these rulings is 
the same as provided for in Sec.  190.8, and also clarifies the 
longstanding CBP procedures for the modification of these rulings. This 
section differs from the corresponding section in part 191 in that it 
makes TFTEA-conforming changes, such as adding the requirement to 
provide the 8-digit HTSUS number, and it contains grammatical and 
nomenclature changes.
    Section 190.8 provides information on specific manufacturing 
drawback rulings and establishes a process to modify these rulings to 
comply with TFTEA-Drawback requirements by providing the ability to 
annotate the ruling with the 8-digit HTSUS numbers for rulings issued 
prior to February 24, 2018, if accompanied by the relevant 
certification. This section differs from the corresponding section in 
part 191 in that it makes TFTEA-conforming changes, such as adding the 
requirement to provide the 8-digit HTSUS number, and it contains 
grammatical and nomenclature changes.
    Section 190.9 provides information regarding agency relationships 
detailing how the owner of the identified merchandise, the designated 
imported merchandise, and/or the substituted merchandise used to 
produce an exported article may employ another person to do part, or 
all, of the manufacture or production under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) or (b). 
This section is similar to the corresponding section in part 191; 
however, it updates the language by removing references to Certificates 
of Delivery and includes the requirement to provide the 10-digit HTSUS 
number.
    Section 190.10 provides information regarding documenting and 
maintaining records regarding transfers of merchandise. This section 
contains significant differences specific to TFTEA-Drawback, from the 
corresponding section in part 191.
    Section 190.11 provides information on the valuation of the 
designated imported merchandise for drawback claims, as well as for the 
application of the ``lesser of'' rules for substitution claims (i.e., 
for exported or destroyed merchandise and articles, as well as 
substituted merchandise used in manufacturing). The corresponding 
regulation in part 191 deals with tradeoff, which was provided for in 
19 U.S.C. 1313(k) prior to the TFTEA amendments. TFTEA deleted the 
provision that authorized tradeoff in 19 U.S.C. 1313(k) and replaced it 
with an unrelated new provision establishing joint and several 
liability for drawback claims.
    Section 190.12 provides information regarding situations when a 
claimant files under an incorrect provision and this section states 
that the claim may be deemed filed pursuant to any other provision if 
it is determined that drawback is allowable under that provision but 
not under the provision as originally filed. With the exception of 
cross-references, this section is generally unchanged from the 
corresponding section in part 191.
    Section 190.13 states that drawback is available under 19 U.S.C. 
1313(q) on imported packaging material when used to package or 
repackage merchandise or articles exported or destroyed pursuant to 
certain other provisions. This section differs from the corresponding 
section in part 191 due to grammatical changes.
    Section 190.14 provides for identification of merchandise or 
articles through accounting methods in situations not involving 
substitution, which remain the same as in part 191 and are based on a 
standard of fungibility. This section differs from the corresponding 
section in part 191 regarding the five-year time period and generally 
due to minor clarifying edits as well as grammatical and nomenclature 
changes.
    Section 190.15 provides general information regarding recordkeeping 
requirements. With the exception of the recordkeeping time period, this 
section is unchanged from the corresponding section in part 191.
Subpart B Contains Requirements Specific to Manufacturing Drawback 
Claims
    Section 190.21 provides the general rule regarding direct 
identification manufacturing drawback claims. This section differs from 
the corresponding regulation in part 191 in that it incorporates 
changes such as the amount of drawback provided for and the limitation 
of drawback of duties regarding flour or by-products of imported wheat.
    Section 190.22 provides the general rule regarding substitution 
manufacturing drawback claims. This section differs from the 
corresponding regulation in part 191 in that it incorporates changes to 
19 U.S.C. 1313(b) brought about in Section 906 of TFTEA such as the 8-
digit HTSUS substitution standard and provides for the ``lesser of'' 
rule as it applies to TFTEA-Drawback and also contains grammatical and 
nomenclature changes. This section also includes language regarding the 
preclusion of claiming Federal excise taxes discussed in detail in the 
section titled Federal Excise Tax and Substitution Drawback Claims.
    Section 190.23 details the methods and requirements for claiming 
drawback specific to manufacturing claims. This section differs 
significantly from the corresponding section in part 191 in that it is 
titled differently, it provides for a different methodology for 
claiming drawback (relative value) and it is slightly reordered.
    Section 190.24 directs parties involved in drawback-related 
transactions to Sec.  190.10, the general section dealing with 
transfers of merchandise. This section differs from the corresponding 
section in part 191 by referencing the appropriate section in the 
proposed part dealing with transfers of merchandise.
    Section 190.25 directs parties involved in the destruction of 
merchandise for drawback-related transactions to Sec.  190.71, which 
contains the procedures for destroying merchandise under CBP 
supervision. This section is nearly identical to the corresponding 
section in part 191.
    Section 190.26 provides information regarding recordkeeping 
requirements generally and specifically requires documents enabling CBP 
to trace the articles manufactured or produced from importation, 
through any transfers, to exportation or destruction. This section is 
substantially similar to the corresponding section in part 191 but it 
differs due to certain grammatical and nomenclature changes and it 
contains TFTEA-based modifications such as requiring the 8-digit HTSUS 
number rather than referencing same kind and quality.
    Section 190.27 provides general information on the time limitations 
regarding manufacturing drawback. This

[[Page 37904]]

section is substantially similar to the corresponding section in part 
191 but it differs in that it contains certain grammatical and 
nomenclature changes and TFTEA-based modifications such as changing the 
time period to 5 years after importation, from the 3-year time period 
after date of receipt by the manufacturer or producer at the factory in 
Sec.  191.27.
    Section 190.28 details the parties entitled to file a claim in 
situations involving manufacturing drawback. This section differs from 
the corresponding section in part 191 due only to a few grammatical 
changes.
    Section 190.29 requires a claimant filing a manufacturing drawback 
claim to make certifications regarding the availability of the 
applicable bill of materials or formula including the HTSUS subheading 
number(s) and the quantities of merchandise. This regulation is new and 
does not have a corresponding regulation in part 191; however, the type 
of documentation covered by this certification has generally been 
required by CBP as part of a manufacturing drawback claim.
Subpart C Provides Specific Requirements Dealing With Unused 
Merchandise Drawback
    Section 190.31 provides the general rule regarding direct 
identification unused merchandise drawback claims. This section differs 
from the corresponding regulation in part 191 in that it incorporates 
TFTEA-based changes to 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(1) such as the 5-year period 
for filing a claim and it contains grammatical and nomenclature 
changes.
    Section 190.32 provides the general rule regarding substitution 
unused merchandise drawback claims. This section differs from the 
corresponding regulation in part 191 in that it incorporates TFTEA-
based changes to 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2) such as the 5-year period for 
filing a claim and HTSUS-based substitution determinations, provides 
for the ``lesser of'' rule regarding allowable refunds, and contains 
grammatical and nomenclature changes. This section also explains the 
special substitution rule for wine, which is not provided for in the 
corresponding section of part 191, and includes language regarding the 
preclusion of claiming Federal excise taxes discussed in detail in the 
section titled Federal Excise Tax and Substitution Drawback Claims. As 
discussed further below in the section titled Amendments Regarding 
Federal Excise Tax and Substitution Drawback Claims, this preclusion is 
also proposed as an amendment to Sec.  191.32.
    Section 190.33 details the parties entitled to claim in situations 
regarding unused merchandise drawback. This section differs from the 
corresponding regulation in part 191 in that it incorporates TFTEA-
based changes such as referencing records kept in the normal course of 
business; it does not reference terms such as commercially 
interchangeable and certificate of delivery, which were eliminated for 
TFTEA-Drawback; and it contains grammatical and nomenclature changes.
    Section 190.34 directs parties involved in drawback-related 
transactions to Sec.  190.10, the general section dealing with 
transfers of merchandise. This section differs from the corresponding 
section in part 191 in that it merely directs to the general section 
dealing with transfers of merchandise rather than detailing specifics.
    Section 190.35 contains specific instructions regarding the 
required notice of intent to export, destroy, or return merchandise, 
and the process regarding CBP's determination to examine merchandise. 
The process described in this section replicates the process as laid 
out in the corresponding section in part 191, with only grammatical and 
nomenclature changes.
    Section 190.36 contains information regarding obtaining a one-time 
waiver of the requirement to provide notice of intent to export. The 
process described in this section replicates the process as laid out in 
the corresponding section in part 191.
    Section 190.37 directs parties involved in the destruction of 
merchandise for drawback claims to Sec.  190.71, which contains the 
procedures for destroying merchandise under CBP supervision. The 
process described in this section replicates the process as laid out in 
the corresponding section in part 191 and contains only one 
nomenclature change.
    Section 190.38 provides information regarding recordkeeping 
requirements generally and specifically requires documents enabling CBP 
to trace the merchandise from importation, through any transfers, to 
exportation or destruction. This section is substantially similar to 
the process as laid out in the corresponding section in part 191 and 
contains grammatical and nomenclature changes.
Subpart D Provides Specific Requirements Regarding Rejected Merchandise 
Drawback Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(c)
    Section 190.41 provides for drawback claims under 19 U.S.C. 1313(c) 
regarding rejected merchandise involving goods that do not conform to 
sample or specifications, were shipped without consent of the 
consignee, or determined to be defective at the time of importation. 
This section differs from the corresponding section in part 191 in that 
it contains nomenclature changes and includes additional language 
regarding goods sold at retail and returned, removes certain language 
regarding satisfactory evidence and includes language regarding the 
amount of drawback allowable.
    Section 190.42 sets forth the general procedures for filing, 
documenting, and certifying claims under rejected merchandise drawback. 
This regulation differs from the corresponding regulation in part 191 
in that it includes the expanded time frame of 5 years from the date of 
importation for filing claims and directs claimants to Sec.  190.71 for 
procedures regarding the destruction of merchandise under CBP 
supervision. This regulation also differs from the current 
corresponding regulation in part 191 (at Sec.  191.42(a)), which 
requires that the merchandise be in CBP custody prior to exportation or 
destruction. This was rendered obsolete by the Miscellaneous Trade and 
Technical Corrections Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-429), which removed the 
requirement that the merchandise be in CBP custody prior to exportation 
or destruction. Accordingly, it is proposed to update Sec.  191.42(a) 
as well.
    Section 190.43 informs claimants of the possibility of filing a 
direct identification unused merchandise claim under 19 U.S.C. 
1313(j)(1) in lieu of a rejected merchandise claim, to the extent that 
the merchandise qualifies. This section replicates the corresponding 
section in part 191; however, the section title, unused merchandise 
drawback claim, differs from the corresponding section title in part 
191, which is unused merchandise claim.
    Section 190.44 is reserved. The corresponding regulation in part 
191 directs claimants to Sec.  191.71 for the procedures for destroying 
merchandise under CBP supervision. This section is unnecessary as a 
stand-alone regulation because the citation to Sec.  190.71, dealing 
with destruction under CBP supervision, is included in Sec.  190.42, as 
discussed above.
    Section 190.45 is a new regulation regarding the special rule for 
substitution for returned retail merchandise, a subset of rejected 
merchandise provided for in 19 U.S.C. 1313(c). This section includes 
requirements that have been in effect since 2004, when the 
Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of

[[Page 37905]]

2004 (Pub. L. 108-429), amended 19 U.S.C. 1313(c) regarding drawback on 
returned items sold at the retail level. Specifically, this regulation 
provides for a special rule going beyond mere HTSUS interchangeability 
for substitution involving returned retail merchandise by requiring the 
specific product identifier to be the same for both the returned retail 
merchandise and the substituted exported or destroyed merchandise 
(e.g., SKU or part number). Therefore, it is proposed to add a new 
Sec.  191.45 as well.
Subpart E Deals With the Completion of Drawback Claims
    Section 190.51 provides information regarding what constitutes a 
complete drawback claim and delineates those supporting documents that 
must be uploaded to complete a claim. This proposed section explains 
the requirement that the successful electronic transmission of drawback 
claims in the CBP-authorized EDI system includes upload of supporting 
documentation. This section, at 190.51(a)(4), includes the prohibition 
against designating imported merchandise from a line item on an entry 
summary as part of a TFTEA-Drawback substitution claim under part 190 
if any other merchandise covered on that entry summary has been 
designated as the basis of a claim under part 191 (and the 
corresponding regulation in part 191 is similarly amended at 
191.51(a)(3)). This section also provides information regarding the 
official date of filing, calculation of refunds relative to drawback-
eligible duties, taxes, and fees, as well as information regarding the 
reporting of the HTSUS classifications and Department of Commerce 
Schedule B commodity numbers applicable to imported, substituted, 
exported, and destroyed merchandise and articles. This section also 
differs from the corresponding section in part 191 due to corrections 
of clerical errors in (b)(2)(i) regarding the mathematical calculations 
included in the example.
    Section 190.52 concerns rejecting, perfecting, or amending drawback 
claims, including the applicable timeframes and limitations. This 
section differs from the corresponding section in part 191 in that it 
includes the TFTEA-based 5-year deadline and includes certain 
grammatical and nomenclature changes.
    Section 190.53 details CBP's authority to require claimants to 
restructure claims if necessary to foster administrative efficiency. 
This section differs from the corresponding section in part 191 due 
only to nomenclature changes.
Subpart F Deals With the Verification of Drawback Claims
    Section 190.61 provides information regarding the verification of 
drawback claims, including how verification is done and its impact on 
liquidation. This section differs from the corresponding section in 
part 191 slightly due to simplification of the language related to the 
electronic environment for TFTEA-Drawback claims and grammatical and 
nomenclature changes.
    Section 190.62 provides information regarding criminal and civil 
penalties related to drawback claims. This section replicates the 
corresponding section in part 191.
    Section 190.63 is a new regulation detailing the joint and several 
liability of the importer of the merchandise designated as the basis of 
a drawback claim and the party claiming drawback.
Subpart G Deals With the Exportation and Destruction of Articles 
Involved in Drawback Claims
    Section 190.71 provides procedures and requirements regarding 
obtaining drawback on articles destroyed under CBP supervision. This 
section differs from the corresponding section in part 191 due to 
grammatical and nomenclature changes.
    Section 190.72 provides requirements regarding proof of export in 
drawback claims. This section differs from the corresponding section in 
part 191 in that it lists the required summary data for establishing 
exportation and references certain supporting documents to prove 
export.
    Section 190.73 states that records kept through an electronic 
export system of the United States Government may be considered as 
actual proof of exportation only if CBP has officially approved the use 
of that electronic export system as proof of compliance. The 
corresponding regulation in part 191 provided information regarding 
export summary procedures.
    Section 190.74 provides information regarding exportation by mail 
and how to claim drawback. This section differs from the corresponding 
section in part 191 due to grammatical and nomenclature changes.
    Section 190.75 provides information regarding exportation by the 
U.S. Government and how to claim drawback. This section differs 
slightly from the corresponding section in part 191 due to grammatical 
changes and it does not contain the reference to section 191.73, which 
in part 191 provided detailed information on export summary procedures 
(the relevant data elements from the export summary are now 
incorporated into the drawback entry summary, as provided for in 19 CFR 
190.51(a)).
    Section 190.76 is reserved as corresponding section 191.76 provides 
information regarding landing certificates, which are now obsolete.
Subpart H Deals With the Liquidation and Protest of Drawback Entries
    Section 190.81 provides information regarding the liquidation of 
drawback claims. The Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act 
of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-429), amended 19 U.S.C. 1504 to expressly impose 
limitations on the liquidation of drawback entries. Pursuant to this 
2004 amendment, unless a claim for drawback is extended or suspended, 
an entry or claim for drawback not liquidated within 1 year from the 
date of entry or claim will be deemed liquidated at the drawback amount 
asserted at the time of entry or claim. Accordingly, this document in 
Sec.  190.81 and in Sec.  191.81 proposes to clarify this 2004 
modification regarding drawback claims and deemed liquidations.
    Section 190.82 specifies who is entitled to claim drawback. This 
section differs from the corresponding section in part 191 due only to 
grammatical changes.
    Section 190.83 specifies who is entitled to receive drawback 
payments. This section replicates the corresponding section in part 
191.
    Section 190.84 provides information regarding protest procedures 
involving drawback claims. This section differs from the corresponding 
section in part 191 due only to a grammatical change.
Subpart I Deals With Applications for Privileges Involving Drawback
    Section 190.91 provides procedures regarding applying for and 
obtaining the privilege of waiver of prior notice of intent to export. 
This section differs from the corresponding section in part 191 in that 
it references the need to meet the standard for substitution rather 
than using the term commercially interchangeable, it discusses 
grandfathering in existing privilege holders relative to TFTEA-based 
changes, and it contains grammatical and nomenclature changes.
    Section 190.92 provides procedures regarding applying for and 
obtaining the privilege of accelerated payment in which payment of 
drawback claims may be obtained prior to liquidation. This section 
differs from the corresponding section in part 191 due to grammatical 
and nomenclature changes.

[[Page 37906]]

    Section 190.93 provides for the combined privileges of waiver of 
prior notice and accelerated payment and states that applications may 
be for one privilege, both privileges separately, or both privileges in 
a combined application. This section replicates the corresponding 
section in part 191.
Subpart J Deals With Internal Revenue Taxes on Flavoring Extracts and 
Medicinal or Toilet Preparations.
    In addition to the proposed regulations described immediately below 
in subpart J (Sec. Sec.  190.101--190.106), the Department of the 
Treasury and CBP are also considering transferring the administration 
of drawback refunds provided for in subpart J from CBP to the Alcohol 
and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). This part of the law solely 
involves drawback for the export of domestic products, and such a 
transfer would place with the agency with responsibility for taxation 
of domestic products. It would also enable exporters of flavoring 
extracts and medicinal or toilet preparations to claim the full amount 
of drawback available at a single agency. CBP and TTB would greatly 
appreciate comments on this proposal.
    Section 190.101 states that 19 U.S.C. 1313(d) provides for drawback 
for the refund of internal revenue tax upon the exportation of 
flavoring extracts and medicinal or toilet preparations (including 
perfumery) manufactured or produced in the United States in part from 
the domestic tax-paid alcohol. This section differs from the 
corresponding section in part 191 due only to grammatical changes.
    Section 190.102 provides that provisions relating to direct 
identification drawback (contained in subpart B of this part) will 
apply to claims for drawback filed upon the exportation of flavoring 
extracts and medicinal or toilet preparations (including perfumery) 
manufactured or produced in the United States in part from the domestic 
tax-paid alcohol. This section differs from the corresponding section 
in part 191 due to grammatical and nomenclature changes and in 
paragraph (e), which states that the time period for completing claims 
is three years from the date of export.
    Section 190.103 details additional requirements in situations where 
a declaration of the manufacturer showing whether a claim has been or 
will be filed by the manufacturer with the regional Director, National 
Review Center, TTB, is necessary. TTB was previously referred to as the 
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. This regulation has been 
updated throughout for accuracy, including updating the statutory 
citations to 26 U.S.C. 5111-5114, dealing with the Internal Revenue 
Code. This section also differs from the current corresponding section 
in part 191 due to grammatical and nomenclature changes. For the same 
reasons detailed here, it is proposed to update Sec.  191.103 as well.
    Section 190.104 provides information regarding required 
certificates involving drawback and TTB. This regulation has been 
updated for accuracy because, among other things, the relevant TTB Form 
(5100.4), was updated in November of 2015. This section also differs 
from the current corresponding section in part 191 due to grammatical 
and nomenclature changes. It is proposed to update that section, Sec.  
191.104, as well.
    Section 190.105 provides that the drawback office must ascertain 
the final amount of drawback due by reference to the specific 
manufacturing ruling under which drawback was claimed. This section 
differs from the corresponding section in part 191, which requires that 
the final amount be made in reference to the certificate of manufacture 
and delivery, which is no longer required in TFTEA-Drawback.
    Section 190.106 provides for the limitation of drawback available 
in situations in which the declaration required by Sec.  190.103 of 
this subpart shows that a claim has been or will be filed and it states 
that drawback may not be granted absent receipt from TTB of a copy of 
TTB Form 5100.4 (Certificate of Tax-Paid Alcohol). This section also 
differs from the current corresponding section in part 191 due to 
grammatical and nomenclature changes regarding TTB. It is proposed to 
update that section, Sec.  191.106, as well.
Subpart K Deals With Supplies for Certain Vessels and Aircraft
    Section 190.111 states that 19 U.S.C. 1309 provides for drawback on 
articles laden as supplies on certain vessels or aircraft of the United 
States or as supplies including equipment upon, or used in the 
maintenance or repair of, certain foreign vessels or aircraft. This 
section replicates the corresponding section in part 191.
    Section 190.112 provides procedures regarding obtaining drawback in 
situations involving supplies for certain vessels and aircraft and 
states that the provisions of this subpart will override other 
conflicting provisions of this part. This section differs from the 
corresponding section in part 191 due to TFTEA-based changes, such as 
the 5-year time period for filing claims, and due to grammatical and 
nomenclature changes.
Subpart L Deals With Meats Cured With Imported Salt
    Section 190.121 states that 19 U.S.C. 1313(f) provides for drawback 
allowance on meats cured with imported salt. This section replicates 
the corresponding section in part 191.
    Section 190.122 provides procedures regarding obtaining drawback in 
situations involving meats cured with imported salt. This section 
differs from the corresponding section in part 191 in that the 
organizational structure was changed because paragraph (b), regarding 
modifying a paper form, was removed, and grammatical changes have been 
made.
    Section 190.123 provides that drawback will be refunded in 
aggregate amounts of not less than $100 and will not be subject to the 
retention of 1 percent of duties paid for claims involving meats cured 
with imported salt. This section differs from the corresponding section 
in part 191 due to grammatical changes.
Subpart M Deals With Materials for Construction and Equipment for 
Vessels and Aircraft for Foreign Ownership and Account
    Section 190.131 states that 19 U.S.C. 1313(g) provides for drawback 
on materials for construction and equipment for vessels and aircraft 
for foreign ownership and account. This section replicates the 
corresponding section in part 191.
    Section 190.132 states that other provisions of this part relating 
to direct identification manufacturing drawback will apply to claims 
for drawback filed under 19 U.S.C. 1313(g) and this subpart insofar as 
applicable to and not inconsistent with the provisions of this subpart. 
This section differs from the corresponding section in part 191 due to 
grammatical changes.
    Section 190.133 provides an explanation of terms specific to this 
subpart dealing with drawback on materials for construction and 
equipment for vessels and aircraft for foreign ownership and account. 
This section differs from the corresponding section in part 191 due to 
grammatical and nomenclature changes.
Subpart N Deals With Foreign-Built Jet Aircraft Engines Processed in 
the United States
    Section 190.141 states that 19 U.S.C. 1313(h) provides for drawback 
on the exportation of jet aircraft engines manufactured or produced 
abroad that have been overhauled, repaired, rebuilt,

[[Page 37907]]

or reconditioned in the United States with the use of imported 
merchandise, including parts. This section replicates the corresponding 
section in part 191.
    Section 190.142 states that other provisions of this part relating 
to direct identification manufacturing drawback will apply to claims 
for drawback filed under 19 U.S.C. 1313(h) and this subpart insofar as 
applicable to and not inconsistent with the provisions of this subpart. 
This section differs from the corresponding section in part 191 due to 
a grammatical change.
    Section 190.143 provides specifics relating to the filing of entry 
and the contents of the entry regarding claims filed under this 
subpart. This section differs from the corresponding section in part 
191 by removing the reference to CBP Form 7551 (as this data will be 
submitted through ACE) and due to grammatical changes.
    Section 190.144 states that drawback under this subpart will be 
refunded in aggregate amounts of not less than $100 and will not be 
subject to the deduction of 1 percent of duties paid. This section 
differs from the corresponding section in part 191 due to grammatical 
changes.
Subpart O Deals With Merchandise Exported From Continuous CBP Custody
    Section 190.151 states that 19 U.S.C. 1557(a) provides for drawback 
on merchandise upon which duties have been paid and which has remained 
continuously in bonded warehouse or otherwise in CBP custody for a 
specified period of time, when exported to certain locations. This 
section differs from the corresponding section in part 191 due to 
grammatical and nomenclature changes.
    Section 190.152 provides specified exceptions for when drawback 
will be allowed on merchandise released from CBP custody. This section 
differs from the corresponding section in part 191 due to grammatical 
and nomenclature changes.
    Section 190.153 provides information regarding when merchandise is 
considered in continuous CBP custody in certain scenarios. This section 
differs from the corresponding section in part 191 due to grammatical 
and nomenclature changes.
    Section 190.154 provides information regarding filing a direct 
export entry or entry for merchandise transported to another port for 
exportation. This section differs from the corresponding section in 
part 191 by not requiring the filing of CBP Form 7551 (as the data will 
be transmitted through ACE) and due to grammatical and nomenclature 
changes.
    Section 190.155 states that the regulations in 19 CFR part 18 will 
be followed to the extent possible when merchandise is withdrawn from a 
warehouse for exportation. This section differs from the corresponding 
section in part 191 due to grammatical changes.
    Section 190.156 provides information regarding the filing of a bill 
of lading and applicable timeframes. This section differs from the 
corresponding section in part 191 due to grammatical and nomenclature 
changes.
    Section 190.157 is reserved as the corresponding section in part 
191 directed readers to section 191.76 regarding landing certificates, 
which are now obsolete.
    Section 190.158 provides for procedures of liquidation for a 
complete drawback claim in accordance with Sec.  190.81. This section 
differs from the corresponding section in part 191 due to grammatical 
changes.
    Section 190.159 states that drawback due under this subpart will 
not be subject to the deduction of 1 percent of duties paid. This 
section differs from the corresponding section in part 191 due to 
grammatical changes.
Subpart P Deals With Distilled Spirits, Wines, or Beer Which are 
Unmerchantable or do not Conform to Sample or Specifications
    Section 190.161 provides for the refund, remission, abatement or 
credit regarding imported distilled spirits, wines, or beer found after 
entry to be unmerchantable or not to conform to sample or 
specifications and which are returned to CBP custody. This section 
differs from the corresponding section in part 191 due to nomenclature 
changes.
    Section 190.162 states that export procedures as provided for at 
Sec.  190.42 apply, except that the claimant must be the importer. This 
section differs from the corresponding section in part 191 due to 
grammatical changes.
    Section 190.163 provides for the required documentation in claims 
setting forth in detail the facts which cause the merchandise to be 
unmerchantable and any additional evidence that the drawback office 
requires to establish that the merchandise is unmerchantable. This 
section differs from the corresponding section in part 191 due to 
grammatical and nomenclature changes.
    Section 190.164 states that there is no time limit for the return 
to CBP custody for merchandise covered under this subpart. This section 
differs from the corresponding section in part 191 due only to 
nomenclature changes.
    Section 190.165 states that exportations by mail are not permitted 
for merchandise covered in this subpart. This section differs from the 
corresponding section in part 191 due only to grammatical changes.
    Section 190.166 provides information regarding the destruction of 
merchandise under this subpart. This section differs from the 
corresponding section in part 191 due only to grammatical and 
nomenclature changes.
    Section 190.167 states that no deduction of 1 percent of the 
internal revenue taxes paid or determined will be made in allowing 
entries under 26 U.S.C. 5062(c), as amended. This section differs from 
the corresponding section in part 191 due only to grammatical changes.
    Section 190.168 is reserved because the 90-day time limit for 
exportation or destruction from the date of notification of acceptance 
of the drawback entry it is contrary to the statutory requirement that 
a claim be filed after exportation or destruction. Accordingly, this 
section differs from the corresponding section in part 191.
Subpart Q Deals With the Substitution of Finished Petroleum Derivatives
    Section 190.171 states that 19 U.S.C. 1313(p) provides for drawback 
on the basis of qualified articles including petroleum derivatives 
imported or manufactured or produced in the United States (and 
qualified under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) or (b)). TFTEA permits MPF refunds 
for all claims under 19 U.S.C. 1313(p), therefore there is no 
limitation on MPF refunds as there was in paragraph (c) in part 191. 
Additionally, there is a new paragraph (c) that explains the 
calculation of drawback for claims on petroleum derivatives. This 
paragraph requires per unit averaging for refunds, but clarifies that 
the refunds are not subject to the ``lesser of'' rule. Finally, this 
paragraph includes the preclusion of claiming Federal excise taxes 
discussed in detail in the section titled Federal Excise Tax and 
Substitution Drawback Claims.
    Section 190.172 provides relevant definitions for purposes of this 
subpart. This section replicates the corresponding section in part 191.
    Section 190.173 provides specific requirements for drawback when 
the basis is 19 U.S.C. 1313(p) with no manufacture. This section 
replicates the corresponding section in part 191.
    Section 190.174 provides specific requirements for drawback when 
the basis is 19 U.S.C. 1313(p) with a manufacture under 19 U.S.C. 
1313(a) or (b). This section replicates the corresponding section in 
part 191.
    Section 190.175 provides specific requirements regarding the 
identity of drawback claimants and maintenance of

[[Page 37908]]

records under this subpart. This section differs from the corresponding 
section in part 191 due to TFTEA-based changes removing requirements 
related to certificates of delivery and certificates of manufacture and 
delivery.
    Section 190.176 states that the general procedures for filing 
claims are applicable to claims filed under 19 U.S.C. 1313(p) unless 
otherwise specified in this section. This section differs from the 
corresponding section in part 191 due to the timeframe for 
recordkeeping being changed to 3 years from the date of liquidation 
(rather than from the date of payment) and due to grammatical and 
nomenclature changes.
Subpart R Deals With Merchandise Transferred to a Foreign Trade Zone 
From Customs Territory
    Section 190.181 states that drawback is provided under 19 U.S.C. 
81c for merchandise transferred to a foreign trade zone for the sole 
purpose of exportation, storage, or destruction, with certain 
exceptions. This section replicates the corresponding section in part 
191.
    Section 190.182 states that merchandise in a foreign trade zone for 
purposes specified in Sec.  190.181 will be given status as zone-
restricted merchandise on proper application as provided for in 19 CFR 
146.44. This section differs from the corresponding section in part 191 
due only to grammatical changes.
    Section 190.183 provides filing procedures for certain articles 
manufactured or produced in the United States, including transfers to a 
foreign trade zone. This section differs from the corresponding section 
in part 191 due to grammatical and nomenclature changes, and due to 
changes related to the electronic filing provisions of section 906 of 
TFTEA.
    Section 190.184 states that the procedure described in subpart O of 
this part will be followed, as applicable, for drawback on merchandise 
transferred to a foreign trade zone from continuous CBP custody and 
provides information on the drawback entry, required certifications, 
modifications, and endorsement. This section differs from the 
corresponding section in part 191 due to grammatical and nomenclature 
changes, and due to changes related to the electronic filing 
environment of TFTEA-Drawback.
    Section 190.185 states that the procedure described in subparts C 
and D of this part will be followed, as applicable, for drawback on 
merchandise under this subpart and provides information on the drawback 
entry, required certifications, modifications, and endorsement. This 
section differs from the corresponding section in part 191 due to 
grammatical and nomenclature changes, and to the electronic filing 
environment provisions of section 906 of TFTEA.
    Section 190.186 provides information regarding which person may be 
considered the transferor and states that drawback may be claimed by, 
and paid to, the transferor. This section differs from the 
corresponding section in part 191 due only to grammatical changes.
Subpart S Deals With the Drawback Compliance Program
    Section 190.191 provides general information regarding the CBP 
drawback compliance program. This section differs from the 
corresponding section in part 191 due only to nomenclature changes.
    Section 190.192 provides information regarding obtaining 
certification for the compliance program. This section differs from the 
corresponding section in part 191 due only to grammatical and 
nomenclature changes.
    Section 190.193 provides the application procedure for the 
compliance program. This section differs from the corresponding section 
in part 191 due only to grammatical and nomenclature changes.
    Section 190.194 describes the actions taken on the application to 
participate in the compliance program. This section differs from the 
corresponding section in part 191 due only to grammatical and 
nomenclature changes.
    Section 190.195 relates to combined applications for certification 
in the drawback compliance program and privileges regarding the waiver 
of prior notice and/or accelerated payment of drawback. This section 
replicates the corresponding section in Part 191.
Appendices A and B Deal With Manufacturing Drawback Rulings
    Appendix A to Part 190 sets forth the general manufacturing 
drawback rulings, accompanied by instructions for how to submit a 
letter of notification to operate thereunder. This appendix differs 
from Appendix A to part 191 due to grammatical and nomenclature changes 
as well as changes to conform to TFTEA-Drawback requirements.
    Appendix B to Part 190 provides the sample formats for applications 
for specific manufacturing drawback rulings. This appendix differs from 
Appendix B to part 191 due to grammatical and nomenclature changes as 
well as changes to conform to TFTEA-Drawback requirements.

B. Other Conforming Amendments

    NAFTA drawback, which is separately provided for in subpart E of 
part 181 of the CBP regulations (19 CFR part 181), provides for special 
provisions in situations where goods were imported into the United 
States and then subsequently exported to either Canada or Mexico. While 
TFTEA left NAFTA drawback unchanged, minor conforming edits to part 181 
are necessary to correct certain errors or to allow for interaction 
with both the proposed part 190 and existing part 191 during the 
transition period. For example, 19 CFR 181.50(a) includes an inaccurate 
reference to subpart G of part 191, stating that it is for liquidation 
procedures. However, it is subpart H of part 191 that deals with 
liquidation (and protest) procedures while subpart G of part 191 deals 
with exportation and destruction. Accordingly, it is proposed to amend 
Sec.  181.50(a) to update the reference so it accurately cites to 
subpart H of part 191 and to include an accompanying reference to 
subpart H of part 190. Further, Sec.  181.50(c) includes a specific 
reference to Sec.  191.92 addressing accelerated payment. Accordingly, 
it is proposed to amend this regulation to also include a reference to 
the corresponding section of the proposed new part 190, i.e., Sec.  
190.92. CBP is amending sections 181.45, 181.46, 181.47, 181.49, and 
181.50 to conform with proposed part 190 and existing part 191.
    As stated above, the existing regulations in part 191 are mostly 
unchanged with this rulemaking. However, it is proposed to amend the 
scope section of part 191, Sec.  191.0, to make reference to the 
drawback provisions in proposed part 190 and to note that claims cannot 
be filed under part 191 on or after February 24, 2019. Additionally, as 
noted above in the section detailing the differences between the 
sections in part 190 and the corresponding sections in part 191, some 
sections in part 191 are outdated for reasons other than TFTEA, such as 
those affected by the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act 
of 2004. Therefore, as noted above in the section detailing the 
proposed changes to part 190, where changes were required due to non-
TFTEA reasons, it is proposed to amend Sec. Sec.  191.0, 191.1, 191.3, 
191.5, 191.42, 191.51, 191.81, 191.103, 191.104, and 191.106 and new 
Sec.  191.45 to address returned retail merchandise.
    Finally, it is important to note that it is CBP's intention to 
remove part 191 at a future date, but not until after the completion of 
the transition period. The

[[Page 37909]]

part 191 regulations will continue to be applicable for claims filed 
under that part before February 24, 2019, but will become increasingly 
less relevant over time; CBP will assess at what point in time removal 
will be most appropriate to lessen burdens or confusion. This removal 
will be announced in the Federal Register.

C. Amendments Regarding Federal Excise Tax and Substitution Claims

    For the reasons outlined above in the section titled Federal Excise 
Tax and Substitution Drawback Claims, this document proposes to amend: 
Sec.  191.22 by adding a new last sentence to paragraph (a); Sec.  
191.32 by adding a new paragraph (b)(4); and, Sec.  191.171 by adding a 
new paragraph (d). These amendments preclude drawback of internal 
revenue tax imposed under the IRC in connection with a substitution 
drawback claim if no excise tax was paid on the substituted exported 
merchandise or if that merchandise was subject to a claim for refund or 
drawback of tax under any provision of the IRC. In addition, this 
document proposes to amend Sec.  113.62, which sets forth basic 
importation and entry bond conditions, to add a new condition under 
which the principal agrees not to file, or transfer the right to file, 
a substitution drawback claim that would be inconsistent with the terms 
of new Sec.  191.32(b)(4). The consequences of default specified in 
newly re-designated paragraph (n) of Sec.  113.62 would apply in the 
case of a breach of this bond condition.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ The amendment referenced here to Sec.  113.62 of this 
chapter is in addition to the previously discussed proposed 
amendment to Sec.  113.62, proposing to add a new paragraph (a)(4) 
regarding the joint and several liability provisions of the 
importer's bond.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    These changes are intended to preclude the filing of substitution 
drawback claims under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b), 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2), and 19 
U.S.C. 1313(p) in circumstances in which internal revenue taxes have 
not been paid on the substituted domestic product, or where that 
merchandise is subject to a different claim for refund or drawback of 
IRC taxes. The proposed amendments still allow for the return of 99 
percent of the duties, taxes, and fees paid on the imported merchandise 
upon export, or when IRC taxes have been paid on substituted domestic 
product and the substituted merchandise is not the subject of a 
separate claim for refund or drawback of such taxes.

IV. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

A. Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review) 
and Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review)

    Executive Orders 13563 and 12866 direct agencies to assess costs 
and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is 
necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits 
(including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety 
effects, distributive impacts, and equity). Executive Order 13563 
emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, of 
reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. 
This rule is an ``economically significant regulatory action'' under 
section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866. Accordingly, this proposed rule 
has been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB''). CBP 
and Treasury have prepared an economic analysis of the potential 
impacts of this rule for public awareness. The analysis can be found in 
the public docket for this rulemaking at www.regulations.gov.

B. Executive Order 13771 (Reducing Regulation and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs)

    Executive Order 13771 directs agencies to reduce regulation and 
control regulatory costs, and provides that ``for every one new 
regulation issued, at least two prior regulations be identified for 
elimination, and that the cost of planned regulations be prudently 
managed and controlled through a budgeting process.'' \26\ These 
requirements only apply to rules designated as ``significant regulatory 
actions'' under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866. OMB's 
implementation guidance explains that ``Federal spending regulatory 
actions that cause only income transfers between taxpayers and program 
beneficiaries . . . . are considered `transfer rules' and are not 
covered by E.O. [Executive Order] 13771 . . . However . . . such 
regulatory actions may impose requirements apart from transfers . . . 
In those cases, the actions would need to be offset to the extent they 
impose more than de minimis costs.'' \27\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ See 82 FR 9339 (February 3, 2017).
    \27\ See OMB's memorandum titled, ``Guidance Implementing 
Executive Order 13771, Titled `Reducing Regulation and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs' '' (April 5, 2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This rule is a significant regulatory action under section 3(f) of 
Executive Order 12866, and is hence subject to the requirements of 
Executive Order 13771. Most of the regulatory amendments proposed in 
this rule are the result of the Trade Facilitation and Trade 
Enforcement Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-125), which amended 19 U.S.C. 1313, 
the statute guiding CBP drawback regulations, and required CBP to 
promulgate regulations implementing these changes by February 24, 2018. 
This rule includes both a regulatory action and a deregulatory action 
that implement TFTEA's requirements. Because these actions are related 
to drawback, CBP chose to include both actions in this rule instead of 
promulgating two separate rules. On net, this rule imposes a regulatory 
burden (and is thus a regulatory action) because its regulatory impacts 
exceed its deregulatory impacts. This rule's regulatory impacts (i.e., 
costs) would measure $8.3 million on an annualized basis, while its 
deregulatory impacts (i.e., cost savings) would measure $1.3 million on 
an annualized basis (in 2016 U.S. dollars, using a 7 percent discount 
rate). Together, these impacts would introduce an annualized net 
regulatory cost of $7.0 million.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This section examines the impact of this proposed rule on small 
entities per the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 601 et. seq.)(RFA), as amended by the Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA). A small entity may be a 
small business (defined as any independently owned and operated 
business not dominant in its field that qualifies as a small business 
per the Small Business Act); a small not-for-profit organization; or a 
small governmental jurisdiction (locality with fewer than 50,000 
people).
    Under the RFA and SBREFA, if an agency can certify (typically 
through a screening analysis) that a rule will not have a ``significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities,'' a detailed 
assessment of the rule's impact on small entities is not required. 
Otherwise, an agency must complete an initial regulatory flexibility 
analysis (IRFA) exploring the impact of the proposed rulemaking on 
small entities.
Screening Analysis
    The proposed Modernized Drawback rule would fundamentally change 
the drawback process and consequently affect all trade members eligible 
for drawback (i.e., drawback claimants).\28\

[[Page 37910]]

These trade members can include importers, exporters, manufacturers, 
producers, and intermediate parties representing a diverse array of 
industries. CBP does not assess the rule's impact on customs brokers 
who file claims for trade members eligible for drawback in this RFA 
analysis because they would presumably charge their clients a fee for 
any costs introduced with the rule (and thus not be affected 
themselves).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ For more detailed information on the impacts of this rule, 
see CBP and Treasury's economic analysis in the public docket for 
this rulemaking at www.regulations.gov.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because the Small Business Administration's (SBA) guidelines on 
small entities under the RFA do not explicitly define small entity 
standards for the importers, exporters, manufacturers, producers, and 
intermediate parties potentially affected by the rule, CBP used data on 
the industries in which these parties operate to determine the number 
of small entities potentially affected by this rule. CBP began by 
compiling a list of all 9,017 unique drawback claimants who filed 
claims between 2007 and 2016 and matching the claimant identification 
number (``claimant ID'') to the operator/owner name and address listed 
in internal CBP databases. Next, CBP assigned a random number to each 
of the claimants in that list and sorted the data in ascending order by 
the random number assigned. Using public and proprietary databases, CBP 
then pulled information like the entity type (subsidiary or parent 
company), primary line of business, employee size, and revenue on the 
claimants in ascending order until the agency had market data for 100 
unique entities.<SUP>29 30</SUP>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ Only 13 of the entities researched (12 percent) did not 
have market data available.
    \30\ Out of a total population of 9,017 unique drawback 
claimants who filed claims between 2007 and 2016, CBP used a sample 
of 100 claimants with market data to inform this screening analysis. 
This sample size resulted in a statistically significant sample 
using a 95 percent confidence level with a 10 percent margin of 
error.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table 1 shows the industries, according to their North American 
Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code, in the sample of 
entities affected by this rule and the SBA's small entity size 
standards for these industries. For the most part, the SBA's size 
standards are the average annual receipts or the average employment of 
a firm.\31\ As shown, CBP finds that 69 percent (69) of the drawback 
claimants sampled are considered ``small'' according to the SBA's size 
standards, including one non-profit organization. CBP did not identify 
any small governmental jurisdictions affected by the proposed rule in 
this sample. According to these findings, CBP assumes that the proposed 
rule would affect a substantial number of small entities. CBP 
recognizes that this screening analysis may have excluded some less 
established, potentially small entities due to market data 
availability. To the extent that those excluded are small, the portion 
of small entities affected by the rule would be higher than estimated.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ The SBA's calculation methods for average annual receipts 
and average employment of a firm can be found in 13 CFR 121.104 and 
13 CFR 121.106, respectively.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Of the small drawback claimants sampled and included in Table 1, 
the average number of employees at these entities ranged from 1 to 
1,000 and their annual revenue measured from less than $0.5 million to 
$391.0 million (see Table 2 and Table 3). Table 2 compares the low 
range average number of employees at the small entities sampled and the 
overall average for the corresponding NAICS industry. Table 3 shows the 
average annual revenue of the small entities sampled by NAICS industry 
using the low range of annual revenue data available as well as the 
average annual revenue for all U.S. entities in each industry.

                                  Table 1--Summary Statistics of Small Entities Affected by Rule From the Random Sample
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Number of      Percent of                                  Number of      Percent of
          NAICS code                  NAICS description          entities in     entities in       SBA size standard      small entities  small entities
                                                                   sample          sample                                    in sample       in sample
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
311211.......................  Flour Milling.................               1               1  1,000 Employees..........               1               1
311421.......................  Fruit and Vegetable Canning...               1               1  1,000 Employees..........               1               1
312140.......................  Distilleries..................               1               1  1,000 Employees..........               1               1
313210.......................  Broadwoven Fabric Mills.......               1               1  1,000 Employees..........               0               0
315220.......................  Men's and Boys' Cut and Sew                  2               2  750 Employees............               2               2
                                Apparel Manufacturing.
315240.......................  Women's, Girls', and Infants'                1               1  750 Employees............               1               1
                                Cut and Sew Apparel
                                Manufacturing.
321911.......................  Wood Window and Door                         1               1  1,000 Employees..........               1               1
                                Manufacturing.
325180.......................  Other Basic Inorganic Chemical               2               2  1,000 Employees..........               2               2
                                Manufacturing.
325194.......................  Cyclic Crude, Intermediate,                  1               1  1,250 Employees..........               1               1
                                and Gum and Wood Chemical
                                Manufacturing.
325199.......................  All Other Basic Organic                      1               1  1,250 Employees..........               0               0
                                Chemical Manufacturing.
325998.......................  All Other Miscellaneous                      1               1  500 Employees............               1               1
                                Chemical Product and
                                Preparation Manufacturing.
326199.......................  All Other Plastics Product                   1               1  750 Employees............               1               1
                                Manufacturing.
331410.......................  Nonferrous Metal (except                     1               1  1,000 Employees..........               1               1
                                Aluminum) Smelting and
                                Refining.
331491.......................  Nonferrous Metal (except                     1               1  750 Employees............               1               1
                                Copper and Aluminum) Rolling,
                                Drawing, and Extruding.
332999.......................  All Other Miscellaneous                      1               1  750 Employees............               1               1
                                Fabricated Metal Product
                                Manufacturing.

[[Page 37911]]

 
334118.......................  Computer Terminal and Other                  1               1  1,000 Employees..........               0               0
                                Computer Peripheral Equipment
                                Manufacturing.
334310.......................  Audio and Video Equipment                    1               1  750 Employees............               1               1
                                Manufacturing.
334513.......................  Instruments and Related                      1               1  750 Employees............               0               0
                                Products Manufacturing for
                                Measuring, Displaying, and
                                Controlling Industrial
                                Process Variables.
335221.......................  Household Cooking Appliance                  1               1  1,500 Employees..........               1               1
                                Manufacturing.
336612.......................  Boat Building.................               1               1  1,000 Employees..........               1               1
336991.......................  Motorcycle, Bicycle, and Parts               1               1  1,000 Employees..........               0               0
                                Manufacturing.
337920.......................  Blind and Shade Manufacturing.               1               1  1,000 Employees..........               0               0
339112.......................  Surgical and Medical                         2               2  1,000 Employees..........               1               1
                                Instrument Manufacturing.
339920.......................  Sporting and Athletic Goods                  1               1  750 Employees............               0               0
                                Manufacturing.
339992.......................  Musical Instrument                           1               1  1,000 Employees..........               1               1
                                Manufacturing.
339999.......................  All Other Miscellaneous                      1               1  500 Employees............               1               1
                                Manufacturing.
423210.......................  Furniture Merchant Wholesalers               1               1  100 Employees............               1               1
423220.......................  Home Furnishing Merchant                     2               2  100 Employees............               1               1
                                Wholesalers.
423510.......................  Metal Service Centers and                    2               2  200 Employees............               2               2
                                Other Metal Merchant
                                Wholesalers.
423620.......................  Household Appliances, Electric               1               1  200 Employees............               1               1
                                Housewares, and Consumer
                                Electronics Merchant
                                Wholesalers.
423690.......................  Other Electronic Parts and                   1               1  250 Employees............               0               0
                                Equipment Merchant
                                Wholesalers.
423910.......................  Sporting and Recreational                    3               3  100 Employees............               3               3
                                Goods and Supplies Merchant
                                Wholesalers.
423920.......................  Toy and Hobby Goods and                      1               1  150 Employees............               1               1
                                Supplies Merchant Wholesalers.
423940.......................  Jewelry, Watch, Precious                     3               3  100 Employees............               3               3
                                Stone, and Precious Metal
                                Merchant Wholesalers.
423990.......................  Other Miscellaneous Durable                  1               1  100 Employees............               1               1
                                Goods Merchant Wholesalers.
424310.......................  Piece Goods, Notions, and                    2               2  100 Employees............               2               2
                                Other Dry Goods Merchant
                                Wholesalers.
424330.......................  Women's, Children's, and                     1               1  100 Employees............               0               0
                                Infants' Clothing and
                                Accessories Merchant
                                Wholesalers.
424340.......................  Footwear Merchant Wholesalers.               3               3  200 Employees............               2               2
424490.......................  Other Grocery and Related                    1               1  250 Employees............               1               1
                                Products Merchant Wholesalers.
424610.......................  Plastics Materials and Basic                 2               2  150 Employees............               2               2
                                Forms and Shapes Merchant
                                Wholesalers.
424720.......................  Petroleum and Petroleum                      1               1  200 Employees............               1               1
                                Products Merchant Wholesalers
                                (except Bulk Stations and
                                Terminals).
424910.......................  Farm Supplies Merchant                       3               3  200 Employees............               3               3
                                Wholesalers.
424990.......................  Other Miscellaneous Nondurable               1               1  100 Employees............               1               1
                                Goods Merchant Wholesalers.
441120.......................  Used Car Dealers..............               1               1  $25.0 Million............               1               1
448120.......................  Women's Clothing Stores.......               2               2  $27.5 Million............               2               2
448130.......................  Children's and Infants'                      1               1  $32.5 Million............               0               0
                                Clothing Stores.
448190.......................  Other Clothing Stores.........               2               2  $20.5 Million............               2               2
451110.......................  Sporting Goods Stores.........               1               1  $15.0 Million............               1               1
451130.......................  Sewing, Needlework, and Piece                1               1  $27.5 Million............               1               1
                                Goods Stores.
452112.......................  Discount Department Stores....               1               1  $29.5 Million............               1               1

[[Page 37912]]

 
453998.......................  All Other Miscellaneous Store                1               1  $7.5 Million.............               1               1
                                Retailers (except Tobacco
                                Stores).
454113.......................  Mail-Order Houses.............               1               1  $38.5 Million............               0               0
483112.......................  Deep Sea Passenger                           1               1  1,500 Employees..........               0               0
                                Transportation.
493110.......................  General Warehousing and                      1               1  $27.5 Million............               1               1
                                Storage.
525990.......................  Other Financial Vehicles......               1               1  $32.5 Million............               1               1
541380.......................  Testing Laboratories..........               1               1  $15.0 Million............               0               0
541690.......................  Other Scientific and Technical               1               1  $15.0 Million............               0               0
                                Consulting Services.
541990.......................  All Other Professional,                      1               1  $15.0 Million............               1               1
                                Scientific, and Technical
                                Services.
561499.......................  All Other Business Support                   2               2  $15.0 Million............               2               2
                                Services.
561621.......................  Security Systems Services                    1               1  $20.5 Million............               0               0
                                (except Locksmiths).
561990.......................  All Other Support Services....               5               5  $11.0 Million............               5               5
624110.......................  Child and Youth Services *....               1               1  $11.0 Million............               1               1
711510.......................  Independent Artists, Writers,                1               1  $7.5 Million.............               1               1
                                and Performers.
811310.......................  Commercial and Industrial                    1               1  $7.5 Million.............               1               1
                                Machinery and Equipment
                                (except Automotive and
                                Electronic) Repair and
                                Maintenance.
811490.......................  Other Personal and Household                 1               1  $7.5 Million.............               1               1
                                Goods Repair and Maintenance.
                               Foreign Entity................              13              13  N/A......................             N/A             N/A
                              --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total....................  ..............................             100             100  .........................              69              69
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* This sample corresponds to a non-profit organization.
Source of drawback claimants sample: Internal CBP database; gathered through email correspondence with CBP's Office of Trade on March 2, 2017.
Source of descriptive entity information: Hoover's. Online company reports. Available at http://www.hoovers.com/. Accessed April 20, 2017 and April 24,
  2017; Manta. Online company reports. Available at http://www.manta.com/. Accessed April 20, 2017 and April 24, 2017.
Source of SBA size standard information: U.S. Small Business Administration, ``Table of Small Business Size Standards Matched to North American Industry
  Classification System Codes.'' February 26, 2016. Available at https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/Size_Standards_Table.pdf. Accessed April
  17, 2017.


 Table 2--Employment Statistics of Small Entities Affected by Rule From the Random Sample and Industry Averages
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average number
                                                                                   of employees   Average number
                                                                     Number of       at small      of employees
          NAICS code                    NAICS description         small entities    entities in     at all U.S.
                                                                     in sample      sample-low      entities in
                                                                                    range value      industry
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
311211........................  Flour Milling...................               1              20              66
311421........................  Fruit and Vegetable Canning.....               1             540              74
312140........................  Distilleries....................               1              15              30
315220........................  Men's and Boys' Cut and Sew                    2              40              31
                                 Apparel Manufacturing.
315240........................  Women's, Girls', and Infants'                  1               6              15
                                 Cut and Sew Apparel
                                 Manufacturing.
321911........................  Wood Window and Door                           1             250              46
                                 Manufacturing.
325180........................  Other Basic Inorganic Chemical                 2             502             100
                                 Manufacturing.
325194........................  Cyclic Crude, Intermediate, and                1           1,000              92
                                 Gum and Wood Chemical
                                 Manufacturing.
325998........................  All Other Miscellaneous Chemical               1               3              34
                                 Product and Preparation
                                 Manufacturing.
326199........................  All Other Plastics Product                     1               2              60
                                 Manufacturing.
331410........................  Nonferrous Metal (except                       1             700              66
                                 Aluminum) Smelting and Refining.
331491........................  Nonferrous Metal (except Copper                1              65              69
                                 and Aluminum) Rolling, Drawing,
                                 and Extruding.
332999........................  All Other Miscellaneous                        1              65              20
                                 Fabricated Metal Product
                                 Manufacturing.
334310........................  Audio and Video Equipment                      1             350              19
                                 Manufacturing.
335221........................  Household Cooking Appliance                    1              67             110
                                 Manufacturing.
336612........................  Boat Building...................               1              35              34
339112........................  Surgical and Medical Instrument                1              52              94
                                 Manufacturing.
339992........................  Musical Instrument Manufacturing               1             625              20
339999........................  All Other Miscellaneous                        1              20              10
                                 Manufacturing.
423210........................  Furniture Merchant Wholesalers..               1               5              12
423220........................  Home Furnishing Merchant                       1              17              14
                                 Wholesalers.
423510........................  Metal Service Centers and Other                2               3              20
                                 Metal Merchant Wholesalers.

[[Page 37913]]

 
423620........................  Household Appliances, Electric                 1              80              21
                                 Housewares, and Consumer
                                 Electronics Merchant
                                 Wholesalers.
423910........................  Sporting and Recreational Goods                3              18              11
                                 and Supplies Merchant
                                 Wholesalers.
423920........................  Toy and Hobby Goods and Supplies               1              12              15
                                 Merchant Wholesalers.
423940........................  Jewelry, Watch, Precious Stone,                3               7               7
                                 and Precious Metal Merchant
                                 Wholesalers.
423990........................  Other Miscellaneous Durable                    1              20              10
                                 Goods Merchant Wholesalers.
424310........................  Piece Goods, Notions, and Other                2               2               9
                                 Dry Goods Merchant Wholesalers.
424340........................  Footwear Merchant Wholesalers...               2              17              17
424490........................  Other Grocery and Related                      1              11              28
                                 Products Merchant Wholesalers.
424610........................  Plastics Materials and Basic                   2              14              13
                                 Forms and Shapes Merchant
                                 Wholesalers.
424720........................  Petroleum and Petroleum Products               1               7              15
                                 Merchant Wholesalers (except
                                 Bulk Stations and Terminals).
424910........................  Farm Supplies Merchant                         3              26              21
                                 Wholesalers.
424990........................  Other Miscellaneous Nondurable                 1               1               7
                                 Goods Merchant Wholesalers.
441120........................  Used Car Dealers................               1               1               6
448120........................  Women's Clothing Stores.........               2              12              31
448190........................  Other Clothing Stores...........               2              23              14
451110........................  Sporting Goods Stores...........               1               1              14
451130........................  Sewing, Needlework, and Piece                  1               7              11
                                 Goods Stores.
452112........................  Discount Department Stores......               1              20          15,091
453998........................  All Other Miscellaneous Store                  1               5               6
                                 Retailers (except Tobacco
                                 Stores).
493110........................  General Warehousing and Storage.               1              20             118
525990........................  Other Financial Vehicles........               1               2               6
541990........................  All Other Professional,                        1               2               6
                                 Scientific, and Technical
                                 Services.
561499........................  All Other Business Support                     2              29              17
                                 Services.
561990........................  All Other Support Services......               5               3              13
624110........................  Child and Youth Services *......               1              20              21
711510........................  Independent Artists, Writers,                  1               2               2
                                 and Performers.
811310........................  Commercial and Industrial                      1              28              10
                                 Machinery and Equipment (except
                                 Automotive and Electronic)
                                 Repair and Maintenance.
811490........................  Other Personal and Household                   1              18               3
                                 Goods Repair and Maintenance.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* This sample corresponds to a non-profit organization.
Source of drawback claimants sample: Internal CBP database; gathered through email correspondence with CBP's
  Office of Trade on March 2, 2017.
Source of small entity employment information: Hoover's. Online company reports. Available at http://www.hoovers.com/. Accessed April 20, 2017 and April 24, 2017; Manta. Online company reports. Available at
  http://www.manta.com/. Accessed April 20, 2017 and April 24, 2017.
Source of industry employment information: U.S. Census Bureau. 2012 SUSB Annual Data Tables by Establishment
  Industry, ``Number of Firms, Number of Establishments, Employment, Annual Payroll, and Estimated Receipts by
  Enterprise Employment Size for the United States, All Industries: 2012.'' June 22, 2015. Available at https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2012/econ/susb/2012-susb-annual.html. Accessed May 30, 2018.


   Table 3--Revenue Statistics of Small Entities Affected by Rule from the Random Sample and Industry Averages
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average annual
                                                                                    revenue of    Average annual
                                                                     Number of    small entities  revenue of all
          NAICS code                    NAICS description         small entities   in sample-low   U.S. entities
                                                                     in sample      range value     in industry
                                                                                   (in millions)   (in millions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
311211........................  Flour Milling...................               1            $5.0           $93.7
311421........................  Fruit and Vegetable Canning.....               1           178.1            41.7
312140........................  Distilleries....................               1         Unknown            39.6
315220........................  Men's and Boys' Cut and Sew                    2             6.4             3.8
                                 Apparel Manufacturing.
315240........................  Women's, Girls', and Infants'                  1             1.1             2.8
                                 Cut and Sew Apparel
                                 Manufacturing.
321911........................  Wood Window and Door                           1            48.0             9.2
                                 Manufacturing.
325180........................  Other Basic Inorganic Chemical                 2            90.7            94.2
                                 Manufacturing.
325194........................  Cyclic Crude, Intermediate, and                1           391.0           161.8
                                 Gum and Wood Chemical
                                 Manufacturing.
325998........................  All Other Miscellaneous Chemical               1             5.0            22.2
                                 Product and Preparation
                                 Manufacturing.
326199........................  All Other Plastics Product                     1             0.3            14.7
                                 Manufacturing.
331410........................  Nonferrous Metal (except                       1           228.9            93.2
                                 Aluminum) Smelting and Refining.
331491........................  Nonferrous Metal (except Copper                1            17.2            30.9
                                 and Aluminum) Rolling, Drawing,
                                 and Extruding.

[[Page 37914]]

 
332999........................  All Other Miscellaneous                        1            13.5             4.2
                                 Fabricated Metal Product
                                 Manufacturing.
334310........................  Audio and Video Equipment                      1            29.0             6.1
                                 Manufacturing.
335221........................  Household Cooking Appliance                    1             9.4            47.2
                                 Manufacturing.
336612........................  Boat Building...................               1             5.1             8.4
339112........................  Surgical and Medical Instrument                1            17.0            35.3
                                 Manufacturing.
339992........................  Musical Instrument Manufacturing               1           115.1             3.2
339999........................  All Other Miscellaneous                        1             4.3             2.4
                                 Manufacturing.
423210........................  Furniture Merchant Wholesalers..               1             1.6             7.4
423220........................  Home Furnishing Merchant                       1             4.2             8.1
                                 Wholesalers.
423510........................  Metal Service Centers and Other                2             0.8            27.8
                                 Metal Merchant Wholesalers.
423620........................  Household Appliances, Electric                 1            23.0            40.2
                                 Housewares, and Consumer
                                 Electronics Merchant
                                 Wholesalers.
423910........................  Sporting and Recreational Goods                3             3.2             7.3
                                 and Supplies Merchant
                                 Wholesalers.
423920........................  Toy and Hobby Goods and Supplies               1             2.9            11.0
                                 Merchant Wholesalers.
423940........................  Jewelry, Watch, Precious Stone,                3             1.2             8.3
                                 and Precious Metal Merchant
                                 Wholesalers.
423990........................  Other Miscellaneous Durable                    1            50.0             5.1
                                 Goods Merchant Wholesalers.
424310........................  Piece Goods, Notions, and Other                2             1.4             5.0
                                 Dry Goods Merchant Wholesalers.
424340........................  Footwear Merchant Wholesalers...               2             8.0            20.3
424490........................  Other Grocery and Related                      1            14.6            28.4
                                 Products Merchant Wholesalers.
424610........................  Plastics Materials and Basic                   2             7.5            17.2
                                 Forms and Shapes Merchant
                                 Wholesalers.
424720........................  Petroleum and Petroleum Products               1            11.4           289.0
                                 Merchant Wholesalers (except
                                 Bulk Stations and Terminals).
424910........................  Farm Supplies Merchant                         3            49.2            29.2
                                 Wholesalers.
424990........................  Other Miscellaneous Nondurable                 1             0.1             4.1
                                 Goods Merchant Wholesalers.
441120........................  Used Car Dealers................               1             0.1             3.0
448120........................  Women's Clothing Stores.........               2             1.9             3.5
448190........................  Other Clothing Stores...........               2             7.3             1.8
451110........................  Sporting Goods Stores...........               1             0.6             2.5
451130........................  Sewing, Needlework, and Piece                  1             0.6             1.1
                                 Goods Stores.
452112........................  Discount Department Stores......               1             2.5         2,899.3
453998........................  All Other Miscellaneous Store                  1             0.5             1.2
                                 Retailers (except Tobacco
                                 Stores).
493110........................  General Warehousing and Storage.               1             0.5             6.0
525990........................  Other Financial Vehicles........               1             0.2             2.8
541990........................  All Other Professional,                        1             0.2             1.0
                                 Scientific, and Technical
                                 Services.
561499........................  All Other Business Support                     2             2.0             2.8
                                 Services.
561990........................  All Other Support Services......               5             0.2             1.9
624110........................  Child and Youth Services *......               1             5.3             1.5
711510........................  Independent Artists, Writers,                  1             0.3             0.7
                                 and Performers.
811310........................  Commercial and Industrial                      1             7.4             1.7
                                 Machinery and Equipment (except
                                 Automotive and Electronic)
                                 Repair and Maintenance.
811490........................  Other Personal and Household                   1             2.0             0.3
                                 Goods Repair and Maintenance.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* This sample corresponds to a non-profit organization.
Source of drawback claimants sample: Internal CBP database; gathered through email correspondence with CBP's
  Office of Trade on March 2, 2017.
Source of small entity revenue information: Hoover's. Online company reports. Available at http://www.hoovers.com/. Accessed April 20, 2017 and April 24, 2017; Manta. Online company reports. Available at
  http://www.manta.com/. Accessed April 20, 2017 and April 24, 2017.
Source of industry revenue information: U.S. Census Bureau. 2012 SUSB Annual Data Tables by Establishment
  Industry, ``Number of Firms, Number of Establishments, Employment, Annual Payroll, and Estimated Receipts by
  Enterprise Employment Size for the United States, All Industries: 2012.'' June 22, 2015. Available at https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2012/econ/susb/2012-susb-annual.html. Accessed May 30, 2018.

    Based on the share of drawback claimants sampled, CBP assumes that 
69 percent of drawback claimants affected by this rule over the 2018 to 
2027 period of analysis, or 6,844 claimants, would be small entities. 
These drawback claimants would incur costs related to ACE system 
modifications, electronic claim submission requirements, additional 
full desk reviews, and expanded recordkeeping requirements; however, 
these costs would differ depending on their filing preferences and 
claim review.
    Each unique drawback claimant would need to either modify its 
existing drawback system, acquire add-on drawback software, or hire a 
customs broker to comply with this rule's new drawback regulations 
outlined in 19 CFR part 190. CBP estimates that approximately 200 small 
entity drawback claimants (69 percent of the estimated 290 total 
claimants) would modify their ACE filing systems in 2018 to comply with 
all of the new drawback regulations outlined in 19 CFR part 190.\32\ 
These claimants could incur an

[[Page 37915]]

estimated one-time cost of $90,000 that would translate to $9,000 per 
year of the analysis.\33\ However, because of the high cost of ACE 
system modifications, these small claimants are more likely to choose a 
lower-cost option like purchasing add-on drawback software or hiring a 
customs broker to meet this rule's requirements while lessening its 
impact on their revenue. CBP projects that an additional 3,795 small 
drawback claimants (69 percent of the estimated 5,500 total claimants) 
would acquire add-on drawback software consistent with all of this 
rule's requirements for a one-time cost of $1,500, or $150 over the 10-
year period of analysis. CBP presumes that rather than acquire and 
learn the software necessary to file a drawback claim electronically 
and meet the other submission requirements of this rule, an estimated 
2,849 small paper-based drawback claimants (69 percent of the estimated 
4,129 total claimants) would hire a customs broker to file their claim 
as a result of the rule. These claimants would likely file an average 
of three drawback claims per year, at an annual cost of $921 according 
to the $307 customs broker filing fee.\34\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ CBP based the estimate of drawback claimants required to 
modify their ACE drawback systems consistent with this rule's 
changes on the projected number of unique drawback claimants with 
this rule in 2018 (9,919) minus the 4,129 trade members estimated to 
file by paper under the current 19 CFR part 191 regulations in 2018 
(and thus exempt from an ACE drawback system modification cost), 
multiplied by the 5 percent share of claimants anticipated to modify 
their ACE drawback systems consistent with this rule's changes: 
(9,919 unique drawback claimants in 2018--4,129 paper-based filers 
in 2018) x 5 percent anticipated to modify their ACE drawback 
systems = 290 (rounded) trade members.
    \33\ Such regulatory changes would include providing line-item 
drawback claim data at the 10-digit HTSUS subheading level; 
consistent units of measurement for claimed imports, exports, and 
destructions; exported, destroyed, or substituted merchandise values 
for substitution claims filed under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b) and 19 U.S.C. 
1313(j)(2); accounting methodologies used for direct identification 
drawback claims (if applicable); unique identifiers linking imports 
to exports or destructions on each drawback claim; per-unit averages 
for substitution claims; and ``lesser of'' rule calculations for 
substitution claims.
    \34\ From 2018 to 2027, CBP projects under its primary 
estimation method that 4,129 unique trade members would file 101,642 
drawback claims electronically instead of by paper as a result of 
this rule, averaging about 3 claims per unique trade member each 
year over the 10-year period: 101,642 drawback claims filed 
electronically instead of by paper over 10-year period/4,129 unique 
trade members = 25 (rounded) claims per unique trade member over the 
10-year period; 25 claims over 10-year period/10 years = 3 (rounded) 
claims per unique trade member each year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    All drawback claimants must also retain drawback records for an 
extended period of time with this rule. CBP finds that all 6,844 small 
drawback claimants would sustain $59.99 in expenses between 2021 and 
2027, or approximately $4 each year over the 10-year period of 
analysis, to electronically store drawback claim documentation.\35\ In 
addition to these requirements, some drawback claimants may be subject 
to this rule's additional full desk reviews. CBP estimates that this 
rule would affect an estimated 355 small drawback claimants (69 percent 
of the estimated 515 total claimants) over the 10-year period of 
analysis, introducing an average cost of $18 per year to these 
claimants. CBP assumes that these 355 claimants would each complete one 
full desk review over the 10-year period, at a cost of $181 per review 
(or $18 over 10 years). Besides these monetized costs, this rule would 
introduce non-monetized, non-quantified costs to trade members, 
including the possibility of decreased use of the United States as a 
home base for a distribution facility when coupled with other 
considerations, less third-party drawback, and less time to file 
drawback claims as compared to the current process.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ $59.99 electronic recordkeeping cost per year x 7-year 
period of recordkeeping = $419 (rounded) total electronic 
recordkeeping cost over 7-year period; $419 storage cost over 7-year 
period of recordkeeping/10-year period of analysis = $42 (rounded) 
electronic recordkeeping cost per year of the 10-year period of 
analysis; $42 (rounded) storage cost per year x 10 percent of unique 
claimants incurring electronic recordkeeping cost per year = $4 
(rounded) electronic recordkeeping cost per unique trade member each 
year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table 4 outlines the rule's different costs to small entities, 
while Table 5 shows this rule's potential range of costs to small 
entities. As shown, small entities could incur undiscounted annual 
costs from this rule as low as $154 if a small claimant only incurs an 
added recordkeeping cost and add-on drawback software cost and up to 
$9,022 if a small claimant experiences the rule's high ACE drawback 
system modification cost, full desk review cost (once over the 10-year 
analysis), and added recordkeeping cost. About 97 percent of small 
drawback claimants would likely sustain a cost of $943 (Cost C + Cost D 
+ Cost E in Table 5) or less per year from this rule, while the 
remaining 3 percent could incur higher annual cost measuring up to 
$9,022.

                                     Table 4--Cost of Rule to Small Entities
                                        [Undiscounted 2016 U.S. dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Number of    Share of small    Annual cost
                                       Cost category              small entities     entities      per claimant
                                                                     affected        affected     (undiscounted)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A........................  ACE Drawback System Modification.....             200               3    9,000
B........................  Add-On Drawback Software.............           3,795              55      150
C........................  Customs Broker Claim Filing..........           2,849              42      921
D........................  Added Recordkeeping..................           6,844             100        4
E........................  Full Desk Review.....................             355               5       18
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Estimates may not sum to total due to rounding.


                                                Table 5--Range of Annual Costs of Rule to Small Entities
                                                            [Undiscounted 2016 U.S. dollars]
                                                              Cost per claimant by category
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           ACE drawback
                                                              system          Add-on      Customs broker       Added         Full desk
                       Cost range                          modification      drawback      claim filing    recordkeeping    review [E]         Total
                                                                [A]        software [B]         [C]             [D]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Low.....................................................  ..............            $150  ..............              $4  ..............            $154
Medium..................................................  ..............  ..............             921               4              18             943

[[Page 37916]]

 
High....................................................           9,000  ..............  ..............               4              18           9,022
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Estimates may not sum to total due to rounding.

    CBP compares the rule's low ($154), medium ($943), and high 
($9,022) range of monetized costs per year to the annual revenue of the 
small drawback claimants sampled. At the low range, this rule's $154 
monetized cost would represent less than 1 percent of annual revenue 
for 100 percent (68) of the small entities sampled with revenue data 
available,\36\ as shown in Table 6. At the medium range, this rule's 
$943 monetized cost would represent less than 1 percent of annual 
revenue for 97 percent (66) of the small entities sampled with revenue 
data available. This rule's $943 monetized cost would represent between 
1 percent and 3 percent of annual revenue for the remaining 3 percent 
(2) of the small entities, as Table 7 illustrates. Finally, at the high 
range, this rule's $9,022 monetized cost would represent less than 1 
percent of the annual revenue for 66 percent (45) of the small entities 
sampled with revenue data available (see Table 8). The share of this 
rule's $9,022 monetized cost on annual revenue would measure between: 1 
percent and 3 percent for about 16 percent (11) of the remaining small 
entities, 3 percent and 5 percent for 4 percent (3) of the small 
entities sampled, 5 percent and 10 percent for 10 percent (7) percent 
of small entities sampled, and 10 percent or more for 3 percent (2) of 
the small entities sampled (see Table 8). Note that because of the high 
cost of ACE system modifications included in the high range cost 
estimate, only a nominal number of small claimants would likely incur 
this rule's high annual cost of $9,022. Instead, most claimants would 
probably choose lower-cost options like purchasing add-on drawback 
software or hiring a customs broker to meet this rule's requirements 
that would have minimal impacts on their annual revenue, as assumed 
under the low- and medium-cost scenarios shown in Table 6 and Table 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ One of the small entities sampled did not have revenue data 
available, so CBP excluded this entity from the revenue impact 
calculation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under all three ranges, the share of this rule's costs on the 
annual revenue of small entities is less than 1 percent for the vast 
majority of entities sampled. Small entities would experience an impact 
of 3 percent or more only under the high cost range of $9,022. Assuming 
that the share of this rule's total annualized cost to small entities 
is equal to the estimated share of drawback claimants affected by this 
rule over the 2018 to 2027 period of analysis (69 percent), the total 
annualized cost of this rule to all small entities would equal $5.0 
million under the primary estimation method.

 Table 6--Cost Impacts as a Share of Revenue for Small Entities Affected
 by Rule From the Random Sample--Assuming Annual Cost of $154 per Unique
                            Drawback Claimant
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Number of      Percent of
    Cost as a share of revenue range      small entities  small entities
                                             affected        affected
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0% <= Impact < 1%.......................              68            100%
1% <= Impact < 3%.......................               0               0
3% <= Impact < 5%.......................               0               0
5% <= Impact < 10%......................               0               0
10% or More.............................               0               0
                                         -------------------------------
    Total...............................              68             100
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Estimates may not sum to total due to rounding.


 Table 7--Cost Impacts as a Share of Revenue for Small Entities Affected
  by Rule From the Random Sample- Assuming Annualized Cost of $943 per
                        Unique Drawback Claimant
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Number of      Percent of
    Cost as a share of revenue range      small entities  small entities
                                             affected        affected
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0% <= Impact < 1%.......................              66             97%
1% <= Impact < 3%.......................               2               3
3% <= Impact < 5%.......................               0               0
5% <= Impact < 10%......................               0               0
10% or More.............................               0               0
                                         -------------------------------

[[Page 37917]]

 
    Total...............................              68             100
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Estimates may not sum to total due to rounding.


 Table 8--Cost Impacts as a Share of Revenue for Small Entities Affected
 by Rule from the Random Sample- Assuming Annualized Cost of $9,022 per
                        Unique Drawback Claimant
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Number of      Percent of
    Cost as a share of revenue range      small entities  small entities
                                             affected        affected
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0% <= Impact < 1%.......................              45              66
1% <= Impact < 3%.......................              11              16
3% <= Impact < 5%.......................               3               4
5% <= Impact < 10%......................               7              10
10% or More.............................               2               3
                                         -------------------------------
    Total...............................              68             100
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Estimates may not sum to total due to rounding.

    This rule would also result in benefits as well as net monetary 
transfers to drawback claimants. This rule would provide time and 
resource savings from forgone paper-based drawback claims, form 
submissions, and ruling and predetermination requests that offset some 
of the rule's costs to small entities. CBP estimates that 2,849 small 
paper-based drawback claimants (69 percent of the estimated 4,129 total 
claimants) would enjoy $8 in cost savings for each paper claim avoided. 
These claimants would likely file an average of three drawback claims 
per year, at an annual cost saving of $24.\37\ CBP finds that all 6,844 
small drawback claimants would save $17 in printing and mailing costs 
related to forgone CBP Form 7552 submissions beginning in 2019. Before 
2019, the estimated 2,849 small paper-based claimants would not gain 
this benefit because they would still submit paper CBP Form 7552s. 
Based on the total number of CBP Form 7552s avoided over the period of 
analysis and the total number of unique drawback claimants, CBP 
estimates that each claimant would forgo about four CBP Form 7552 
submissions each year of the analysis, saving a total of $68 per 
year.\38\ Lastly, only a small number of claimants would sustain 
benefits from forgone ruling and predetermination requests. CBP 
estimates that 645 requests would be avoided during the period of 
analysis due to the rule and assumes that each forgone request 
corresponds to a unique drawback claimant. By applying the previously 
discussed assumption that 69 percent of drawback claimants affected by 
this rule over the 2018 to 2027 period of analysis are small entities, 
CBP finds that 445 small drawback claimants would each save $189 in 
costs related to ruling and predeterminations requests. This would 
translate to about $19 per year over the 10-year period of analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ From 2018 to 2027, CBP projects under its primary 
estimation method that 4,129 unique trade members would file 101,642 
drawback claims electronically instead of by paper as a result of 
this rule, averaging about 3 claims per unique trade member each 
year over the 10-year period: 101,642 drawback claims filed 
electronically instead of by paper over 10-year period/4,129 unique 
trade members = 25 (rounded) claims per unique trade member over the 
10-year period; 25 claims over 10-year period/10 years = 3 (rounded) 
claims per unique trade member each year.
    \38\ From 2018 to 2027, CBP projects under its primary 
estimation method that 9,919 unique trade members would forgo 
392,000 CBP Form 7552 submissions as a result of this rule, 
averaging about 4 forms per unique trade member each year over the 
10-year period: 392,000 CBP Form 7552 submissions forgone over 10-
year period/9,919 unique trade members = 40 (rounded) forms per 
unique trade member over the 10-year period; 40 claims over 10-year 
period/10 years = 4 (rounded) forms per unique trade member each 
year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This rule's share of net monetary transfers to small entities is 
unknown. This rule would introduce $35.3 million to $42.4 million in 
annualized net transfers from the U.S. Government to drawback claimants 
(using a 7 percent discount rate). These transfers would average 
between $3,600 and $4,300 per claimant based on the projected 9,919 
unique drawback claimants affected by this rule. Some small entities 
may receive more or less than this average, and potentially even 
negative net transfers if they make net payments to the U.S. 
Government.
    According to the results from this screening analysis, CBP believes 
that a substantial number of trade members who could be considered 
``small'' may be affected by this proposed rule.\39\ CBP cannot 
determine whether the economic impact on these entities may be 
considered significant under the RFA. For these reasons, CBP cannot 
currently certify that the rule will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. CBP has prepared the 
following IRFA assessing the rule's potential effect on small entities. 
CBP welcomes public comments on the data and findings included in this 
RFA analysis. Comments that will provide the most assistance to CBP 
will reference a specific portion of the RFA analysis, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include data, information, or 
authority that supports a recommended change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ SBA publishes small business size standards for a variety 
of, though not all, economic activities and industries. SBA does not 
explicitly define size standards for the importers, exporters, 
manufacturers, producers, and intermediate parties potentially 
affected by this rule. See 13 CFR 121.101-13 CFR 121.201 for 
information on SBA's size standards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
    This IRFA includes the following:
    1. A description of the reasons why the action by the agency is 
being considered;
    2. A succinct statement of the objectives of, and legal basis for, 
the proposed rule;

[[Page 37918]]

    3. A description--and, where feasible, an estimate of the number--
of small entities to which the proposed rule would apply;
    4. A description of the projected reporting, recordkeeping, and 
other compliance requirements of the proposed rule, including an 
estimate of the classes of small entities that would be subject to the 
requirement and the types of professional skills necessary for 
preparation of the report or record;
    5. An identification, to the extent practicable, of all relevant 
federal rules that may duplicate, overlap, or conflict with the 
proposed rule; and
    6. A description of any significant alternatives to the proposed 
rule which accomplish the stated objectives of applicable statutes and 
which minimize any significant economic impact of the proposed rule on 
small entities.
    1. A description of the reasons why the action by the agency is 
being considered.
    Section 906 of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 
2015 (P.L. 114-125) (TFTEA), signed into law on February 24, 2016, 
seeks to simplify and modernize the current drawback procedures through 
amendments to 19 U.S.C. 1313, the statute guiding CBP drawback 
regulations. Section 906(q) of TFTEA requires CBP to promulgate 
regulations implementing these changes and allows for a one-year 
transition period (February 24, 2018-February 23, 2019) in which trade 
members can follow either the old drawback statute and corresponding 
regulations as written prior to TFTEA or the amended statute.
    To fulfill TFTEA's requirements, CBP, through this rulemaking, 
proposes to add an entirely new part of drawback regulations in 
proposed 19 CFR part 190 that would replace the current drawback 
regulations contained in 19 CFR part 191. Proposed 19 CFR part 190 
would directly reflect the following major amendments made by TFTEA, as 
well as another amendment required to protect U.S. Government revenue: 
(1) Require the electronic filing of drawback claims; (2) liberalize 
the standard for substituting merchandise for drawback; (3) generally 
require per-unit averaging calculation for substitution drawback; (4) 
generally require substitution drawback claims to be calculated on a 
``lesser of'' basis; (5) expand the scope of drawback refunds; (6) 
establish joint and several liability for drawback claims; (7) modify 
the rulings process; (8) standardize the timeframe for eligibility to 
claim drawback; (9) modify recordkeeping requirements; and (10) 
eliminate ``double drawback'' of excise taxes. The proposed rule would 
also make minor amendments to the drawback regulations in accordance 
with TFTEA.
    2. A succinct statement of the objectives of, and legal basis for, 
the proposed rule.
    TFTEA requires CBP to prescribe drawback regulations in accordance 
with the new statute and allows for a one-year transition period in 
which trade members can follow either the old drawback statute and 
corresponding regulations as written prior to TFTEA or the amended 
statute until February 23, 2019. CBP proposes to implement new drawback 
regulations consistent with TFTEA in 2018. These new regulations aim to 
modernize the current drawback process.
    3. A description--and, where feasible, an estimate of the number--
of small entities to which the proposed rule would apply.
    As discussed in the screening analysis above, the proposed 
Modernized Drawback rule would fundamentally change the drawback 
process and consequently affect all trade members eligible for drawback 
(i.e., drawback claimants). These trade members can include importers, 
exporters, manufacturers, producers, and intermediate parties 
representing a diverse array of industries. CBP estimates that 69 
percent of drawback claimants affected by this rule over the 2018 to 
2027 period of analysis, or 6,844 claimants, would be small entities.
    4. A description of the projected reporting, recordkeeping, and 
other compliance requirements of the proposed rule, including an 
estimate of the classes of small entities that would be subject to the 
requirement and the types of professional skills necessary for 
preparation of the report or record.
    This rule proposes several new reporting, recordkeeping, and other 
compliance requirements for all drawback claimants, including those 
considered small. Among these changes, CBP proposes to require drawback 
claimants filing under the new drawback regulations outlined in 19 CFR 
part 190 to:
    <bullet> Submit new data elements with their claims, including Form 
7551: Drawback Entry summary data at the line, rather than header, 
level; claimed merchandise data at the 10-digit HTSUS subheading level; 
line designations; and consistent units of measurement for claimed 
import, export, or destruction data beginning in 2018.
    <bullet> File their complete drawback claims electronically using 
ACE and DIS, thus not allowing for manual, paper-based claims.\40\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \40\ Some drawback documentation constituting a complete 
drawback claim, such as privilege and ruling applications, would 
remain paper-based.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    <bullet> Submit additional data, including exported, destroyed, or 
substituted merchandise values for substitution claims filed under 19 
U.S.C. 1313(b) and 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2); accounting methodologies used 
for direct identification drawback claims (if applicable); unique 
identifiers linking imports to exports or destructions; per-unit 
averages for substitution claims; and ``lesser of'' rule calculations 
for substitution claims.
    Along with these reporting requirements, CBP would change the 
recordkeeping standards for all drawback claimants filing under the new 
regulations in 19 CFR part 190. Consistent with TFTEA, this rule would 
change the drawback recordkeeping timeframe for all drawback claimants 
from three years from CBP's date of payment of the drawback claim to 
three years from the liquidation of the claim. CBP estimates that 
drawback claimants would generally have to retain records for one extra 
year with this rule's new recordkeeping requirement than under the 
current three-year recordkeeping period, though some trade members may 
need to retain records for up to four more years under this rule.\41\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \41\ Based on input from CBP and trade community representative. 
Sources: Email correspondence with CBP's Office of Field Operations 
on April 5, 2017 and email correspondence with trade community 
representative on February 22, 2017.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This rule would also require parties that split entry summary line 
items when transferring merchandise (transferors) to provide 
notification to the recipients (transferees) as to whether that 
merchandise is eligible for substitution or direct identification 
drawback. Notification of this designation from the transferor to the 
transferee must be documented in records, which may include records 
kept in the normal course of business.
    Furthermore, this rule would require all drawback claimants filing 
manufacturing drawback claims under the new regulations in 19 CFR part 
190 (which would account for about 20 percent of all claims filed with 
this rule) to maintain applicable BOMs and/or formula records \42\ 
identifying the imported and/or substituted merchandise and the 
exported or destroyed article(s) in their normal course of business. 
When filing a manufacturing drawback claim, trade members must also 
certify that they have these BOMs and/or formula

[[Page 37919]]

records by checking a box on their electronic drawback claim, and 
provide the documentation to CBP upon request.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \42\ See 19 CFR 190.2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    5. An identification, to the extent practicable, of all relevant 
federal rules that may duplicate, overlap, or conflict with the 
proposed rule.
    CBP does not believe that any federal rule duplicates, overlaps, or 
conflicts with the proposed rule.
    6. A description of any significant alternatives to the proposed 
rule which accomplish the stated objectives of applicable statutes and 
which minimize any significant economic impact of the proposed rule on 
small entities.
    CBP considered two other alternatives in addition to the proposed 
rule.
a. Alternative 1
    The first regulatory alternative CBP considered would implement all 
of the proposed rule's changes in 2018 rather than in 2019, offering no 
transition period. With this alternative, paper-based filers must begin 
filing their drawback claims electronically in 2018, but they would 
receive the benefits of drawback modernization in 2018 and beyond. With 
this alternative, paper-based filers, including those considered small, 
would begin to incur electronic filing costs in 2018 rather than 2019 
like under the rule. This alternative would also lead to relatively 
more full desk reviews for claimants, including those considering 
small, than under the rule. Drawback claimants, including those 
considered small, would sustain an annualized cost of $8.0 million from 
this alternative under the primary estimation method, which is slightly 
higher than the proposed rule's $7.6 million annualized cost to trade 
members (using a 7 percent discount rate). On a per-claimant basis, 
Alternative 1 would cost $810 annually over the period of analysis 
compared to the rule's nearly $770 cost per unique claimant.\43\ 
Alternative 1 would also result in an annualized net transfer measuring 
between $42.8 million and $49.9 million from the U.S. Government to 
drawback claimants, which would average from $4,300 to $5,000 per 
unique claimant based on the 9,919 unique drawback claimants projected 
under this alternative (using a 7 percent discount rate). Like the 
proposed rule, Alternative 1 would introduce benefits to drawback 
claimants. These benefits to claimants, including those considered 
small, would be greater than the rule's cost savings due to the 
relatively higher number of CBP Form 7552s (and corresponding time, 
printing, and mailing costs) avoided. CBP did not choose Alternative 1 
because TFTEA statutorily allows a one-year transition period (February 
24, 2018-February 23, 2019) in which drawback claimants can follow 
either the old drawback statute and corresponding regulations in 19 CFR 
part 191 as written prior to TFTEA or the amended statute.\44\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \43\ $8,000,000/9,919 unique drawback claimants = $810 
(rounded); $7,600,000/9,919 unique drawback claimants = $770 
(rounded).
    \44\ See Section 906 of the Trade Facilitation and Trade 
Enforcement Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-125).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

b. Alternative 2
    The second regulatory alternative CBP considered would implement 
all of the proposed rule's changes, except it would not change the 
current regulatory standard for substituting merchandise for drawback 
(i.e., no implementation of Major Amendment 2). Under this alternative, 
CBP estimates that the number of substitution drawback claim 
submissions and the number of drawback claimants would be lower than 
under the proposed rule over the period of analysis because this 
alternative would offer relatively fewer new opportunities to claim 
drawback. In fact, drawback claims would measure about 548,000 from 
2018 to 2027 under Alternative 2's primary estimation method and the 
number of unique drawback claimants would equal approximately 9,017. 
Because of its narrower scope, Alternative 2 would introduce slightly 
lower costs to drawback claimants, including those considered small, 
than the proposed rule's cost. In particular, claimants would incur 
relatively fewer full desk reviews and associated costs with this 
alternative. Drawback claimants, including those considered small, 
would incur an annualized cost of $7.6 million from this alternative 
under the primary estimation method, compared to the proposed rule's 
annualized cost of $7.6 million (using a 7 percent discount rate). On a 
per-claimant basis, Alternative 2 would cost nearly $840 annually over 
the period of analysis, while the proposed rule would introduce an 
average cost of almost $770 cost per unique claimant.\45\ Alternative 2 
would also result in annualized net transfers between $56.3 million and 
$63.4 million from drawback claimants to the U.S. Government, which 
would average $6,200 to $7,000 per unique claimant based on the 9,017 
unique drawback claimants projected under this alternative (using a 7 
percent discount rate). Like the proposed rule, Alternative 2 would 
introduce benefits to drawback claimants. These benefits would be 
slightly lower than the rule's benefits because drawback claimants 
would continue to submit ruling and predeterminations requests for 
substitution drawback claims with this alternative. CBP did not choose 
this Alternative 2 because TFTEA statutorily requires CBP to liberalize 
the standard for substituting merchandise for drawback by generally 
basing it on goods classifiable under the same 8-digit HTSUS (or 
Schedule B) subheading.\46\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \45\ $7,600,000/9,017 unique drawback claimants = $840 
(rounded); $7,600,000/9,919 unique drawback claimants = $770 
(rounded).
    \46\ See Section 906 of the Trade Facilitation and Trade 
Enforcement Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-125).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Conclusion
    In conclusion, because the proposed Modernized Drawback rule would 
presumably affect all drawback claimants, it would likely impact a 
substantial number of small entities in each industry submitting such 
claims. CBP cannot certify whether the rule's (negative) impact on 
these small entities would be significant. CBP welcomes public comments 
on the data and findings included in this RFA analysis. Comments that 
will provide the most assistance to CBP will reference a specific 
portion of the RFA analysis, explain the reason for any recommended 
change, and include data, information, or authority that supports a 
recommended change. If CBP does not receive comments contradicting the 
RFA analysis findings, CBP may certify that this rule would not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
at the final rule stage.

D. Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3507), an agency may not conduct, and a person is not required to 
respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of 
information displays a valid control number assigned by OMB. The 
collections of information for this notice of proposed rulemaking are 
included in an existing collection for CBP Forms 7551, 7552, and 7553 
(OMB control number 1651-0075).
    This rule proposes, among other things, to eliminate the submission 
requirement for CBP Form 7552 for drawback claimants who file 
electronically under the new, proposed drawback regulations in 19 CFR 
part 190. Drawback claimants filing by paper under the current drawback 
regulations in 19 CFR part 191 would still be required to submit the 
paper CBP Form 7552 until this rule's requirements become mandatory in 
2019. Based on this change, CBP estimates a decrease in

[[Page 37920]]

CBP Form 7552 responses and burden hours. Additionally, CBP Form 7551 
has a decrease in burden hours based on changes in the agency estimate. 
CBP will submit to OMB for review the following adjustments to the 
previously approved Information Collection under OMB control number 
1651-0075 to account for the changes proposed in this rule. 
Furthermore, CBP expects to submit a request to eliminate CBP Form 7552 
to OMB in 2019 prior to this rule's mandatory requirement date.

CBP Form 7551, Drawback Entry (reduction in burden hours due to change 
in agency estimate)
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,516
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 22.2
    Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 55,772
    Estimated Time per Response: 35 minutes
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 32,532

CBP Form 7552, Delivery Certificate for Drawback (reduction in burden 
hours due to regulation)
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 400
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 20
    Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 8,000
    Estimated Time per Response: 33 minutes
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,400

CBP Form 7553, Notice of Intent to Export, Destroy or Return 
Merchandise for Purposes of Drawback (no change)
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 150
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 20
    Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 3,000
    Estimated Time per Response: 33 minutes
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,650

V. Proposed Effective/Applicability Dates

    To allow stakeholders immediate benefit from these proposed 
regulations (see 5 U.S.C. 553(d) and 808), they are proposed to be 
effective upon publication of a rule adopting them as final, except 
that the regulations proposed in Sec. Sec.  190.22(a)(1)(C), 
190.32(b)(3), 191.22(a), 191.32(b)(4), and 191.171(d) regarding the 
drawback of excise taxes are proposed to become applicable for drawback 
claims filed on or after 60 days from the date of publication of the 
final rule.
    CBP and Treasury invite interested members of the public to comment 
on these proposed effective and applicability dates.

VI. Signing Authority

    This proposed regulation is being issued in accordance with 19 CFR 
0.1(a)(1) pertaining to the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury 
(or that of his or her delegate) to approve regulations pertaining to 
certain customs revenue functions.

List of Subjects

19 CFR Part 113

    Bonds, Copyrights, Counterfeit goods, Customs duties and 
inspection, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Restricted merchandise, Seizures and forfeitures.

19 CFR Part 181

    Administrative practice and procedure, Canada, Customs duties and 
inspection, Exports, Mexico, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Trade agreements.

19 CFR Part 190

    Alcohol and alcoholic beverages, Claims, Customs duties and 
inspection, Exports, Foreign trade zones, Guantanamo Bay Naval Station, 
Cuba, Packaging and containers, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Trade agreements.

19 CFR Part 191

    Alcohol and alcoholic beverages, Claims, Customs duties and 
inspection, Exports, Foreign trade zones, Guantanamo Bay Naval Station, 
Cuba, Packaging and containers, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Trade agreements.

 Proposed Amendments to the Regulations

    For the reasons given above, it is proposed to amend 19 CFR chapter 
I as set forth below:

PART 113--CUSTOMS BONDS

0
1. The general authority citations for part 113 continue and the 
specific authority for Sec.  113.62 is added in numerical order to read 
as follows:

    Authority:  19 U.S.C. 66, 1623, 1624.
* * * * *
    Section 113.62 is also issued under 19 U.S.C. 1313(k).
* * * * *
0
 2. In Sec.  113.62, redesignate paragraphs (m) and (n) as paragraphs 
(o) and (p) and add paragraphs (a)(4) and (m) to read as follows:


Sec.  113.62   Basic importation and entry bond conditions.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (4) If a person who is not the principal makes a drawback claim 
with respect to merchandise imported by the principal (see part 190 of 
this chapter), the principal and surety (jointly and severally) agree 
to pay, as demanded by CBP, any erroneous drawback payment in an amount 
not to exceed the lesser of:
    (i) The amount of duties, taxes, and fees that the person claimed 
with respect to the imported merchandise; or
    (ii) The amount of duties, taxes, and fees that the importer 
authorized the other person to claim with respect to the imported 
merchandise.
    (iii) The amount of the erroneous drawback payment.
* * * * *
    (m) Agreement to comply with CBP regulations applicable to 
substitution drawback claims. In the case of imported merchandise that 
is subject to internal revenue tax imposed under the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986, as amended (IRC), the principal agrees not to file, or to 
transfer to a successor the right to file, a substitution drawback 
claim involving such tax if the substituted merchandise has been, or 
will be, the subject of a removal from bonded premises without payment 
of tax, or the subject of a claim for refund or drawback of tax, under 
any provision of the IRC.
* * * * *

PART 181--NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

0
3. The general authority citations for part 181 continue to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  19 U.S.C. 66, 1202 (General Note 3(i), Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States), 1624, 3314;
* * * * *


Sec.  Sec.  181.45, 181.46, 181.47, 181.49, and 181.50   [Amended]

0
 4. In the table below, for each section indicated in the left column, 
remove the words indicated in the middle column, and add, in their 
place, the words indicated in the right column.

[[Page 37921]]



 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Section                   Remove                  Add
------------------------------------------------------------------------
181.45(b)(2)(i)(B)..........  Sec.   191.14 of      Sec.  Sec.   190.14
                               this chapter, as      or 191.14 of this
                               provided therein.     chapter, as
                                                     appropriate.
181.45(c)...................  Such a good must be   Such a good must be
                               returned to Customs   exported or
                               custody for           destroyed within
                               exportation under     the statutory 5-
                               Customs supervision   year time period
                               within three years    and in compliance
                               after the release     with the
                               from Customs          requirements set
                               custody.              forth in subpart D
                                                     of part 190 of this
                                                     chapter or within
                                                     the 3-year time
                                                     period and in
                                                     compliance with the
                                                     requirements set
                                                     forth in subpart D
                                                     of part 191 of this
                                                     chapter, as
                                                     applicable.
181.46(b)...................  (see Sec.             (see Sec.  Sec.
                               191.141(b)(3) (ii)    190.35 or 191.35 of
                               and (iii) of this     this chapter, as
                               chapter).             appropriate).
181.47(a)...................  part 191 of this      part 190 or 191 of
                               chapter;.             this chapter, as
                                                     appropriate
181.49......................  (see Sec.   191.15    (see Sec.   190.15
                               (see also Sec.        (see also Sec.
                               Sec.   191.26(f),     Sec.   190.26(f),
                               191.38, 191.175(c))   190.38, 190.175(c))
                               of this chapter).     or Sec.   191.15
                                                     (see also Sec.
                                                     Sec.   191.26(f),
                                                     191.38, 191.175(c))
                                                     of this chapter, as
                                                     appropriate)
181.50(a)...................  subpart G of part     subpart H of part
                               190 of this chapter.  190 or subpart H of
                                                     part 191 of this
                                                     chapter, as
                                                     appropriate
181.50(c)...................  Sec.   191.92 of      Sec.  Sec.   190.92
                               this chapter.         or 191.92 of this
                                                     chapter, as
                                                     appropriate.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

0
5. Add part 190 to read as follows:

PART 190--MODERNIZED DRAWBACK

Sec.
190.0 Scope.
190.0a Claims filed under NAFTA.
Subpart A--General Provisions
190.1 Authority of the Commissioner of CBP.
190.2 Definitions.
190.3 Duties, taxes, and fees subject or not subject to drawback.
190.4 Merchandise in which a U.S. Government interest exists.
190.5 Guantanamo Bay, insular possessions, trust territories.
190.6 Authority to sign drawback documents.
190.7 General manufacturing drawback ruling.
190.8 Specific manufacturing drawback ruling.
190.9 Agency.
190.10 Transfer of merchandise.
190.11 Valuation of merchandise.
190.12 Claim filed under incorrect provision.
190.13 Packaging materials.
190.14 Identification of merchandise or articles by accounting 
method.
190.15 Recordkeeping.
Subpart B--Manufacturing Drawback
190.21 Direct identification drawback.
190.22 Substitution drawback.
190.23 Methods and requirements for claiming drawback.
190.24 Transfer of merchandise.
190.25 Destruction under CBP supervision.
190.26 Recordkeeping for manufacturing drawback.
190.27 Time limitations.
190.28 Person entitled to claim manufacturing drawback.
Subpart C--Unused Merchandise Drawback
190.31 Direct identification drawback.
190.32 Substitution unused merchandise drawback.
190.33 Person entitled to claim unused merchandise drawback.
190.34 Transfer of merchandise.
190.35 Notice of intent to export; examination of merchandise.
190.36 Failure to file Notice of Intent to Export, Destroy, or 
Return Merchandise for Purposes of Drawback.
190.37 Destruction under CBP supervision.
190.38 Recordkeeping for unused merchandise drawback.
Subpart D--Rejected Merchandise
190.41 Rejected merchandise drawback.
190.42 Procedures and supporting documentation.
190.43 Unused merchandise claim.
190.44 [Reserved]
190.45 Returned retail merchandise.
Subpart E--Completion of Drawback Claims
190.51 Completion of drawback claims.
190.52 Rejecting, perfecting or amending claims.
190.53 Restructuring of claims.
Subpart F--Verification of Claims
190.61 Verification of drawback claims.
190.62 Penalties.
190.63 Liability for drawback claims.
Subpart G--Exportation and Destruction
190.71 Drawback on articles destroyed under CBP supervision.
190.72 Exportation procedures.
190.73 Electronic proof of exportation.
190.74 Exportation by mail.
190.75 Exportation by the Government.
190.76 [Reserved]
Subpart H--Liquidation and Protest of Drawback Entries
190.81 Liquidation.
190.82 Person entitled to claim drawback.
190.83 Person entitled to receive payment.
190.84 Protests.
Subpart I--Waiver of Prior Notice of Intent To Export; Accelerated 
Payment of Drawback
190.91 Waiver of prior notice of intent to export.
190.92 Accelerated payment.
190.93 Combined applications.
Subpart J--Internal Revenue Tax on Flavoring Extracts and Medicinal or 
Toilet Preparations Including Perfumery) Manufactured From Domestic 
Tax-Paid Alcohol
190.101 Drawback allowance.
190.102 Procedure.
190.103 Additional requirements.
190.104 Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau certificates.
190.105 Liquidation.
190.106 Amount of drawback.
Subpart K--Supplies for Certain Vessels and Aircraft
190.111 Drawback allowance.
190.112 Procedure.
Subpart L--Meats Cured With Imported Salt
190.121 Drawback allowance.
190.122 Procedure.
190.123 Refund of duties.
Subpart M--Materials for Construction and Equipment of Vessels and 
Aircraft Built for Foreign Ownership and Account
190.131 Drawback allowance.
190.132 Procedure.
190.133 Explanation of terms.
Subpart N--Foreign-Built Jet Aircraft Engines Processed in the United 
States
190.141 Drawback allowance.
190.142 Procedure.
190.143 Drawback entry.
190.144 Refund of duties.
Subpart O--Merchandise Exported From Continuous CBP Custody
190.151 Drawback allowance.
190.152 Merchandise released from CBP custody.
190.153 Continuous CBP custody.
190.154 Filing the entry.
190.155 Merchandise withdrawn from warehouse for exportation.
190.156 Bill of lading.
190.157 [Reserved]
190.158 Procedures.
190.159 Amount of drawback.

[[Page 37922]]

Subpart P--Distilled Spirits, Wines, or Beer Which Are Unmerchantable 
or Do Not Conform to Sample or Specifications
190.161 Refund of taxes.
190.162 Procedure.
190.163 Documentation.
190.164 Return to CBP custody.
190.165 No exportation by mail.
190.166 Destruction of merchandise.
190.167 Liquidation.
190.168 [Reserved]
Subpart Q--Substitution of Finished Petroleum Derivatives
190.171 General; drawback allowance.
190.172 Definitions.
190.173 Imported duty-paid derivatives (no manufacture).
190.174 Derivatives manufactured under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) or (b).
190.175 Drawback claimant; maintenance of records.
190.176 Procedures for claims filed under 19 U.S.C. 1313(p).
Subpart R--Merchandise Transferred to a Foreign Trade Zone From Customs 
Territory
190.181 Drawback allowance.
190.182 Zone-restricted merchandise.
190.183 Articles manufactured or produced in the United States.
190.184 Merchandise transferred from continuous CBP custody.
190.185 Unused merchandise drawback and merchandise not conforming 
to sample or specification, shipped without consent of the 
consignee, found to be defective as of the time of importation, or 
returned after retail sale.
190.186 Person entitled to claim drawback.
Subpart S--Drawback Compliance Program
190.191 Purpose.
190.192 Certification for compliance program.
190.193 Application procedure for compliance program.
190.194 Action on application to participate in compliance program.
190.195 Combined application for certification in drawback 
compliance program and waiver of prior notice and/or approval of 
accelerated payment of drawback.
Appendix A to Part 190--General Manufacturing Drawback Rulings
Appendix B to Part 190--Sample Formats For Applications For Specific 
Manufacturing Drawback Rulings

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 19 U.S.C. 66, 1202 (General Note 3(i), 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States), 1313, 1624; 
Sec. Sec.  190.2, 190.10, 190.15, 190.23, 190.38, 190.51 issued 
under 19 U.S.C. 1508; Sec.  190.84 also issued under 19 U.S.C. 1514; 
Sec. Sec.  190.111, 190.112 also issued under 19 U.S.C. 1309; 
Sec. Sec.  190.151(a)(1), 190.153, 190.157, 190.159 also issued 
under 19 U.S.C. 1557; Sec. Sec.  190.182-190.186 also issued under 
19 U.S.C. 81c; Sec. Sec.  190.191-190.195 also issued under 19 
U.S.C. 1593a.


Sec.  190.0  Scope.

    This part sets forth general provisions applicable to all drawback 
claims and specialized provisions applicable to specific types of 
drawback claims filed under 19 U.S.C. 1313, as amended. For drawback 
claims and specialized provisions applicable to specific types of 
drawback claims filed pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1313, as it was in effect 
on or before February 24, 2016, please see part 191 of this title. 
Additional drawback provisions relating to the North American Free 
Trade Agreement (NAFTA) are contained in subpart E of part 181 of this 
chapter.


Sec.  190.0a  Claims filed under NAFTA.

    Claims for drawback filed under the provisions of part 181 of this 
chapter must be filed separately from claims filed under the provisions 
of this part.

Subpart A--General Provisions


Sec.  190.1  Authority of the Commissioner of CBP.

    Pursuant to DHS Delegation number 7010.3, the Commissioner of CBP 
has the authority to prescribe, and pursuant to Treasury Order No. 100-
16 (set forth in the appendix to part 0 of this chapter), the Secretary 
of the Treasury has the sole authority to approve, rules and 
regulations regarding drawback.


Sec.  190.2  Definitions.

    For the purposes of this part:
    Abstract. Abstract means the summary of the actual production 
records of the manufacturer.
    Act. Act, unless indicated otherwise, means the Tariff Act of 1930, 
as amended.
    Bill of materials. Bill of materials refers to a record that 
identifies each component incorporated into a manufactured or produced 
article. This may include a record kept in the normal course of 
business.
    Designated merchandise. Designated merchandise means either 
eligible imported duty-paid merchandise or drawback products selected 
by the drawback claimant as the basis for a drawback claim under 19 
U.S.C. 1313(b) or (j)(2), as applicable, or qualified articles selected 
by the claimant as the basis for drawback under 19 U.S.C. 1313(p).
    Destruction. Destruction means the destruction of articles or 
merchandise to the extent that they have no commercial value. For 
purposes of 19 U.S.C. 1313(a), (b), (c), and (j), destruction also 
includes a process by which materials are recovered from imported 
merchandise or from an article manufactured from imported merchandise, 
as provided for in 19 U.S.C. 1313(x).
    Direct identification drawback. Direct identification drawback 
includes drawback authorized pursuant to section 313(j)(1) of the Act, 
as amended (19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(1)), on imported merchandise exported, or 
destroyed under CBP supervision, without having been used in the United 
States (see also sections 313(c), (e), (f), (g), (h), and (q)). Direct 
identification is involved in manufacturing drawback pursuant to 
section 313(a) of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1313(a)), on imported 
merchandise used to manufacture or produce an article which is either 
exported or destroyed. Merchandise or articles may be identified for 
purposes of direct identification drawback by use of the accounting 
methods provided for in Sec.  190.14.
    Document. In this part, document has its normal meaning and 
includes information input to and contained within an electronic data 
field, and electronic versions of hard-copy documents.
    Drawback. Drawback, as authorized under 19 U.S.C. 1313, means the 
refund or remission, in whole or in part, of the duties, taxes, and/or 
fees paid on merchandise which were imposed under Federal law. It 
includes drawback paid upon the entry or importation of the imported 
merchandise and the refund or remission of internal revenue taxes paid 
on domestic alcohol as prescribed in 19 U.S.C. 1313(d) (see also Sec.  
190.3).
    Drawback claim. Drawback claim means the drawback entry and related 
documents required by regulation which together constitute the request 
for drawback payment. All drawback claims must be filed electronically 
through a CBP-authorized EDI system.
    Drawback entry. Drawback entry means the document containing a 
description of, and other required information concerning, the exported 
or destroyed article upon which a drawback claim is based and the 
designated imported merchandise for which drawback of the duties, 
taxes, and fees paid upon importation is claimed. Drawback entries must 
be filed electronically.
    Drawback office. Drawback office means any of the locations where 
drawback claims and related applications or requests may be submitted. 
CBP may, in its discretion, transfer or share work between the 
different drawback offices even though that the submission may have 
been to a particular office.
    Drawback product. A drawback product means a finished or partially 
finished product manufactured in the United States under the procedures 
in this part for manufacturing drawback. A drawback product may be 
exported, or

[[Page 37923]]

destroyed under CBP supervision with a claim for drawback, or it may be 
used in the further manufacture of other drawback products by 
manufacturers or producers operating under the procedures in this part 
for manufacturing drawback, in which case drawback may be claimed upon 
exportation or destruction of the ultimate product. Products 
manufactured or produced from substituted merchandise (imported or 
domestic) also become ``drawback products'' when applicable 
substitution requirements of the Act are met. For purposes of section 
313(b) of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1313(b)), drawback products 
may be designated as the basis for drawback or deemed to be substituted 
merchandise (see 19 U.S.C. 1313(b)). For a drawback product to be 
designated as the basis for a drawback claim, any transfer of the 
product must be properly documented (see Sec.  190.24).
    Exportation. Exportation means the severance of goods from the mass 
of goods belonging to this country, with the intention of uniting them 
with the mass of goods belonging to some foreign country. An 
exportation may be deemed to have occurred when goods subject to 
drawback are admitted into a foreign trade zone in zone-restricted 
status, or are laden upon qualifying aircraft or vessels as aircraft or 
vessel supplies in accordance with section 309(b) of the Act, as 
amended (19 U.S.C. 1309(b)) (see Sec. Sec.  10.59 through 10.65 of this 
chapter).
    Exporter. Exporter means that person who, as the principal party in 
interest in the export transaction, has the power and responsibility 
for determining and controlling the sending of the items out of the 
United States. In the case of ``deemed exportations'' (see definition 
of exportation in this section), exporter means that person who, as the 
principal party in interest in the transaction deemed to be an 
exportation, has the power and responsibility for determining and 
controlling the transaction. In the case of aircraft or vessel supplies 
under 19 U.S.C. 1309(b), exporter means the party who has the power and 
responsibility for lading supplies on the qualifying aircraft or 
vessel.
    Filing. Filing means the electronic delivery to CBP of any document 
or documentation, as provided for in this part.
    Formula. Formula refers to records that identify the quantity of 
each element, material, chemical, mixture, or other substance 
incorporated into a manufactured article. This includes records kept in 
the normal course of business.
    Fungible merchandise or articles. Fungible merchandise or articles 
means merchandise or articles which for commercial purposes are 
identical and interchangeable in all situations.
    General manufacturing drawback ruling. A general manufacturing 
drawback ruling means a description of a manufacturing or production 
operation for drawback and the regulatory requirements and 
interpretations applicable to that operation (see Sec.  190.7).
    Intermediate party. Intermediate party means any party in the chain 
of commerce leading to the exporter from the importer and who has 
acquired, purchased, or possessed the imported merchandise (or any 
intermediate or finished article, in the case of manufacturing 
drawback) as allowed under the applicable regulations for the type of 
drawback claimed, which authorize the transfer of the imported or other 
drawback eligible merchandise by that intermediate party to another 
party.
    Manufacture or production. Manufacture or production means a 
process, including, but not limited to, an assembly, by which 
merchandise is either made into a new and different article having a 
distinctive name, character or use; or is made fit for a particular use 
even though it is not made into a new and different article.
    Multiple products. Multiple products mean two or more products 
produced concurrently by a manufacture or production operation or 
operations.
    Per unit averaging. Per unit averaging means the equal 
apportionment of the amount of duties, taxes, and fees eligible for 
drawback for all units covered by a single line item on an entry 
summary to each unit of merchandise (and is required for certain 
substitution drawback claims) (see Sec.  190.51(b)). The value of the 
imported merchandise for which a claim is approved may not exceed the 
total value of the exported merchandise which forms the basis for the 
claim (``lesser of'' rule) (see Sec.  190.22(a)(1)(ii) and 190.32(b)).
    Possession. Possession, for purposes of substitution unused 
merchandise drawback (19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2)), means physical or 
operational control of the merchandise, including ownership while in 
bailment, in leased facilities, in transit to, or in any other manner 
under the operational control of, the party claiming drawback.
    Records. Records include, but are not limited to, written or 
electronic business records, statements, declarations, documents and 
electronically generated or machine readable data which pertain to a 
drawback claim or to the information contained in the records required 
by Chapter 4 of Title 19, United States Code, in connection with the 
filing of a drawback claim and which may include records normally kept 
in the ordinary course of business (see 19 U.S.C. 1508).
    Relative value. Relative value means, except for purposes of Sec.  
190.51(b), the value of a product divided by the total value of all 
products which are necessarily manufactured or produced concurrently in 
the same operation. Relative value is based on the market value, or 
other value approved by CBP, of each such product determined as of the 
time it is first separated in the manufacturing or production process. 
Market value is generally measured by the selling price, not including 
any packaging, transportation, or other identifiable costs, which 
accrue after the product itself is processed. Drawback must be 
apportioned to each such product based on its relative value at the 
time of separation.
    Schedule. A schedule means a document filed by a drawback claimant, 
under section 313(a) or (b), as amended (19 U.S.C. 1313(a) or (b)), 
showing the quantity of imported or substituted merchandise used in or 
appearing in each article exported or destroyed that justifies a claim 
for drawback.
    Schedule B. Schedule B means the Department of Commerce Schedule B, 
Statistical Classification of Domestic and Foreign Commodities Exported 
from the United States.
    Sought chemical element. A sought chemical element, under section 
313(b), means an element listed in the Periodic Table of Elements that 
is imported into the United States or a chemical compound (a distinct 
substance formed by a chemical union of two or more elements in 
definite proportion by weight) consisting of those elements, either 
separately in elemental form or contained in source material.
    Specific manufacturing drawback ruling. A specific manufacturing 
drawback ruling means a letter of approval (or its electronic 
equivalent) issued by CBP Headquarters in response to an application 
filed by a manufacturer or producer for a ruling on a specific 
manufacturing or production operation for drawback, as described in the 
format in Appendix B of this part. Synopses of approved specific 
manufacturing drawback rulings are published in the Customs Bulletin 
with each synopsis being published under an identifying CBP Decision. 
Specific manufacturing drawback rulings are subject to the provisions 
in part 177 of this chapter.
    Substituted merchandise or articles. Substituted merchandise or 
articles

[[Page 37924]]

means merchandise or articles that may be substituted as follows:
    (1) For manufacturing drawback pursuant to section 1313(b), 
substituted merchandise must be classifiable under the same 8-digit 
HTSUS subheading number as the imported designated merchandise;
    (2) For direct identification drawback pursuant to section 
1313(c)(2), substituted merchandise must be classifiable under the same 
8-digit HTSUS subheading number and have the same specific product 
identifier (such as part number, SKU, or product code) as the imported 
designated merchandise;
    (3) For direct identification drawback pursuant to section 
1313(j)(2), substituted merchandise must be classifiable under the same 
8-digit HTSUS subheading number as the imported designated merchandise 
except for wine which may also qualify pursuant to Sec.  190.32(d), but 
when the 8-digit HTSUS subheading number under which the imported 
merchandise is classified begins with the term ``other,'' then the 
other merchandise may be substituted for imported merchandise for 
drawback purposes if the other merchandise and such imported 
merchandise are classifiable under the same 10-digit HTSUS statistical 
reporting number and the article description for that 10-digit HTSUS 
statistical reporting number does not begin with the term ``other''; 
and
    (4) For substitution drawback of finished petroleum derivatives 
pursuant to section 1313(p), a substituted article must be of the same 
kind and quality as the qualified article for which it is substituted, 
that is, the articles must be commercially interchangeable or described 
in the same 8-digit HTSUS subheading number (see Sec.  190.172(b)).
    Verification. Verification means the examination of any and all 
records, maintained by the claimant, or any party involved in the 
drawback process, which are required by the appropriate CBP officer to 
render a meaningful recommendation concerning the drawback claimant's 
conformity to the law and regulations and the determination of 
supportability, correctness, and validity of the specific claim or 
groups of claims being verified.
    Wine. Wine, for purposes of substitution unused merchandise 
drawback under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2) and pursuant to the alternative 
standard for substitution (see 19 CFR 190.32(d)), refers to table wine. 
Consistent with Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) 
regulations, table wine is a ``Class 1 grape wine'' that satisfies the 
requirements of 27 CFR 4.21(a)(1) and having an alcoholic content not 
in excess of 14 percent by volume pursuant to 27 CFR 4.21(a)(2)).


Sec.  190.3  Duties, taxes, and fees subject or not subject to 
drawback.

    (a) Drawback is allowable pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1313 of on duties, 
taxes, and fees paid on imported merchandise which were imposed under 
Federal law upon entry or importation, including:
    (1) Ordinary customs duties, including:
    (i) Duties paid on an entry, or withdrawal from warehouse, for 
consumption for which liquidation has become final;
    (ii) Estimated duties paid on an entry, or withdrawal from 
warehouse, for consumption, for which liquidation has not become final, 
subject to the conditions and requirements of Sec.  190.81(b); and
    (iii) Tenders of duties after liquidation of the entry, or 
withdrawal from warehouse, for consumption for which the duties are 
paid, subject to the conditions and requirements of Sec.  190.81(c), 
including:
    (A) Voluntary tenders (for purposes of this section, a ``voluntary 
tender'' is a payment of duties on imported merchandise in excess of 
duties included in the liquidation of the entry, or withdrawal from 
warehouse, for consumption, provided that the liquidation has become 
final and that the other conditions of this section and Sec.  190.81 
are met);
    (B) Tenders of duties in connection with notices of prior 
disclosure under 19 U.S.C. 1592(c)(4); and
    (C) Duties restored under 19 U.S.C. 1592(d).
    (2) Marking duties assessed under section 304(c), Tariff Act of 
1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1304(c));
    (3) Internal revenue taxes which attach upon importation (see Sec.  
101.1 of this chapter);
    (4) Merchandise processing fees (see Sec.  24.23 of this chapter); 
and
    (5) Harbor maintenance taxes (see Sec.  24.24 of this chapter).
    (b) Drawback is not allowable on antidumping and countervailing 
duties which were imposed on any merchandise entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse, for consumption (see 19 U.S.C. 1677h).
    (c) Drawback is not allowed when the identified merchandise, the 
designated imported merchandise, or the substituted merchandise (when 
applicable), consists of an agricultural product which is duty-paid at 
the over-quota rate of duty established under a tariff-rate quota, 
except that:
    (1) Agricultural products as described in this paragraph are 
eligible for drawback under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(1); and
    (2) Tobacco otherwise meeting the description of agricultural 
products in this paragraph is eligible for drawback under 19 U.S.C. 
1313(j)(1) or 19 U.S.C. 1313(a).


Sec.  190.4  Merchandise in which a U.S. Government interest exists.

    (a) Restricted meaning of Government. A U.S. Government 
instrumentality operating with nonappropriated funds is considered a 
Government entity within the meaning of this section.
    (b) Allowance of drawback. If the merchandise is sold to the U.S. 
Government, drawback will be available only to the:
    (1) Department, branch, agency, or instrumentality of the U.S. 
Government which purchased it; or
    (2) Supplier, or any of the parties specified in Sec.  190.82, 
provided the claim is supported by documentation signed by a proper 
officer of the department, branch, agency, or instrumentality concerned 
certifying that the right to drawback was reserved by the supplier or 
other parties with the knowledge and consent of the department, branch, 
agency, or instrumentality.
    (c) Bond. No bond will be required when a U.S. Government entity 
claims drawback.


Sec.  190.5  Guantanamo Bay, insular possessions, trust territories.

    Guantanamo Bay Naval Station is considered foreign territory for 
drawback purposes and, accordingly, drawback may be permitted on 
articles shipped there from the customs territory of the United States. 
Drawback is not allowed, except on claims made under 19 U.S.C. 
1313(j)(1), on articles shipped from the customs territory of the 
United States to the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Wake Island, 
Midway Islands, Kingman Reef, Guam, Canton Island, Enderbury Island, 
Johnston Island, or Palmyra Island. See 19 U.S.C. 1313(y). Puerto Rico, 
which is part of the customs territory of the United States, is not 
considered foreign territory for drawback purposes and, accordingly, 
drawback may not be permitted on articles shipped there from elsewhere 
in the customs territory of the United States. For refunds of duties, 
taxes, or fees paid on merchandise imported into Puerto Rico and 
exported outside of the customs territory of the United States, claims 
must be filed separately from other claims filed under the provisions 
of this part.

[[Page 37925]]

Sec.  190.6  Authority to sign or electronically certify drawback 
documents.

    (a) Documents listed in paragraph (b) of this section must be 
signed or electronically certified only by one of the following:
    (1) The president, a vice president, secretary, treasurer, or any 
other employee legally authorized to bind the corporation;
    (2) A full partner of a partnership;
    (3) The owner of a sole proprietorship;
    (4) Any employee of the business entity with a power of attorney;
    (5) An individual acting on his or her own behalf; or
    (6) A licensed customs broker with a power of attorney to sign the 
applicable drawback document.
    (b) The following documents require execution in accordance with 
paragraph (a) of this section:
    (1) Drawback entries;
    (2) Notices of Intent to Export, Destroy, or Return Merchandise for 
Purposes of Drawback;
    (3) Certifications of exporters on bills of lading or evidence of 
exportation (see Sec. Sec.  190.28 and 190.82); and
    (4) Abstracts, schedules and extracts from monthly abstracts, and 
bills of materials and formulas, if not included as part of a drawback 
claim.
    (c) The following documents (see also part 177 of this chapter) may 
be executed by one of the persons described in paragraph (a) of this 
section or by any other individual legally authorized to bind the 
person (or entity) for whom the document is executed:
    (1) A letter of notification of intent to operate under a general 
manufacturing drawback ruling under Sec.  190.7;
    (2) An application for a specific manufacturing drawback ruling 
under Sec.  190.8;
    (3) An application for waiver of prior notice under Sec.  190.91;
    (4) An application for approval of accelerated payment of drawback 
under Sec.  190.92; and
    (5) An application for certification in the Drawback Compliance 
Program under Sec.  190.193.


Sec.  190.7  General manufacturing drawback ruling.

    (a) Purpose; eligibility. General manufacturing drawback rulings 
are designed to simplify drawback for certain common manufacturing 
operations but do not preclude or limit the use of applications for 
specific manufacturing drawback rulings (see Sec.  190.8). A 
manufacturer or producer engaged in an operation that falls within a 
published general manufacturing drawback ruling may submit a letter of 
notification of intent to operate under that general ruling. Where a 
separately-incorporated subsidiary of a parent corporation is engaged 
in manufacture or production for drawback, the subsidiary is the proper 
party to submit the letter of notification, and cannot operate under a 
letter of notification submitted by the parent corporation.
    (b) Procedures--(1) Publication. General manufacturing drawback 
rulings are contained in Appendix A to this part. As deemed necessary 
by CBP, new general manufacturing drawback rulings will be issued as 
CBP Decisions and added to the appendix thereafter.
    (2) Submission. Letters of notification of intent to operate under 
a general manufacturing drawback ruling must be submitted to any 
drawback office where drawback entries will be filed, concurrent with 
or prior to filing a claim, provided that the general manufacturing 
drawback ruling will be followed without variation. If there is any 
variation from the general manufacturing drawback ruling, the 
manufacturer or producer must apply for a specific manufacturing 
drawback ruling under Sec.  190.8.
    (3) Information required. Each manufacturer or producer submitting 
a letter of notification of intent to operate under a general 
manufacturing drawback ruling under this section must provide the 
following specific detailed information:
    (i) Name and address of manufacturer or producer (if the 
manufacturer or producer is a separately-incorporated subsidiary of a 
corporation, the subsidiary corporation must submit a letter of 
notification in its own name);
    (ii) In the case of a business entity, the names of the persons 
listed in Sec.  190.6(a)(1) through (6) who will sign drawback 
documents;
    (iii) Locations of the factories which will operate under the 
letter of notification;
    (iv) Identity (by T.D. or CBP Decision number and title) of the 
general manufacturing drawback ruling under which the manufacturer or 
producer will operate;
    (v) Description of the merchandise and articles, unless 
specifically described in the general manufacturing drawback ruling, 
and the applicable 8-digit HTSUS subheading number(s);
    (vi) Description of the manufacturing or production process, unless 
specifically described in the general manufacturing drawback ruling;
    (vii) Basis of claim used for calculating drawback; and
    (viii) IRS (Internal Revenue Service) number (with suffix) of the 
manufacturer or producer.
    (c) Review and action by CBP. The drawback office to which the 
letter of notification of intent to operate under a general 
manufacturing drawback ruling was submitted will review the letter of 
notification of intent.
    (1) Acknowledgment. The drawback office will promptly issue a 
letter acknowledging receipt of the letter of intent and authorizing 
the person to operate under the identified general manufacturing 
drawback ruling, subject to the requirements and conditions of that 
general manufacturing drawback ruling and the law and regulations, to 
the person who submitted the letter of notification if:
    (i) The letter of notification is complete (i.e., contains the 
information required in paragraph (b)(3) of this section);
    (ii) The general manufacturing drawback ruling identified by the 
manufacturer or producer is applicable to the manufacturing or 
production process;
    (iii) The general manufacturing drawback ruling identified by the 
manufacturer or producer will be followed without variation; and
    (iv) The described manufacturing or production process is a 
manufacture or production as defined in Sec.  190.2 of this subpart.
    (2) Computer-generated number. With the letter of acknowledgment 
the drawback office will include the unique computer-generated number 
assigned to the acknowledgment of the letter of notification of intent 
to operate. This number must be stated when the person files 
manufacturing drawback claims with CBP under the general manufacturing 
drawback ruling.
    (3) Non-conforming letters of notification of intent. If the letter 
of notification of intent to operate does not meet the requirements of 
paragraph (c)(1) of this section in any respect, the drawback office 
will promptly and in writing specifically advise the person of this 
fact and why this is so. A letter of notification of intent to operate 
which is not acknowledged may be resubmitted to the drawback office to 
which it was initially submitted with modifications and/or explanations 
addressing the reasons CBP may have given for non-acknowledgment, or 
the matter may be referred (by letter from the manufacturer or 
producer) to CBP Headquarters (Attention: Entry Process and Duty 
Refunds Branch, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade).
    (d) Procedure to modify a general manufacturing drawback ruling.

[[Page 37926]]

Modifications are allowed under the same procedure terms as provided 
for in Sec.  190.8(g) for specific manufacturing drawback rulings.
    (e) Duration. Acknowledged letters of notification under this 
section will remain in effect under the same terms as provided for in 
Sec.  190.8(h) for specific manufacturing drawback rulings.


Sec.  190.8   Specific manufacturing drawback ruling.

    (a) Applicant. Unless operating under a general manufacturing 
drawback ruling (see Sec.  190.7), each manufacturer or producer of 
articles intended to be claimed for drawback must apply for a specific 
manufacturing drawback ruling. Where a separately-incorporated 
subsidiary of a parent corporation is engaged in manufacture or 
production for drawback, the subsidiary is the proper party to apply 
for a specific manufacturing drawback ruling, and cannot operate under 
any specific manufacturing drawback ruling approved in favor of the 
parent corporation.
    (b) Sample application. Sample formats for applications for 
specific manufacturing drawback rulings are contained in Appendix B to 
this part.
    (c) Content of application. The application of each manufacturer or 
producer must include the following information as applicable:
    (1) Name and address of the applicant;
    (2) Internal Revenue Service (IRS) number (with suffix) of the 
applicant;
    (3) Description of the type of business in which engaged;
    (4) Description of the manufacturing or production process, which 
shows how the designated and substituted merchandise is used to make 
the article that is to be exported or destroyed;
    (5) In the case of a business entity, the names of persons listed 
in Sec.  190.6(a)(1) through (6) who will sign drawback documents;
    (6) Description of the imported merchandise including 
specifications and applicable 8-digit HTSUS subheading(s);
    (7) Description of the exported article and applicable 8-digit 
HTSUS subheadings;
    (8) How manufacturing drawback is calculated;
    (9) Summary of the records kept to support claims for drawback; and
    (10) Identity and address of the recordkeeper if other than the 
claimant.
    (d) Submission of Application. An application for a specific 
manufacturing drawback ruling must be submitted to CBP Headquarters 
(Attention: Entry Process and Duty Refunds Branch, Regulations and 
Rulings, Office of Trade). Applications may be physically delivered (in 
triplicate) or submitted via email. Claimants must indicate if drawback 
claims are to be filed under the ruling at more than one drawback 
office.
    (e) Review and action by CBP. CBP Headquarters will review each 
application for a specific manufacturing drawback ruling.
    (1) Approval. If the application is consistent with the drawback 
law and regulations, CBP Headquarters will issue a letter of approval 
to the applicant and will forward 1 copy of the application for the 
specific manufacturing drawback ruling to the appropriate drawback 
office(s) with a copy of the letter of approval. Each specific 
manufacturing drawback ruling will be assigned a unique manufacturing 
number which will be included in the letter of approval to the 
applicant from CBP Headquarters, which must be used when filing 
manufacturing drawback claims.
    (2) Disapproval. If the application is not consistent with the 
drawback law and regulations, CBP Headquarters will promptly and in 
writing inform the applicant that the application cannot be approved 
and will specifically advise the applicant why this is so. A 
disapproved application may be resubmitted with modifications and/or 
explanations addressing the reasons given for disapproval, a 
disapproval may be appealed to CBP Headquarters (Attention: Entry 
Process and Duty Refunds Branch, Regulations and Rulings, Office of 
Trade).
    (f) Schedules and supplemental schedules. When an application for a 
specific manufacturing drawback ruling states that drawback is to be 
based upon a schedule, as defined in 190.2, filed by the manufacturer 
or producer, the schedule will be reviewed by CBP Headquarters. The 
application may include a request for authorization for the filing of 
supplemental schedules with the drawback office where claims are filed.
    (g) Procedure to modify a specific manufacturing drawback ruling--
(1) Supplemental application. Except as provided for limited 
modifications in paragraph (g)(2) of this section, a manufacturer or 
producer desiring to modify an existing specific manufacturing drawback 
ruling may submit a supplemental application for such modification to 
CBP Headquarters (Attention: Entry Process and Duty Refunds Branch, 
Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade). Such a supplemental 
application may, at the discretion of the manufacturer or producer, be 
in the form of the original application, or it may identify the 
specific manufacturing drawback ruling to be modified (by T.D. or CBP 
Decision number, if applicable, and unique computer-generated number) 
and include only those paragraphs of the application that are to be 
modified, with a statement that all other paragraphs are unchanged and 
are incorporated by reference in the supplemental application.
    (2) Limited modifications. (i) A supplemental application for a 
specific manufacturing drawback ruling must be submitted to the 
drawback office where the original claims was filed if the 
modifications are limited to:
    (A) The location of a factory, or the addition of one or more 
factories where the methods followed and records maintained are the 
same as those at another factory operating under the existing specific 
manufacturing drawback ruling of the manufacturer or producer;
    (B) The succession of a sole proprietorship, partnership or 
corporation to the operations of a manufacturer or producer;
    (C) A change in name of the manufacturer or producer;
    (D) A change in the persons who will sign drawback documents in the 
case of a business entity;
    (E) A change in the basis of claim used for calculating drawback;
    (F) A change in the decision to use or not to use an agent under 
Sec.  190.9 of this chapter, or a change in the identity of an agent 
under that section;
    (G) A change in the drawback office where claims will be filed 
under the ruling (see paragraph (g)(2)(iii) of this section);
    (H) An authorization to continue operating under a ruling approved 
under 19 CFR part 191 (see paragraph (g)(2)(iv) of this section); or
    (I) Any combination of the foregoing changes.
    (ii) A limited modification, as provided for in this paragraph 
(g)(2), must contain only the modifications to be made, in addition to 
identifying the specific manufacturing drawback ruling and being signed 
by an authorized person. To effect a limited modification, the 
manufacturer or producer must file with the drawback office(s) where 
claims were originally filed a letter stating the modifications to be 
made. The drawback office will promptly acknowledge acceptance of the 
limited modifications.
    (iii) To transfer a claim to another drawback office, the 
manufacturer or producer must file with the second drawback office 
where claims will be

[[Page 37927]]

filed, a written application to file claims at that office, with a copy 
of the application and approval letter under which claims are currently 
filed. The manufacturer or producer must provide a copy of the written 
application to file claims at the new drawback office to the drawback 
office where claims are currently filed.
    (iv) To file a claim under this part based on a ruling approved 
under 19 CFR part 191, the manufacturer or producer must file a 
supplemental application for a limited modification no later than 
February 23, 2019, which provides the following:
    (A) Revised parallel columns with the required annotations for the 
applicable 8-digit HTSUS subheading number(s);
    (B) Revised bill of materials or formula with the required 
annotations for the applicable 8-digit HTSUS subheading number(s); and
    (C) A certification of continued compliance, which states: ``The 
undersigned acknowledges the current statutory requirements under 19 
U.S.C. 1313 and the regulatory requirements in 19 CFR part 190, and 
hereby certifies its continuing eligibility for operating under the 
manufacturing drawback ruling in compliance therewith.''
    (h) Duration. Subject to 19 U.S.C. 1625 and part 177 of this 
chapter, a specific manufacturing drawback ruling under this section 
will remain in effect indefinitely unless:
    (1) No drawback claim is filed under the ruling for a period of 5 
years and notice of termination is published in the Customs Bulletin; 
or
    (2) The manufacturer or producer to whom approval of the ruling was 
issued files a request to terminate the ruling, in writing, with CBP 
Headquarters (Attention: Entry Process and Duty Refunds Branch, 
Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade).


Sec.  190.9   Agency.

    (a) General. An owner of the identified merchandise, the designated 
imported merchandise and/or the substituted merchandise that is used to 
produce the exported articles may employ another person to do part, or 
all, of the manufacture or production under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) or (b) 
and as defined in Sec.  190.2 of this subpart. For purposes of this 
section, such owner is the principal and such other person is the 
agent. Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b), the principal will be treated as the 
manufacturer or producer of merchandise used in manufacture or 
production by the agent. The principal must be able to establish by its 
manufacturing records, the manufacturing records of its agent(s), or 
the manufacturing records of both (or all) parties, compliance with all 
requirements of this part (see, in particular, Sec.  190.26).
    (b) Requirements--(1) Contract. The manufacturer must establish 
that it is the principal in a contract between it and its agent who 
actually does the work on either the designated or substituted 
merchandise, or both, for the principal. The contract must include:
    (i) Terms of compensation to show that the relationship is an 
agency rather than a sale;
    (ii) How transfers of merchandise and articles will be recorded by 
the principal and its agent;
    (iii) The work to be performed on the merchandise by the agent for 
the principal;
    (iv) The degree of control that is to be exercised by the principal 
over the agent's performance of work;
    (v) The party who is to bear the risk of loss on the merchandise 
while it is in the agent's custody; and
    (vi) The period that the contract is in effect.
    (2) Ownership of the merchandise by the principal. The records of 
the principal and/or the agent must establish that the principal had 
legal and equitable title to the merchandise before receipt by the 
agent. The right of the agent to assert a lien on the merchandise for 
work performed does not derogate the principal's ownership interest 
under this section.
    (3) Sales prohibited. The relationship between the principal and 
agent must not be that of a seller and buyer. If the parties' records 
show that, with respect to the merchandise that is the subject of the 
principal-agent contract, the merchandise is sold to the agent by the 
principal, or the articles manufactured by the agent are sold to the 
principal by the agent, those records are inadequate to establish 
existence of a principal-agency relationship under this section.
    (c) Specific manufacturing drawback rulings; general manufacturing 
drawback rulings--(1) Owner. An owner who intends to operate under the 
principal-agent procedures of this section must state that intent in 
any letter of notification of intent to operate under a general 
manufacturing drawback ruling filed under Sec.  190.7 or in any 
application for a specific manufacturing drawback ruling filed under 
Sec.  190.8.
    (2) Agent. Each agent operating under this section must have filed 
a letter of notification of intent to operate under a general 
manufacturing drawback ruling (see Sec.  190.7), for an agent, covering 
the articles manufactured or produced, or have obtained a specific 
manufacturing drawback ruling (see Sec.  190.8), as appropriate.
    (d) Certificate--(1) Contents of certificate. The principal for 
whom processing is conducted under this section must file, with any 
drawback claim, a certificate, subject to the recordkeeping 
requirements of Sec. Sec.  190.15 and 190.26, certifying that upon 
request by CBP it can establish the following:
    (i) Quantity of merchandise transferred from the principal to the 
agent;
    (ii) Date of transfer of the merchandise from the principal to the 
agent;
    (iii) Date of manufacturing or production operations performed by 
the agent;
    (iv) Total quantity, description, and 10-digit HTSUS classification 
of merchandise appearing in or used in manufacturing or production 
operations performed by the agent;
    (v) Total quantity, description, and 10-digit HTSUS classification 
of articles produced in manufacturing or production operations 
performed by the agent;
    (vi) Quantity and 10-digit HTSUS classification of articles 
transferred from the agent to the principal; and
    (vii) Date of transfer of the articles from the agent to the 
principal.
    (2) Blanket certificate. The certificate required under paragraph 
(d)(1) of this section may be a blanket certificate for a stated 
period.


Sec.  190.10   Transfer of merchandise.

    (a) Ability to transfer merchandise. (1) A party may transfer 
drawback eligible merchandise or articles to another party, provided 
that the transferring party:
    (i) Imports and pays duties, taxes, and/or fees on such imported 
merchandise;
    (ii) Receives such imported merchandise;
    (iii) In the case of 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2), receives such imported 
merchandise, substituted merchandise, or any combination of such 
imported and substituted merchandise; or
    (iv) Receives an article manufactured or produced under 19 U.S.C. 
1313(a) and/or (b).
    (2) The transferring party must maintain records that:
    (i) Document the transfer of that merchandise or article;
    (ii) Identify such merchandise or article as being that to which a 
potential right to drawback exists; and
    (iii) Assign such right to the transferee (see Sec.  190.82).
    (b) Required records. The records that support the transfer must 
include the following information:
    (1) The party to whom the merchandise or articles are delivered;

[[Page 37928]]

    (2) Date of physical delivery;
    (3) Import entry number and entry line item number;
    (4) Quantity delivered and, for substitution claims, total quantity 
attributable to the relevant import entry line item number;
    (5) Total duties, taxes, and fees paid on, or attributable to, the 
delivered merchandise, and, for substitution claims, total duties, 
taxes, and fees paid on, or attributable to, the relevant import entry 
line item number;
    (6) Date of importation;
    (7) Port where import entry filed;
    (8) Person from whom received;
    (9) Description of the merchandise delivered;
    (10) The 10-digit HTSUS classification for the designated imported 
merchandise (such HTSUS number must be from the entry summary line item 
and other entry documentation for the merchandise); and
    (11) If the merchandise transferred is substituted for the 
designated imported merchandise under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2), the 10-
digit HTSUS classification of the substituted merchandise (as if it had 
been imported).
    (c) Transferor notification for line item designation. (1) Pursuant 
to Sec.  190.51(a)(3) and for transfers that do not cover the entire 
quantity of the merchandise reported on a specific line item from an 
entry summary, the transferring party (transferor) must provide notice 
to the transferee(s) of the following:
    (i) Whether the transferor has claimed or will claim drawback 
relating to any merchandise reported on the entry summary line item 
(specifying either direct identification or substitution as the basis 
for the claim);
    (ii) Whether the transferor has previously transferred any 
merchandise reported on the entry summary line item and whether the 
transferor has knowledge regarding a drawback claim being filed 
relating that transferred merchandise (specifying either direct 
identification or substitution); and
    (iii) Whether the transferor has not previously transferred any 
merchandise reported on the entry summary line item.
    (2) Notification of this designation from the transferor to the 
transferee(s) must be documented in records.
    (3) Notwithstanding the designation made, the basis for the first-
filed claim relating to merchandise reported on that entry summary line 
item (either direct identification or substitution) will be the 
exclusive basis for any subsequent claims for any other merchandise 
reported on that same entry summary line item.
    (d) Retention period. The records listed in paragraph (b) of this 
section must be retained by the issuing party for 3 years from the date 
of liquidation of the related claim or longer period if required by law 
(see 19 U.S.C. 1508(c)(3)).
    (e) Submission to CBP. If the records required under paragraph (b) 
of this section or additional records requested by CBP are not provided 
by the claimant, the part of the drawback claim dependent on those 
records will be denied.
    (f) Warehouse transfer and withdrawals. The person in whose name 
merchandise is withdrawn from a bonded warehouse will be considered the 
importer for drawback purposes. No records are required to document 
prior transfers of merchandise while in a bonded warehouse.


Sec.  190.11   Valuation of merchandise.

    The values declared to CBP as part of a complete drawback claim 
pursuant to Sec.  190.51 must be established as provided below. If the 
drawback eligible merchandise or articles are destroyed, then the value 
of the imported merchandise and any substituted merchandise must be 
reduced by the value of materials recovered during destruction in 
accordance with 19 U.S.C. 1313(x).
    (a) Designated imported merchandise. The value of the imported 
merchandise is determined as follows:
    (1) Direct identification claims. The value of the imported 
merchandise is the customs value of the imported merchandise upon entry 
into the United States (see subpart E of part 152 of this chapter); or, 
if the merchandise is identified pursuant to an approved accounting 
method, then the value of the imported merchandise is the customs value 
that is properly attributable to the imported merchandise as identified 
by the appropriate recordkeeping (see Sec.  190.14, varies by 
accounting method).
    (2) Substitution claims. The value of the designated imported 
merchandise is the per unit average value, which is the entered value 
for the applicable entry summary line item apportioned equally over 
each unit covered by the line item.
    (b) Exported merchandise or articles. The value of the exported 
merchandise or articles eligible for drawback is the selling price as 
declared for the Electronic Export Information (EEI), including any 
adjustments and exclusions required by 15 CFR 30.6(a)). If there is no 
selling price for the EEI, then the value is the other value as 
declared for the EEI including any adjustments and exclusions required 
by 15 CFR 30.6(a) (e.g., the market price, if the goods are shipped on 
consignment). (For special types of transactions where certain unusual 
conditions are involved, the value for the EEI is determined pursuant 
to 15 CFR part 30 subpart C.) If no EEI is required (see, 15 CFR part 
30 subpart D for a complete list of exemptions), then the claimant must 
provide the value that would have been set forth on the EEI when the 
exportation took place, but for the exemption from the requirement for 
an EEI.
    (c) Destroyed merchandise or articles. The value of the destroyed 
merchandise or articles eligible for drawback is the value at the time 
of destruction, determined as if the merchandise had been exported in 
its condition at the time of its destruction and an EEI had been 
required.
    (d) Substituted merchandise for manufacturing drawback claims. The 
value of the substituted merchandise for manufacturing drawback claims 
pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1313(b) is the cost of acquisition or production 
for the manufacturer or producer who used the substituted merchandise 
in manufacturing or production.


Sec.  190.12   Claim filed under incorrect provision.

    A drawback claim filed pursuant to any provision of section 313 of 
the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1313) may be deemed filed pursuant to 
any other provision thereof should the drawback office determine that 
drawback is not allowable under the provision as originally filed, but 
that it is allowable under such other provision. To be allowable under 
such other provision, the claim must meet each of the requirements of 
such provision. The claimant may raise alternative provisions prior to 
liquidation and by protest (see part 174 of this chapter).


Sec.  190.13   Packaging materials.

    (a) Imported packaging material. Drawback of duties is provided in 
section 313(q)(1) of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1313(q)(1)), on 
imported packaging material used to package or repackage merchandise or 
articles exported or destroyed pursuant to section 313(a), (b), (c), or 
(j) of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1313(a), (b), (c), or (j)). The 
amount of drawback payable on the packaging material is determined 
pursuant to the particular drawback provision to which the packaged 
goods themselves are subject. The packaging material must be separately 
identified on the claim, and all other information

[[Page 37929]]

and documents required for the particular drawback provision under 
which the claim is made must be provided for the packaging material.
    (b) Packaging material manufactured in United States from imported 
materials. Drawback of duties is provided in section 313(q)(2) of the 
Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1313(q)(2)), on packaging material that is 
manufactured or produced in the United States from imported materials 
and used to package or repackage articles that are exported or 
destroyed under section 313(a) or (b) of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 
1313(a) or (b)). The amount of drawback payable on the packaging 
material is determined pursuant to the particular manufacturing 
drawback provision to which the packaged articles themselves are 
subject, either 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) or (b), as applicable. The packaging 
material and the imported merchandise used in the manufacture or 
production of the packaging material must be separately identified on 
the claim, and all other information and documents required for the 
particular drawback provision under which the claim is made must be 
provided for the packaging material as well as the imported merchandise 
used in its manufacture or production, for purposes of determining the 
applicable drawback payable.


Sec.  190.14   Identification of merchandise or articles by accounting 
method.

    (a) General. This section provides for the identification of 
merchandise or articles for drawback purposes by the use of accounting 
methods. This section applies to identification of merchandise or 
articles in inventory or storage, as well as identification of 
merchandise used in manufacture or production, as defined in Sec.  
190.2. This section is not applicable to situations in which the 
drawback law authorizes substitution (substitution is allowed in 
specified situations under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b), 1313(j)(2), 1313(k), and 
1313(p); this section does apply to situations in these subsections in 
which substitution is not allowed, as well as to the subsections of the 
drawback law under which no substitution is allowed). When substitution 
is authorized, merchandise or articles may be substituted without 
reference to this section, under the criteria and conditions 
specifically authorized in the statutory and regulatory provisions 
providing for the substitution.
    (b) Conditions and criteria for identification by accounting 
method. Manufacturers, producers, claimants, or other appropriate 
persons may identify for drawback purposes lots of merchandise or 
articles under this section, subject to each of the following 
conditions and criteria:
    (1) The lots of merchandise or articles to be so identified must be 
fungible as defined in Sec.  190.2;
    (2) The person using the identification method must be able to 
establish that inventory records (for example, material control 
records), prepared and used in the ordinary course of business, account 
for the lots of merchandise or articles to be identified as being 
received into and withdrawn from the same inventory. Even if 
merchandise or articles are received or withdrawn at different 
geographical locations, if such inventory records treat receipts or 
withdrawals as being from the same inventory, those inventory records 
may be used to identify the merchandise or articles under this section, 
subject to the conditions of this section. If any such inventory 
records (that is, inventory records prepared and used in the ordinary 
course of business) treat receipts and withdrawals as being from 
different inventories, those inventory records must be used and 
receipts into or withdrawals from the different inventories may not be 
accounted for together. If units of merchandise or articles can be 
specifically identified (for example, by serial number), the 
merchandise or articles must be specifically identified and may not be 
identified by accounting method, unless it is established that 
inventory records, prepared and used in the ordinary course of 
business, treat the merchandise or articles to be identified as being 
received into and withdrawn from the same inventory (subject to the 
above conditions);
    (3) Unless otherwise provided in this section or specifically 
approved by CBP (by a binding ruling under part 177 of this chapter), 
all receipts (or inputs) into and all withdrawals from the inventory 
must be recorded in the accounting record;
    (4) The records which support any identification method under this 
section are subject to verification by CBP (see Sec.  190.61). If CBP 
requests such verification, the person using the identification method 
must be able to demonstrate how, under Generally Accepted Accounting 
Procedures (GAAP), the records which support the identification method 
used account for all merchandise or articles in, and all receipts into 
and withdrawals from, the inventory, and the drawback per unit for each 
receipt and withdrawal; and
    (5) Any accounting method which is used by a person for drawback 
purposes under this section must be used exclusively, without using 
other methods for a period of at least one year, unless approval is 
given by CBP for a shorter period.
    (c) Approved accounting methods. The following accounting methods 
are approved for use in the identification of merchandise or articles 
for drawback purposes under this section. If a claim is eligible for 
the use of any accounting method, the claimant must indicate on the 
drawback entry whether an accounting method was used, and if so, which 
accounting method was used, to identify the merchandise as part of the 
complete claim (see Sec.  190.51).
    (1) First-in, first-out (FIFO)--(i) General. The FIFO method is the 
method by which fungible merchandise or articles are identified by 
recordkeeping on the basis of the first merchandise or articles 
received into the inventory. Under this method, withdrawals are from 
the oldest (first-in) merchandise or articles in the inventory at the 
time of withdrawal.
    (ii) Example. If the beginning inventory is zero, 100 units with $1 
drawback attributable per unit are received in inventory on the 2nd of 
the month, 50 units with no drawback attributable per unit are received 
into inventory on the 5th of the month, 75 units are withdrawn for 
domestic (non-export) shipment on the 10th of the month, 75 units with 
$2 drawback attributable per unit are received in inventory on the 15th 
of the month, 100 units are withdrawn for export on the 20th of the 
month, and no other receipts or withdrawals occurred in the month, the 
drawback attributable to the 100 units withdrawn for export on the 20th 
is a total of $75 (25 units from the receipt on the 2nd with $1 
drawback attributable per unit, 50 units from the receipt on the 5th 
with no drawback attributable per unit, and 25 units from the receipt 
on the 15th with $2 drawback attributable per unit). The basis of the 
foregoing and the effects on the inventory of the receipts and 
withdrawals, and balance in the inventory thereafter are as follows: On 
the 2nd of the month the receipt of 100 units ($1 drawback/unit) 
results in a balance of that amount; the receipt of 50 units ($0 
drawback/unit) on the 5th results in a balance of 150 units (100 with 
$1 drawback/unit and 50 with $0 drawback/unit); the withdrawal on the 
10th of 75 units ($1 drawback/unit) results in a balance of 75 units 
(25 with $1 drawback/unit and 50 with $0 drawback/unit); the receipt of 
75 units ($2 drawback/unit) on the 15th results in a balance of 150 
units (25 with $1 drawback/unit, 50 with $0 drawback/unit, and 75 with 
$2 drawback/unit); the withdrawal on the 20th of 100 units (25

[[Page 37930]]

with $1 drawback/unit, 50 with $0 drawback/unit, and 25 with $2 
drawback unit) results in a balance of 50 units (all 50 with $2 
drawback/unit).
    (2) Last-in, first out (LIFO)--(i) General. The LIFO method is the 
method by which fungible merchandise or articles are identified by 
recordkeeping on the basis of the last merchandise or articles received 
into the inventory. Under this method, withdrawals are from the newest 
(last-in) merchandise or articles in the inventory at the time of 
withdrawal.
    (ii) Example. In the example in paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this 
section, the drawback attributable to the 100 units withdrawn for 
export on the 20th is a total of $175 (75 units from the receipt on the 
15th with $2 drawback attributable per unit and 25 units from the 
receipt on the 2nd with $1 drawback attributable per unit). The basis 
of the foregoing and the effects on the inventory of the receipts and 
withdrawals, and balance in the inventory thereafter are as follows: On 
the 2nd of the month the receipt of 100 units ($1 drawback/unit) 
results in a balance of that amount; the receipt of 50 units ($0 
drawback/unit) on the 5th results in a balance of 150 units (100 with 
$1 drawback/unit and 50 with $0 drawback/unit); the withdrawal on the 
10th of 75 units (50 with $0 drawback/unit and 25 with $1 drawback/
unit) results in a balance of 75 units (all with $1 drawback/unit); the 
receipt of 75 units ($2 drawback/unit) on the 15th results in a balance 
of 150 units (75 with $1 drawback/unit and 75 with $2 drawback/unit); 
the withdrawal on the 20th of 100 units (75 with $2 drawback/unit and 
25 with $1 drawback/unit) results in a balance of 50 units (all 50 with 
$1 drawback/unit).
    (3) Low-to-high--(i) General. The low-to-high method is the method 
by which fungible merchandise or articles are identified by 
recordkeeping on the basis of the lowest drawback amount per unit of 
the merchandise or articles in inventory. Merchandise or articles with 
no drawback attributable to them (for example, domestic merchandise or 
duty-free merchandise) must be accounted for and are treated as having 
the lowest drawback attributable to them. Under this method, 
withdrawals are from the merchandise or articles with the least amount 
of drawback attributable to them, then those with the next higher 
amount, and so forth. If the same amount of drawback is attributable to 
more than one lot of merchandise or articles, withdrawals are from the 
oldest (first-in) merchandise or articles among those lots with the 
same amount of drawback attributable. Drawback requirements are 
applicable to withdrawn merchandise or articles as identified (for 
example, if the merchandise or articles identified were attributable to 
an import more than 5 years before the claimed export, no drawback 
could be granted).
    (ii) Ordinary Low-to-High--(A) Method. Under the ordinary low-to-
high method, all receipts into and all withdrawals from the inventory 
are recorded in the accounting record and accounted for so that each 
withdrawal, whether for export or domestic shipment, is identified by 
recordkeeping on the basis of the lowest drawback amount per unit of 
the merchandise or articles available in the inventory.
    (B) Example. (1) In this example, the beginning inventory is zero, 
and receipts into and withdrawals from the inventory are as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Receipt ($ per
             Date                      unit)             Withdrawals
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan. 2........................  100 (zero).........
Jan. 5........................  50 ($1.00).........
Jan. 15.......................  ...................  50 (export).
Jan. 20.......................  50 ($1.01).........
Jan. 25.......................  50 ($1.02).........
Jan. 28.......................  ...................  50 (domestic).
Jan. 31.......................  50 ($1.03).........
Feb. 5........................  ...................  100 (export).
Feb. 10.......................  50 ($.95)..........
Feb. 15.......................  ...................  50 (export).
Feb. 20.......................  50 (zero)..........
Feb. 23.......................  ...................  50 (domestic).
Feb. 25.......................  50 ($1.05).........
Feb. 28.......................  ...................  100 (export).
Mar. 5........................  50 ($1.06).........
Mar. 10.......................  50 ($.85)..........
Mar. 15.......................  ...................  50 (export).
Mar. 21.......................  ...................  50 (domestic).
Mar. 20.......................  50 ($1.08).........
Mar. 25.......................  50 ($.90)..........
Mar. 31.......................  ...................  100 (export).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) The drawback attributable to the January 15 withdrawal for 
export is zero (the available receipt with the lowest drawback amount 
per unit is the January 2 receipt), the drawback attributable to the 
January 28 withdrawal for domestic shipment (no drawback) is zero (the 
remainder of the January 2 receipt), the drawback attributable to the 
February 5 withdrawal for export is $100.50 (the January 5 and January 
20 receipts), the drawback attributable to the February 15 withdrawal 
for export is $47.50 (the February 10 receipt), the drawback 
attributable to the February 23 withdrawal for domestic shipment (no 
drawback) is zero (the February 20 receipt), the drawback attributable 
to the February 28 withdrawal for export is $102.50 (the January 25 and 
January 31 receipts), the drawback attributable to the March 15 
withdrawal for export is $42.50 (the March 10 receipt), the drawback 
attributable to the March 21 withdrawal for domestic shipment (no 
drawback) is $52.50 (the February 25 receipt), and the drawback 
attributable to the March 31 withdrawal for export is $98.00 (the March 
25 and March 5 receipts). Remaining in inventory is the March 20 
receipt of 50 units ($1.08 drawback/unit). Total drawback attributable 
to withdrawals for export in this example would be $391.00.
    (iii) Low-to-high method with established average inventory turn-
over period--(A) Method. Under the low-to-high method with established 
average inventory turn-over period, all receipts into and all 
withdrawals for export are recorded in the accounting record and 
accounted for so that each withdrawal is identified by recordkeeping on 
the basis of the lowest drawback amount per available unit of the 
merchandise or articles received into the inventory in the established 
average inventory turn-over period preceding the withdrawal.
    (B) Accounting for withdrawals (for domestic shipments and for 
export). Under the low to-high method with established average 
inventory turn-over period, domestic withdrawals (withdrawals for 
domestic shipment) are not accounted for and do not affect the 
available units of merchandise or articles. All withdrawals for export 
must be accounted for whether or not drawback is available or claimed 
on the withdrawals. Once a withdrawal for export is made and accounted 
for under this method, the merchandise or articles withdrawn are no 
longer available for identification.
    (C) Establishment of inventory turn-over period. For purposes of 
the low to-high method with established average inventory turn-over 
period, the average inventory turn-over period is based on the rate of 
withdrawal from inventory and represents the time in which all of the 
merchandise or articles in the inventory at a given time must have been 
withdrawn based on that rate. To establish an average of this time, at 
least 1 year, or 3 turn-over periods (if inventory turns over fewer 
than 3 times per year), must be averaged. The inventory turn-over 
period must be that for the merchandise or articles to be identified, 
except that if the person using the method has more than one kind of 
merchandise or articles with different inventory turn-over periods, the 
longest average turn-over period established under this section may be 
used (instead of using a different inventory turn-over period for each 
kind of merchandise or article).
    (D) Example. In the example in paragraph (c)(3)(ii)(B) of this 
section

[[Page 37931]]

(but, as required for this method, without accounting for domestic 
withdrawals, and with an established average inventory turn-over period 
of 30 days), the drawback attributable to the January 15 withdrawal for 
export is zero (the available receipt in the preceding 30 days with the 
lowest amount of drawback is the January 2 receipt, of which 50 units 
will remain after the withdrawal), the drawback attributable to the 
February 5 withdrawal for export is $101.50 (the January 20 and January 
25 receipts), the drawback attributable to the February 15 withdrawal 
for export is $47.50 (the February 10 receipt), the drawback 
attributable to the February 28 withdrawal for export is $51.50 (the 
February 20 and January 31 receipts), the drawback attributable to the 
March 15 withdrawal for export is $42.50 (the March 10 receipt), and 
the drawback attributable to the March 31 withdrawal for export is 
$98.00 (the March 25 and March 5 receipts). No drawback may be claimed 
on the basis of the January 5 receipt or the February 25 receipt 
because in the case of each, there were insufficient withdrawals for 
export within the established average inventory turn-over period; the 
50 units remaining from the January 2 receipt after the January 15 
withdrawal are not identified for a withdrawal for export because there 
is no other withdrawal for export (other than the January 15 
withdrawal) within the established average inventory turn-over period; 
the March 20 receipt (50 units at $1.08) is not yet attributed to 
withdrawals for export. Total drawback attributable to withdrawals for 
export in this example would be $341.00.
    (iv) Low-to-high blanket method--(A) Method. Under the low-to-high 
blanket method, all receipts into and all withdrawals for export are 
recorded in the accounting record and accounted for. Each withdrawal is 
identified on the basis of the lowest drawback amount per available 
unit of the merchandise or articles received into inventory in the 
applicable statutory period for export preceding the withdrawal (e.g., 
180 days under 19 U.S.C. 1313(p) and 5 years for other types of 
drawback claims pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1313(r)). Drawback requirements 
are applicable to withdrawn merchandise or articles as identified (for 
example, no drawback could be granted generally if the merchandise or 
articles identified were attributable to an import made more than 5 
years before the claimed export; and, for claims pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 
1313(p), no drawback could be granted if the merchandise or articles 
identified were attributable to an import that was entered more than 
180 days after the date of the claimed export or if the claimed export 
was more than 180 days after the close of the manufacturing period 
attributable to an import).
    (B) Accounting for withdrawals (for domestic shipments and for 
export). Under the low-to-high blanket method, domestic withdrawals 
(withdrawals for domestic shipment) are not accounted for and do not 
affect the available units of merchandise or articles. All withdrawals 
for export must be accounted for whether or not drawback is available 
or claimed on the withdrawals. Once a withdrawal for export is made and 
accounted for under this method, the merchandise or articles withdrawn 
are no longer available for identification.
    (C) Example. In the example in paragraph (c)(3)(ii)(B) of this 
section (but, as required for this method, without accounting for 
domestic withdrawals), the drawback attributable to the January 15 
withdrawal for export is zero (the available receipt in the inventory 
with the lowest amount of drawback is the January 2 receipt, of which 
50 units will remain after the withdrawal), the drawback attributable 
to the February 5 withdrawal for export is $50.00 (the remainder of the 
January 2 receipt and the January 5 receipt), the drawback attributable 
to the February 15 withdrawal for export is $47.50 (the February 10 
receipt), the drawback attributable to the February 28 withdrawal for 
export is $50.50 (the February 20 and January 20 receipts), the 
drawback attributable to the March 15 withdrawal for export is $42.50 
(the March 10 receipt), and the drawback attributable to the March 31 
withdrawal for export is $96.00 (the March 25 and January 25 receipts). 
Receipts not attributed to withdrawals for export are the January 31 
(50 units at $1.03), February 25 (50 units at $1.05), March 5 (50 units 
at $1.06), and March 20 (50 units at $1.08) receipts. Total drawback 
attributable to withdrawals for export in this example would be 
$286.50.
    (4) Average--(i) General. The average method is the method by which 
fungible merchandise or articles are identified on the basis of the 
calculation by recordkeeping of the amount of drawback that may be 
attributed to each unit of merchandise or articles in the inventory. In 
this method, the ratio of:
    (A) The total units of a particular receipt of the fungible 
merchandise in the inventory at the time of a withdrawal to;
    (B) The total units of all receipts of the fungible merchandise 
(including each receipt into inventory) at the time of the withdrawal;
    (C) Is applied to the withdrawal, so that the withdrawal consists 
of a proportionate quantity of units from each particular receipt and 
each receipt is correspondingly decreased. Withdrawals and 
corresponding decreases to receipts are rounded to the nearest whole 
number.
    (ii) Example. In the example in paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this 
section, the drawback attributable to the 100 units withdrawn for 
export on the 20th is a total of $133 (50 units from the receipt on the 
15th with $2 drawback attributable per unit, 33 units from the receipt 
on the 2nd with $1 drawback attributable per unit, and 17 units from 
the receipt on the 5th with $0 drawback attributable per unit). The 
basis of the foregoing and the effects on the inventory of the receipts 
and withdrawals, and balance in the inventory thereafter are as 
follows: On the 2nd of the month the receipt of 100 units ($1 drawback/
unit) results in a balance of that amount; the receipt of 50 units ($0 
drawback/unit) on the 5th results in a balance of 150 units (100 with 
$1 drawback/unit and 50 with $0 drawback/unit); the withdrawal on the 
10th of 75 units (50 with $1 drawback/unit (applying the ratio of 100 
units from the receipt on the 2nd to the total of 150 units at the time 
of withdrawal) and 25 with $0 drawback/unit (applying the ratio of 50 
units from the receipt on the 5th to the total of 150 units at the time 
of withdrawal)) results in a balance of 75 units (with 50 with $1 
drawback/unit and 25 with $0 drawback/unit, on the basis of the same 
ratios); the receipt of 75 units ($2 drawback/unit) on the 15th results 
in a balance of 150 units (50 with $1 drawback/unit, 25 with $0 
drawback/unit, and 75 with $2 drawback/unit); the withdrawal on the 
20th of 100 units (50 with $2 drawback/unit (applying the ratio of the 
75 units from the receipt on the 15th to the total of 150 units at the 
time of withdrawal), 33 with $1 drawback/unit (applying the ratio of 
the 50 units remaining from the receipt on the 2nd to the total of 150 
units at the time of withdrawal, and 17 with $0 drawback/unit (applying 
the ratio of the 25 units remaining from the receipt on the 5th to the 
total of 150 units at the time of withdrawal)) results in a balance of 
50 units (25 with $2 drawback/unit, 17 with $1 drawback/unit, and 8 
with $0 drawback/unit, on the basis of the same ratios).
    (5) Inventory turn-over for limited purposes. A properly 
established average inventory turn-over period, as provided for in 
paragraph (c)(3)(iii)(C) of this section, may be used to determine:
    (i) The fact and date(s) of use in manufacture or production of the

[[Page 37932]]

imported designated merchandise and other (substituted) merchandise 
(see 19 U.S.C. 1313(b)); or
    (ii) The fact and date(s) of manufacture or production of the 
exported or destroyed articles (see 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) and (b)).
    (d) Approval of other accounting methods. (1) Persons proposing to 
use an accounting method for identification of merchandise or articles 
for drawback purposes which has not been previously approved for such 
use (see paragraph (c) of this section), or which includes 
modifications from the methods listed in paragraph (c) of this section, 
may seek approval by CBP of the proposed accounting method under the 
provisions for obtaining an administrative ruling (see part 177 of this 
chapter). The conditions applied and the criteria used by CBP in 
approving such an alternative accounting method, or a modification of 
one of the approved accounting methods, will be the criteria in 
paragraph (b) of this section, as well as those in paragraph (d)(2) of 
this section.
    (2) In order for a proposed accounting method to be approved by CBP 
for purposes of this section, it must meet the following criteria:
    (i) For purposes of calculations of drawback, the proposed 
accounting method must be either revenue neutral or favorable to the 
Government; and
    (ii) The proposed accounting method should be:
    (A) Generally consistent with commercial accounting procedures, as 
applicable for purposes of drawback;
    (B) Consistent with inventory or material control records used in 
the ordinary course of business by the person proposing the method; and
    (C) Easily administered by CBP.


Sec.  190.15   Recordkeeping.

    Pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1508(c)(3), all records which pertain to the 
filing of a drawback claim or to the information contained in the 
records required by 19 U.S.C. 1313 in connection with the filing of a 
drawback claim must be retained for 3 years after liquidation of such 
claims or longer period if required by law (under 19 U.S.C. 1508, the 
same records may be subject to a different period for different 
purposes).

Subpart B--Manufacturing Drawback


Sec.  190.21   Direct identification manufacturing drawback.

    Section 313(a) of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1313(a)), provides 
for drawback upon the exportation, or destruction under CBP 
supervision, of articles manufactured or produced in the United States 
with the use of imported merchandise, provided that those articles have 
not been used in the United States prior to such exportation or 
destruction. The amount of drawback allowable shall not exceed 99 
percent of the amount of duties, taxes, and fees paid with respect to 
the imported merchandise. However, duties may not be refunded upon the 
exportation or destruction of flour or by-products produced from 
imported wheat. Where two or more products result, drawback must be 
distributed among the products in accordance with their relative 
values, as defined in Sec.  190.2, at the time of separation. 
Merchandise may be identified for drawback purposes under 19 U.S.C. 
1313(a) in the manner provided for and prescribed in Sec.  190.14.


Sec.  190.22  Substitution manufacturing drawback.

    (a)(1) General--(i) Substitution standard. If imported, duty-paid 
merchandise or merchandise classifiable under the same 8-digit HTSUS 
subheading number as the imported merchandise is used in the 
manufacture or production of articles within a period not to exceed 5 
years from the date of importation of such imported merchandise, then 
upon the exportation, or destruction under CBP supervision, of any such 
articles, without their having been used in the United States prior to 
such exportation or destruction, drawback is provided for in section 
313(b) of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1313(b)). Drawback is 
allowable even though none of the imported, duty-paid merchandise may 
actually have been used in the manufacture or production of the 
exported or destroyed articles.
    (ii) Allowable refund--(A) Exportation. In the case of an article 
that is exported, the amount of drawback allowable will not exceed 99 
percent of the lesser of:
    (1) The amount of duties, taxes, and fees paid with respect to the 
imported merchandise; or
    (2) The amount of duties, taxes, and fees that would apply to the 
substituted merchandise if the substituted merchandise were imported.
    (B) Destruction. In the case of an article that is destroyed, the 
amount of drawback allowable will not exceed 99 percent of the lesser 
of:
    (1) The amount of duties, taxes, and fees paid with respect to the 
imported merchandise (reduced by the value of materials recovered 
during destruction as provided in 19 U.S.C. 1313(x)); or
    (2) The amount of duties, taxes, and fees that would apply to the 
substituted merchandise if the substituted merchandise were imported 
(reduced by the value of materials recovered during destruction as 
provided in 19 U.S.C. 1313(x)).
    (C) Federal excise tax. For purposes of drawback of internal 
revenue tax imposed under Chapters 32, 38, 51, and 52 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (IRC), drawback granted on the export 
or destruction of substituted merchandise will be limited to the amount 
of taxes paid (and not returned by refund, credit, or drawback) on the 
substituted merchandise.
    (2) Special rule for sought chemical elements--(i) Substitution 
standard. A sought chemical element, as defined in Sec.  190.2, may be 
considered imported merchandise, or merchandise classifiable under the 
same 8-digit HTSUS subheading number as such imported merchandise, used 
in the manufacture or production of an article as described in 
paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section, and it may be substituted for 
source material containing that sought chemical element, without regard 
to whether the sought chemical element and the source material are 
classifiable under the same 8-digit HTSUS subheading number, and 
apportioned quantitatively, as appropriate (see Sec.  190.26(b)(4)).
    (ii) Allowable refund. The amount of drawback allowable will be 
determined in accordance with paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section. The 
value of the substituted source material must be determined based on 
the quantity of the sought chemical element present in the source 
material, as calculated per Sec.  190.26(b)(4).
    (b) Use by same manufacturer or producer at different factory. 
Duty-paid merchandise or drawback products used at one factory of a 
manufacturer or producer within 5 years after the date on which the 
material was imported may be designated as the basis for drawback on 
articles manufactured or produced in accordance with these regulations 
at other factories of the same manufacturer or producer.
    (c) Designation. A manufacturer or producer may designate any 
eligible imported merchandise or drawback product which it has used in 
manufacture or production.
    (d) Designation by successor--(1) General rule. Upon compliance 
with the requirements in this section and under 19 U.S.C. 1313(s), a 
drawback successor as defined in paragraph (d)(2) of this section may 
designate merchandise or drawback product used by a predecessor before 
the date of succession as the basis for drawback on articles 
manufactured or produced by the successor after the date of succession.

[[Page 37933]]

    (2) Drawback successor. A ``drawback successor'' is a manufacturer 
or producer to whom another entity (predecessor) has transferred, by 
written agreement, merger, or corporate resolution:
    (i) All or substantially all of the rights, privileges, immunities, 
powers, duties, and liabilities of the predecessor; or
    (ii) The assets and other business interests of a division, plant, 
or other business unit of such predecessor, provided that the value of 
the transferred assets and interests (realty, personalty, and 
intangibles, exclusive of the drawback rights) exceeds the value of 
such drawback rights, whether vested or contingent.
    (3) Certifications and required evidence--(i) Records of 
predecessor. The predecessor or successor must certify that the 
successor is in possession of the predecessor's records which are 
necessary to establish the right to drawback under the law and 
regulations with respect to the merchandise or drawback product.
    (ii) Merchandise not otherwise designated. The predecessor or 
successor must certify in an attachment to the claim, that the 
predecessor has not designated and will not designate, nor enable any 
other person to designate, such merchandise or product as the basis for 
drawback.
    (iii) Value of transferred property. In instances in which assets 
and other business interests of a division, plant, or other business 
unit of a predecessor are transferred, the predecessor or successor 
must specify, and maintain supporting records to establish, the value 
of the drawback rights and the value of all other transferred property.
    (iv) Review by CBP. The written agreement, merger, or corporate 
resolution, provided for in paragraph (d)(2) of this section, and the 
records and evidence provided for in paragraph (d)(3)(i) through (iii) 
of this section, must be retained by the appropriate party(s) for 3 
years from the date of liquidation of the related claim and are subject 
to review by CBP upon request.
    (e) Multiple products--(1) General. Where two or more products are 
produced concurrently in a substitution manufacturing operation, 
drawback will be distributed to each product in accordance with its 
relative value (see Sec.  190.2) at the time of separation.
    (2) Claims covering a manufacturing period. Where the claim covers 
a manufacturing period rather than a manufacturing lot, the entire 
period covered by the claim is the time of separation of the products 
and the value per unit of product is the market value for the period 
(as provided for in the definition of relative value in Sec.  190.2). 
Manufacturing periods in excess of one month may not be used without 
specific approval of CBP.
    (3) Recordkeeping. Records must be maintained showing the relative 
value of each product at the time of separation.


Sec.  190.23   Methods and requirements for claiming drawback.

    Claims must be based on one or more of the methods specified in 
paragraph (a) of this section and comply with all other requirements 
specified in this section.
    (a) Method of claiming drawback.--(1) Used in. Drawback may be paid 
based on the amount of the imported or substituted merchandise used in 
the manufacture of the exported article, where there is no waste or the 
waste is valueless or unrecoverable. This method must be used when 
multiple products also necessarily and concurrently result from the 
manufacturing process, and there is no valuable waste (see paragraph 
(a)(2) of this section).
    (2) Used in less valuable waste. Drawback is allowable under this 
method based on the quantity of merchandise or drawback products used 
to manufacture the exported or destroyed article, reduced by an amount 
equal to the quantity of this merchandise that the value of the waste 
would replace. This method must be used when multiple products also 
necessarily and concurrently result from the manufacturing process, and 
there is valuable waste.
    (3) Relative value. Drawback is also allowable under this method 
when two or more products result from manufacturing or production. The 
relative value method must be used when multiple products also 
necessarily and concurrently result from the manufacturing process, and 
drawback must be distributed among the products in accordance with 
their relative values (as defined in Sec.  190.2) at the time of 
separation.
    (4) Appearing in. Drawback is allowable under this method based 
only on the amount of imported or substituted merchandise that appears 
in (is contained in) the exported articles. The appearing in method may 
not be used if there are multiple products also necessarily and 
concurrently resulting from the manufacturing process.
    (b) Abstract or schedule. A drawback claimant may use either the 
abstract or schedule method to show the quantity of material used or 
appearing in the exported or destroyed article. An abstract is the 
summary of records which shows the total quantity used in or appearing 
in all articles produced during the period covered by the abstract. A 
schedule shows the quantity of material actually used in producing, or 
appearing in, each unit of product. Manufacturers or producers 
submitting letters of notification of intent to operate under a general 
manufacturing drawback ruling (see Sec.  190.7) and applicants for 
approval of specific manufacturing drawback rulings (see Sec.  190.8) 
must state whether the abstract or schedule method is used; if no such 
statement is made, drawback claims must be based upon the abstract 
method.
    (c) Claim for waste.--(1) Valuable waste. When the waste has a 
value and the drawback claim is not limited to the quantity of imported 
or substituted merchandise or drawback products appearing in the 
exported or destroyed articles claimed for drawback, the manufacturer 
or producer must keep records to show the market value of the 
merchandise or drawback products used to manufacture or produce the 
exported or destroyed articles, as well as the market value of the 
resulting waste, under the used in less valuable waste method (as 
provided for in the definition of relative value in Sec.  190.2).
    (2) If claim for waste is waived. If claim for waste is waived, 
only the ``appearing in'' basis may be used (see paragraph (a)(4) of 
this section). Waste records need not be kept unless required to 
establish the quantity of imported duty-paid merchandise or drawback 
products appearing in the exported or destroyed articles claimed for 
drawback.


Sec.  190.24  Transfer of merchandise.

    Evidence of any transfers of merchandise (see Sec.  190.10) must be 
evidenced by records, as defined in Sec.  190.2.


Sec.  190.25   Destruction under CBP supervision.

    A claimant may destroy merchandise and obtain drawback by complying 
with the procedures set forth in Sec.  190.71 relating to destruction.


Sec.  190.26   Recordkeeping.

    (a) Direct identification. (1) Records required. Each manufacturer 
or producer under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) must keep records to allow the 
verifying CBP official to trace all articles manufactured or produced 
for exportation or destruction with drawback, from importation, through 
manufacture or production, to exportation or destruction. To this end, 
these records must specifically establish:
    (i) The date or inclusive dates of manufacture or production;

[[Page 37934]]

    (ii) The quantity, identity, and 8-digit HTSUS subheading number(s) 
of the imported duty-paid merchandise or drawback products used in or 
appearing in (see Sec.  190.23) the articles manufactured or produced;
    (iii) The quantity, if any, of the non-drawback merchandise used, 
when these records are necessary to determine the quantity of imported 
duty-paid merchandise or drawback product used in the manufacture or 
production of the exported or destroyed articles or appearing in them;
    (iv) The quantity and description of the articles manufactured or 
produced;
    (v) The quantity of waste incurred, if applicable; and
    (vi) That the articles on which drawback is claimed were exported 
or destroyed within 5 years after the importation of the duty-paid 
merchandise, without having been used in the United States prior to 
such exportation or destruction. (If the articles were commingled after 
manufacture or production, their identity may be maintained in the 
manner prescribed in Sec.  190.14.)
    (2) Accounting. The merchandise and articles to be exported or 
destroyed will be accounted for in a manner which will enable the 
manufacturer, producer, or claimant:
    (i) To determine, and the CBP official to verify, the applicable 
import entry and any transfers of the merchandise associated with the 
claim; and
    (ii) To identify with respect to that import entry, and any 
transfers of the merchandise, the imported merchandise or drawback 
products used in manufacture or production.
    (b) Substitution. The records of the manufacturer or producer of 
articles manufactured or produced in accordance with 19 U.S.C. 1313(b) 
must establish the facts in paragraph (a)(1)(i), (iv) through (vi) of 
this section, and:
    (1) The quantity, identity, and specifications of the merchandise 
designated (imported duty-paid, or drawback product);
    (2) The quantity, identity, and specifications of the substituted 
merchandise before its use to manufacture or produce (or appearing in) 
the exported or destroyed articles;
    (3) That, within 5 years after the date of importation of the 
imported duty-paid merchandise, the manufacturer or producer used the 
designated merchandise in manufacturing or production and that during 
the same 5-year period it manufactured or produced the exported or 
destroyed articles; and
    (4) If the designated merchandise is a sought chemical element, as 
defined in Sec.  190.2, that was contained in imported material and a 
substitution drawback claim is made based on that chemical element:
    (i) The duty paid on the imported material must be apportioned 
among its constituent components. The claim on the chemical element 
that is the designated merchandise must be limited to the duty 
apportioned to that element on a unit-for-unit attribution using the 
unit of measure set forth in the HTSUS that is applicable to the 
imported material. If the material is a compound with other 
constituents, including impurities, and the purity of the compound in 
the imported material is shown by satisfactory analysis, that purity, 
converted to a decimal equivalent of the percentage, is multiplied 
against the entered amount of the material to establish the amount of 
pure compound. The amount of the element in the pure compound is to be 
determined by use of the atomic weights of the constituent elements and 
converting to the decimal equivalent of their respective percentages 
and multiplying that decimal equivalent against the above-determined 
amount of pure compound.
    (ii) The amount claimed as drawback based on the sought chemical 
element must be deducted from the duty paid on the imported material 
that may be claimed on any other drawback claim.
    Example to paragraph (b)(4): Synthetic rutile that is shown by 
appropriate analysis in the entry papers to be 91.7% pure titanium 
dioxide is imported and dutiable at a 5% ad valorem duty rate. The 
amount of imported synthetic rutile is 30,000 pounds with an entered 
value of $12,000. The total duty paid is $600. Titanium in the 
synthetic rutile is designated as the basis for a drawback claim under 
19 U.S.C. 1313(b). The amount of titanium dioxide in the synthetic 
rutile is determined by converting the purity percentage (91.7%) to its 
decimal equivalent (.917) and multiplying the entered amount of 
synthetic rutile (30,000 pounds) by that decimal equivalent (.917 x 
30,000 = 27,510 pounds of titanium dioxide contained in the 30,000 
pounds of imported synthetic rutile). The titanium, based on atomic 
weight, represents 59.93% of the constituents in titanium dioxide. 
Multiplying that percentage, converted to its decimal equivalent, by 
the amount of titanium dioxide determines the titanium content of the 
imported synthetic rutile (.5993 x 27,510 pounds of titanium dioxide = 
16,486.7 pounds of titanium contained in the imported synthetic 
rutile). Therefore, up to 16,486.7 pounds of titanium is available to 
be designated as the basis for drawback. As the per unit duty paid on 
the synthetic rutile is calculated by dividing the duty paid ($600) by 
the amount of imported synthetic rutile (30,000 pounds), the per unit 
duty is two cents of duty per pound of the imported synthetic rutile 
($600 / 30,000 = $0.02). The duty on the titanium is calculated by 
multiplying the amount of titanium contained in the imported synthetic 
rutile by two cents of duty per pound (16,486.7 x $0.02 = $329.73 duty 
apportioned to the titanium). The product is then multiplied by 99% to 
determine the maximum amount of drawback available ($329.73 x .99 = 
$326.44). If an exported titanium alloy ingot weighs 17,000 pounds, in 
which 16,000 pounds of titanium was used to make the ingot, drawback is 
determined by multiplying the duty per pound ($0.02) by the weight of 
the titanium contained in the ingot (16,000 pounds) to calculate the 
duty available for drawback ($0.02 x 16,000 = $320.00). Because only 
99% of the duty can be claimed, drawback is determined by multiplying 
this available duty amount by 99% (.99 x $320.00 = $316.80). As the 
oxygen content of the titanium dioxide is 45% of the synthetic rutile, 
if oxygen is the designated merchandise on another drawback claim, 45% 
of the duty claimed on the synthetic rutile would be available for 
drawback based on the substitution of oxygen.
    (c) Valuable waste records. When waste has a value and the 
manufacturer, producer, or claimant, has not limited the claims based 
on the quantity of imported or substituted merchandise appearing in the 
articles exported or destroyed, the manufacturer or producer must keep 
records to show the market value of the merchandise used to manufacture 
or produce the exported or destroyed article, as well as the quantity 
and market value of the waste incurred (as provided for in the 
definition of relative value in Sec.  190.2). In such records, the 
quantity of merchandise identified or designated for drawback, under 19 
U.S.C. 1313(a) or 1313(b), respectively, must be based on the quantity 
of merchandise actually used to manufacture or produce the exported or 
destroyed articles. The waste replacement reduction will be determined 
by reducing from the quantity of merchandise actually used by the 
amount of merchandise which the value of the waste would replace.
    (d) Purchase of manufactured or produced articles for exportation. 
Where the claimant purchases articles from the manufacturer or producer 
and exports them, the claimant must

[[Page 37935]]

maintain records to document the manufacture or production and transfer 
of those articles (see Sec.  190.51(a)(1)).
    (e) Multiple claimants--(1) General. Multiple claimants may file 
for drawback with respect to the same export (for example, if an 
automobile is exported, where different parts of the automobile have 
been produced by different manufacturers under drawback conditions and 
the exporter waives the right to claim drawback and assigns such right 
to the manufacturers under Sec.  190.82).
    (2) Procedures--(i) Submission of letter. Each drawback claimant 
must file a separate letter, as part of the claim, describing the 
component article on the export bill of lading to which each claim will 
relate. Each letter must show the name of the claimant and bear a 
statement that the claim will be limited to its respective component 
article. The exporter must endorse the letters, as required, to show 
the respective interests of the claimants.
    (ii) Blanket waivers and assignments of drawback rights. Exporters 
may waive and assign their drawback rights for all, or any portion, of 
their exportations with respect to a particular commodity for a given 
period to a drawback claimant.
    (f) Retention of records. Pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1508(c)(3), all 
records required to be kept by the manufacturer, producer, or claimant 
with respect to drawback claims, and records kept by others to 
complement the records of the manufacturer, producer, or claimant with 
respect to drawback claims must be retained for 3 years after the date 
of liquidation of the related claims (under 19 U.S.C. 1508, the same 
records may be subject to a different retention period for different 
purposes).


Sec.  190.27  Time limitations for manufacturing drawback.

    (a) Direct identification. Drawback will be allowed on imported 
merchandise used to manufacture or produce articles that are exported 
or destroyed under CBP supervision within 5 years after importation of 
the merchandise identified to support the claim.
    (b) Substitution. Drawback will be allowed on the imported 
merchandise if the following conditions are met:
    (1) The designated merchandise is used in manufacture or production 
within 5 years after importation;
    (2) Within the 5-year period described in paragraph (b)(1) of this 
section, the exported or destroyed articles, or drawback products, were 
manufactured or produced; and
    (3) The completed articles must be exported or destroyed under CBP 
supervision within 5 years of the date of importation of the designated 
merchandise, or within 5 years of the earliest date of importation 
associated with a drawback product.
    (c) Drawback claims filed before specific or general manufacturing 
drawback ruling approved or acknowledged. Drawback claims may be filed 
before the letter of notification of intent to operate under a general 
manufacturing drawback ruling covering the claims is acknowledged 
(Sec.  190.7), or before the specific manufacturing drawback ruling 
covering the claims is approved (Sec.  190.8), but no drawback will be 
paid until such acknowledgement or approval, as appropriate.


Sec.  190.28   Person entitled to claim manufacturing drawback.

    The exporter (or destroyer) will be entitled to claim drawback, 
unless the exporter (or destroyer), by means of a certification, 
assigns the right to claim drawback to the manufacturer, producer, 
importer, or intermediate party. Such certification must also affirm 
that the exporter (or destroyer) has not and will not itself claim 
drawback or assign the right to claim drawback on the particular 
exportation or destruction to any other party. The certification 
provided for under this section may be a blanket certification for a 
stated period. Drawback is paid to the claimant, who may be the 
manufacturer, producer, intermediate party, importer, or exporter (or 
destroyer).


Sec.  190.29  Certification of bill of materials or formula.

    At the time of filing a claim under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) or (b), the 
claimant must certify the following:
    (a) The claimant is in possession of the applicable bill of 
materials or formula for the exported or destroyed article(s), which 
will be promptly provided upon request;
    (b) The bill of materials or formula identifies the imported and/or 
substituted merchandise and the exported or destroyed article(s) by 
their 8-digit HTSUS subheading numbers; and
    (c) The bill of materials or formula identifies the manufactured 
quantities of the imported and/or substituted merchandise and the 
exported or destroyed article(s).

Subpart C--Unused Merchandise Drawback


Sec.  190.31  Direct identification unused merchandise drawback.

    (a) General. Section 313(j)(1) of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 
1313(j)(1)), provides for drawback upon the exportation or destruction 
under CBP supervision of imported merchandise upon which was paid any 
duty, tax, or fee imposed under Federal law upon entry or importation, 
if the merchandise has not been used within the United States before 
such exportation or destruction. The total amount of drawback allowable 
will not exceed 99 percent of the amount of duties, taxes, and fees 
paid with respect to the imported merchandise.
    (b) Time of exportation or destruction. Drawback will be allowable 
on imported merchandise if, before the close of the 5-year period 
beginning on the date of importation and before the drawback claim is 
filed, the merchandise is exported from the United States or destroyed 
under CBP supervision.
    (c) Operations performed on imported merchandise. The performing of 
any operation or combination of operations, not amounting to 
manufacture or production under the provisions of the manufacturing 
drawback law as provided for in 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(3)(A), on imported 
merchandise is not a use of that merchandise for purposes of this 
section.


Sec.  190.32   Substitution unused merchandise drawback.

    (a) General. Section 313(j)(2) of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 
1313(j)(2)), provides for drawback of duties, taxes, and fees paid on 
imported merchandise based on the export or destruction under CBP 
supervision of substituted merchandise (as defined in Sec.  190.2, 
pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2)), before the close of the 5-year 
period beginning on the date of importation of the imported merchandise 
and before the drawback claim is filed, and before such exportation or 
destruction the substituted merchandise is not used in the United 
States (see paragraph (e) of this section) and is in the possession of 
the party claiming drawback.
    (b) Allowable refund. (1) Exportation. In the case of an article 
that is exported, subject to paragraph (3) below, the total amount of 
drawback allowable will not exceed 99 percent of the lesser of:
    (i) The amount of duties, taxes, and fees paid with respect to the 
imported merchandise; or
    (ii) The amount of duties, taxes, and fees that would apply to the 
exported

[[Page 37936]]

article if the exported article were imported.
    (2) Destruction. In the case of an article that is destroyed, 
subject to paragraph (3) below, the total amount of drawback allowable 
will not exceed 99 percent of the lesser of:
    (i) The amount of duties, taxes, and fees paid with respect to the 
imported merchandise (reduced by the value of materials recovered 
during destruction as provided in 19 U.S.C. 1313(x)); or
    (ii) The amount of duties, taxes, and fees that would apply to the 
destroyed article if the destroyed article had been imported (reduced 
by the value of materials recovered during destruction as provided in 
19 U.S.C. 1313(x)).
    (3) Federal excise tax. For purposes of drawback of internal 
revenue tax imposed under Chapters 32, 38, 51, and 52 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (IRC), drawback granted on the export 
or destruction of substituted merchandise will be limited to the amount 
of taxes paid (and not returned by refund, credit, or drawback) on the 
substituted merchandise.
    (c) Determination of HTSUS classification for substituted 
merchandise. Requests for binding rulings on the classification of 
imported, substituted, or exported merchandise may be submitted to CBP 
pursuant to the procedures set forth in part 177.
    (d) Claims for wine. (1) Alternative substitution standard. In 
addition to 8-digit HTSUS substitution standard in Sec.  190.2, 
drawback of duties, taxes, and fees, paid on imported wine as defined 
in Sec.  190.2 may be allowable under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2) with respect 
to wine if the imported wine and the exported wine are of the same 
color and the price variation between the imported wine and the 
exported wine does not exceed 50 percent.
    (2) Allowable refund. For any drawback claim for wine (as defined 
in Sec.  190.2) based on subsection (j)(2), the total amount of 
drawback allowable will be equal to 99 percent of the duties, taxes, 
and fees paid with respect to the imported merchandise, without regard 
to the limitations in paragraph (b).
    (3) Required certification. When the basis for substitution for 
wine drawback claims under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2) is the alternative 
substitution standard rule set forth in (d)(1), claims under this 
subpart may be paid and liquidated if:
    (i) The claimant specifies on the drawback entry that the basis for 
substitution is the alternative substitution standard for wine; and
    (ii) The claimant provides a certification, as part of the complete 
claim (see 190.51(a)), stating that:
    (A) The imported wine and the exported wine are a Class 1 grape 
wine (as defined in 27 CFR 4.21(a)(1)) of the same color (i.e., red, 
white, or ros[eacute]);
    (B) The imported wine and the exported wine are table wines (as 
defined in 27 CFR 4.21(a)(2)) and the alcoholic content does not exceed 
14 percent by volume; and
    (C) The price variation between the imported wine and the exported 
wine does not exceed 50 percent.
    (e) Operations performed on substituted merchandise. The performing 
of any operation or combination of operations, not amounting to 
manufacture or production as provided for in 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(3)(B), 
on the substituted merchandise is not a use of that merchandise for 
purposes of this section.
    (f) Designation by successor; 19 U.S.C. 1313(s). (1) General rule. 
Upon compliance with the requirements of this section and under 19 
U.S.C. 1313(s), a drawback successor as defined in paragraph (f)(2) of 
this section may designate either of the following as the basis for 
drawback on merchandise possessed by the successor after the date of 
succession:
    (i) Imported merchandise which the predecessor, before the date of 
succession, imported; or
    (ii) Imported and/or substituted merchandise that was transferred 
to the predecessor from the person who imported and paid duty on the 
imported merchandise.
    (2) Drawback successor. A ``drawback successor'' is an entity to 
which another entity (predecessor) has transferred, by written 
agreement, merger, or corporate resolution:
    (i) All or substantially all of the rights, privileges, immunities, 
powers, duties, and liabilities of the predecessor; or
    (ii) The assets and other business interests of a division, plant, 
or other business unit of such predecessor, provided that the value of 
the transferred assets and interests (realty, personalty, and 
intangibles, exclusive of the drawback rights) exceeds the value of 
such drawback rights, whether vested or contingent.
    (3) Certifications and required evidence--(i) Records of 
predecessor. The predecessor or successor must certify in an attachment 
to the drawback claim that the successor is in possession of the 
predecessor's records which are necessary to establish the right to 
drawback under the law and regulations with respect to the imported 
and/or substituted merchandise.
    (ii) Merchandise not otherwise designated. The predecessor or 
successor must certify in an attachment to the drawback claim, that the 
predecessor has not and will not designate, nor enable any other person 
to designate, the imported and/or substituted merchandise as the basis 
for drawback.
    (iii) Value of transferred property. In instances in which assets 
and other business interests of a division, plant, or other business 
unit of a predecessor are transferred, the predecessor or successor 
must specify, and maintain supporting records to establish, the value 
of the drawback rights and the value of all other transferred property.
    (iv) Review by CBP. The written agreement, merger, or corporate 
resolution, provided for in paragraph (f)(2) of this section, and the 
records and evidence provided for in paragraph (f)(3)(i) through (iii) 
of this section, must be retained by the appropriate party(s) for 3 
years from the date of liquidation of the related claim and are subject 
to review by CBP upon request.


Sec.  190.33  Person entitled to claim unused merchandise drawback.

    (a) Direct identification. (1) Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(1), as 
amended, the exporter or destroyer will be entitled to claim drawback.
    (2) The exporter or destroyer may waive the right to claim drawback 
and assign such right to the importer or any intermediate party. A 
drawback claimant under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(1) other than the exporter or 
destroyer must secure and retain a certification signed by the exporter 
or destroyer waiving the right to claim drawback, and did not and will 
not authorize any other party to claim the exportation or destruction 
for drawback (see Sec.  190.82 of this part). The certification 
provided for under this section may be a blanket certification for a 
stated period. The claimant must file such certification at the time 
of, or prior to, the filing of the claim(s) covered by the 
certification.
    (b) Substitution. (1) Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2), as amended, the 
following parties may claim drawback:
    (i) In situations where the exporter or destroyer of the 
substituted merchandise is also the importer of the imported 
merchandise, that party will be entitled to claim drawback.
    (ii) In situations where the person who imported and paid the duty 
on the imported merchandise transfers the imported merchandise, 
substituted merchandise, or any combination of imported and substituted 
merchandise to the person who exports or destroys that merchandise, the 
exporter or destroyer will be entitled to claim drawback. (Any such 
transferred

[[Page 37937]]

merchandise, regardless of its origin, will be treated as imported 
merchandise for purposes of drawback under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2), and 
any retained merchandise will be treated as domestic merchandise.)
    (iii) In situations where the transferred merchandise described in 
paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section is the subject of further 
transfer(s), such transfer(s) must be documented by records, including 
records kept in the normal course of business, and the exporter or 
destroyer will be entitled to claim drawback (multiple substitutions 
are not permitted).
    (2) The exporter or destroyer may waive the right to claim drawback 
and assign such right to the importer or to any intermediate party, 
provided that the claimant had possession of the substituted 
merchandise prior to its exportation or destruction. A drawback 
claimant under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2) other than the exporter or 
destroyer must secure and retain a certification signed by the exporter 
or destroyer that such party waived the right to claim drawback, and 
did not and will not authorize any other party to claim the exportation 
or destruction for drawback (see Sec.  190.82). The certification 
provided for under this section may be a blanket certification for a 
stated period. The claimant must file such certification at the time 
of, or prior to, the filing of the claim(s) covered by the 
certification.


Sec.  190.34  Transfer of merchandise.

    Any transfer of merchandise (see Sec.  190.10) must be recorded in 
records, which may include records kept in the normal course of 
business, as defined in Sec.  190.2.


Sec.  190.35  Notice of intent to export; examination of merchandise.

    (a) Notice. A notice of intent to export merchandise which may be 
the subject of an unused merchandise drawback claim (19 U.S.C. 1313(j)) 
must be provided to CBP to give CBP the opportunity to examine the 
merchandise. The claimant, or the exporter, must file at the port of 
intended examination a Notice of Intent to Export, Destroy, or Return 
Merchandise for Purposes of Drawback on CBP Form 7553 at least 2 
working days prior to the date of intended exportation unless CBP 
approves another filing period or the claimant has been granted a 
waiver of prior notice (see Sec.  190.91).
    (b) Required information. The notice must certify that the 
merchandise has not been used in the United States before exportation. 
In addition, the notice must provide the bill of lading number, if 
known, the name and telephone number, mailing address, and, if 
available, fax number and email address of a contact person, and the 
location of the merchandise.
    (c) Decision to examine or to waive examination. Within 2 working 
days after receipt of the Notice of Intent to Export, Destroy, or 
Return Merchandise for Purposes of Drawback (see paragraph (a) of this 
section), CBP will notify the party designated on the Notice in writing 
of CBP's decision to either examine the merchandise to be exported, or 
to waive examination. If CBP timely notifies the designated party, in 
writing, of its decision to examine the merchandise (see paragraph (d) 
of this section), but the merchandise is exported without having been 
presented to CBP for examination, any drawback claim, or part thereof, 
based on the Notice will be denied. If CBP notifies the designated 
party, in writing, of its decision to waive examination of the 
merchandise, or, if timely notification of a decision by CBP to examine 
or to waive examination has not been received, the merchandise may be 
exported without delay.
    (d) Time and place of examination. If CBP gives timely notice of 
its decision to examine the export merchandise, the merchandise to be 
examined must be promptly presented to CBP. CBP must examine the 
merchandise within 5 working days after presentation of the 
merchandise. The merchandise may be exported without examination if CBP 
fails to timely examine the merchandise after presentation to CBP. If 
the examination is completed at a port other than the port of actual 
exportation, the merchandise must be transported in-bond to the port of 
exportation.
    (e) Extent of examination. The appropriate CBP office may permit 
release of merchandise without examination, or may examine, to the 
extent determined to be necessary, the items exported or destroyed.


Sec.  190.36   Failure to file Notice of Intent to Export, Destroy, or 
Return Merchandise for Purposes of Drawback.

    (a) General; application. Merchandise which has been exported 
without complying with the requirements of Sec.  190.35(a) or Sec.  
190.91 may be eligible for unused merchandise drawback under 19 U.S.C. 
1313(j) subject to the following conditions:
    (1) Application. The claimant must file a written application with 
the drawback office where the drawback claims will be filed. Such 
application must include the following:
    (i) Required information.
    (A) Name, address, and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) number (with 
suffix) of applicant;
    (B) Name, address, and IRS number(s) (with suffix(es)) of 
exporter(s), if applicant is not the exporter;
    (C) Export period covered by this application;
    (D) Commodity/product lines of imported and exported merchandise 
covered in this application (and the applicable HTSUS numbers);
    (E) The origin of the above merchandise;
    (F) Estimated number of export transactions covered in this 
application;
    (G) Estimated number of drawback claims and estimated time of 
filing those claims to be covered in this application;
    (H) The port(s) of exportation;
    (I) Estimated dollar value of potential drawback claims to be 
covered in this application;
    (J) The relationship between the parties involved in the import and 
export transactions; and
    (K) Provision(s) of drawback covered under the application;
    (ii) Written declarations regarding:
    (A) The reason(s) that CBP was not notified of the intent to 
export; and
    (B) Whether the applicant, to the best of its knowledge, will have 
future exportations on which unused merchandise drawback might be 
claimed; and
    (iii) A certification that the following documentary evidence will 
be made available for CBP to review upon request:
    (A) For the purpose of establishing that the imported merchandise 
was not used in the United States (for purposes of drawback under 19 
U.S.C. 1313(j)(1)) or that the exported merchandise was not used in the 
United States and satisfied the requirements for substitution with the 
imported merchandise (for purposes of drawback under 19 U.S.C. 
1313(j)(2)), and, as applicable:
    (1) Records;
    (2) Any laboratory records prepared in the ordinary course of 
business; and/or
    (3) Inventory records prepared in the ordinary course of business 
tracing all relevant movements and storage of the imported merchandise, 
substituted merchandise, and/or exported merchandise; and
    (B) Evidence establishing compliance with all other applicable 
drawback requirements.
    (2) One-Time Use. The procedure provided for in this section may be 
used by a claimant only once, unless good cause is shown (for example, 
successorship).
    (3) Claims filed pending disposition of application. Drawback 
claims may be

[[Page 37938]]

filed under this section pending disposition of the application. 
However, those drawback claims will not be processed or paid until the 
application is approved by CBP.
    (b) CBP action. In order for CBP to evaluate the application under 
this section, CBP may request, and the applicant must provide, any of 
the information listed in paragraph (a)(1)(iii)(A)(1) through (3) of 
this section. In making its decision to approve or deny the application 
under this section, CBP will consider factors such as, but not limited 
to, the following:
    (1) Information provided by the claimant in the written 
application;
    (2) Any of the information listed in paragraphs (a)(1)(iii)(A)(1) 
through (3) of this section and requested by CBP under paragraph (b); 
and
    (3) The applicant's prior record with CBP.
    (c) Time for CBP action. CBP will notify the applicant in writing 
within 90 days after receipt of the application of its decision to 
approve or deny the application, or of CBP's inability to approve, deny 
or act on the application and the reason therefor.
    (d) Appeal of denial of application. If CBP denies the application, 
the applicant may file a written appeal with the drawback office which 
issued the denial, provided that the applicant files this appeal within 
30 days of the date of denial. If CBP denies this initial appeal, the 
applicant may file a further written appeal with CBP Headquarters, 
Office of Trade, Trade Policy and Programs, provided that the applicant 
files this further appeal within 30 days of the denial date of the 
initial appeal. CBP may extend the 30-day period for appeal to the 
drawback office or to CBP Headquarters, for good cause, if the 
applicant applies in writing for such extension within the appropriate 
30-day period above.
    (e) Future intent to export unused merchandise. If an applicant 
states it will have future exportations on which unused merchandise 
drawback may be claimed (see paragraph (a)(1)(ii)(B) of this section), 
the applicant will be informed of the procedures for waiver of prior 
notice (see Sec.  190.91). If the applicant seeks waiver of prior 
notice under Sec.  190.91, any documentation submitted to CBP to comply 
with this section will be included in the request under Sec.  190.91. 
An applicant that states that it will have future exportations on which 
unused merchandise drawback may be claimed (see paragraph (a)(1)(ii)(B) 
of this section) and which does not obtain waiver of prior notice must 
notify CBP of its intent to export prior to each such exportation, in 
accordance with Sec.  190.35.


Sec.  190.37   Destruction under CBP supervision.

    A claimant may destroy merchandise and obtain unused merchandise 
drawback by complying with the procedures set forth in Sec.  190.71 
relating to destruction.


Sec.  190.38   Recordkeeping.

    (a) Maintained by claimant; by others. Pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 
1508(c)(3), all records which are necessary to be maintained by the 
claimant under this part with respect to drawback claims, and records 
kept by others to complement the records of the claimant, which are 
essential to establish compliance with the legal requirements of 19 
U.S.C. 1313(j)(1) or (j)(2), as applicable, and this part with respect 
to drawback claims, must be retained for 3 years after liquidation of 
such claims (under 19 U.S.C. 1508, the same records may be subject to a 
different retention period for different purposes).
    (b) Accounting for the merchandise. Merchandise subject to drawback 
under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(1) and (j)(2) must be accounted for in a manner 
which will enable the claimant:
    (1) To determine, and CBP to verify, the applicable import entry or 
transfer(s) of drawback-eligible merchandise;
    (2) To determine, and CBP to verify, the applicable exportation or 
destruction; and
    (3) To identify, with respect to the import entry or any 
transfer(s) of drawback-eligible merchandise, the imported merchandise 
designated as the basis for the drawback claim.

Subpart D--Rejected Merchandise


Sec.  190.41   Rejected merchandise drawback.

    Section 313(c) of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1313(c)), provides 
for drawback upon the exportation or destruction under CBP supervision 
of imported merchandise which has been entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse, for consumption, duty-paid, and which: Does not conform to 
sample or specifications; has been shipped without the consent of the 
consignee; or has been determined to be defective as of the time of 
importation; or ultimately sold at retail by the importer or the person 
who received the merchandise from the importer, and for any reason 
returned to and accepted by the importer or the person who received the 
merchandise from the importer. The total amount of drawback allowable 
will be 99 percent of the amount of duties paid with respect to the 
imported, duty-paid merchandise. See subpart P for drawback of internal 
revenue taxes for unmerchantable or nonconforming distilled spirits, 
wines, or beer.


Sec.  190.42   Procedures and supporting documentation.

    (a) Time limit for exportation or destruction. Drawback will be 
denied on merchandise that is exported or destroyed after the statutory 
5-year time period.
    (b) Required documentation. The claimant must submit documentation 
to CBP as part of the complete drawback claim (see Sec.  190.51) to 
establish that the merchandise did not conform to sample or 
specification, was shipped without the consent of the consignee, or was 
defective as of the time of importation (see Sec.  190.45 for 
additional requirements for claims made on rejected retail merchandise 
under 19 U.S.C. 1313(c)(1)(C)(ii)). If the claimant was not the 
importer, the claimant must also:
    (1) Submit a statement signed by the importer and every other 
person, other than the ultimate purchaser, that owned the goods, that 
no other claim for drawback was made on the goods by any other person; 
and
    (2) Certify that records are available to support the statement 
required in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
    (c) Notice. A notice of intent to export or destroy merchandise 
which may be the subject of a rejected merchandise drawback claim (19 
U.S.C. 1313(c)) must be provided to CBP to give CBP the opportunity to 
examine the merchandise. The claimant, or the exporter (for destruction 
under CBP supervision, see Sec.  190.71), must file at the port of 
intended redelivery to CBP custody a Notice of Intent to Export, 
Destroy, or Return Merchandise for Purposes of Drawback on CBP Form 
7553 at least 5 working days prior to the date of intended return to 
CBP custody. Waiver of prior notice for exportations under 19 U.S.C. 
1313(j) (see Sec.  190.91) is inapplicable to exportations under 19 
U.S.C. 1313(c).
    (d) Required information. The notice must provide the bill of 
lading number, if known, the name and telephone number, mailing 
address, and, if available, fax number and email address of a contact 
person, and the location of the merchandise.
    (e) Decision to waive examination. Within 2 working days after 
receipt of the Notice of Intent to Export, Destroy, or Return 
Merchandise for Purposes of Drawback (see paragraph (c) of this 
section), CBP will notify, in writing, the party designated on the 
Notice of CBP's decision to either examine the merchandise to be 
exported or

[[Page 37939]]

destroyed, or to waive examination. If CBP timely notifies the 
designated party, in writing, of its decision to examine the 
merchandise (see paragraph (f) of this section), but the merchandise is 
exported or destroyed without having been presented to CBP for such 
examination, any drawback claim, or part thereof, based on the Notice 
of Intent to Export, Destroy, or Return Merchandise for Purposes of 
Drawback, must be denied. If CBP notifies the designated party, in 
writing, of its decision to waive examination of the merchandise, or, 
if timely notification of a decision by CBP to examine or to waive 
examination is absent, the merchandise may be exported or destroyed 
without delay and will be deemed to have been returned to CBP custody.
    (f) Time and place of examination. If CBP gives timely notice of 
its decision to examine the merchandise to be exported or destroyed, 
the merchandise to be examined must be promptly presented to CBP. CBP 
must examine the merchandise within 5 working days after presentation 
of the merchandise. The merchandise may be exported or destroyed 
without examination if CBP fails to timely examine the merchandise 
after presentation to CBP, and in such case the merchandise will be 
deemed to have been returned to CBP custody. If the examination is 
completed at a port other than the port of actual exportation or 
destruction, the merchandise must be transported in-bond to the port of 
exportation or destruction.
    (g) Extent of examination. The appropriate CBP office may permit 
release of merchandise without examination, or may examine, to the 
extent determined to be necessary, the items exported or destroyed.
    (h) Drawback claim. When filing the drawback claim, the drawback 
claimant must correctly calculate the amount of drawback due (see Sec.  
190.51(b)). The procedures for restructuring a claim (see Sec.  190.53) 
apply to rejected merchandise drawback if the claimant has an ongoing 
export program which qualifies for this type of drawback.
    (i) Exportation. Claimants must provide documentary evidence of 
exportation (see subpart G of this part). The claimant may establish 
exportation by mail as set out in Sec.  190.74o.


Sec.  190.43   Unused merchandise drawback claim.

    Rejected merchandise may be the subject of an unused merchandise 
drawback claim under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(1), in accordance with subpart C 
of this part, to the extent that the merchandise qualifies therefor.


Sec.  190.44   [Reserved]


Sec.  190.45   Returned retail merchandise.

    (a) Special rule for substitution. Section 313(c)(1)(C)(ii) of the 
Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1313(c)(1)(C)(ii)), provides 
for drawback upon the exportation or destruction under CBP supervision 
of imported merchandise which has been entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse, for consumption, duty-paid and ultimately sold at retail by 
the importer, or the person who received the merchandise from the 
importer, and for any reason returned to and accepted by the importer, 
or the person who received the merchandise from the importer.
    (b) Eligibility requirements. (1) Drawback is allowable pursuant to 
compliance with all requirements set forth in this subpart; and
    (2) The claimant must also show by evidence satisfactory to CBP 
that drawback may be claimed by--
    (i) Designating an entry of merchandise that was imported within 1 
year before the date of exportation or destruction of the merchandise 
described in paragraph (a) under CBP supervision.
    (ii) Certifying that the same 8-digit HTSUS subheading number and 
specific product identifier (such as part number, SKU, or product code) 
apply to both the merchandise designated for drawback (in the import 
documentation) and the returned merchandise.
    (c) Allowable refund. The total amount of drawback allowable will 
not exceed 99 percent of the amount of duties paid with respect to the 
imported merchandise.
    (d) Denial of claims. No drawback will be refunded if CBP is not 
satisfied that the claimant has provided, upon request, the 
documentation necessary to support the certification required in 
paragraph (b)(2)(ii).

Subpart E--Completion of Drawback Claims


Sec.  190.51   Completion of drawback claims.

    (a) General--(1) Complete claim. Unless otherwise specified, a 
complete drawback claim under this part will consist of the successful 
electronic transmission to CBP of the drawback entry (as described in 
subparagraph (2)), applicable Notice(s) of Intent to Export, Destroy, 
or Return Merchandise for Purposes of Drawback on CBP Form 7553, 
applicable import entry data, and evidence of exportation or 
destruction as provided for under subpart G of this part.
    (2) Drawback entry. The drawback entry is to be filed through a 
CBP-authorized electronic system and must include the following:
    (i) Claimant identification number, name, and address;
    (ii) Broker identification number, name, and address (if 
applicable);
    (iii) Surety code, bond type, and amount of bond;
    (iv) Port code for the drawback office that will review the claim;
    (v) Drawback entry number and provision(s) under which drawback is 
claimed;
    (vi) Statement of eligibility for applicable privileges (as 
provided for in subpart I of this part);
    (vii) Amount of refund claimed for each of relevant duties, taxes, 
and fees (calculated to two decimal places);
    (viii) For each designated import entry line item, the entry number 
and the line item number designating the merchandise, a description of 
the merchandise, a unique import tracing identification number(s) 
(ITIN) (used to associate the imported merchandise and any substituted 
merchandise with any intermediate products (if applicable) and the 
drawback-eligible exported or destroyed merchandise or finished 
article(s)), as well as the following information for the merchandise 
designated as the basis for the drawback claim: The 10-digit HTSUS 
classification and associated duty rate(s), amount of duties paid, 
applicable entered value (see 19 CFR 190.11(a)), quantity and unit of 
measure (using the unit(s) of measure required under the HTSUS, if 
applicable), as well as the types, rates, and amounts of any other 
duties, taxes, or fees for which a refund is requested;
    (ix) For manufacturing claims under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) or (b), the 
basis of the claim (as provided for in Sec.  190.23), the ruling 
number, the factory location, the date(s) of use of the imported and/or 
substituted merchandise in manufacturing/processing, the 10-digit HTSUS 
classification for the imported merchandise and/or which would have 
been applicable to the substituted merchandise had it been imported, 
the quantity and unit of measure (using the unit(s) of measure required 
under the HTSUS, if applicable) of the imported and/or substituted 
merchandise in manufacturing/processing, unique manufacture tracing 
identification number(s) (MTIN) (used to associate the manufactured 
merchandise, including any intermediate products, with the drawback-
eligible exported or destroyed finished article(s)), and a 
certification from the claimant that provides as follows: ``The 
article(s) described above were manufactured or produced and disposed 
of as stated herein in

[[Page 37940]]

accordance with the drawback ruling on file with CBP and in compliance 
with applicable laws and regulations.'';
    (x) Indicate whether the designated imported merchandise, other 
substituted merchandise, or finished article (for manufacturing claims) 
was transferred to the drawback claimant prior to the exportation or 
destruction of the eligible merchandise, and for unused merchandise 
drawback claims under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j), provide a certification from 
the client that provides as follows: ``The undersigned hereby certifies 
that the merchandise herein described is unused in the United States 
and further certifies that this merchandise was not subjected to any 
process of manufacture or other operation except the allowable 
operations as provided for by regulation.'';
    (xi) Indicate whether the eligible merchandise was exported or 
destroyed and provide the applicable 10-digit HTSUS or Department of 
Commerce Schedule B classification, quantity, and unit of measure (the 
unit of measure specified must be the same as that which was required 
under the HTSUS for the designated imported merchandise) and, for 
claims under 19 U.S.C. 1313(c), specify the basis as one of the 
following:
    (A) Merchandise does not conform to sample or specifications;
    (B) Merchandise was defective at time of importation;
    (C) Merchandise was shipped without consent of the consignee; or
    (D) Merchandise sold at retail and returned to the importer or the 
person who received the merchandise from the importer;
    (xii) For eligible merchandise that was exported, the unique export 
identifier (the number used to associate the export transaction with 
the appropriate documentary evidence of exportation), bill of lading 
number, export destination, name of exporter, the applicable 
comparative value pursuant to 19 CFR 190.11(b) (see Sec.  
190.22(a)(1)(ii), Sec.  190.22(a)(2)(ii), or Sec.  190.32(b)) for 
substitution claims, and a certification from the claimant that 
provides as follows: ``I declare, to the best of my knowledge and 
belief, that all of the statements in this document are correct and 
that the exported article is not to be relanded in the United States or 
any of its possessions without paying duty.'';
    (xiii) For eligible merchandise that was destroyed, the name of the 
destroyer and, if substituted, the applicable comparative value 
pursuant to 19 CFR 190.11(c) (see Sec.  190.22(a)(1)(ii), Sec.  
190.22(a)(2)(ii), or Sec.  190.32(b)), and a certification from the 
claimant, if applicable, that provides as follows: ``The undersigned 
hereby certifies that, for the destroyed merchandise herein described, 
the value of recovered materials (including the value of any tax 
benefit or royalty payment) that accrues to the drawback claimant has 
been deducted from the value of the imported (or substituted) 
merchandise designated by the claimant, in accordance with 19 U.S.C. 
1313(x).'';
    (xiv) For substitution unused merchandise drawback claims under 19 
U.S.C. 1313(j)(2), a certification from the claimant that provides as 
follows: ``The undersigned hereby certifies that the substituted 
merchandise is unused in the United States and that the substituted 
merchandise was in our possession prior to exportation or 
destruction.'';
    (xv) For NAFTA drawback claims provided for in subpart E of part 
181, the foreign entry number and date of entry, the HTSUS 
classification for the foreign entry, the amount of duties paid for the 
foreign entry and the applicable exchange rate, and, if applicable, a 
certification from the claimant that provides as follows: ``Same 
condition to NAFTA countries--The undersigned certifies that the 
merchandise herein described is in the same condition as when it was 
imported under the above import entry(s) and further certifies that 
this merchandise was not subjected to any process of manufacture or 
other operation except the allowable operations as provided for by 
regulation.''; and
    (xvi) All certifications required in this part and as otherwise 
deemed necessary by CBP to establish compliance with the applicable 
laws and regulations, as well as the following declaration: ``The 
undersigned acknowledges statutory requirements that all records 
supporting the information on this document are to be retained by the 
issuing party for a period of 3 years from the date of liquidation of 
the drawback claim. All required documentation that must be uploaded in 
accordance with 19 CFR 190.51 will be provided to CBP within 24 hours 
of the filing of the drawback claim. The undersigned acknowledges that 
a false certification of the foregoing renders the drawback claim 
incomplete and subject to denial. The undersigned is fully aware of the 
sanctions provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001, and 18 U.S.C. 550, and 19 U.S.C. 
1593a.''
    (3) Election of line item designation for imported merchandise. 
Merchandise on a specific line on an entry summary may be designated 
for either direct identification or substitution claims but a single 
line on an entry summary may not be split for purposes of claiming 
drawback under both direct identification and substitution claims. The 
first complete drawback claim accepted by CBP which designates 
merchandise on a line on an entry summary establishes this designation 
for any remaining merchandise on that same line. For claims involving 
transferred merchandise, please see Sec.  190.10(c) regarding required 
notifications concerning whether the merchandise should be eligible for 
direct identification or substitution claims.
    (4) Limitation on line item eligibility for imported merchandise. 
Claimants are prohibited from filing substitution drawback claims under 
part 190 for imported merchandise associated with a line item on an 
entry summary if any other merchandise covered on that entry summary 
has been designated as the basis of a claim under part 191.
    (b) Drawback due--(1) Claimant required to calculate drawback. 
Drawback claimants are required to correctly calculate the amount of 
drawback due. The amount of drawback requested on the drawback entry is 
generally to be 99 percent of the duties, taxes, and fees eligible for 
drawback. (For example, if $1,000 in import duties are eligible for 
drawback less 1 percent ($10), the amount claimed on the drawback entry 
should be for $990.) Claims exceeding 99 percent (or 100% when 100% of 
the duty is available for drawback) will not be paid until the 
calculations have been corrected by the claimant. Claims for less than 
99 percent (or 100% when 100% of the duty is available for drawback) 
will be paid as filed, unless the claimant amends the claim in 
accordance with Sec.  190.52(c). The amount of duties, taxes, and fees 
eligible for drawback is determined by whether a claim is based upon 
direct identification or substitution, as provided for below:
    (i) Direct identification. The amounts eligible for drawback for a 
unit of merchandise consists of those duties, taxes, and fees that were 
paid for that unit of the designated imported merchandise. This may be 
the amount of duties, taxes, and fees actually tendered on that unit or 
those attributable to that unit, if identified pursuant to an approved 
accounting method (see 19 CFR 190.14).
    (ii) Substitution. The amount of duties, taxes, and fees eligible 
for drawback pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1313(b) or 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2) is 
determined by per unit averaging, as defined in 19 CFR 190.2. The 
amount that may be refunded is also subject to the limitations set 
forth

[[Page 37941]]

in 19 CFR 190.22(a)(1)(ii) (manufacturing claims) and 19 CFR 190.32(b) 
(unused merchandise claims), as applicable.
    (2) Merchandise processing fee apportionment calculation. Where a 
drawback claimant requests a refund of a merchandise processing fee 
paid pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 58c(a)(9)(A), the claimant is required to 
correctly apportion the fee to that imported merchandise for which 
drawback is claimed when calculating the amount of drawback requested 
on the drawback entry. This is determined as follows:
    (i) Relative value ratio for each line item. The value of each line 
item of entered merchandise subject to a merchandise processing fee is 
calculated (to four decimal places) by dividing the value of the line 
item subject to the fee by the total value of entered merchandise 
subject to the fee. The result is the relative value ratio.
    (ii) Merchandise processing fee apportioned to each line item. To 
apportion the merchandise processing fee to each line item, the 
relative value ratio for each line item is multiplied by the 
merchandise processing fee paid.
    (iii) Amount of merchandise processing fee eligible for drawback 
per line item. The amount of merchandise processing fee apportioned to 
each line item is multiplied by 99 percent to calculate that portion of 
the fee attributable to each line item that is eligible for drawback.
    (iv) Amount of merchandise processing fee eligible for drawback per 
unit of merchandise. To calculate the amount of a merchandise 
processing fee eligible for drawback per unit of merchandise, the line 
item amount that is eligible for drawback is divided by the number of 
units covered by that line item (to two decimal places).
    (v) Limitation on amount of merchandise processing fee eligible for 
drawback for substitution claims. The amount of a merchandise 
processing fee eligible for drawback per unit of merchandise for 
drawback claims based upon substitution is subject to the limitations 
set forth in Sec. Sec.  190.22(a)(1)(ii) (manufacturing claims) and 
190.32(b) (unused merchandise claims), as applicable.
    (vi)(A) Example 1:

(1) Line item 1--5,000 articles valued at $10 each total $50,000
(2) Line item 2--6,000 articles valued at $15 each total $90,000
(3) Line item 3--10,000 articles valued at $20 each total $200,000
(4) Total units = 21,000
(5) Total value = $340,000
(6) Merchandise processing fee = $485 (for purposes of this example, 
the fee cap of $485 is assumed; see 19 CFR 24.23 for the current amount 
consistent with 19 U.S.C. 58c(a)(9)(B)(i))

    (i) Line item relative value ratios. The relative value ratio for 
line item 1 is calculated by dividing the value of that line item by 
the total value ($50,000 / 340,000 = .1471). The relative value ratio 
for line item 2 is .2647. The relative value ratio for line item 3 is 
.5882.
    (ii) Merchandise processing fee apportioned to each line item. The 
amount of fee attributable to each line item is calculated by 
multiplying $485 by the applicable relative value ratio. The amount of 
the $485 fee attributable to line item 1 is $71.3435 (.1471 x $485 = 
$71.3435). The amount of the fee attributable to line item 2 is 
$128.3795 (.2647 x $485 = $128.3795). The amount of the fee 
attributable to line item 3 is $285.2770 (.5882 x $485 = $285.2770).
    (iii) Amount of merchandise processing fee eligible for drawback 
per line item. The amount of merchandise processing fee eligible for 
drawback for line item 1 is $70.6301 (.99 x $71.3435). The amount of 
fee eligible for drawback for line item 2 is $127.0957 (.99 x 
$128.3795). The amount of fee eligible for drawback for line item 3 is 
$282.4242 (.99 x $285.2770).
    (iv) Amount of merchandise processing fee eligible for drawback per 
unit of merchandise. The amount of merchandise processing fee eligible 
for drawback per unit of merchandise is calculated by dividing the 
amount of fee eligible for drawback for the line item by the number of 
units in the line item. For line item 1, the amount of merchandise 
processing fee eligible for drawback per unit is $.0141 ($70.6301 / 
5,000 = $.0141). If 1,000 widgets form the basis of a claim for 
drawback under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j), the total amount of drawback 
attributable to the merchandise processing fee is $14.10 (1,000 x .0141 
= $14.10). For line item 2, the amount of fee eligible for drawback per 
unit is $.0212 ($127.0957 / 6,000 = $.0212). For line item 3, the 
amount of fee eligible for drawback per unit is $.0282 ($282.4242 / 
10,000 = $.0282).
    (B) Example 2. This example illustrates the treatment of dutiable 
merchandise that is exempt from the merchandise processing fee and 
duty-free merchandise that is subject to the merchandise processing 
fee.
    (1)(i) Line item 1--700 meters of printed cloth valued at $10 per 
meter (total value $7,000) that is exempt from the merchandise 
processing fee under 19 U.S.C. 58c(b)(8)(B)(iii)
    (ii) Line item 2--15,000 articles valued at $100 each (total value 
$1,500,000)
    (iii) Line item 3--10,000 duty-free articles valued at $50 each 
(total value $500,000)
    (iv) The relative value ratios are calculated using line items 2 
and 3 only, as there is no merchandise processing fee imposed by reason 
of importation on line item 1.
    (2)(i) Line item 2--1,500,000 / 2,000,000 = .75 (line items 2 and 3 
form the total value of the merchandise subject to the merchandise 
processing fee).
    (ii) Line item 3--500,000 / 2,000,000 = .25.
    (iii) If the total merchandise processing fee paid was $485, the 
amount of the fee attributable to line item 2 is $363.75 (.75 x $485 = 
$363.75). The amount of the fee attributable to line item 3 is $121.25 
(.25 x $485 = $121.25).
    (iv) The amount of merchandise processing fee eligible for drawback 
for line item 2 is $360.1125 (.99 x $363.75). The amount of fee 
eligible for line item 3 is $120.0375 (.99 x $121.25).
    (v) The amount of drawback on the merchandise processing fee 
attributable to each unit of line item 2 is $.0240 ($360.1125 / 15,000 
= $.0240). The amount of drawback on the merchandise processing fee 
attributable to each unit of line item 3 is $.0120 ($120.0375 / 10,000 
= $.0120).
    (vi) If 1,000 units of line item 2 were exported, the drawback 
attributable to the merchandise processing fee is $24.00 ($.0240 x 
1,000 = $24.00).
    (3) Calculations for all other duties, taxes, and fees.
    (i) General. Where a drawback claimant requests a refund of any 
other duties, taxes, and fees allowable in accordance with Sec.  190.3, 
the claimant is required to accurately calculate (including 
apportionment using per unit averaging or inventory management methods, 
as appropriate) the duties, taxes, and fees attributable to the 
designated imported merchandise for which drawback is being claimed 
when calculating the amount of drawback requested on the drawback entry 
(generally 99% of the duties, taxes, and fees paid on the imported 
merchandise).
    (ii) Examples. As illustrated in the examples in this paragraph, in 
the case of customs duties, the type of calculation required to 
determine the amount of duties available for refund (generally 99% of 
the duties paid on the imported merchandise) will vary depending on 
whether the duty involved is ad valorem, specific, or compound.

[[Page 37942]]

    (1) Example 1: Ad valorem duty rate. Apportionment of the duties 
paid (and available for refund) will be based on the application of the 
duty rates to the per unit values of the imported merchandise. The per 
unit values are based on the invoice values unless the method of refund 
calculation is per unit averaging, which would require equal 
apportionment of the duties paid over the quantity of imported 
merchandise covered by the line item upon which the imported 
merchandise was reported on the import entry summary. As a result, the 
amount of duties available for refund will vary depending on the method 
used to calculate refunds.
    (2) Example 2: Specific duty rate. No apportionment of the duties 
paid is required to determine the amount available for refund. A fixed 
duty rate is applicable to each unit of the imported merchandise based 
on quantity. This fixed rate will not vary based on the per unit values 
of the imported merchandise and, as a result, there is no impact on the 
amount of duties available for refunds (regardless of whether the 
refunds are calculated based on invoice values or per unit averaging).
    (3) Example 3: Compound duty rate. A compound duty rate is a 
combination of an ad valorem duty rate and a specific duty rate, with 
both rates applied to the same imported merchandise. As a result, a 
combination of the calculations discussed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of 
this section will apply when calculating the amount of duties paid that 
are available for refund.
    (b) Limitation. The amount of duties, taxes, and fees eligible for 
drawback per unit of merchandise for drawback claims based upon 
substituted merchandise is subject to the limitations set forth in 19 
CFR 190.22(a)(1)(ii) (manufacturing claims) and 19 CFR 190.32(b) 
(unused merchandise claims), as applicable.
    (c) HTSUS classification or Schedule B commodity number(s)--(1) 
General. Drawback claimants are required to provide, on all drawback 
claims they submit, the 10-digit HTSUS classification or the Schedule B 
commodity number(s), for the following:
    (i) Designated imported merchandise. For imported merchandise 
designated on drawback claims, the HTSUS classification applicable at 
the time of entry (e.g., as required to be reported on the applicable 
entry summary(s) and other entry documentation).
    (ii) Substituted merchandise on manufacturing claims. For 
merchandise substituted on manufacturing drawback claims, the HTSUS 
classification numbers provided must be the same as either--
    (A) if the substituted merchandise was imported, the HTSUS 
classification applicable at the time of entry (e.g., as required to be 
reported on the applicable entry summary(s) and other entry 
documentation); or,
    (B) if the substituted merchandise was not imported, the HTSUS 
classification that would have been reported to CBP for the applicable 
entry summary(s) and other entry documentation, for the domestically 
produced substituted merchandise, at the time of entry of the 
designated imported merchandise.
    (iii) Exported merchandise or articles. For exported merchandise or 
articles, the HTSUS classification or Schedule B commodity number(s) 
must be from the Electronic Export Information (EEI), when required. If 
no EEI is required (see, 15 CFR part 30 subpart D for a complete list 
of exemptions), then the claimant must provide the Schedule B commodity 
number(s) or HTSUS number(s) that the exporter would have set forth on 
the EEI when the exportation took place, but for the exemption from the 
requirement for an EEI.
    (iv) Destroyed merchandise or articles. For destroyed merchandise 
or articles, the HTSUS classification or Schedule B commodity number(s) 
must be reported, subject to the following:
    (A) if the HTSUS classification is reported, then it must be the 
HTSUS classification that would have been applicable to the destroyed 
merchandise or articles if they had been entered for consumption at the 
time of destruction; or
    (B) if the Schedule B commodity number is reported, then it must be 
the Schedule B commodity number that would have been reported for the 
destroyed merchandise or articles if the EEI had been required for an 
exportation at the time of destruction.
    (2) Changes to classification. If the 10-digit HTSUS classification 
or the Schedule B commodity number(s) reported to CBP for the drawback 
claim are determined to be incorrect or otherwise in controversy after 
the filing of the drawback entry, then the claimant must notify the 
drawback office where the drawback claim was filed of the correct HTSUS 
classification or Schedule B commodity number or the nature of the 
controversy before the liquidation of the drawback entry.
    (d) Method of filing. All drawback claims must be submitted through 
a CBP-authorized system.
    (e) Time of filing--(1) General. A complete drawback claim is 
timely filed if it is successfully transmitted not later than 5 years 
after the date on which the merchandise designated as the basis for the 
drawback claim was imported and in compliance with all other applicable 
deadlines under this part.
    (i) Official date of filing. The official date of filing is the 
date upon which CBP receives a complete claim, as provided in paragraph 
(a) of this section, via transmission through a CBP-authorized system, 
including the uploading of all required supporting documentation.
    (ii) Abandonment. Claims not completed within the 5-year period 
after the date on which the merchandise designated as the basis for the 
drawback claim was imported will be considered abandoned. Except as 
provided in paragraph (e)(2) of this section, no extension will be 
granted unless it is established that CBP was responsible for the 
untimely filing; and
    (iii) Special timeframes. For substitution claims, the exportation 
or destruction of merchandise shall not have preceded the date of 
importation of the designated imported merchandise, and/or the 
exportation or destruction of merchandise shall not otherwise be 
outside of the timeframes specified in 19 U.S.C. 1313(c)(2)(C) and 19 
U.S.C. 1313(p)(2), if applicable.
    (2) Major disaster. The 5-year period for filing a complete 
drawback claim provided for in paragraph (e)(1) of this section may be 
extended for a period not to exceed 18 months if:
    (i) The claimant establishes to the satisfaction of CBP that the 
claimant was unable to file the drawback claim because of an event 
declared by the President to be a major disaster, within the meaning 
given to that term in 42 U.S.C. 5122(2), on or after January 1, 1994; 
and
    (ii) The claimant files a request for such extension with CBP no 
later than 1 year from the last day of the 5-year period referred to in 
paragraph (e)(1) of this section.
    (3) Record retention. If an extension is granted with respect to a 
request filed under paragraph (e)(2)(ii) of this section, the periods 
of time for retaining records under 19 U.S.C. 1508(c)(3) will be 
extended for an additional 18 months.


Sec.  190.52   Rejecting, perfecting or amending claims.

    (a) Rejecting the claim. Upon review of a drawback claim, if the 
claim is determined to be incomplete (see Sec.  190.51(a)(1)) or 
untimely (see Sec.  190.51(e)), the claim will be rejected and CBP will 
notify the filer. The filer will then have the opportunity to complete 
the claim subject to the requirement for filing a complete claim within 
5 years of the date of importation

[[Page 37943]]

of the merchandise designated as the basis for the drawback claim.
    (b) Perfecting the claim; additional evidence required. If CBP 
determines that the claim is complete according to the requirements of 
Sec.  190.51(a)(1), but that additional evidence or information is 
required, CBP will notify the filer. The claimant must furnish, or have 
the appropriate party furnish, the evidence or information requested 
within 30 days of the date of notification by CBP. CBP may extend this 
30-day period if the claimant files a written request for such 
extension within the 30-day period and provides good cause. The 
evidence or information required under this paragraph may be filed more 
than 5 years after the date of importation of the merchandise 
designated as the basis for the drawback claim. Such additional 
evidence or information may include, but is not limited to:
    (1) Records or other documentary evidence of exportation, as 
provided for in Sec.  190.72, which shows that the articles were 
shipped by the person filing the drawback entry, or a letter of 
endorsement from exporter which must be attached to such bill of 
lading, showing that the party filing the entry is authorized to claim 
drawback and receive payment (the claimant must have on file and make 
available to CBP upon request, the endorsement from the exporter 
assigning the right to claim drawback);
    (2) A copy of the import entry and invoice annotated for the 
merchandise identified or designated;
    (3) A copy of the export invoice annotated to indicate the items on 
which drawback is being claimed; and
    (4) Records documenting the transfer of the merchandise including 
records kept in the normal course of business upon which the claim is 
based (see Sec.  190.10).
    (c) Amending the claim; supplemental filing. Amendments to claims 
for which the drawback entries have not been liquidated must be made 
within 5 years of the date of importation of the merchandise designated 
as the basis for the drawback claim. Liquidated drawback entries may 
not be amended; however, they may be protested as provided for in Sec.  
190.84 and part 174 of this chapter.


Sec.  190.53   Restructuring of claims.

    (a) General. CBP may require claimants to restructure their 
drawback claims in such a manner as to foster administrative 
efficiency. In making this determination, CBP will consider the 
following factors:
    (1) The number of transactions of the claimant (imports and 
exports);
    (2) The value of the claims;
    (3) The frequency of claims;
    (4) The product or products being claimed; and
    (5) For 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) and 1313(b) claims, the provisions, as 
applicable, of the general manufacturing drawback ruling or the 
specific manufacturing drawback ruling.
    (b) Exemption from restructuring; criteria. In order to be exempt 
from a restructuring, a claimant must demonstrate an inability or 
impracticability in restructuring its claims as required by CBP and 
must provide a mutually acceptable alternative. Criteria used in such 
determination will include a demonstration by the claimant of one or 
more of the following:
    (1) Complexities caused by multiple commodities or the applicable 
general manufacturing drawback ruling or the specific manufacturing 
drawback ruling;
    (2) Variable and conflicting manufacturing and inventory periods 
(for example, financial, accounting and manufacturing records 
maintained are significantly different);
    (3) Complexities caused by multiple manufacturing locations;
    (4) Complexities caused by difficulty in adjusting accounting and 
inventory records (for example, records maintained--financial or 
accounting--are significantly different); and/or
    (5) Complexities caused by significantly different methods of 
operation.

Subpart F--Verification of Claims


Sec.  190.61   Verification of drawback claims.

    (a) Authority. All claims are subject to verification by CBP.
    (b) Method. CBP personnel will verify compliance with the law and 
this part, the accuracy of the related general manufacturing drawback 
ruling or specific manufacturing drawback ruling (as applicable), and 
the selected drawback claims. Verification may include an examination 
of all records relating to the transaction(s).
    (c) Liquidation. When a claim has been selected for verification, 
liquidation will be postponed only on the drawback entry for the claim 
selected for verification. Postponement will continue in effect until 
the verification has been completed and a report is issued, subject to 
the limitation in 19 CFR 159.12(f). In the event that a substantial 
error is revealed during the verification, CBP may postpone liquidation 
of all related product line claims, or, in CBP's discretion, all claims 
made by that claimant.
    (d) Errors in specific or general manufacturing drawback rulings--
(1) Specific manufacturing drawback ruling; action by CBP. If 
verification of a drawback claim filed under a specific manufacturing 
drawback ruling (see Sec.  190.8) reveals errors or deficiencies in the 
drawback ruling or application therefor, the verifying CBP official 
will promptly inform CBP Headquarters (Attention: Entry Process and 
Duty Refunds Branch, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade).
    (2) General manufacturing drawback ruling. If verification of a 
drawback claim filed under a general manufacturing drawback ruling (see 
Sec.  190.7) reveals errors or deficiencies in a general manufacturing 
drawback ruling, the letter of notification of intent to operate under 
the general manufacturing drawback ruling, or the acknowledgment of the 
letter of notification of intent, the verifying CBP official will 
promptly inform CBP Headquarters (Attention: Entry Process and Duty 
Refunds Branch, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade).
    (3) Action by CBP Headquarters. CBP Headquarters will review the 
stated errors or deficiencies and take appropriate action (see 19 
U.S.C. 1625; 19 CFR part 177).


Sec.  190.62   Penalties.

    (a) Criminal penalty. Any person who knowingly and willfully files 
any false or fraudulent entry or claim for the payment of drawback upon 
the exportation or destruction of merchandise or knowingly or willfully 
makes or files any false document for the purpose of securing the 
payment to himself or others of any drawback on the exportation or 
destruction of merchandise greater than that legally due, will be 
subject to the criminal provisions of 18 U.S.C. 550, 1001, or any other 
appropriate criminal sanctions.
    (b) Civil penalty. Any person who seeks, induces or affects the 
payment of drawback, by fraud or negligence, or attempts to do so, is 
subject to civil penalties, as provided under 19 U.S.C. 1593a. A 
fraudulent violation is subject to a maximum administrative penalty of 
3 times the total actual or potential loss of revenue. Repetitive 
negligent violations are subject to a maximum penalty equal to the 
actual or potential loss of revenue.


Sec.  190.63   Liability for drawback claims.

    (a) Liability of claimants. Any person making a claim for drawback 
will be liable for the full amount of the drawback claimed.
    (b) Liability of importers. An importer will be liable for any 
drawback claim made by another person with respect to

[[Page 37944]]

merchandise imported by the importer in an amount equal to the lesser 
of:
    (1) The amount of duties, taxes, and fees that the person claimed 
with respect to the imported merchandise; or
    (2) The amount of duties, taxes, and fees that the importer 
authorized the other person to claim with respect to the imported 
merchandise.
    (c) Joint and several liability. Persons described in paragraphs 
(a) and (b) will be jointly and severally liable for the amount 
described in paragraph (b).

Subpart G--Exportation and Destruction


Sec.  190.71   Drawback on articles destroyed under CBP supervision.

    (a) Procedure. At least 7 working days before the intended date of 
destruction of merchandise or articles upon which drawback is intended 
to be claimed, a Notice of Intent to Export, Destroy, or Return 
Merchandise for Purposes of Drawback on CBP Form 7553 must be filed by 
the claimant with the CBP port where the destruction is to take place, 
giving notification of the date and specific location where the 
destruction is to occur. Within 4 working days after receipt of the CBP 
Form 7553, CBP will advise the filer in writing of its determination to 
witness or not to witness the destruction. If the filer of the notice 
is not so notified within 4 working days, the merchandise may be 
destroyed without delay and will be deemed to have been destroyed under 
CBP supervision. Unless CBP determines to witness the destruction, the 
destruction of the articles following timely notification on CBP Form 
7553 will be deemed to have occurred under CBP supervision. If CBP 
attends the destruction, CBP will certify on CBP Form 7553.
    (b) Evidence of destruction. When CBP does not attend the 
destruction, the claimant must submit evidence that destruction took 
place in accordance with the Notice of Intent to Export, Destroy, or 
Return Merchandise for Purposes of Drawback on CBP Form 7553. The 
evidence must be issued by a disinterested third party (for example, a 
landfill operator). The type of evidence depends on the method and 
place of destruction, but must establish that the merchandise was, in 
fact, destroyed within the meaning of ``destruction'' in Sec.  190.2.
    (c) Completion of drawback entry. After destruction, the claimant 
must provide CBP Form 7553, certified by the CBP official witnessing 
the destruction in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section, to 
CBP as part of the completed drawback claim based on the destruction 
(see Sec.  190.51(a)). If CBP has not attended the destruction, the 
claimant must provide the evidence that destruction took place in 
accordance with the approved CBP Form 7553, as provided for in 
paragraph (b) of this section, as part of the completed drawback claim 
based on the destruction (see Sec.  190.51(a)).


Sec.  190.72   Proof of Exportation.

    (a) Required export data. Proof of exportation of articles for 
drawback purposes must establish fully the date and fact of exportation 
and the identity of the exporter by providing the following summary 
data as part of a complete claim (see Sec.  190.51) (in addition to 
providing prior notice of intent to export if applicable (see 
Sec. Sec.  190.35, 190.36, 190.42, and 190.91)):
    (1) Date of export;
    (2) Name of exporter;
    (3) Description of the goods;
    (4) Quantity and unit of measure;
    (5) Schedule B number or HTSUS number; and
    (6) Country of ultimate destination.
    (b) Supporting documentary evidence. Exportation may be established 
by providing the following:
    (1) Records or other documentary evidence of exportation (originals 
or copies) issued by the exporting carrier, such as a bill of lading, 
air waybill, freight waybill, Canadian Customs manifest, and/or cargo 
manifest;
    (2) Records from a CBP-approved electronic export system of the 
United States Government (Sec.  190.73);
    (3) Official postal records (originals or copies) which evidence 
exportation by mail (Sec.  190.74);
    (4) Notice of lading for supplies on certain vessels or aircraft 
(Sec.  190.112); or
    (5) Notice of transfer for articles manufactured or produced in the 
United States which are transferred to a foreign trade zone (Sec.  
190.183).


Sec.  190.73   Electronic proof of exportation.

    Records kept through an electronic export system of the United 
States Government may be considered as actual proof of exportation only 
if CBP has officially approved the use of that electronic export system 
as proof of compliance for drawback claims. Official approval will be 
published as a general notice in the Customs Bulletin.


Sec.  190.74   Exportation by mail.

    If the merchandise on which drawback is to be claimed is exported 
by mail or parcel post, the official postal records (original or 
copies) which describe the mail shipment will be sufficient to prove 
exportation. The postal record must be identified on the drawback 
entry, and must be retained by the claimant and submitted as part of 
the drawback claim (see Sec.  190.51(a)).


Sec.  190.75   Exportation by the Government.

    (a) Claim by U.S. Government. When a department, branch, agency, or 
instrumentality of the U.S. Government exports products with the 
intention of claiming drawback, it may establish the exportation in the 
manner provided in Sec.  190.72 of this subpart (see Sec.  190.4).
    (b) Claim by supplier. When a supplier of merchandise to the 
Government or any of the parties specified in Sec.  190.82 claims 
drawback, exportation must be established under Sec.  190.72 of this 
subpart.


Sec.  190.76   [Reserved]

Subpart H--Liquidation and Protest of Drawback Entries


Sec.  190.81   Liquidation.

    (a) Time of liquidation. Drawback entries may be liquidated after:
    (1) Liquidation of the designated import entry or entries becomes 
final pursuant to paragraph (e); or
    (2) Deposit of estimated duties on the imported merchandise and 
before liquidation of the designated import entry or entries.
    (b) Claims based on estimated duties. (1) Drawback may be paid upon 
liquidation of a claim based on estimated duties if one or more of the 
designated import entries have not been liquidated, or the liquidation 
has not become final (because of a protest being filed) (see also Sec.  
173.4(c) of this chapter), only if the drawback claimant and any other 
party responsible for the payment of liquidated import duties each 
files a written request for payment of each drawback claim, waiving any 
right to payment or refund under other provisions of law, to the extent 
that the estimated duties on the unliquidated import entry are included 
in the drawback claim for which drawback on estimated duties is 
requested under this paragraph. The drawback claimant must, to the best 
of its knowledge, identify each import entry that has been protested 
and that is included in the drawback claim. A drawback entry, once 
finally liquidated on the basis of estimated duties pursuant to 
paragraph (e)(2), will not be adjusted by reason of a subsequent final 
liquidation of the import entry.
    (2) However, if final liquidation of the import entry discloses 
that the total amount of import duty is different from the total 
estimated duties deposited, except in those cases when drawback is 100% 
of the duty, the party responsible

[[Page 37945]]

for the payment of liquidated duties, as applicable, will:
    (i) Be liable for 1 percent of all increased duties found to be due 
on that portion of merchandise recorded on the drawback entry; or
    (ii) Be entitled to a refund of 1 percent of all excess duties 
found to have been paid as estimated duties on that portion of the 
merchandise recorded on the drawback entry.
    (c) Claims based on voluntary tenders or other payments of duties--
(1) General. Subject to the requirements in paragraph (2) of this 
section, drawback may be paid upon liquidation of a claim based on 
voluntary tenders of the unpaid amount of lawful ordinary customs 
duties or any other payment of lawful ordinary customs duties for an 
entry, or withdrawal from warehouse, for consumption (see Sec.  
190.3(a)(1)(iii)), provided that:
    (i) The tender or payment is specifically identified as duty on a 
specifically identified entry, or withdrawal from warehouse, for 
consumption;
    (ii) Liquidation of the specifically identified entry, or 
withdrawal from warehouse, for consumption became final prior to such 
tender or payment; and
    (iii) Liquidation of the drawback entry in which that specifically 
identified import entry, or withdrawal from warehouse, for consumption 
is designated has not become final.
    (2) Written request and waiver. Drawback may be paid on claims 
based on voluntary tenders or other payments of duties under this 
subsection only if the drawback claimant and any other party 
responsible for the payment of the voluntary tenders or other payments 
of duties each files a written request for payment of each drawback 
claim based on such voluntary tenders or other payments of duties, 
waiving any claim to payment or refund under other provisions of law, 
to the extent that the voluntary tenders or other payment of duties 
under this paragraph are included in the drawback claim for which 
drawback on the voluntary tenders or other payment of duties is 
requested under this paragraph.
    (d) Claims based on liquidated duties. Drawback will be based on 
the final liquidated duties paid that have been made final by operation 
of law (except in the case of the written request for payment of 
drawback on the basis of estimated duties, voluntary tender of duties, 
and other payments of duty, and waiver, provided for in paragraphs (b) 
and (c) of this section).
    (e) Liquidation procedure. (1) General. When the drawback claim has 
been completed by the filing of the entry and other required documents, 
and exportation (or destruction) of the merchandise or articles has 
been established, CBP will determine drawback due on the basis of the 
complete drawback claim, the applicable general manufacturing drawback 
ruling or specific manufacturing drawback ruling, and any other 
relevant evidence or information. Notice of liquidation will be given 
electronically as provided in Sec. Sec.  159.9 and 159.10(c)(3).
    (2) Liquidation by operation of law. (i) Liquidated import entries. 
A drawback claim that satisfies the requirements of paragraph (d) that 
is not liquidated within one year from the date of the drawback claim 
(see Sec.  190.51(e)(1)(i)) will be deemed liquidated for the purpose 
of the drawback claim at the drawback amount asserted by the claimant 
or claim, unless the time for liquidation is extended in accordance 
with Sec.  159.12 or if liquidation is suspended as required by statute 
or court order.
    (ii) Unliquidated import entries. A drawback claim that satisfies 
the requirements of paragraphs (b) or (c) of this section will be 
deemed liquidated upon the deposit of estimated duties on the 
unliquidated imported merchandise (see Sec.  190.81(b)).
    (f) Relative value; multiple products--(1) Distribution. Where two 
or more products result from the manufacture or production of 
merchandise, drawback will be distributed to the several products in 
accordance with their relative values at the time of separation.
    (2) Values. The values to be used in computing the distribution of 
drawback where two or more products result from the manufacture or 
production of merchandise under drawback conditions must be the market 
value (as provided for in the definition of relative value in Sec.  
190.2), unless other values are approved by CBP.
    (g) Payment. CBP will authorize the amount of the refund due as 
drawback to the claimant.


Sec.  190.82   Person entitled to claim drawback.

    Unless otherwise provided in this part (see Sec. Sec.  190.42(b), 
190.162, 190.175(a), 190.186), the exporter (or destroyer) will be 
entitled to claim drawback, unless the exporter (or destroyer), by 
means of a certification, waives the right to claim drawback and 
assigns such right to the manufacturer, producer, importer, or 
intermediate party (in the case of drawback under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(1) 
and (2), see Sec.  190.33(a) and (b)). Such certification must also 
affirm that the exporter (or destroyer) has not and will not assign the 
right to claim drawback on the particular exportation or destruction to 
any other party. The certification provided for in this section may be 
a blanket certification for a stated period.


Sec.  190.83   Person entitled to receive payment.

    Drawback is paid to the claimant (see Sec.  190.82).


Sec.  190.84   Protests.

    Procedures to protest the denial, in whole or in part, of a 
drawback entry must be in accordance with part 174 of this chapter (19 
CFR part 174).

Subpart I--Waiver of Prior Notice of Intent to Export; Accelerated 
Payment of Drawback


Sec.  190.91   Waiver of prior notice of intent to export.

    (a) General--(1) Scope. The requirement in Sec.  190.35 for prior 
notice of intent to export merchandise which may be the subject of an 
unused merchandise drawback claim under Sec.  313(j) of the Act, as 
amended (19 U.S.C. 1313(j)), may be waived under the provisions of this 
section.
    (2) Effective date for claimants with existing approval. For 
claimants approved for waiver of prior notice before February 24, 2019, 
and under 19 CFR 191, such approval of waiver of prior notice will 
remain in effect, but only if the claimant provides the following 
certification as part of each complete claim filed on or after that 
date, pursuant to 19 CFR 190.51(a)(2)(xvi): ``The undersigned 
acknowledges the current statutory requirements under 19 U.S.C. 1313 
and the regulatory requirements in 19 CFR part 190, and hereby 
certifies continuing eligibility for the waiver of prior notice 
(granted prior to February 24, 2019) in compliance therewith.'' This 
certification may only be made for waiver of prior notice for the 
specific type of drawback claim for which the application was 
previously approved under 19 CFR 191, except that applications approved 
under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(1) will also be applicable to claims for the 
same type of merchandise if made under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2).
    (3) Limited successorship for waiver of prior notice. When a 
claimant (predecessor) is approved for waiver of prior notice under 
this section and all of the rights, privileges, immunities, powers, 
duties and liabilities of the claimant are transferred by written 
agreement, merger, or corporate resolution to a successor, such 
approval of waiver of prior notice will remain in

[[Page 37946]]

effect for a period of 1 year after such transfer. The approval of 
waiver of prior notice will terminate at the end of such 1-year period 
unless the successor applies for waiver of prior notice under this 
section. If such successor applies for waiver of prior notice under 
this section within such 1-year period, the successor may continue to 
operate under the predecessor's waiver of prior notice until CBP 
approves or denies the successor's application for waiver of prior 
notice under this section, subject to the provisions in this section 
(see, in particular, paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section).
    (b) Application--(1) Who may apply. A claimant for unused 
merchandise drawback under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j) may apply for a waiver of 
prior notice of intent to export merchandise under this section.
    (2) Contents of application. An applicant for a waiver of prior 
notice under this section must file a written application (which may be 
physically delivered or delivered via email) with the drawback office 
where the claims will be filed. Such application must include the 
following:
    (i) Required information:
    (A) Name, address, and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) number (with 
suffix) of applicant;
    (B) Name, address, and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) number (with 
suffix) of current exporter(s) (if more than 3 exporters, such 
information is required only for the 3 most frequently used exporters), 
if applicant is not the exporter;
    (C) Export period covered by this application;
    (D) Commodity/product lines of imported and exported merchandise 
covered by this application;
    (E) Origin of merchandise covered by this application;
    (F) Estimated number of export transactions during the next 
calendar year covered by this application;
    (G) Port(s) of exportation to be used during the next calendar year 
covered by this application;
    (H) Estimated dollar value of potential drawback during the next 
calendar year covered by this application;
    (I) The relationship between the parties involved in the import and 
export transactions; and
    (J) Provision(s) of drawback covered by the application.
    (ii) A written declaration whether or not the applicant has 
previously been denied a waiver request, or had an approval of a waiver 
revoked, by any other drawback office, and whether the applicant has 
previously requested a 1-time waiver of prior notice under Sec.  
190.36, and whether such request was approved or denied; and
    (iii) A certification that the following documentary evidence will 
be made available for CBP review upon request:
    (A) For the purpose of establishing that the imported merchandise 
was not used in the United States (for purposes of drawback under 19 
U.S.C. 1313(j)(1)) or that the exported merchandise was not used in the 
United States and satisfies the requirements for substitution with the 
imported merchandise (for purposes of drawback under 19 U.S.C. 
1313(j)(2)), and, as applicable:
    (1) Records;
    (2) Laboratory records prepared in the ordinary course of business; 
and/or
    (3) Inventory records prepared in the ordinary course of business 
tracing all relevant movements and storage of the imported merchandise, 
substituted merchandise, and/or exported merchandise; and
    (B) Any other evidence establishing compliance with other 
applicable drawback requirements, upon CBP's request under paragraph 
(b)(2)(iii) of this section.
    (3) Samples of records to accompany application. To expedite the 
processing of applications under this section, the application should 
contain at least one sample of each of the records to be used to 
establish compliance with the applicable requirements (that is, sample 
of import document (for example, CBP Form 7501, or its electronic 
equivalent), sample of export document (for example, bill of lading), 
and samples of business, laboratory, and inventory records certified, 
under paragraph (b)(2)(iii)(A)(1) through (3) of this section, to be 
available to CBP upon request).
    (c) Action on application--(1) CBP review. The drawback office will 
review and verify the information submitted on and with the 
application. CBP will notify the applicant in writing within 90 days of 
receipt of the application of its decision to approve or deny the 
application, or of CBP's inability to approve, deny, or act on the 
application and the reason therefor. In order for CBP to evaluate the 
application, CBP may request any of the information listed in paragraph 
(b)(2)(iii)(A)(1) through (3) of this section. Based on the information 
submitted on and with the application and any information so requested, 
and based on the applicant's record of transactions with CBP, the 
drawback office will approve or deny the application. The criteria to 
be considered in reviewing the applicant's record with CBP include, but 
are not limited to:
    (i) The presence or absence of unresolved CBP charges (duties, 
taxes, or other debts owed CBP);
    (ii) The accuracy of the claimant's past drawback claims;
    (iii) Whether waiver of prior notice was previously revoked or 
suspended; and
    (iv) The presence or absence of any failure to present merchandise 
to CBP for examination after CBP had timely notified the party filing a 
Notice of Intent to Export, Destroy, or Return Merchandise for Purposes 
of Drawback on CBP Form 7553 of CBP's intent to examine the merchandise 
(see Sec.  190.35).
    (2) Approval. The approval of an application for waiver of prior 
notice of intent to export, under this section, will operate 
prospectively, applying only to those export shipments occurring after 
the date of the waiver. It will be subject to a stay, as provided in 
paragraph (d) of this section.
    (3) Denial. If an application for waiver of prior notice of intent 
to export, under this section, is denied, the applicant will be given 
written notice, specifying the grounds therefor, together with what 
corrective action may be taken, and informing the applicant that the 
denial may be appealed in the manner prescribed in paragraph (g) of 
this section. The applicant may not reapply for a waiver until the 
reason for the denial is resolved.
    (d) Stay. An approval of waiver of prior notice may be stayed, for 
a specified reasonable period, should CBP desire for any reason to 
examine the merchandise being exported with drawback prior to its 
exportation for purposes of verification. CBP will provide written 
notice, by registered or certified mail, of such a stay to the person 
for whom waiver of prior notice was approved. CBP will specify the 
reason(s) for the stay in such written notice. The stay will take 
effect 2 working days after the date the person signs the return post 
office receipt for the registered or certified mail. The stay will 
remain in effect for the period specified in the written notice, or 
until such earlier date as CBP notifies the person for whom waiver of 
prior notice was approved in writing that the reason for the stay has 
been satisfied. After the stay is lifted, operation under the waiver of 
prior notice procedure may resume for exports on or after the date the 
stay is lifted.
    (e) Proposed revocation. CBP may propose to revoke the approval of 
an application for waiver of prior notice of intent to export, under 
this section, for good cause (such as, noncompliance with the drawback 
law and/or regulations). CBP will give written

[[Page 37947]]

notice of the proposed revocation of a waiver of prior notice of intent 
to export. The notice will specify the reasons for CBP's proposed 
action and provide information regarding the procedures for challenging 
CBP's proposed revocation action as prescribed in paragraph (g) of this 
section. The written notice of proposed revocation may be included with 
a notice of stay of approval of waiver of prior notice as provided 
under paragraph (d) of this section. The revocation of the approval of 
waiver of prior notice will take effect 30 days after the date of the 
proposed revocation if not timely challenged under paragraph (g) of 
this section. If timely challenged, the revocation will take effect 
after completion of the challenge procedures in paragraph (g) of this 
section unless the challenge is successful.
    (f) Action by drawback office controlling. Action by the drawback 
office to approve, deny, stay, or revoke waiver of prior notice of 
intent to export, unless reversed by CBP Headquarters, will govern the 
applicant's eligibility for this procedure in all CBP drawback offices. 
If the application for waiver of prior notice of intent to export is 
approved, the claimant must refer to such approval in the first 
drawback claim filed after such approval in the drawback office 
approving waiver of prior notice and must submit a copy of the approval 
letter with the first drawback claim filed in any drawback office other 
than the approving office, when the export upon which the claim is 
based was without prior notice, under this section.
    (g) Appeal of denial or challenge to proposed revocation. An appeal 
of a denial of an application under this section, or challenge to the 
proposed revocation of an approved application under this section, may 
be made by letter to the drawback office issuing the denial or proposed 
revocation and must be filed within 30 days of the date of denial or 
proposed revocation. A denial of an appeal or challenge made to the 
drawback office may itself be appealed to CBP Headquarters, Office of 
Trade, Trade Policy and Programs, and must be filed within 30 days of 
the denial date of the initial appeal or challenge. The 30-day period 
for appeal or challenge to the drawback office or to CBP Headquarters 
may be extended for good cause, upon written request by the applicant 
or holder for such extension filed with the appropriate office within 
the 30-day period.


Sec.  190.92   Accelerated payment.

    (a) General--(1) Scope. Accelerated payment of drawback is 
available under this section on drawback claims under this part, unless 
specifically excepted from such accelerated payment. Accelerated 
payment of drawback consists of the payment of estimated drawback 
before liquidation of the drawback entry. Accelerated payment of 
drawback is only available when CBP's review of the request for 
accelerated payment of drawback does not find omissions from, or 
inconsistencies with the requirements of the drawback law and part 190 
(see, especially, subpart E of this part). Accelerated payment of a 
drawback claim does not constitute liquidation of the drawback entry.
    (2) Effective date for claimants with existing approval. For 
claimants approved for accelerated payment of drawback before February 
24, 2019, and under 19 CFR part 191, such approval of accelerated 
payment will remain in effect, but only if the claimant provides the 
following certification as part of each complete claim filed after that 
date, pursuant to 19 CFR 190.51(a)(2)(xvi): ``The undersigned 
acknowledges the current statutory requirements under 19 U.S.C. 1313 
and the regulatory requirements in 19 CFR part 190, and hereby 
certifies continuing eligibility for accelerated payment (granted prior 
to February 24, 2019) in compliance therewith.'' This certification may 
only be made for accelerated payment for the specific type of drawback 
claim for which the application was previously approved under 19 CFR 
191, except that applications approved under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(1) will 
also be applicable to claims for the same type of merchandise if made 
under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(2).
    (3) Limited successorship for approval of accelerated payment. When 
a claimant (predecessor) is approved for accelerated payment of 
drawback under this section and all of the rights, privileges, 
immunities, powers, duties and liabilities of the claimant are 
transferred by written agreement, merger, or corporate resolution to a 
successor, such approval of accelerated payment will remain in effect 
for a period of 1 year after such transfer. The approval of accelerated 
payment of drawback will terminate at the end of such 1-year period 
unless the successor applies for accelerated payment of drawback under 
this section. If such successor applies for accelerated payment of 
drawback under this section within such 1-year period, the successor 
may continue to operate under the predecessor's approval of accelerated 
payment until CBP approves or denies the successor's application for 
accelerated payment under this section, subject to the provisions in 
this section (see, in particular, paragraph (f) of this section).
    (b) Application for approval; contents. A person who wishes to 
apply for accelerated payment of drawback must file a written 
application (which may be physically delivered or delivered via email) 
with the drawback office where claims will be filed.
    (1) Required information. The application must contain:
    (i) Company name and address;
    (ii) Internal Revenue Service (IRS) number (with suffix);
    (iii) Identity (by name and title) of the person in claimant's 
organization who will be responsible for the drawback program;
    (iv) Description of the bond coverage the applicant intends to use 
to cover accelerated payments of drawback (see paragraph (d) of this 
section), including:
    (A) Identity of the surety to be used;
    (B) Dollar amount of bond coverage for the first year under the 
accelerated payment procedure; and
    (C) Procedures to ensure that bond coverage remains adequate (that 
is, procedures to alert the applicant when and if its accelerated 
payment potential liability exceeds its bond coverage);
    (v) Description of merchandise and/or articles covered by the 
application;
    (vi) Provision(s) of drawback covered by the application; and
    (vii) Estimated dollar value of potential drawback during the next 
12-month period covered by the application.
    (2) Previous applications. In the application, the applicant must 
state whether or not the applicant has previously been denied an 
application for accelerated payment of drawback, or had an approval of 
such an application revoked by any drawback office.
    (3) Certification of compliance. In or with the application, the 
applicant must also submit a certification, signed by the applicant, 
that all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements for drawback 
will be met.
    (4) Description of claimant's drawback program. With the 
application, the applicant must submit a description (with sample 
documents) of how the applicant will ensure compliance with its 
certification that the statutory and regulatory drawback requirements 
will be met. This description may be in the form of a booklet. The 
detail contained in this description should vary depending on the size 
and complexity of the applicant's accelerated drawback program (for 
example, if the dollar amount is great and there are several kinds of 
drawback involved, with differing inventory, manufacturing, and

[[Page 37948]]

shipping methods, greater detail in the description will be required). 
The description must include at least:
    (i) The name of the official in the claimant's organization who is 
responsible for oversight of the claimant's drawback program;
    (ii) The procedures and controls demonstrating compliance with the 
statutory and regulatory drawback requirements;
    (iii) The parameters of claimant's drawback recordkeeping program, 
including the retention period and method (for example, paper, 
electronic, etc.);
    (iv) A list of the records that will be maintained, including at 
least sample import documents, sample export documents, sample 
inventory and transportation documents (if applicable), sample 
laboratory or other documents establishing the qualification of 
merchandise or articles for substitution under the drawback law (if 
applicable), and sample manufacturing documents (if applicable);
    (v) The procedures that will be used to notify CBP of changes to 
the claimant's drawback program, variances from the procedures 
described in this application, and violations of the statutory and 
regulatory drawback requirements; and
    (vi) The procedures for an annual review by the claimant to ensure 
that its drawback program complies with the statutory and regulatory 
drawback requirements and that CBP is notified of any modifications 
from the procedures described in this application.
    (c) Sample application. The drawback office, upon request, will 
provide applicants for accelerated payment with a sample letter format 
to assist them in preparing their submissions.
    (d) Bond required. If approved for accelerated payment, the 
claimant must furnish a properly executed bond in an amount sufficient 
to cover the estimated amount of drawback to be claimed during the term 
of the bond. If outstanding accelerated drawback claims exceed the 
amount of the bond, the drawback office will require additional bond 
coverage as necessary before additional accelerated payments are made.
    (e) Action on application--(1) CBP review. The drawback office will 
review and verify the information submitted in and with the 
application. In order for CBP to evaluate the application, CBP may 
request additional information (including additional sample documents) 
and/or explanations of any of the information provided for in paragraph 
(b)(4) of this section. Based on the information submitted on and with 
the application and any information so requested, and based on the 
applicant's record of transactions with CBP, the drawback office will 
approve or deny the application. The criteria to be considered in 
reviewing the applicant's record with CBP include, but are not limited 
to (as applicable):
    (i) The presence or absence of unresolved CBP charges (duties, 
taxes, fees, or other debts owed CBP);
    (ii) The accuracy of the claimant's past drawback claims; and
    (iii) Whether accelerated payment of drawback or waiver of prior 
notice of intent to export was previously revoked or suspended.
    (2) Notification to applicant. CBP will notify the applicant in 
writing within 90 days of receipt of the application of its decision to 
approve or deny the application, or of CBP's inability to approve, 
deny, or act on the application and the reason therefor.
    (3) Approval. The approval of an application for accelerated 
payment, under this section, will be effective as of the date of CBP's 
written notification of approval under paragraph (e)(2) of this 
section. Accelerated payment of drawback will be available under this 
section to unliquidated drawback claims filed before and after such 
date. For claims filed before such date, accelerated payment of 
drawback will be paid only if the claimant furnishes a properly 
executed single transaction bond covering the claim, in an amount 
sufficient to cover the amount of accelerated drawback to be paid on 
the claim.
    (4) Denial. If an application for accelerated payment of drawback 
under this section is denied, the applicant will be given written 
notice, specifying the grounds therefor, together with what corrective 
action may be taken, and informing the applicant that the denial may be 
appealed in the manner prescribed in paragraph (i) of this section. The 
applicant may not reapply for accelerated payment of drawback until the 
reason for the denial is resolved.
    (f) Revocation. CBP may propose to revoke the approval of an 
application for accelerated payment of drawback under this section, for 
good cause (such as, noncompliance with the drawback law and/or 
regulations). In case of such proposed revocation, CBP will give 
written notice, by registered or certified mail, of the proposed 
revocation of the approval of accelerated payment. The notice will 
specify the reasons for CBP's proposed action and the procedures for 
challenging CBP's proposed revocation action as prescribed in paragraph 
(h) of this section. The revocation will take effect 30 days after the 
date of the proposed revocation if not timely challenged under 
paragraph (h) of this section. If timely challenged, the revocation 
will take effect after completion of the challenge procedures in 
paragraph (h) of this section unless the challenge is successful.
    (g) Action by drawback office controlling. Action by the drawback 
office to approve, deny, or revoke accelerated payment of drawback will 
govern the applicant's eligibility for this procedure in all CBP 
drawback offices. If the application for accelerated payment of 
drawback is approved, the claimant must refer to such approval in the 
first drawback claim filed after such approval in the drawback office 
approving accelerated payment of drawback and must submit a copy of the 
approval letter with the first drawback claim filed in a drawback 
office other than the approving office.
    (h) Appeal of denial or challenge to proposed revocation. An appeal 
of a denial of an application under this section, or challenge to the 
proposed revocation of an approved application under this section, may 
be made in writing to the drawback office issuing the denial or 
proposed revocation and must be filed within 30 days of the date of 
denial or proposed revocation. A denial of an appeal or challenge made 
to the drawback office may itself be appealed to CBP Headquarters, 
Office of Trade, Trade Policy and Programs, and must be filed within 30 
days. The 30-day period for appeal or challenge to the drawback office 
or to CBP Headquarters may be extended for good cause, upon written 
request by the applicant or holder for such extension filed with the 
appropriate office within the 30-day period.
    (i) Payment. The drawback office approving a drawback claim in 
which accelerated payment of drawback was requested will certify the 
drawback claim for payment. After liquidation, the drawback office will 
certify the claim for payment of any amount due or demand a refund of 
any excess amount paid. Any excess amount of duty the subject of 
accelerated payment that is not repaid to CBP within 30 days after the 
date of liquidation of the related drawback entry will be considered 
delinquent (see Sec. Sec.  24.3a and 113.65(b) of this chapter).


Sec.  190.93   Combined applications.

    An applicant for the procedures provided for in Sec. Sec.  190.91 
and 190.92 of this subpart may apply for only one procedure, both 
procedures separately, or both procedures in one application package 
(see also Sec.  190.195 regarding

[[Page 37949]]

combined applications for certification in the drawback compliance 
program and waiver of prior notice and/or approval of accelerated 
payment of drawback). In the latter instance, the intent to apply for 
both procedures must be clearly stated. In all instances, all of the 
requirements for the procedure(s) applied for must be met (for example, 
in a combined application for both procedures, all of the information 
required for each procedure, all required sample documents for each 
procedure, and all required certifications must be included in and with 
the application).

Subpart J--Internal Revenue Tax on Flavoring Extracts and Medicinal 
or Toilet Preparations (Including Perfumery) Manufactured From 
Domestic Tax-Paid Alcohol


Sec.  190.101   Drawback allowance.

    (a) Drawback. Section 313(d) of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 
1313(d)), provides for drawback of internal revenue tax upon the 
exportation of flavoring extracts and medicinal or toilet preparations 
(including perfumery) manufactured or produced in the United States in 
part from domestic tax-paid alcohol.
    (b) Shipment to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American 
Samoa. Drawback of internal revenue tax on articles manufactured or 
produced under this subpart and shipped to Puerto Rico, the Virgin 
Islands, Guam, or American Samoa will be allowed in accordance with 
section 7653(c) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 7653(c)). 
However, there is no authority of law for the allowance of drawback of 
internal revenue tax on flavoring extracts or medicinal or toilet 
preparations (including perfumery) manufactured or produced in the 
United States and shipped to Wake Island, Midway Islands, Kingman Reef, 
Canton Island, Enderbury Island, Johnston Island, or Palmyra Island.


Sec.  190.102   Procedure.

    (a) General. Other provisions of this part relating to direct 
identification drawback (see subpart B of this part) will apply to 
claims for drawback filed under this subpart insofar as applicable to 
and not inconsistent with the provisions of this subpart.
    (b) Manufacturing record. The manufacturer of flavoring extracts or 
medicinal or toilet preparations on which drawback is claimed will 
record the products manufactured, the quantity of waste, if any, and a 
full description of the alcohol. These records must be available at all 
times for inspection by CBP officers.
    (c) Additional information required on the manufacturer's 
application for a specific manufacturing drawback ruling. The 
manufacturer's application for a specific manufacturing drawback 
ruling, under Sec.  190.8, must state the quantity of domestic tax-paid 
alcohol contained in each product on which drawback is claimed.
    (d) Variance in alcohol content--(1) Variance of more than 5 
percent. If the percentage of alcohol contained in an exported 
medicinal preparation, flavoring extract or toilet preparation varies 
by more than 5 percent from the percentage of alcohol in the total 
volume of the product as stated in a previously approved application 
for a specific manufacturing drawback ruling, the manufacturer must 
apply for a new specific manufacturing drawback ruling pursuant to 
Sec.  190.8. If the variation differs from a previously filed schedule, 
the manufacturer must file a new schedule incorporating the change.
    (2) Variance of 5 percent or less. Variances of 5 percent or less 
of the volume of the product must be reported to the drawback office 
where the drawback entries are liquidated. In such cases, the drawback 
office may allow drawback without specific authorization from CBP 
Headquarters.
    (e) Time period for completing claims. Drawback claims under this 
subpart must be completed within 3 years after the date of exportation 
of the articles upon which drawback is claimed.
    (f) Filing of drawback entries on duty-paid imported merchandise 
and tax-paid alcohol. When the drawback claim covers duty-paid imported 
merchandise in addition to tax-paid alcohol, the claimant must file one 
set of entries for drawback of customs duty and another set for 
drawback of internal revenue tax.
    (g) Description of the alcohol. The description of the alcohol that 
is the subject of the drawback entry may be obtained from the 
description on the package containing the tax-paid alcohol.


Sec.  190.103   Additional requirements.

    (a) Manufacturer claims domestic drawback. In the case of medicinal 
preparations and flavoring extracts, the claimant must file with the 
drawback entry, a declaration of the manufacturer stating whether a 
claim has been or will be filed by the manufacturer with the Alcohol 
and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) for domestic drawback on alcohol 
under Sec. Sec.  5111, 5112, 5113, and 5114, Internal Revenue Code, as 
amended (26 U.S.C. 5111, 5112, 5113, and 5114).
    (b) Manufacturer does not claim domestic drawback--(1) Submission 
of statement. If no claim has been or will be filed with TTB for 
domestic drawback on medicinal preparations or flavoring extracts, the 
manufacturer must submit a statement, in duplicate, setting forth that 
fact to the Director, National Revenue Center, TTB.
    (2) Contents of the statement. The statement must show the:
    (i) Quantity and description of the exported products;
    (ii) Identity of the alcohol used by serial number of package or 
tank car;
    (iii) Name and registry number of the distilled spirits plant from 
which the alcohol was withdrawn;
    (iv) Date of withdrawal;
    (v) Serial number of the applicable record of tax determination 
(see 27 CFR 17.163(a) and 27 CFR 19.626(c)(7); and
    (vi) Drawback office where the claim will be filed.
    (3) Verification of receipt of the statement. The Director, 
National Revenue Center, TTB, will verify receipt of this statement, 
and transmit a verification of receipt of the statement with a copy of 
that document to the drawback office designated.


Sec.  190.104   Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) 
certificates.

    (a) Request. The drawback claimant or manufacturer must request the 
Director, National Revenue Center, TTB, to provide the CBP office where 
the drawback claim will be processed with a tax-paid certificate on TTB 
Form 5100.4 (Certificate of Tax-Paid Alcohol).
    (b) Contents. The request must state the:
    (1) Quantity of alcohol in proof gallons;
    (2) Serial number of each package;
    (3) Amount of tax paid on the alcohol;
    (4) Name, registry number, and location of the distilled spirits 
plant;
    (5) Date of withdrawal;
    (6) Name of the manufacturer using the alcohol in producing the 
exported articles;
    (7) Address of the manufacturer and its manufacturing plant; and
    (8) Customs drawback office where the drawback claim will be 
processed.
    (c) Extract of TTB certificate. If a certification of any portion 
of the alcohol described in the TTB Form 5100.4 is required for 
liquidation of drawback entries processed in another drawback office, 
the drawback office, on written application of the person who requested 
its issuance, will transmit a copy of the extract from the certificate 
for use at that drawback office. The drawback office will note that the 
copy of the extract was prepared and transmitted.

[[Page 37950]]

Sec.  190.105   Liquidation.

    The drawback office will ascertain the final amount of drawback due 
by reference to the specific manufacturing drawback ruling under which 
the drawback claimed is allowable.


Sec.  190.106   Amount of drawback.

    (a) Claim filed with TTB. If the declaration required by Sec.  
190.103(a) of this subpart shows that a claim has been or will be filed 
with TTB for domestic drawback, drawback under Sec.  313(d) of the Act, 
as amended (19 U.S.C. 1313(d)), will be limited to the difference 
between the amount of tax paid and the amount of domestic drawback 
claimed.
    (b) Claim not filed with TTB. If the declaration and statement 
required by Sec.  190.103(a) and (b) show that no claim has been or 
will be filed by the manufacturer with TTB for domestic drawback, the 
drawback will be the full amount of the tax on the alcohol used. 
Drawback under this provision may not be granted absent receipt from 
TTB of a copy of TTB Form 5100.4 (Certificate of Tax-Paid Alcohol) 
indicating that taxes have been paid on the exported product for which 
drawback is claimed.
    (c) No deduction of 1 percent. No deduction of 1 percent may be 
made in drawback claims under Sec.  313(d) of the Act, as amended (19 
U.S.C. 1313(d)).
    (d) Payment. The drawback due will be paid in accordance with Sec.  
190.81(f).

Subpart K--Supplies for Certain Vessels and Aircraft


Sec.  190.111   Drawback allowance.

    Section 309 of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1309), provides for 
drawback on articles laden as supplies on certain vessels or aircraft 
of the United States or as supplies including equipment upon, or used 
in the maintenance or repair of, certain foreign vessels or aircraft.


Sec.  190.112   Procedure.

    (a) General. The provisions of this subpart will override 
conflicting provisions of this part, such as the export procedures in 
Sec.  190.72.
    (b) Notice of lading. The drawback claimant must file with the 
drawback office a notice of lading.
    (c) Time of filing notice of lading. In the case of drawback in 
connection with 19 U.S.C. 1309(b), the notice of lading must be filed 
within 5 years after the date of importation of the imported 
merchandise.
    (d) Contents of notice. The notice of lading must show:
    (1) The name of the vessel or identity of the aircraft on which 
articles were or are to be laden;
    (2) The number and kind of packages and their marks and numbers;
    (3) A description of the articles and their weight (net), gauge, 
measure, or number; and
    (4) The name of the exporter.
    (e) Declaration of Master or other officer--(1) Requirement. The 
master or an authorized representative of the vessel or aircraft having 
knowledge of the facts must provide the following declaration on the 
notice of lading ``I declare that the information given above is true 
and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief; that I have 
knowledge of the facts set forth herein; that the articles described in 
this notice of lading were received in the quantities stated, from the 
person, and on the date, indicated above; that said articles were laden 
on the vessel (or aircraft) named above for use on said vessel (or 
aircraft) as supplies (or equipment), except as noted below; and that 
at the time of lading of the articles, the said vessel (or aircraft) 
was engaged in the business or trade checked below: (It is not 
necessary for a foreign vessel to show its class of trade.).''
    (2) Filing. The drawback claimant must file with the drawback 
office both the drawback entry and the notice of lading or separate 
document containing the declaration of the master or other officer or 
representative.
    (f) Information concerning class or trade. Information about the 
class of business or trade of a vessel or aircraft is required to be 
furnished in support of the drawback entry if the vessel or aircraft is 
American.
    (g) Articles laden or installed on aircraft as equipment or used in 
the maintenance or repair of aircraft. The drawback office where the 
drawback claim is filed will require a declaration or other evidence 
showing to its satisfaction that articles have been laden or installed 
on aircraft as equipment or used in the maintenance or repair of 
aircraft.
    (h) Fuel laden on vessels or aircraft as supplies--(1) Composite 
notice of lading. In the case of fuel laden on vessels or aircraft as 
supplies, the drawback claimant may file with the drawback office a 
composite notice of lading for each calendar month. The composite 
notice of lading must describe all of the drawback claimant's 
deliveries of fuel supplies during the one calendar month at a single 
port or airport to all vessels or airplanes of one vessel owner or 
operator or airline. This includes fuel laden for flights or voyages 
between the contiguous United States and Hawaii, Alaska, or any U.S. 
possessions (see Sec.  10.59 of this chapter).
    (2) Contents of composite notice. Composite notice must show for 
each voyage or flight:
    (i) The identity of the vessel or aircraft;
    (ii) A description of the fuel supplies laden;
    (iii) The quantity laden; and
    (iv) The date of lading.
    (3) Declaration of owner or operator. An authorized vessel or 
airline representative having knowledge of the facts must complete the 
``Declaration of Master or other officer''(see paragraph (e) of this 
section).
    (i) Desire to land articles covered by notice of lading. The master 
of the vessel or commander of the aircraft desiring to land in the 
United States articles covered by a notice of lading must apply for a 
permit to land those articles under CBP supervision. All articles 
landed, except those transferred under the original notice of lading to 
another vessel or aircraft entitled to drawback, will be considered 
imported merchandise for the purpose of Sec.  309(c) of the Act, as 
amended (19 U.S.C. 1309(c)).

Subpart L--Meats Cured With Imported Salt


Sec.  190.121   Drawback allowance.

    Section 313(f) of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1313(f)), provides 
for the allowance of drawback upon the exportation of meats cured with 
imported salt.


Sec.  190.122   Procedure.

    Other provisions of this part relating to direct identification 
manufacturing drawback will apply to claims for drawback under this 
subpart insofar as applicable to and not inconsistent with the 
provisions of this subpart.


Sec.  190.123   Refund of duties.

    Drawback allowed under this subpart will be refunded in aggregate 
amounts of not less than $100 and will not be subject to the retention 
of 1 percent of duties paid.

Subpart M--Materials for Construction and Equipment of Vessels and 
Aircraft Built for Foreign Account and Ownership


Sec.  190.131   Drawback allowance.

    Section 313(g) of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1313(g)), provides 
for drawback on imported materials used in the construction and 
equipment of vessels and aircraft built for foreign account and 
ownership, or for the government of any foreign country, 
notwithstanding that these vessels or aircraft may not be exported 
within the strict meaning of the term.

[[Page 37951]]

Sec.  190.132   Procedure.

    Other provisions of this part relating to direct identification 
manufacturing drawback will apply to claims for drawback filed under 
this subpart insofar as applicable to and not inconsistent with the 
provisions of this subpart.


Sec.  190.133   Explanation of terms.

    (a) Materials. Section 313(g) of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 
1313(g)), applies only to materials used in the original construction 
and equipment of vessels and aircraft, or to materials used in a 
``major conversion,'' as defined in this section, of a vessel or 
aircraft. Section 313(g) does not apply to materials used for 
alteration or repair, or to materials not required for safe operation 
of the vessel or aircraft.
    (b) Foreign account and ownership. Foreign account and ownership, 
as used in Sec.  313(g) of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1313(g)), 
means only vessels or aircraft built or equipped for the account of an 
owner or owners residing in a foreign country and having a bona fide 
intention that the vessel or aircraft, when completed, will be owned 
and operated under the flag of a foreign country.
    (c) Major conversion. For purposes of this subpart, a ``major 
conversion'' means a conversion that substantially changes the 
dimensions or carrying capacity of the vessel or aircraft, changes the 
type of the vessel or aircraft, substantially prolongs the life of the 
vessel or aircraft, or otherwise so changes the vessel or aircraft that 
it is essentially a new vessel or aircraft, as determined by CBP (see 
46 U.S.C. 2101(14a)).

Subpart N--Foreign-Built Jet Aircraft Engines Processed in the 
United States


Sec.  190.141   Drawback allowance.

    Section 313(h) of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1313(h)), provides 
for drawback on the exportation of jet aircraft engines manufactured or 
produced abroad that have been overhauled, repaired, rebuilt, or 
reconditioned in the United States with the use of imported 
merchandise, including parts.


Sec.  190.142   Procedure.

    Other provisions of this part will apply to claims for drawback 
filed under this subpart insofar as applicable to and not inconsistent 
with the provisions of this subpart.


Sec.  190.143   Drawback entry.

    (a) Filing of entry. Drawback entries covering these foreign-built 
jet aircraft engines must show that the entry covers jet aircraft 
engines processed under Sec.  313(h) of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 
1313(h)).
    (b) Contents of entry. The drawback entry must indicate the country 
in which each engine was manufactured and describe the processing 
performed thereon in the United States.


Sec.  190.144   Refund of duties.

    Drawback allowed under this subpart will be refunded in aggregate 
amounts of not less than $100, and will not be subject to the deduction 
of 1 percent of duties paid.

Subpart O--Merchandise Exported From Continuous CBP Custody


Sec.  190.151   Drawback allowance.

    (a) Eligibility of entered or withdrawn merchandise--(1) Under 19 
U.S.C. 1557(a). Section 557(a) of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 
1557(a)), provides for drawback on the exportation to a foreign 
country, or the shipment to the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Wake 
Island, Midway Islands, Kingman Reef, Johnston Island, or Guam, of 
merchandise upon which duties have been paid which has remained 
continuously in bonded warehouse or otherwise in CBP custody for a 
period not to exceed 5 years from the date of importation.
    (2) Under 19 U.S.C. 1313. Imported merchandise that has not been 
regularly entered or withdrawn for consumption, will not satisfy any 
requirement for use, importation, exportation or destruction, and will 
not be available for drawback, under Sec.  313 of the Act, as amended 
(19 U.S.C. 1313) (see 19 U.S.C. 1313(u)).
    (b) Guantanamo Bay. Guantanamo Bay Naval Station will be considered 
foreign territory for drawback purposes under this subpart and 
merchandise shipped there is eligible for drawback. Imported 
merchandise which has remained continuously in bonded warehouse or 
otherwise in CBP custody since importation is not entitled to drawback 
of duty when shipped to Puerto Rico, Canton Island, Enderbury Island, 
or Palmyra Island.


Sec.  190.152   Merchandise released from CBP custody.

    No remission, refund, abatement, or drawback of duty will be 
allowed under this subpart because of the exportation or destruction of 
any merchandise after its release from Government custody, except in 
the following cases:
    (a) When articles are exported or destroyed on which drawback is 
expressly provided for by law;
    (b) When prohibited articles have been regularly entered in good 
faith and are subsequently exported or destroyed pursuant to statute 
and regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury; or
    (c) When articles entered under bond are destroyed within the 
bonded period, as provided in 19 U.S.C. 1557(c), or destroyed within 
the bonded period by death, accidental fire, or other casualty, and 
satisfactory evidence of destruction is furnished to CBP (see Sec.  
190.71), in which case any accrued duties will be remitted or refunded 
and any condition in the bond that the articles must be exported will 
be deemed satisfied (see 19 U.S.C. 1558).


Sec.  190.153   Continuous CBP custody.

    (a) Merchandise released under an importer's bond and returned. 
Merchandise released to an importer under a bond prescribed by Sec.  
142.4 of this chapter and later returned to the public stores upon 
requisition of the appropriate CBP office will not be deemed to be in 
the continuous custody of CBP officers.
    (b) Merchandise released under Chapter 98, Subchapter XIII, 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Merchandise 
released as provided for in Chapter 98, Subchapter XIII, HTSUS (19 
U.S.C. 1202), will not be deemed to be in the continuous custody of CBP 
officers.
    (c) Merchandise released from warehouse. For the purpose of this 
subpart, in the case of merchandise entered for warehouse, CBP custody 
will be deemed to cease when estimated duty has been deposited and the 
appropriate CBP office has authorized the withdrawal of the 
merchandise.
    (d) Merchandise not warehoused, examined elsewhere than in public 
stores--(1) General rule. Except as stated in paragraph (d)(2) of this 
section, merchandise examined elsewhere than at the public stores, in 
accordance with the provisions of Sec.  151.7 of this chapter, will be 
considered released from CBP custody upon completion of final 
examination for appraisement.
    (2) Merchandise upon the wharf. Merchandise which remains on the 
wharf by permission of the appropriate CBP office will be considered to 
be in CBP custody, but this custody will be deemed to cease when the 
CBP officer in charge accepts the permit and has no other duties to 
perform relating to the merchandise, such as measuring, weighing, or 
gauging.


Sec.  190.154   Filing the entry.

    (a) Direct export. At least 6 working hours before lading the 
merchandise on which drawback is claimed under this subpart, the 
importer or the agent

[[Page 37952]]

designated by him or her in writing must file a direct export drawback 
entry.
    (b) Merchandise transported to another port for exportation. The 
importer of merchandise to be transported to another port for 
exportation must file an entry naming the transporting conveyance, 
route, and port of exit. The drawback office will certify one copy and 
forward it to the CBP office at the port of exit. A bonded carrier must 
transport the merchandise in accordance with the applicable 
regulations. Manifests must be prepared and filed in the manner 
prescribed in Sec.  144.37 of this chapter.


Sec.  190.155   Merchandise withdrawn from warehouse for exportation.

    The regulations in part 18 of this chapter concerning the 
supervision of lading and certification of exportation of merchandise 
withdrawn from warehouse for exportation without payment of duty will 
be followed to the extent applicable.


Sec.  190.156   Bill of lading.

    (a) Filing. In order to complete the claim for drawback under this 
subpart, a bill of lading covering the merchandise described in the 
drawback entry must be filed within 2 years after the merchandise is 
exported.
    (b) Contents. The bill of lading must either show that the 
merchandise was shipped by the person making the claim or bear an 
endorsement of the person in whose name the merchandise was shipped 
showing that the person making the claim is authorized to do so.
    (c) Limitation of the bill of lading. The terms of the bill of 
lading may limit and define its use by stating that it is for customs 
purposes only and not negotiable.
    (d) Inability to produce bill of lading. When a required bill of 
lading cannot be produced, the person making the drawback entry may 
request the drawback office, within the time required for the filing of 
the bill of lading, to accept a statement setting forth the cause of 
failure to produce the bill of lading and such evidence of exportation 
and of that person's right to make the drawback entry as may be 
available. The request will be granted if the drawback office is 
satisfied by the evidence submitted that the failure to produce the 
bill of lading is justified, that the merchandise has been exported, 
and that the person making the drawback entry has the right to do so. 
If the drawback office is not so satisfied, such office will transmit 
the request and its accompanying evidence to the Office of Trade, CBP 
Headquarters, for final determination.
    (e) Extracts of bills of lading. Drawback offices may issue 
extracts of bills of lading filed with drawback claims.


Sec.  190.157   [Reserved]


Sec.  190.158   Procedures.

    When the drawback claim has been completed and the bill of lading 
filed, together with the landing certificate, if required, the reports 
of inspection and lading made, and the clearance of the exporting 
conveyance established by the record of clearance in the case of direct 
exportation or by certificate in the case of transportation and 
exportation, the drawback office will verify the importation by 
referring to the import records to ascertain the amount of duty paid on 
the merchandise exported. To the extent appropriate and not 
inconsistent with the provisions of this subpart, drawback entries will 
be liquidated in accordance with the provisions of Sec.  190.81.


Sec.  190.159   Amount of drawback.

    Drawback due under this subpart will not be subject to the 
deduction of 1 percent.

Subpart P--Distilled Spirits, Wines, or Beer Which Are 
Unmerchantable or Do Not Conform to Sample or Specifications


Sec.  190.161   Refund of taxes.

    Section 5062(c), Internal Revenue Code, as amended (26 U.S.C. 
5062(c)), provides for the refund, remission, abatement or credit to 
the importer of internal revenue taxes paid or determined incident to 
importation, upon the exportation, or destruction under CBP 
supervision, of imported distilled spirits, wines, or beer found after 
entry to be unmerchantable or not to conform to sample or 
specifications and which are returned to CBP custody.


Sec.  190.162   Procedure.

    The export procedure will be the same as that provided in Sec.  
190.42 for rejected merchandise, except that the claimant must be the 
importer and must comply with all other provisions in this subpart.


Sec.  190.163   Documentation.

    (a) Entry. A drawback entry must be filed to claim drawback under 
this subpart.
    (b) Documentation. The drawback entry for unmerchantable 
merchandise must be accompanied by a certificate of the importer 
setting forth in detail the facts which cause the merchandise to be 
unmerchantable and any additional evidence that the drawback office 
requires to establish that the merchandise is unmerchantable.


Sec.  190.164   Return to CBP custody.

    There is no time limit for the return to CBP custody of distilled 
spirits, wine, or beer subject to refund of taxes under the provisions 
of this subpart. The claimant must return the merchandise to CBP 
custody prior to exportation or destruction and claims are subject to 
the filing deadline set forth in 19 U.S.C. 1313(r)(1).


Sec.  190.165   No exportation by mail.

    Merchandise covered by this subpart must not be exported by mail.


Sec.  190.166   Destruction of merchandise.

    (a) Action by the importer. A drawback claimant who proposes to 
destroy rather than export the distilled spirits, wine, or beer must 
state that fact on the drawback entry.
    (b) Action by CBP. Distilled spirits, wine, or beer returned to CBP 
custody at the place approved by the drawback office where the drawback 
entry was filed must be destroyed under the supervision of the CBP 
officer who will certify the destruction on CBP Form 7553.


Sec.  190.167   Liquidation.

    No deduction of 1 percent of the internal revenue taxes paid or 
determined will be made in allowing entries under Sec.  5062(c), 
Internal Revenue Code, as amended (26 U.S.C. 5062(c)).


Sec.  190.168   [Reserved]

Subpart Q--Substitution of Finished Petroleum Derivatives


Sec.  190.171  General; drawback allowance.

    (a) General. Section 313(p) of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 
1313(p)), provides for drawback for duties, taxes, and fees paid on 
qualified articles (see definition below) which consist of either 
petroleum derivatives that are imported, duty-paid, and qualified for 
drawback under the unused merchandise drawback law (19 U.S.C. 
1313(j)(1)), or petroleum derivatives that are manufactured or produced 
in the United States, and qualified for drawback under the 
manufacturing drawback law (19 U.S.C. 1313(a) or (b)).
    (b) Allowance of drawback. Drawback may be granted under 19 U.S.C. 
1313(p):
    (1) In cases where there is no manufacture, upon exportation of the 
imported article, an article of the same kind and quality, or any 
combination thereof; or
    (2) In cases where there is a manufacture or production, upon

[[Page 37953]]

exportation of the manufactured or produced article, an article of the 
same kind and quality, or any combination thereof.
    (c) Calculation of drawback. For drawback of finished petroleum 
derivatives pursuant to Sec.  1313(p), the claimant is required to 
calculate the total amount of drawback due, for purposes of 190.51(b), 
which will not exceed 99 percent of the allowable duties, taxes, and 
fees, subject to the following:
    (1) Per unit averaging calculation. The amount of duties, taxes, 
and fees eligible for drawback is determined by per unit averaging, as 
defined in 19 CFR 190.2, for any drawback claim based on 19 U.S.C. 
1313(p) pursuant to the standards set forth in 19 CFR 190.172(b) and 
without respect to the limitations set forth in subparagraphs (B) and 
(C) of 19 U.S.C. 1313(l).
    (2) Limitations. The amount of duties, taxes, and fees eligible for 
drawback is not subject to the limitations set out in 19 U.S.C. 
1313(p)(4) for unused merchandise claims (no manufacture) and 
manufacturing claims (see 190.173(e) and 190.174(f)).
    (3) Federal excise tax. For purposes of drawback of internal 
revenue tax imposed under Chapters 32 and 38 of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986, as amended (IRC), drawback granted on the export of 
substituted merchandise will be limited to the amount of taxes paid 
(and not returned by refund, credit, or drawback) on the substituted 
merchandise.


Sec.  190.172  Definitions.

    The following are definitions for purposes of this subpart only:
    (a) Qualified article. Qualified article means an article described 
in headings 2707, 2708, 2710 through 2715, 2901, 2902, 2909.19.14, or 
3901 through 3914 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
States (HTSUS). In the case of an article described in headings 3901 
through 3914, the definition covers the article in its primary forms as 
provided in Note 6 to chapter 39 of the HTSUS.
    (b) Same kind and quality article. Same kind and quality article 
means an article which is referred to under the same 8-digit 
classification of the HTSUS as the article to which it is compared.
    (c) Exported article. Exported article means an article which has 
been exported and is a qualified article, an article of the same kind 
and quality as the qualified article, or any combination thereof.


Sec.  190.173  Imported duty-paid derivatives (no manufacture).

    When the basis for drawback under 19 U.S.C. 1313(p) is imported 
duty-paid petroleum derivatives (that is, not articles manufactured 
under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) or (b)), the requirements for drawback are as 
follows:
    (a) Imported duty-paid merchandise. The imported duty-paid 
merchandise designated for drawback must be a ``qualified article'' as 
defined in Sec.  190.172(a) of this subpart;
    (b) Exported article. The exported article on which drawback is 
claimed must be an ``exported article'' as defined in Sec.  190.172(c) 
of this subpart;
    (c) Exporter. The exporter of the exported article must have 
either:
    (1) Imported the qualified article in at least the quantity of the 
exported article; or
    (2) Purchased or exchanged (directly or indirectly) from an 
importer an imported qualified article in at least the quantity of the 
exported article;
    (d) Time of export. The exported article must be exported within 
180 days after the date of entry of the designated imported duty-paid 
merchandise; and
    (e) Amount of drawback. The amount of drawback payable may not 
exceed the amount of drawback which would be attributable to the 
imported qualified article under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(1) which serves as 
the basis for drawback.


Sec.  190.174  Derivatives manufactured under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) or (b).

    When the exported article which is the basis for a drawback claim 
under 19 U.S.C. 1313(p) is petroleum derivatives which were 
manufactured or produced in the United States and qualify for drawback 
under the manufacturing drawback law (19 U.S.C. 1313(a) or (b)), the 
requirements for drawback are as follows:
    (a) Merchandise. The merchandise which is the basis for drawback 
under 19 U.S.C. 1313(p) must:
    (1) Have been manufactured or produced as described in 19 U.S.C. 
1313(a) or (b) from crude petroleum or a petroleum derivative; and
    (2) Be a ``qualified article'' as defined in Sec.  190.172(a) of 
this subpart;
    (b) Exported article. The exported article on which drawback is 
claimed must be an ``exported article'' as defined in Sec.  190.172(c) 
of this subpart;
    (c) Exporter. The exporter of the exported article must have 
either:
    (1) Manufactured or produced the qualified article in at least the 
quantity of the exported article; or
    (2) Purchased or exchanged (directly or indirectly) from a 
manufacturer or producer described in 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) or (b) the 
qualified article in at least the quantity of the exported article;
    (d) Manufacture in specific facility. The qualified article must 
have been manufactured or produced in a specific petroleum refinery or 
production facility which must be identified;
    (e) Time of export. The exported article must be exported either:
    (1) During the period provided for in the manufacturer's or 
producer's specific manufacturing drawback ruling (see Sec.  190.8) in 
which the qualified article is manufactured or produced; or
    (2) Within 180 days after the close of the period in which the 
qualified article is manufactured or produced; and
    (f) Amount of drawback. The amount of drawback payable may not 
exceed the amount of drawback which would be attributable to the 
article manufactured or produced under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) or (b) which 
serves as the basis for drawback.


Sec.  190.175  Drawback claimant; maintenance of records.

    (a) Drawback claimant. A drawback claimant under 19 U.S.C. 1313(p) 
must be the exporter of the exported article, or the refiner, producer, 
or importer of either the qualified article or the exported article. 
Any of these persons may designate another person to file the drawback 
claim.
    (b) Transfer of merchandise--(1) General. A drawback claimant under 
19 U.S.C. 1313(p) must maintain records (which may be records kept in 
the normal cause of business) to support the receipt of transferred 
merchandise and the party transferring the merchandise must maintain 
records to demonstrate the transfer.
    (2) Article substituted for the qualified article. (i) Subject to 
paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of this section, the manufacturer, producer, or 
importer of a qualified article may transfer to the exporter an article 
of the same kind and quality as the qualified article in a quantity not 
greater than the quantity of the qualified article.
    (ii) Subject to paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of this section, any 
intermediate party in the chain of commerce leading to the exporter 
from the manufacturer, producer, or importer of a qualified article may 
also transfer to the exporter or to another intermediate party an 
article of the same kind and quality as the article purchased or 
exchanged from the prior transferor (whether the manufacturer, 
producer, importer, or another intermediate transferor) in a quantity 
not greater than the quantity of the article purchased or exchanged.
    (iii) Under either paragraph (b)(2)(i) or (b)(2)(ii) of this 
section, the article transferred, regardless of its origin (imported, 
manufactured, substituted, or any combination thereof), will be the

[[Page 37954]]

qualified article eligible for drawback for purposes of section 
1313(p).
    (c) Maintenance of records. The manufacturer, producer, importer, 
transferor, exporter and drawback claimant of the qualified article and 
the exported article must all maintain their appropriate records 
required by this part.


Sec.  190.176  Procedures for claims filed under 19 U.S.C. 1313(p).

    (a) Applicability. The general procedures for filing drawback 
claims will be applicable to claims filed under 19 U.S.C. 1313(p) 
unless otherwise specifically provided for in this section.
    (b) Administrative efficiency, frequency of claims, and 
restructuring of claims. The procedures regarding administrative 
efficiency, frequency of claims, and restructuring of claims (as 
applicable, see Sec.  190.53) will apply to claims filed under this 
subpart.
    (c) Imported duty-paid derivatives (no manufacture). When the basis 
for drawback under 19 U.S.C. 1313(p) is imported duty-paid petroleum 
(not articles manufactured under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) or (b)), claims 
under this subpart may be paid and liquidated if:
    (1) The claim is filed on the drawback entry; and
    (2) The claimant provides a certification stating the basis (such 
as company records, or customer's written certification), for the 
information contained therein and certifying that:
    (i) The exported merchandise was exported within 180 days of entry 
of the designated, imported merchandise;
    (ii) The qualified article and the exported article are 
commercially interchangeable or both articles are subject to the same 
8-digit HTSUS subheading number;
    (iii) To the best of the claimant's knowledge, the designated 
imported merchandise, the qualified article and the exported article 
have not and will not serve as the basis of any other drawback claim;
    (iv) Evidence in support of the certification will be retained by 
the person providing the certification for 3 years after liquidation of 
the claim; and
    (v) Such evidence will be available for verification by CBP.
    (d) Derivatives manufactured under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) or (b). When 
the basis for a claim for drawback under 19 U.S.C. 1313(p) is articles 
manufactured under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) or (b), claims under this section 
may be paid and liquidated if:
    (1) The claim is filed on the drawback entry;
    (2) All documents required to be filed with a manufacturing claim 
under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) or (b) are filed with the claim;
    (3) The claim identifies the specific refinery or production 
facility at which the derivatives were manufactured or produced;
    (4) The claim states the period of manufacture for the derivatives; 
and
    (5) The claimant provides a certification stating the basis (such 
as company records or a customer's written certification), for the 
information contained therein and certifying that:
    (i) The exported merchandise was exported during the manufacturing 
period for the qualified article or within 180 days after the close of 
that period;
    (ii) The qualified article and the exported article are 
commercially interchangeable or both articles are classifiable under 
the same 8-digit HTSUS subheading number;
    (iii) To the best of the claimant's knowledge, the designated 
imported merchandise, the qualified article and the exported article 
have not and will not serve as the basis of any other drawback claim;
    (iv) Evidence in support of the certification will be retained by 
the person providing the certification for 3 years after liquidation of 
the claim; and
    (v) Such evidence will be available for verification by CBP.

Subpart R--Merchandise Transferred to a Foreign Trade Zone from 
Customs Territory


Sec.  190.181  Drawback allowance.

    The fourth proviso of Sec.  3 of the Foreign Trade Zones Act of 
June 18, 1934, as amended (19 U.S.C. 81c), provides that merchandise 
transferred to a foreign trade zone for the sole purpose of 
exportation, storage or destruction (except destruction of distilled 
spirits, wines, and fermented malt liquors), will be considered to be 
exported for the purpose of drawback, provided there is compliance with 
the regulations of this subpart.


Sec.  190.182  Zone-restricted merchandise.

    Merchandise in a foreign trade zone for the purposes specified in 
Sec.  190.181 will be given status as zone-restricted merchandise on 
proper application (see Sec.  146.44 of this chapter).


Sec.  190.183  Articles manufactured or produced in the United States.

    (a) Procedure for filing documents. Except as otherwise provided, 
the drawback procedures prescribed in this part must be followed when 
claiming drawback under this subpart on articles manufactured or 
produced in the United States with the use of imported or substituted 
merchandise, and on flavoring extracts or medicinal or toilet 
preparations (including perfumery) manufactured or produced with the 
use of domestic tax-paid alcohol.
    (b) Notice of transfer--(1) Evidence of export. The notice of zone 
transfer on CBP Form 214 (Application for Foreign-Trade Zone Admission 
and/or Status Designation) or its electronic equivalent will be in 
place of the documents under subpart G of this part to establish the 
exportation.
    (2) Filing procedures. The notice of transfer (CBP Form 214) will 
be filed not later than 3 years after the transfer of the articles to 
the zone. A notice filed after the transfer will state the foreign 
trade zone lot number.
    (3) Contents of notice. Each notice of transfer must show the:
    (i) Number and location of the foreign trade zone;
    (ii) Number and kind of packages and their marks and numbers;
    (iii) Description of the articles, including weight (gross and 
net), gauge, measure, or number; and
    (iv) Name of the transferor.
    (c) Action of foreign trade zone operator. After articles have been 
received in the zone, the zone operator must certify on a copy of the 
notice of transfer (CBP Form 214) the receipt of the articles (see 
Sec.  190.184(d)(2)) and forward the notice to the transferor or the 
person designated by the transferor. The transferor must verify that 
the notice has been certified before filing it with the drawback claim.
    (d) Drawback entries. Drawback entries must indicate that the 
merchandise was transferred to a foreign trade zone. The ``Declaration 
of Exportation'' must be modified as follows:
Declaration of Transfer to a Foreign Trade Zone
    I, ________ (member of firm, officer representing corporation, 
agent, or attorney), of ____, declare that, to the best of my knowledge 
and belief, the particulars of transfer stated in this entry, the 
notices of transfer, and receipts are correct, and that the merchandise 
was transferred to a foreign trade zone for the sole purpose of 
exportation, destruction, or storage, not to be removed from the 
foreign trade zone for domestic consumption.

Dated:-----------------------------------------------------------------

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

Transferor or agent


Sec.  190.184  Merchandise transferred from continuous CBP custody.

    (a) Procedure for filing claims. The procedure described in subpart 
O of this

[[Page 37955]]

part will be followed as applicable, for drawback on merchandise 
transferred to a foreign trade zone from continuous CBP custody.
    (b) Drawback entry. Before the transfer of merchandise from 
continuous CBP custody to a foreign trade zone, the importer or a 
person designated in writing by the importer for that purpose must file 
with the drawback office a direct export drawback entry. CBP will 
notify the zone operator at the zone.
    (c) Certification by zone operator. After the merchandise has been 
received in the zone, the zone operator must certify the receipt of the 
merchandise (see paragraph (d)(2) of this section) and notify the 
transferor or the person designated by the transferor. After executing 
the declaration provided for in paragraph (d)(3) of this section, the 
transferor must resubmit the drawback entry to the drawback office in 
place of the bill of lading required by Sec.  190.156.
    (d) Modification of drawback entry--(1) Indication of transfer. The 
drawback entry must include a certification to indicate that the 
merchandise is to be transferred to a foreign trade zone.
    (2) Endorsement. The transferor or person designated by the 
transferor and the foreign trade zone operator must certify transfer to 
the foreign trade zone, with respect to the drawback entry, as follows:
Certification by Foreign Trade Zone Operator
    The merchandise described in the entry was received from ______ on 
____; 20__; in Foreign Trade Zone No. __, (City and State)

Exceptions-------------------------------------------------------------

(Name and title)

By---------------------------------------------------------------------

(Name of operator)

    (3) Transferor's declaration. The transferor must declare, with 
respect to the drawback entry, as follows:
Transferor's Declaration
    I, ________ of the firm of ____, declare that the merchandise 
described in this entry was duly entered at the customhouse on arrival 
at this port; that the duties thereon have been paid as specified in 
this entry; and that it was transferred to Foreign Trade Zone No. __, 
located at ____, (City and State) for the sole purpose of exportation, 
destruction, or storage, not to be removed from the foreign trade zone 
for domestic consumption. I further declare that to the best of my 
knowledge and belief, this merchandise is in the same quantity, 
quality, value, and package, unavoidable wastage and damage excepted, 
as it was at the time of importation; that no allowance nor reduction 
of duties has been made for damage or other cause except as specified 
in this entry; and that no part of the duties paid has been refunded by 
drawback or otherwise.

Dated:-----------------------------------------------------------------

Transferor


Sec.  190.185  Unused merchandise drawback and merchandise not 
conforming to sample or specification, shipped without consent of the 
consignee, found to be defective as of the time of importation, or 
returned after retail sale.

    (a) Procedure for filing claims. The procedures described in 
subpart C of this part relating to unused merchandise drawback, and in 
subpart D of this part relating to rejected merchandise, must be 
followed with respect to drawback under this subpart for unused 
merchandise drawback and merchandise that does not conform to sample or 
specification, is shipped without consent of the consignee, or is found 
to be defective as of the time of importation.
    (b) Drawback entry. Before transfer of the merchandise to a foreign 
trade zone, the importer or a person designated in writing by the 
importer for that purpose must file the drawback entry. CBP will notify 
the zone operator at the zone.
    (c) Certification by zone operator. After the merchandise has been 
received in the zone, the zone operator at the zone must certify, with 
respect to the drawback entry, the receipt of the merchandise and 
notify the transferor or the person designated by the transferor. After 
executing the declaration provided for in paragraph (d)(3) of this 
section, the transferor must resubmit the drawback entry in place of 
the bill of lading required by Sec.  190.156.
    (d) Modification of drawback entry--(1) Indication of transfer. The 
drawback entry must indicate that the merchandise is to be transferred 
to a foreign trade zone.
    (2) Endorsement. The transferor or person designated by the 
transferor and the foreign trade zone operator must certify transfer to 
the foreign trade zone, with respect to the drawback entry, as follows:
Certification by Foreign Trade Zone Operator
    The merchandise described in this entry was received from ______on 
____, 20 __, in Foreign Trade Zone No. __, ____(City and State).
Exceptions:------------------------------------------------------------

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

(Name of operator)
By---------------------------------------------------------------------

(Name and title)

    (3) Transferor's declaration. The transferor must certify, with 
respect to the drawback entry, as follows:
Transferor's Declaration
    I, ________ of the firm of _____, declare that the merchandise 
described in the within entry was duly entered at the customhouse on 
arrival at this port; that the duties thereon have been paid as 
specified in this entry; and that it was transferred to Foreign Trade 
Zone No. __, located at ____ (City and State) for the sole purpose of 
exportation, destruction, or storage, not to be removed from the 
foreign trade zone for domestic consumption. I further declare that to 
the best of my knowledge and belief, said merchandise is the same in 
quantity, quality, value, and package as specified in this entry; that 
no allowance nor reduction in duties has been made; and that no part of 
the duties paid has been refunded by drawback or otherwise.

Dated:-----------------------------------------------------------------

Transferor


Sec.  190.186  Person entitled to claim drawback.

    The person named in the foreign trade zone operator's certification 
on the notice of transfer or the drawback entry, as applicable, will be 
considered to be the transferor. Drawback may be claimed by, and paid 
to, the transferor.

Subpart S--Drawback Compliance Program


Sec.  190.191  Purpose.

    This subpart sets forth the requirements for the drawback 
compliance program in which claimants and other parties in interest, 
including customs brokers, may participate after being certified by 
CBP. Participation in the program is voluntary. Under the program, CBP 
is required to inform potential drawback claimants and related parties 
clearly about their rights and obligations under the drawback law and 
regulations. Reduced penalties and/or warning letters may be issued 
once a party has been certified for the program, and is in general 
compliance with the appropriate procedures and requirements thereof.


Sec.  190.192  Certification for compliance program.

    (a) General. A party may be certified as a participant in the 
drawback compliance program after meeting the core requirements 
established under the program, or after negotiating an alternative 
drawback compliance

[[Page 37956]]

program suited to the needs of both the party and CBP. Certification 
requirements will take into account the size and nature of the party's 
drawback program, the type of drawback claims filed, and the volume of 
claims filed. Whether the party is a drawback claimant, a broker, or 
one that provides data and documentation on which a drawback claim is 
based, will also be considered.
    (b) Core requirements of program. In order to be certified as a 
participant in the drawback compliance program or negotiated 
alternative drawback compliance program, the party must demonstrate 
that it:
    (1) Understands the legal requirements for filing claims, including 
the nature of the records that are required to be maintained and 
produced and the time periods involved;
    (2) Has in place procedures that explain the CBP requirements to 
those employees involved in the preparation of claims, and the 
maintenance and production of required records;
    (3) Has in place procedures regarding the preparation of claims and 
maintenance of required records, and the production of such records to 
CBP;
    (4) Has designated a dependable individual or individuals who will 
be responsible for compliance under the program, and maintenance and 
production of required records;
    (5) Has in place a record maintenance program approved by CBP 
regarding original records, or if approved by CBP, alternative records 
or recordkeeping formats for other than the original records; and
    (6) Has procedures for notifying CBP of variances in, or violations 
of, the drawback compliance program or other alternative negotiated 
drawback compliance program, and for taking corrective action when 
notified by CBP of violations and problems regarding such program.
    (c) Broker certification. A customs broker may be certified as a 
participant in the drawback compliance program only on behalf of a 
given claimant (see Sec.  190.194(b)). To do so, a customs broker who 
assists a claimant in filing for drawback must be able to demonstrate, 
for and on behalf of such claimant, conformity with the core 
requirements of the drawback compliance program as set forth in 
paragraph (b) of this section. The broker must ensure that the claimant 
has the necessary documentation and records to support the drawback 
compliance program established on its behalf, and that claims to be 
filed under the program are reviewed by the broker for accuracy and 
completeness.


Sec.  190.193  Application procedure for compliance program.

    (a) Who may apply. Claimants and other parties in interest may 
apply for participation in the drawback compliance program. This 
includes any person, corporation or business entity that provides 
supporting information or documentation to one who files drawback 
claims, as well as customs brokers who assist claimants in filing for 
drawback. Program participants may further consist of importers, 
manufacturers or producers, agent-manufacturers, complementary 
recordkeepers, subcontractors, intermediate parties, and exporters.
    (b) Place of filing. An application in letter format containing the 
information as prescribed in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section may 
be submitted to any drawback office.
    (c) Letter of application; contents. A party requesting 
certification to become a participant in the drawback compliance 
program must file with the drawback office a written application, 
signed by an authorized individual (see Sec.  190.6(c) of this part). 
The detail required in the application must take into account the size 
and nature of the applicant's drawback program, the type of drawback 
claims filed, and the dollar value and volume of claims filed. However, 
the application must contain at least the following information:
    (1) Name of applicant, address, IRS number (with suffix), and the 
type of business in which engaged, as well as the name(s) of the 
individual(s) designated by the applicant to be responsible for 
compliance under the program;
    (2) A description of the nature of the applicant's drawback 
program, including the type of drawback in which involved (such as, 
manufacturing, or unused or rejected merchandise), and the applicant's 
particular role(s) in the drawback claims process (such as claimant 
and/or importer, manufacturer or producer, agent-manufacturer, 
complementary recordkeeper, subcontractor, intermediate party 
(possessor or purchaser), or exporter (destroyer)); and
    (3) Size of applicant's drawback program. For example, if the 
applicant is a claimant, the number of claims filed over the previous 
12-month period should be included, along with the number estimated to 
be filed over the next 12-month period, and the estimated amount of 
drawback to be claimed annually. Other parties should describe the 
extent to which they are involved in drawback activity, based upon 
their particular role(s) in the drawback process; for example, 
manufacturers should explain how much manufacturing they are engaged in 
for drawback, such as the quantity of drawback product produced on an 
annual basis, as established by the certificates of manufacture and 
delivery they have executed.
    (d) Application package. Along with the letter of application as 
prescribed in paragraph (c) of this section, the application package 
must include a description of how the applicant will ensure compliance 
with statutory and regulatory drawback requirements. This description 
may be in the form of a booklet or set forth otherwise. The description 
must include at least the following:
    (1) The name and title of the official in the applicant's 
organization who is responsible for oversight of the applicant's 
drawback program, and the name and title, with mailing address and, if 
available, fax number and email address, of the person(s) in the 
applicant's organization responsible for the actual maintenance of the 
applicant's drawback program;
    (2) If the applicant is a manufacturer and the drawback involved is 
manufacturing drawback, a copy of the letter of notification of intent 
to operate under a general manufacturing drawback ruling or the 
application for a specific manufacturing drawback ruling (see 
Sec. Sec.  190.7 and 190.8), as appropriate;
    (3) A description of the applicant's drawback record-keeping 
program, including the retention period and method (for example, paper, 
and electronic.);
    (4) A list of the records that will be maintained, including at 
least sample import documents, sample export documents, sample 
inventory and transportation documents (if applicable), sample 
laboratory or other documents establishing the qualification of 
merchandise or articles for substitution under the drawback law (if 
applicable), and sample manufacturing documents (if applicable);
    (5) A description of the applicant's specific procedures for:
    (i) How drawback claims are prepared (if the applicant is a 
claimant); and
    (ii) How the applicant will fulfill any requirements under the 
drawback law and regulations applicable to its role in the drawback 
program;
    (6) A description of the applicant's procedures for notifying CBP 
of variances in, or violations of, its drawback compliance program or 
negotiated alternative drawback compliance program, and procedures for 
taking corrective action when notified by CBP of violations or other 
problems in such program; and

[[Page 37957]]

    (7) A description of the applicant's procedures for annual review 
to ensure that its drawback compliance program meets the statutory and 
regulatory drawback requirements and that CBP is notified of any 
modifications from the procedures described in this application.


Sec.  190.194   Action on application to participate in compliance 
program.

    (a) Review by drawback office--(1) General. It is the 
responsibility of the drawback office to coordinate its decision making 
on the package with CBP Headquarters and other CBP offices as 
appropriate. CBP processing of the package will consist of the review 
of the information contained therein as well as any additional 
information requested (see paragraph (a)(2) of this section).
    (2) Criteria for CBP review. The drawback office will review and 
verify the information submitted in and with the application. In order 
for CBP to evaluate the application, CBP may request additional 
information (including additional sample documents) and/or explanations 
of any of the information provided for in Sec.  190.193(c) and (d) of 
this subpart. Based on the information submitted on and with the 
application and any information so requested, and based on the 
applicant's record of transactions with CBP, the drawback office will 
approve or deny the application. The criteria to be considered in 
reviewing the applicant's record with CBP will include (as applicable):
    (i) The presence or absence of unresolved customs charges (duties, 
taxes, fees, or other debts owed CBP);
    (ii) The accuracy of the claimant's past drawback claims; and
    (iii) Whether accelerated payment of drawback or waiver of prior 
notice of intent to export was previously revoked or suspended.
    (b) Approval. Certification as a participant in the drawback 
compliance program will be given to applicants whose applications are 
approved under the criteria in paragraph (a)(2) of this section. The 
drawback office will give written notification to an applicant of its 
certification as a participant in the drawback compliance program. A 
customs broker obtaining certification for a drawback claimant will be 
sent written notification on behalf of such claimant, with a copy of 
the notification also being sent to the claimant.
    (c) Benefits of participation in program. When a party that has 
been certified as a participant in the drawback compliance program and 
is generally in compliance with the appropriate procedures and 
requirements of the program commits a violation of 19 U.S.C. 1593a(a) 
(see Sec.  190.62(b)), CBP will, in the absence of fraud or repeated 
violations, and in lieu of a monetary penalty as otherwise provided 
under Sec.  1593a, issue a written notice of the violation to the 
party. Repeated violations by a participant, including a customs 
broker, may result in the issuance of penalties and the removal of 
certification under the program until corrective action, satisfactory 
to CBP, is taken.
    (d) Denial. If certification as a participant in the drawback 
compliance program is denied, the applicant will be given written 
notice by the drawback office, specifying the grounds for such denial, 
together with any action that may be taken to correct the perceived 
deficiencies, and informing the applicant that such denial may be 
appealed to the drawback office that issued the notice of denial and 
then appealed to CBP Headquarters.
    (e) Certification removal--(1) Grounds for removal. The 
certification for participation in the drawback compliance program by a 
party may be removed when any of the following conditions are 
discovered:
    (i) The certification privilege was obtained through fraud or 
mistake of fact;
    (ii) The program participant is no longer in compliance with the 
customs laws and CBP regulations, including the requirements set forth 
in Sec.  190.192;
    (iii) The program participant has repeatedly filed false drawback 
claims or false or misleading documentation or other information 
relating to such claims; or
    (iv) The program participant is convicted of any felony or has 
committed acts which would constitute a misdemeanor or felony involving 
theft, smuggling, or any theft-connected crime.
    (2) Removal procedure. If CBP determines that the certification of 
a program participant should be removed, the drawback office will send 
the program participant a written notice of the removal. Such notice 
will inform the program participant of the grounds for the removal and 
will advise the program participant of its right to file an appeal of 
the removal in accordance with paragraph (f) of this section.
    (3) Effect of removal. The removal of certification will be 
effective immediately in cases of willfulness on the part of the 
program participant or when required by public health, interest, or 
safety. In all other cases, the removal of certification will be 
effective when the program participant has received notice under 
paragraph (e)(2) of this section and either no appeal has been filed 
within the time limit prescribed in paragraph (f)(2) of this section or 
all appeal procedures have been concluded by a decision that upholds 
the removal action. Removal of certification may subject the affected 
person to penalties.
    (f) Appeal of certification denial or removal--(1) Appeal of 
certification denial. A party may challenge a denial of an application 
for certification as a participant in the drawback compliance program 
by filing a written appeal, within 30 days of issuance of the notice of 
denial, with the drawback office. A denial of an appeal may itself be 
appealed to CBP Headquarters, Trade Policy and Programs, Office of 
Trade, within 30 days after issuance of the drawback office's appeal 
decision. This office will review the appeal and will respond with a 
written decision within 30 days after receipt of the appeal unless 
circumstances require a delay in issuance of the decision. If the 
decision cannot be issued within the 30-day period, the officewill 
advise the appellant of the reasons for the delay and of any further 
actions which will be carried out to complete the appeal review and of 
the anticipated date for issuance of the appeal decision.
    (2) Appeal of certification removal. A party who has received a CBP 
notice of removal of certification for participation in the drawback 
compliance program may challenge the removal by filing a written 
appeal, within 30 days after issuance of the notice of removal, with 
the drawback office. A denial of an appeal may itself be appealed to 
CBP Headquarters, Trade Policy and Programs, Office of Trade, within 30 
days after issuance of the drawback office's appeal decision. This 
office will consider the allegations upon which the removal was based 
and the responses made to those allegations by the appellant and will 
render a written decision on the appeal within 30 days after receipt of 
the appeal.


Sec.  190.195  Combined application for certification in drawback 
compliance program and waiver of prior notice and/or approval of 
accelerated payment of drawback.

    An applicant for certification in the drawback compliance program 
may also, in the same application, apply for waiver of prior notice of 
intent to export and accelerated payment of drawback, under subpart I 
of this part. Alternatively, an applicant may separately apply for 
certification in the drawback compliance program and either or both 
waiver of prior notice and accelerated payment of drawback. In the

[[Page 37958]]

former instance, the intent to apply for certification and waiver of 
prior notice and/or approval of accelerated payment of drawback must be 
clearly stated. In all instances, all of the requirements for 
certification and the procedure applied for must be met (for example, 
in a combined application for certification in the drawback compliance 
program and both procedures, all of the information required for 
certification and each procedure, all required sample documents for 
certification and each procedure, and all required certifications must 
be included with the application).

Appendix A to Part 190--General Manufacturing Drawback Rulings

Table of Contents

I. General Instructions
II. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) 
(T.D. 81-234; T.D. 83-123)
III. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) 
or 1313(b) for Agents (T.D. 81-181)
IV. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) 
for Burlap or Other Textile Material (T.D. 83-53)
V. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b) for 
Component Parts (T.D. 81-300)
VI. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) 
for Flaxseed (T.D. 83-80)
VII. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) 
for Fur Skins or Fur Skin Articles (T.D. 83-77)
VIII. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b) 
for Orange Juice (T.D. 85-110)
IX. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b) 
for Petroleum or Petroleum Derivatives (T.D. 84-49)
X. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b) for 
Piece Goods (T.D. 83-73)
XI. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b) 
for Raw Sugar (T.D. 83-59)
XII. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b) 
for Steel (T.D. 81-74)
XIII. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b) 
for Sugar (T.D. 81-92)
XIV. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) 
for Woven Piece Goods (T.D. 83-84)

I. General Instructions

    A. There follow various general manufacturing drawback rulings 
which have been designed to simplify drawback procedures. Any person 
that can comply with the conditions of any one of these rulings may 
notify a CBP drawback office in writing of its intention to operate 
under the ruling (see Sec.  190.7). Such a letter of notification 
must include the following information:
    1. Name and address of manufacturer or producer;
    2. IRS (Internal Revenue Service) number (with suffix) of 
manufacturer or producer;
    3. Location[s] of factory[ies] which will operate under the 
general ruling;
    4. If a business entity, names of persons who will sign drawback 
documents (see Sec.  190.6);
    5. Identity (by T.D. number and title, as stated in this 
Appendix) of general manufacturing drawback ruling under which the 
manufacturer or producer intends to operate;
    6. Description of the merchandise and articles, unless 
specifically described in the general manufacturing drawback ruling, 
and 8-digit HTSUS subheading number, and the quantity of the 
merchandise;
    7. Only for General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 
U.S.C. 1313(b) for Petroleum or Petroleum Derivatives, the name of 
each article to be exported or, if the identity of the product is 
not clearly evident by its name, what the product is, and the 
abstract period to be used for each refinery (monthly or other 
specified period (not to exceed 1 year)), subject to the conditions 
in the General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b) 
for Petroleum or Petroleum Derivatives, I. Procedures and Records 
Maintained, 4(a) or (b);
    8. Basis of claim used for calculating drawback; and
    9. Description of the manufacturing or production process, 
unless specifically described in the general manufacturing drawback 
ruling.
    For the General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling under Sec.  
1313(a), the General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 
1313(b) for Component Parts, and the General Manufacturing Drawback 
Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) or 1313(b) for Agents, if the 
drawback office has doubts as to whether there is a manufacture or 
production, as defined in Sec.  190.2, the manufacturer or producer 
will be asked to provide details of the operation purported to be a 
manufacture or production.
    10. For the General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling where 
substituted merchandise will be used, the bill of materials and/or 
formulas annotated with the 8-digit HTSUS classifications.
    B. These general manufacturing drawback rulings supersede 
general ``contracts'' previously published under the following 
Treasury Decisions (T.D.s): 81-74, 81-92, 81-181, 81-234, 81-300, 
83-53, 83-59, 83-73, 83-77, 83-80, 83-84, 83-123, 84-49, and 85-110. 
Anyone currently operating under any of the above-listed Treasury 
Decisions will automatically be covered by the superseding general 
ruling, including all privileges of the previous ``contract''.

II. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) (T.D. 
81-234; T.D. 83-123)

A. Imported Merchandise or Drawback Products <SUP>1</SUP> Used
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Drawback products are those produced in the United States in 
accordance with the drawback law and regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Imported merchandise or drawback products are used in the 
manufacture of the exported articles upon which drawback claims will 
be based.

B. Exported Articles on Which Drawback Will be Claimed

    Exported articles on which drawback will be claimed will be 
manufactured in the United States using imported merchandise or 
drawback products.

C. General Statement

    The manufacturer or producer manufactures or produces for its 
own account. The manufacturer or producer may manufacture or produce 
articles for the account of another or another manufacturer or 
producer may manufacture or produce for the account of the 
manufacturer or producer under contract within the principal and 
agency relationship outlined in T.D.s 55027(2) and 55207(1) (see 
Sec.  190.9).

D. Process of Manufacture or Production

    The imported merchandise or drawback products will be used to 
manufacture or produce articles in accordance with Sec.  190.2.

E. Multiple Products

1. Relative Values

    Drawback law mandates the assignment of relative values when two 
or more products necessarily are produced concurrently in the same 
operation. If multiple products are produced records, which may 
include records kept in the normal course of business, will be 
maintained of the market value of each product at the time it is 
first separated in the manufacturing process.

2. Appearing-in Method

    The appearing-in basis may not be used if multiple products are 
produced.

F. Loss or Gain

    Records, which may include records kept in the normal course of 
business, will be maintained showing the extent of any loss or gain 
in net weight or measurement of the imported merchandise, caused by 
atmospheric conditions, chemical reactions, or other factors.

G. [Reserved]

H. Stock in Process

    Stock in process does not result; or if it does result, details 
will be given in claims as filed, and it will not be included in the 
computation of the merchandise used to manufacture the finished 
articles on which drawback is claimed.

I. Waste

    No drawback is payable on any waste which results from the 
manufacturing operation. Unless the claim for drawback is based on 
the quantity of merchandise appearing in the exported articles, 
records will be maintained to establish the value, the quantity, and 
the disposition of any waste that results from manufacturing the 
exported articles. If no waste results, records will be maintained 
to establish that fact.

J. Procedures and Records Maintained

    Records, which may include records kept in the normal course of 
business, will be maintained to establish:

[[Page 37959]]

    1. That the exported articles on which drawback is claimed were 
produced with the use of the imported merchandise, and
    2. The quantity of imported merchandise \2\ used in producing 
the exported articles. (To obtain drawback the claimant must 
establish that the completed articles were exported within 5 years 
after importation of the imported merchandise. Records establishing 
compliance with these requirements must be available for audit by 
CBP during business hours. Drawback is not payable without proof of 
compliance).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ If claims are to be made on an ``appearing in'' basis, the 
remainder of the sentence should read ``appearing in the exported 
articles.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

K. Inventory Procedures

    The inventory records of the manufacturer or producer must show 
how the drawback recordkeeping requirements set forth in 19 U.S.C. 
1313(a) and part 190 of the CBP Regulations will be met, as 
discussed under the heading ``Procedures And Records Maintained''. 
If those records do not establish satisfaction of those legal 
requirements, drawback cannot be paid.

L. Basis of Claim for Drawback

    Drawback will be claimed on the full quantity of merchandise 
used in producing the exported articles only if there is no waste or 
valueless or unrecovered waste in the manufacturing operation. A 
drawback claim may be based on the quantity of eligible merchandise 
that appears in the exported articles, regardless of whether there 
is waste, and no records of waste need be maintained. If there is 
valuable waste recovered from the manufacturing operation and 
records are kept which show the quantity and value of the waste, 
drawback may be claimed on the quantity of eligible material used to 
produce the exported articles less the amount of that merchandise 
which the value of the waste would replace.

M. General Requirements

    The manufacturer or producer must:
    1. Comply fully with the terms of this general ruling when 
claiming drawback;
    2. Open its factory and records for examination at all 
reasonable hours by authorized Government officers;
    3. Keep its drawback related records and supporting data for at 
least 3 years from the date of liquidation of any drawback claim 
predicated in whole or in part upon this general ruling;
    4. Keep its letter of notification of intent to operate under 
this general ruling current by reporting promptly to the drawback 
office which liquidates its claims any changes in the information 
required by the General Instructions of this Appendix to be included 
therein (I. General Instructions, 1 through 10) or the corporate 
name or corporate organization by succession or reincorporation;
    5. Keep a copy of this general ruling on file for ready 
reference by employees and require all officials and employees 
concerned to familiarize themselves with the provisions of this 
general ruling; and
    6. Issue instructions to insure proper compliance with title 19, 
United States Code, section 1313, part 190 of the CBP Regulations 
and this general ruling.

III. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) or 
1313(b) for Agents (T.D. 81-181)

    Manufacturers or producers operating under this general 
manufacturing drawback ruling must comply with T.D.s 55027(2) and 
55207(1), and 19 U.S.C. 1313(b), if applicable, as well as 19 CFR 
part 190 (see particularly, Sec.  190.9).

A. Name and Address of Principal

B. Process of Manufacture or Production

    The imported merchandise or drawback products or other 
substituted merchandise will be used to manufacture or produce 
articles in accordance with Sec.  190.2.

C. Procedures and Records Maintained

    Records, which may include records kept in the normal course of 
business, will be maintained to establish:
    1. Quantity, kind, quality, and 8-digit HTSUS subheading number 
of merchandise transferred from the principal to the agent;
    2. Date of transfer of the merchandise from the principal to the 
agent;
    3. Date of manufacturing or production operations performed by 
the agent;
    4. Total quantity and description of merchandise (including 8-
digit HTSUS subheading number) appearing in or used in manufacturing 
or production operations performed by the agent;
    5. Total quantity and description of articles (including 8-digit 
HTSUS subheading number) produced in manufacturing or production 
operations performed by the agent;
    6. Quantity, kind, quality, and 8-digit HTSUS subheading number 
of articles transferred from the agent to the principal; and
    7. Date of transfer of the articles from the agent to the 
principal.

D. General Requirements

    The manufacturer or producer will:
    1. Comply fully with the terms of this general ruling when 
manufacturing or producing articles for account of the principal 
under the principal's general manufacturing drawback ruling or 
specific manufacturing drawback ruling, as appropriate;
    2. Open its factory and records for examination at all 
reasonable hours by authorized Government officers;
    3. Keep its drawback related records and supporting data for at 
least 3 years from the date of liquidation of any drawback claim 
predicated in whole or in part upon this general ruling;
    4. Keep its letter of notification of intent to operate under 
this general ruling current by reporting promptly to the drawback 
office which liquidates the claims any changes in the information 
required by the General Instructions of this Appendix to be included 
therein (I. General Instructions, 1 through 10) or the corporate 
name or corporate organization by succession or reincorporation;
    5. Keep a copy of this general ruling on file for ready 
reference by employees and require all officials and employees 
concerned to familiarize themselves with the provisions of this 
general ruling; and
    6. Issue instructions to help ensure proper compliance with 
title 19, United States Code, section 1313, part 190 of the CBP 
Regulations and this general ruling.

IV. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) for 
Burlap or Other Textile Material (T.D. 83-53)

    Drawback may be allowed under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) upon the 
exportation of bags or meat wrappers manufactured with the use of 
imported burlap or other textile material, subject to the following 
special requirements:

A. Imported Merchandise or Drawback Products <SUP>1</SUP> Used
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Drawback products are those produced in the United States in 
accordance with the drawback law and regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Imported merchandise or drawback products (burlap or other 
textile material) are used in the manufacture of the exported 
articles upon which drawback claims will be based.

B. Exported Articles on Which Drawback Will Be Claimed

    Exported articles on which drawback will be claimed will be 
manufactured in the United States using imported merchandise or 
drawback products.

C. General Statement

    The manufacturer or producer manufactures or produces for its 
own account. The manufacturer or producer may manufacture or produce 
articles for the account of another, or another manufacturer or 
producer may manufacture or produce for the account of the 
manufacturer or producer under contract within the principal and 
agency relationship outlined in T.D.s 55027(2) and 55207(1) (see 
Sec.  190.9).

D. Process of Manufacture or Production

    The imported merchandise or drawback products will be used to 
manufacture or produce articles in accordance with Sec.  190.2.

E. Multiple Products

    Not applicable.

F. Loss or Gain

    Not applicable.

G. Waste

    No drawback is payable on any waste which results from the 
manufacturing operation. Unless the claim for drawback is based on 
the quantity of merchandise appearing in the exported articles, 
records will be maintained to establish the value, the quantity, and 
the disposition of any waste that results from manufacturing the 
exported articles. If no waste results, records will be maintained 
to establish that fact.

H. Procedures and Records Maintained

    Records, which may include records kept in the normal course of 
business, will be maintained to establish:
    1. That the exported articles on which drawback is claimed were 
produced with the use of the imported merchandise; and

[[Page 37960]]

    2. The quantity of imported merchandise \2\ used in producing 
the exported articles.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ If claims are to be made on an ``appearing in'' basis, the 
remainder of the sentence should read ``appearing in the exported 
articles.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To obtain drawback the claimant must establish that the 
completed articles were exported within 5 years after importation of 
the imported merchandise. Records establishing compliance with these 
requirements will be available for audit by CBP during business 
hours. Drawback is not payable without proof of compliance.

I. Inventory Procedures

    The inventory records of the manufacturer or producer must show 
how the drawback recordkeeping requirements set forth in 19 U.S.C. 
1313(a) and part 190 of the CBP Regulations will be met, as 
discussed under the heading ``Procedures and Records Maintained''. 
If those records do not establish compliance with those legal 
requirements, drawback cannot be paid. Each lot of imported material 
received by a manufacturer or producer must be given a lot number 
and kept separate from other lots until used. The records of the 
manufacturer or producer must show, as to each manufacturing lot or 
period of manufacture, the 8-digit HTSUS classification, the 
quantity of material used from each imported lot and the number of 
each kind and size of bags or meat wrappers obtained.
    All bags or meat wrappers manufactured or produced for the 
account of the same exporter during a specified period may be 
designated as one manufacturing lot. All exported bags or meat 
wrappers must be identified by the exporter.

J. Basis of Claim for Drawback

    Drawback will be claimed on the quantity of merchandise used in 
producing the exported articles only if there is no waste or 
valueless or unrecovered waste in the manufacturing operation. 
Drawback may be claimed on the quantity of eligible merchandise that 
appears in the exported articles, regardless of whether there is 
waste, and no records of waste need be maintained. If there is 
valuable waste recovered from the manufacturing operation and 
records are kept which show the quantity and value of the waste, 
drawback may be claimed on the quantity of eligible material used to 
produce the exported articles, less the amount of that merchandise 
which the value of the waste would replace.

K. General Requirements

    The manufacturer or producer must:
    1. Comply fully with the terms of this general ruling when 
claiming drawback;
    2. Open its factory and records for examination at all 
reasonable hours by authorized Government officers;
    3. Keep its drawback related records and supporting data for at 
least 3 years from the date of liquidation of any drawback claim 
predicated in whole or in part upon this general ruling;
    4. Keep its letter of notification of intent to operate under 
this general ruling current by reporting promptly to the drawback 
office which liquidates its claims any changes in the information 
required by the General Instructions of this Appendix to be included 
therein (I. General Instructions, 1 through 10) or the corporate 
name or corporate organization by succession or reincorporation.
    5. Keep a copy of this general ruling on file for ready 
reference by employees and require all officials and employees 
concerned to familiarize themselves with the provisions of this 
general ruling; and
    6. Issue instructions to help ensure proper compliance with 19, 
United States Code, Sec.  1313, part 190 of the CBP Regulations and 
this general ruling.

V. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b) for 
Component Parts (T.D. 81-300)

A. Same 8-Digit HTSUS Classification (Parallel Columns)

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Duty-paid, duty-free or
                                               domestic merchandise
    Imported merchandise or drawback      classifiable under the same 8-
  products \1\ to be designated as the    digit HTSUS subheading number
   basis for drawback on the exported     as that designated which will
                products                   be used in the production of
                                              the exported products
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Component parts identified by            Component parts classifiable
 individual part numbers and 8-digit      under the same 8-digit HTSUS
 HTSUS subheading number.                 subheading number and
                                          identified with the same
                                          individual part numbers as
                                          those in the column
                                          immediately to the left
                                          hereof.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The designated components will have been manufactured in 
accordance with the same specifications and from the same materials, 
and identified by the same 8-digit HTSUS classification, and part 
number as the substituted components. Further, the designated and 
substituted components are used interchangeably in the manufacture 
of the exported articles upon which drawback will be claimed. 
Specifications or drawings will be maintained and made available for 
CBP officers. Fluctuations in market value resulting from factors 
other than quality will not affect the drawback.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Drawback products are those produced in the United States in 
accordance with the drawback law and regulations. Such products have 
``dual status'' under section 1313(b). They may be designated as the 
basis for drawback and also may be deemed to be domestic 
merchandise.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Exported Articles on Which Drawback Will Be Claimed

    The exported articles will have been manufactured in the United 
States using components described in the parallel columns above.

C. General Statement

    The manufacturer or producer manufactures or produces for its 
own account. The manufacturer or producer may manufacture or produce 
articles for the account of another or another manufacturer or 
producer may manufacture or produce for the account of the 
manufacturer or producer under contract within the principal and 
agency relationship outlined in T.D.s 55027(2) and 55207(1) (see 
Sec.  190.9).

D. Process of Manufacture or Production

    The components described in the parallel columns will be used to 
manufacture or produce articles in accordance with Sec.  190.2.

E. Multiple Products

    Not applicable.

F. Waste

    No drawback is payable on any waste which results from the 
manufacturing operation. Unless the claim for drawback is based on 
the quantity of components appearing in the exported articles, 
records will be maintained to establish the value (or the lack of 
value), the quantity, and the disposition of any waste that results 
from manufacturing the exported articles. If no waste results, 
records will be maintained to establish that fact.

G. [Reserved]

H. Procedures and Records Maintained

    Records, which may include records kept in the normal course of 
business, will be maintained to establish:
    1. The identity, specifications, and 8-digit HTSUS 
classification of the designated merchandise;
    2. The quantity of merchandise classifiable under the same 8-
digit HTSUS classification as the designated merchandise \2\ used to 
produce the exported articles;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ If claims are to be made on an ``appearing in'' basis, the 
remainder of this sentence should read ``appearing in the exported 
articles produced.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. That, within 5 years after the date of importation of the 
designated merchandise, the manufacturer or producer used the 
merchandise to produce articles. During the same 5-year period, the 
manufacturer or producer produced \3\ the exported articles. To 
obtain drawback the claimant must establish that the completed 
articles were exported within 5 years after the importation of the 
imported merchandise. Records establishing compliance with these 
requirements will be available for audit by CBP during business 
hours. Drawback is not payable without proof of compliance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The date of production is the date an article is completed.

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

[[Page 37961]]

I. Inventory Procedures

    The inventory records of the manufacturer or producer must show 
how the drawback recordkeeping requirements set forth in 19 U.S.C. 
1313(b) and part 190 of the CBP Regulations will be met, as 
discussed under the heading ``Procedures And Records Maintained''. 
If those records do not establish satisfaction of those legal 
requirements, drawback cannot be paid.

J. Basis of Claim for Drawback

    Drawback will be claimed on the quantity of eligible components 
used in producing the exported articles only if there is no waste or 
valueless or unrecovered waste in the manufacturing operation. 
Drawback may be claimed on the quantity of eligible components that 
appear in the exported articles, regardless of whether there is 
waste, and no records of waste need be maintained. If there is 
valuable waste recovered from the manufacturing operation and 
records are kept which show the quantity and value of the waste, 
drawback may be claimed on the quantity of eligible components used 
to produce the exported articles less the amount of those components 
which the value of the waste would replace.

K. General Requirements

    The manufacturer or producer will:
    1. Comply fully with the terms of this general ruling when 
claiming drawback;
    2. Open its factory and records for examination at all 
reasonable hours by authorized Government officers;
    3. Keep its drawback related records and supporting data for at 
least 3 years from the date of liquidation of any drawback claim 
predicated in whole or in part upon this general ruling;
    4. Keep its letter of notification of intent to operate under 
this general ruling current by reporting promptly to the drawback 
office which liquidates its claims any changes in the information 
required by the General Instructions of this Appendix to be included 
therein (I. General Instructions, 1 through 10) or the corporate 
name or corporate organization by succession or reincorporation;
    5. Keep a copy of this general ruling on file for ready 
reference by employees and require all officials and employees 
concerned to familiarize themselves with the provisions of this 
general ruling; and
    6. Issue instructions to insure proper compliance with title 19, 
United States Code, section 1313, part 190 of the CBP Regulations 
and this general ruling.

VI. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) for 
Flaxseed (T.D. 83-80)

    Drawback may be allowed under the provision of 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) 
upon the exportation of linseed oil, linseed oil cake, and linseed 
oil meal, manufactured or produced with the use of imported 
flaxseed, subject to the following special requirements:

A. Imported Merchandise or Drawback Products <SUP>1</SUP> Used
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Drawback products are those produced in the United States in 
accordance with the drawback law and regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Imported merchandise or drawback products (flaxseed) are used in 
the manufacture of the exported articles upon which drawback claims 
will be based.

B. Exported Articles on Which Drawback Will Be Claimed

    Exported articles on which drawback will be claimed will be 
manufactured in the United States using imported merchandise or 
drawback products.

C. General Statement

    The manufacturer or producer manufactures or produces for its 
own account. The manufacturer or producer may manufacture or produce 
articles for the account of another or another manufacturer or 
producer may manufacture or produce for the account of the 
manufacturer or producer under contract within the principal and 
agency relationship outlined in T.D.s 55027(2) and 55207(1) (see 
Sec.  190.9).

D. Process of Manufacture or Production

    The imported merchandise or drawback products will be used to 
manufacture or produce articles in accordance with Sec.  190.2.

E. Multiple Products

    Drawback law mandates the assignment of relative values when two 
or more products necessarily are produced concurrently in the same 
operation. If multiple products are produced records will be 
maintained of the market value of each product at the time it is 
first separated in the manufacturing process (when a claim covers a 
manufacturing period, the entire period covered by the claim is the 
time of separation of the products and the value per unit of product 
is the market value for the period (see Sec. Sec.  190.2, 
190.22(e)). The ``appearing in'' basis may not be used if multiple 
products are produced.

F. Loss or Gain

    Records will be maintained showing the extent of any loss or 
gain in net weight or measurement of the imported merchandise, 
caused by atmospheric conditions, chemical reactions, or other 
factors.

G. Waste

    No drawback is payable on any waste which results from the 
manufacturing operation. Unless the claim for drawback is based on 
the quantity of merchandise appearing in the exported articles, 
records will be maintained to establish the value, the quantity, and 
the disposition of any waste that results from manufacturing the 
exported articles. If no waste results, records will be maintained 
to establish that fact.

H. Procedures and Records Maintained

    Records, which may include records kept in the normal course of 
business, will be maintained to establish:
    1. That the exported articles on which drawback is claimed were 
produced with the use of the imported merchandise; and
    2. The quantity of imported merchandise \2\ used in producing 
the exported articles.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ If claims are to be made on an ``appearing in'' basis, the 
remainder of the sentence should read ``appearing in the exported 
articles.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To obtain drawback the claimant must establish that the 
completed articles were exported within 5 years after importation of 
the imported merchandise. Records establishing compliance with these 
requirements will be available for audit by CBP during business 
hours. Drawback is not payable without proof of compliance.

I. Inventory Procedures

    The inventory records of the manufacturer or producer must show 
how the drawback recordkeeping requirements set forth in 19 U.S.C. 
1313(a) and part 190 of the CBP Regulations will be met, as 
discussed under the heading ``Procedures and Records Maintained''. 
If those records do not establish satisfaction of those legal 
requirements, drawback cannot be paid.
    The inventory records of the manufacturer or producer will show 
the inclusive dates of manufacture; the quantity, identity, value, 
and 8-digit HTSUS classification of the imported flaxseed or 
screenings, scalpings, chaff, or scourings used; the quantity by 
actual weight and value, if any, of the material removed from the 
foregoing by screening prior to crushing; the quantity and kind of 
domestic merchandise added, if any; the quantity by actual weight or 
gauge and value of the oil, cake, and meal obtained; and the 
quantity and value, if any, of the waste incurred. The quantity of 
imported flaxseed, screenings, scalpings, chaff, or scourings used 
or of material removed will not be estimated nor computed on the 
basis of the quantity of finished products obtained, but will be 
determined by actually weighing the said flaxseed, screenings, 
scalpings, chaff, scourings, or other material; or, at the option of 
the crusher, the quantities of imported materials used may be 
determined from CBP weights, as shown by the import entry covering 
such imported materials, and the Government weight certificate of 
analysis issued at the time of entry. The entire period covered by 
an abstract will be deemed the time of separation of the oil and 
cake covered thereby.
    If the records of the manufacturer or producer do not show the 
quantity of oil cake used in the manufacture or production of the 
exported oil meal and the quantity of oil meal obtained, the net 
weight of the oil meal exported will be regarded as the weight of 
the oil cake used in the manufacture thereof.
    If various tanks are used for the storage of imported flaxseed, 
the mill records must establish the tank or tanks in which each lot 
or cargo is stored. If raw or processed oil manufactured or produced 
during different periods of manufacture is intermixed in storage, a 
record must be maintained showing the quantity, identity, kind, and 
8-digit HTSUS classification of oil so intermixed. Identity of 
merchandise or articles in either instance must be in accordance 
with Sec.  190.14.

[[Page 37962]]

J. Basis of Claim for Drawback

    Drawback will be claimed on the quantity of merchandise used in 
producing the exported articles only if there is no waste or 
valueless or unrecovered waste in the manufacturing operation. 
Drawback may be claimed on the quantity of eligible merchandise that 
appears in the exported articles, regardless of whether there is 
waste, and no records of waste need be maintained. If there is 
valuable waste recovered from the manufacturing operation and 
records are kept which show the quantity and value of the waste, 
drawback may be claimed on the quantity of eligible material used to 
produce the exported articles, less the amount of that merchandise 
which the value of the waste would replace.

K. General Requirements

    The manufacturer or producer will:
    1. Comply fully with the terms of this general ruling when 
claiming drawback;
    2. Open its factory and records for examination at all 
reasonable hours by authorized Government officers;
    3. Keep its drawback related records and supporting data for at 
least 3 years from the date of liquidation of any drawback claim 
predicated in whole or in part upon this general ruling;
    4. Keep its letter of notification of intent to operate under 
this general ruling current by reporting promptly to the drawback 
office which liquidates its claims any changes in the information 
required by the General Instructions of this Appendix to be included 
therein (I. General Instructions, 1 through 10) or the corporate 
name or corporate organization by succession or reincorporation.
    5. Keep a copy of this general ruling on file for ready 
reference by employees and require all officials and employees 
concerned to familiarize themselves with the provisions of this 
general ruling; and
    6. Issue instructions to insure proper compliance with 19, 
United States Code, Sec.  1313, part 190 of the CBP Regulations and 
this general ruling.

VII. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) for 
Fur Skins or Fur Skin Articles (T.D. 83-77)

    Drawback may be allowed under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) upon the 
exportation of dressed, redressed, dyed, redyed, bleached, blended, 
or striped fur skins or fur skin articles manufactured or produced 
by any one or a combination of the foregoing processes with the use 
of fur skins or fur skin articles, such as plates, mats, sacs, 
strips, and crosses, imported in a raw, dressed, or dyed condition, 
subject to the following special requirements:

A. Imported Merchandise or Drawback Products \1\ Used
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Drawback products are those produced in the United States in 
accordance with the drawback law and regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Imported merchandise or drawback products (fur skins or fur skin 
articles) are used in the manufacture of the exported articles upon 
which drawback claims will be based.

B. Exported Articles on Which Drawback Will Be Claimed

    Exported articles on which drawback will be claimed will be 
manufactured in the United States using imported merchandise or 
drawback products.

C. General Statement

    The manufacturer or producer manufactures or produces for its 
own account. The manufacturer or producer may manufacture or produce 
articles for the account of another or another manufacturer or 
producer may manufacture or produce for the account of the 
manufacturer or producer under contract within the principal and 
agency relationship outlined in T.D.s 55027(2) and 55207(1) (see 
Sec.  190.9).

D. Process of Manufacture or Production

    The imported merchandise or drawback products will be used to 
manufacture or produce articles in accordance with Sec.  190.2.
    Drawback will not be allowed under this general manufacturing 
drawback ruling when the process performed results only in the 
restoration of the merchandise to its condition at the time of 
importation.

E. Multiple Products

    Not applicable.

F. Loss or Gain

    Records will be maintained showing the extent of any loss or 
gain in net weight or measurement of the imported merchandise, 
caused by atmospheric conditions, chemical reactions, or other 
factors.

G. Waste

    No drawback is payable on any waste which results from the 
manufacturing operation. Unless the claim for drawback is based on 
the quantity of merchandise appearing in the exported articles, 
records will be maintained to establish the value, the quantity, and 
the disposition of any waste that results from manufacturing the 
exported articles. If no waste results, records will be maintained 
to establish that fact.

H. Procedures and Records Maintained

    Records, which may include records kept in the normal course of 
business, will be maintained to establish:
    1. That the exported articles on which drawback is claimed were 
produced with the use of the imported merchandise; and
    2. The quantity of imported merchandise \2\ used in producing 
the exported articles.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ If claims are to be made on an ``appearing in'' basis, the 
remainder of the sentence should read ``appearing in the exported 
articles.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To obtain drawback the claimant must establish that the 
completed articles were exported within 5 years after importation of 
the imported merchandise. Records establishing compliance with these 
requirements will be available for audit by CBP during business 
hours. Drawback is not payable without proof of compliance.

I. Inventory Procedures

    The inventory records of the manufacturer or producer must show 
how the drawback recordkeeping requirements set forth in 19 U.S.C. 
1313(a) and part 190 of the CBP Regulations will be met, as 
discussed under the heading ``Procedures and Records Maintained''. 
If those records do not establish satisfaction of those legal 
requirements, drawback cannot be paid.
    The records of the manufacturer or producer must show, as to 
each lot of fur skins and/or fur skin articles used in the 
manufacture or production of articles for exportation with benefit 
of drawback, the lot number and date or inclusive dates of 
manufacture or production, the quantity, identity, description, and 
8-digit HTSUS classification of the imported merchandise used, the 
condition in which imported, the process or processes applied 
thereto, the quantity, description, and 8-digit HTSUS classification 
of the finished articles obtained, and the quantity of imported 
pieces rejected, if any, or spoiled in manufacture or production.

J. Basis of Claim for Drawback

    Drawback will be claimed on the quantity of merchandise used in 
producing the exported articles only if there is no waste or 
valueless or unrecovered waste in the manufacturing operation. 
Drawback may be claimed on the quantity of eligible merchandise that 
appears in the exported articles, regardless of whether there is 
waste, and no records of waste need be maintained. If there is 
valuable waste recovered from the manufacturing operation and 
records are kept which show the quantity and value of the waste, 
drawback may be claimed on the quantity of eligible material used to 
produce the exported articles, less the amount of that merchandise 
which the value of the waste would replace. (If rejects and/or 
spoilage are incurred, the quantity of imported merchandise used 
will be determined by deducting from the quantity of fur skins or 
fur skin articles put into manufacture or production the quantity of 
such rejects and/or spoilage.)

K. General Requirements

    The manufacturer or producer will:
    1. Comply fully with the terms of this general ruling when 
claiming drawback;
    2. Open its factory and records for examination at all 
reasonable hours by authorized Government officers;
    3. Keep its drawback related records and supporting data for at 
least 3 years from the date of liquidation of any drawback claim 
predicated in whole or in part upon this general ruling;
    4. Keep its letter of notification of intent to operate under 
this general ruling current by reporting promptly to the drawback 
office which liquidates its claims any changes in the information 
required by the General Instructions of this Appendix to be included 
therein (I. General Instructions, 1 through 10) or the corporate 
name or corporate organization by succession or reincorporation.
    5. Keep a copy of this general ruling on file for ready 
reference by employees and require all officials and employees 
concerned to familiarize themselves with the provisions of this 
general ruling; and
    6. Issue instructions to insure proper compliance with 19, 
United States Code,

[[Page 37963]]

Sec.  1313, part 190 of the CBP Regulations and this general ruling.

VIII. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b) for 
Orange Juice (T.D. 85-110)

A. Same 8-Digit HTSUS Classification (Parallel Columns)

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Duty-paid, duty-free or
                                               domestic merchandise
    Imported merchandise or drawback      classifiable under the same 8-
  products \1\ to be designated as the    digit HTSUS subheading number
   basis for drawback on the exported     as that designated which will
                products                   be used in the production of
                                              the exported products
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Concentrated orange juice for            Concentrated orange juice for
 manufacturing (of not less than          manufacturing as described in
 55[deg] Brix) as defined in the          the left-hand parallel column.
 standard of identity of the Food and
 Drug Administration (21 CFR 146.53)
 which meets the Grade A standard of
 the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (7 CFR
 52.1557, Table IV).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The imported merchandise designated on drawback claims must be 
classifiable under the same 8-digit HTSUS classification as the 
merchandise used in producing the exported articles on which 
drawback is claimed. Fluctuations in the market value resulting from 
factors other than quality will not affect the drawback.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Drawback products are those produced in the United States in 
accordance with the drawback law and regulations. Such products have 
``dual status'' under section 1313(b). They may be designated as the 
basis for drawback and also may be deemed to be domestic 
merchandise.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Exported Articles on Which Drawback Will Be Claimed

    1. Orange juice from concentrate (reconstituted juice).
    2. Frozen concentrated orange juice.
    3. Bulk concentrated orange juice.

C. General Statement

    The manufacturer or producer manufactures or produces for its 
own account. The manufacturer or producer may manufacture or produce 
articles for the account of another or another manufacturer or 
producer may manufacture or produce for the account of the 
manufacturer or producer under contract within the principal and 
agency relationship outlined in T.D.s 55027(2) and 55207(1) (see 
Sec.  190.9).

D. Process of Manufacture or Production

    1. Orange juice from concentrate (reconstituted juice). 
Concentrated orange juice for manufacturing is reduced to a desired 
11.8[deg] Brix by a blending process to produce orange juice from 
concentrate. The following optional blending processes may be used:
    i. The concentrate is blended with fresh orange juice (single 
strength juice); or
    ii. The concentrate is blended with essential oils, flavoring 
components, and water; or
    iii. The concentrate is blended with water and is heat treated 
to reduce the enzymatic activity and the number of viable 
microorganisms.
    2. Frozen concentrated orange juice. Concentrated orange juice 
for manufacturing is reduced to a desired degree Brix of not less 
than 41.8[deg] Brix by the following optional blending processes:
    i. The concentrate is blended with fresh orange juice (single 
strength juice); or
    ii. The concentrate is blended with essential oils and flavoring 
components and water.
    3. Bulk concentrated orange juice. Concentrated orange juice for 
manufacturing is blended with essential oils and flavoring 
components which would enable another processor such as a dairy to 
prepare finished frozen concentrated orange juice or orange juice 
from concentrate by merely adding water to the (intermediate) bulk 
concentrated orange juice.

E. Multiple Products, Waste, Loss or Gain

    Not applicable.

F. [Reserved]

G. Procedures and Records Maintained

    Records, which may include records kept in the normal course of 
business, will be maintained to establish:
    1. The 8-digit HTSUS classification, identity, and 
specifications of the designated merchandise;
    2. The quantity of merchandise classifiable under the same 8-
digit HTSUS classification as the designated merchandise \2\ used to 
produce the exported articles;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ If claims are to be made on an ``appearing in'' basis, the 
remainder of this sentence should read ``appearing in the exported 
articles produced.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. That, within 5 years after the date of importation of the 
designated merchandise, the manufacturer or producer used the 
designated merchandise to produce articles. During the same 5-year 
period, the manufacturer or producer produced \3\ the exported 
articles.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The date of production is the date an article is completed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To obtain drawback it must be established that the completed 
articles were exported within 5 years after the importation of the 
imported merchandise. Records establishing compliance with these 
requirements must be available for audit by CBP during business 
hours. No drawback is payable without proof of compliance.

H. Inventory Procedures

    The inventory records of the manufacturer or producer must show 
how the drawback recordkeeping requirements set forth in 19 U.S.C. 
1313(b) and part 190 of the CBP Regulations will be met, as 
discussed under the heading ``Procedures And Records Maintained'', 
and will show what components were blended with the concentrated 
orange juice for manufacturing. If those records do not establish 
satisfaction of those legal requirements drawback cannot be paid.

I. Basis of Claim for Drawback

    The basis of claim for drawback will be the quantity of 
concentrated orange juice for manufacturing used in the production 
of the exported articles. It is understood that when fresh orange 
juice is used as ``cutback'', it will not be included in the ``pound 
solids'' when computing the drawback due.

J. General Requirements

    The manufacturer or producer will:
    1. Comply fully with the terms of this general ruling when 
claiming drawback;
    2. Open its factory and records for examination at all 
reasonable hours by authorized Government officers;
    3. Keep its drawback related records and supporting data for at 
least 3 years from the date of liquidation of any drawback claim 
predicated in whole or in part upon this general ruling;
    4. Keep its letter of notification of intent to operate under 
this general ruling current by reporting promptly to the drawback 
office which liquidates its claims any changes in the information 
required by the General Instructions of this Appendix to be included 
therein (I. General Instructions, 1 through 10) or the corporate 
name or corporate organization by succession or reincorporation;
    5. Keep a copy of this general ruling on file for ready 
reference by employees and require all officials and employees 
concerned to familiarize themselves with the provisions of this 
general ruling; and
    6. Issue instructions to insure proper compliance with title 19, 
United States Code, section 1313, part 190 of the CBP Regulations 
and this general ruling.

IX. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b) for 
Petroleum or Petroleum Derivatives (T.D. 84-49)

A. Same 8-Digit HTSUS Classification (Parallel Columns)

[[Page 37964]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Imported merchandise or drawback         Duty-paid, duty-free or
 products \1\ to be designated as the     domestic merchandise
 basis for drawback on the exported       classifiable under the same 8-
 products.                                digit HTSUS subheading number
                                          as that designated which will
                                          be used in the production of
                                          the exported products.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

B.  Exported Articles Produced From Fractionation
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Drawback products are those produced in the United States in 
accordance with the drawback law and regulations. Such products have 
``dual status'' under section 1313(b). They may be designated as the 
basis for drawback and also may be deemed to be domestic 
merchandise.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Motor Gasoline
2. Aviation Gasoline
3. Special Naphthas
4. Jet Fuel
5. Kerosene & Range Oils
6. Distillate Oils
7. Residual Oils
8. Lubricating Oils
9. Paraffin Wax
10. Petroleum Coke
11. Asphalt
12. Road Oil
13. Still Gas
14. Liquified Petroleum Gas
15. Petrochemical Synthetic Rubber
16. Petrochemical Plastics & Resins
17. All Other Petrochemical Products

C. Exported Articles on Which Drawback Will Be Claimed

    See the General Instructions, I.A.7., for this general drawback 
ruling. Each article to be exported must be named. When the identity 
of the product is not clearly evident by its name, there must be a 
statement as to what the product is, e.g., a herbicide.

D. General Statement

    The manufacturer or producer manufactures or produces for its 
own account. The manufacturer or producer may manufacture or produce 
articles for the account of another or another manufacturer or 
producer may manufacture or produce for the account of the 
manufacturer or producer under contract within the principal and 
agency relationship outlined in T.D.s 55027(2) and 55207(1) (see 
Sec.  190.9).

E. Process of Manufacture or Production

    Heated crude oil is charged to an atmospheric distillation tower 
where it is subjected to fractionation. The charge to the 
distillation tower consists of a single crude oil, or of commingled 
crudes which are fed to the tower simultaneously or after blending 
in a tank. During fractionation, components of different boiling 
ranges are separated.

F. Multiple Products

1. Relative Values

    Fractionation results in 17 products. In order to insure proper 
distribution of drawback to each of these products, the manufacturer 
or producer agrees to record the relative values at the time of 
separation. The entire period covered by an abstract is to be 
treated as the time of separation. The value per unit of each 
product will be the average market value for the abstract period.

2. Producibility

    The manufacturer or producer can vary the proportionate quantity 
of each product. The manufacturer or producer understands that 
drawback is payable on exported products only to the extent that 
these products could have been produced from the designated 
merchandise. The records of the manufacturer or producer must show 
that all of the products exported for which drawback will be claimed 
under this general manufacturing drawback ruling could have been 
produced concurrently on a practical operating basis from the 
designated merchandise.
    The manufacturer or producer agrees to establish the amount to 
be designated by reference to the Industry Standards of Potential 
Production published in T.D. 66-16.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ A manufacturer who proposes to use standards other than 
those in T.D. 66-16 must state the proposed standards and provide 
sufficient information to CBP in order for those proposed standards 
to be verified in accordance with T.D. 84-49.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    There are no valuable wastes as a result of the processing.

G. Loss or Gain

    Because the manufacturer or producer keeps records on a volume 
basis rather than a weight basis, it is anticipated that the 
material balance will show a volume gain. For the same reason, it is 
possible that occasionally the material balance will show a volume 
loss. Fluctuations in type of crude used, together with the type of 
finished product desired make an estimate of an average volume gain 
meaningless. However, records will be kept to show the amount of 
loss or gain with respect to the production of export products.

H. Exchange

    The use of any domestic merchandise acquired in exchange for 
imported merchandise that meets the same kind and quality 
specifications contained in the parallel columns of this general 
ruling shall be treated as use of the imported merchandise.

I. Procedures and Records Maintained

    Records, which may include records kept in the normal course of 
business, will be maintained to establish:
    1. The identity, specifications, and 8-digit HTSUS 
classification of the merchandise designated;
    2. The quantity of merchandise classifiable under the same 8-
digit HTSUS classification as the designated merchandise used to 
produce the exported articles.
    3. That, within 5 years after importation, the manufacturer or 
producer used the designated merchandise to produce articles. During 
the same 5-year period, the manufacturer or producer produced the 
exported articles.
    4(a). The manufacturer or producer agrees to use a 28-31 day 
period (monthly) abstract period for each refinery covered by this 
general manufacturing drawback ruling, or
    (b). The manufacturer or producer agrees to use an abstract 
period (not to exceed 1 year) for each refinery covered by this 
general manufacturing drawback ruling. The manufacturer or producer 
certifies that if it were to file abstracts covering each 
manufacturing period of not less than 28 days and not more than 31 
days (monthly) within the longer period, in no such monthly abstract 
would the quantity of designated merchandise exceed the material 
introduced into the manufacturing process during that monthly 
period. (Select (a) or (b), and state which is selected in the 
application, and, if (b) is selected, specify the length of the 
particular abstract period chosen (not to exceed 1 year (see General 
Instruction I.A.7.)).)
    5. On each abstract of production the manufacturer or producer 
agrees to show the value per barrel to five decimal places.
    6. The manufacturer or producer agrees to file claims in the 
format set forth in exhibits A through F which are attached to this 
general manufacturing drawback ruling. The manufacturer or producer 
realizes that to obtain drawback the claimant must establish that 
the completed articles were exported within 5 years after 
importation of the imported merchandise. Records establishing 
compliance with these requirements will be available for audit by 
CBP during business hours. It is understood that drawback is not 
payable without proof of compliance. Records will be kept in 
accordance with T.D. 84-49, as amended by T.D. 95-61.

J. Residual Rights

    It is understood that the refiner can reserve as the basis for 
future payment the right to drawback only on the number of barrels 
of raw material computed by subtracting from Line E the larger of 
Lines A or B, of a given Exhibit E. It is further understood that 
this right to future payment can be claimed only against products 
concurrently producible with the products listed in Column 21, in 
the quantities shown in Column 22 of such Exhibit E. Such residual 
right can be transferred to another refinery of the same refiner 
only when Line B of Exhibit E is larger than Line A. Unless the 
number of residual barrels is specifically computed and rights 
thereto are expressly reserved on Exhibit E, such residual rights 
will be deemed waived. The procedure the manufacturer or producer 
must follow in preparing drawback entries claiming this residual 
right is illustrated in the attached sample Exhibit E-1. It is 
understood that claims involving residual rights must be filed only 
at the port where the Exhibit E reserving such right was filed.

K. Inventory Procedures

    The manufacturer or producer realizes that inventory control is 
of major importance. In

[[Page 37965]]

accordance with the normal accounting procedures of the manufacturer 
or producer, each refinery prepares a monthly stock and yield 
report, which accounts for inventories, production and disposals 
from time of receipt to time of disposition. This provides an audit 
trail of all products.
    The above-noted records will provide the required audit trail 
from the initial source documents to the drawback claims of the 
manufacturer or producer and will support adherence with the 
requirements discussed under the heading PROCEDURES AND RECORDS 
MAINTAINED.

L. Basis of Claim for Drawback

    The amount of raw material on which drawback may be based will 
be computed by multiplying the quantity of each product exported by 
the drawback factor for that product. The amount of raw material 
which may be designated as the basis for drawback on the exported 
products produced at a given refinery and covered by a drawback 
entry must not exceed the quantity of such raw material used at the 
refinery during the abstract period or periods from which the 
exported products were produced. The quantity of raw material to be 
designated as the basis for drawback on exported products must be at 
least as great as the quantity of raw material which would be 
required to produce the exported products in the quantities 
exported.

M. Agreements

    The manufacturer or producer specifically agrees that it will:
    1. Comply fully with the terms of this general ruling when 
claiming drawback;
    2. Open its refinery and records for examination at all 
reasonable hours by authorized Government officers;
    3. Keep its drawback related records and supporting data for at 
least 3 years from the date of liquidation of any drawback claim 
predicated in whole or in part upon this application;
    4. Keep this application current by reporting promptly to the 
drawback office which liquidates its claims any changes in the 
information required by the General Instructions of this Appendix to 
be included therein (I. General Instructions, 1 through 10) or the 
corporate name or corporate organization by succession or 
reincorporation;
    5. Keep a copy of this general ruling on file for ready 
reference by employees and require all officials and employees 
concerned to familiarize themselves with the provisions of this 
general ruling; and
    6. Issue instructions to insure proper compliance with title 19, 
United States Code, section 1313, part 190 of the CBP Regulations 
and this general ruling.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP02AU18.000


[[Page 37966]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP02AU18.001


            Exhibit C--Inventory Control Sheet: ABC Oil Co., Inc.; Beaumont, Texas Refinery, Period From January 1, 2019 to January 31, 2019
                                                    [All quantities exclude non-petroleum additives]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Aviation gasoline           Residual oils           Lubricating oils         Petrochemicals, all
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------           other
                                                                                                                               -------------------------
                                                    Bbls.      Drawback       Bbls.      Drawback       Bbls.      Drawback                  Drawback
                                                                factor                    factor                    factor        Bbls.       factor
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(10) Opening Inventory..........................    11,218         1.00126    21,221          .45962     9,242         4.52178       891         1.00244
(11) Production.................................   108,269         1.01300   308,002          .43642   292,492         4.64041     7,996         1.07895
(11-A) Receipts.................................  ........  ..............  ........  ..............  ........  ..............  ........  ..............
(12) Exports....................................    11,218         1.00126    21,221          .45962     8,774         4.52178       195         1.00244
                                                       176         1.01300   104,397          .43642
(13) Drawback Deliveries........................  ........  ..............  ........  ..............  ........  ..............       696         1.00244
                                                                                                                                     319         1.07895
(14) Domestic Shipments.........................    97,863         1.01300   180,957          .43642       468         4.52178     6,867         1.07895
                                                                                                       278,286         4.64041
(15) Closing Inventory..........................    10,230         1.01300    22,648          .43642    14,206         4.64041       810         1.07895
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Line (10)--Opening inventory from previous period's closing inventory.
Line (11)--From production period under consideration.
Line (11-A)--Product received from other sources.
Line (12)--From earliest on hand (inventory or production). Totals from drawback entry or entries recapitulated (see column 18).
Line (13)--Deliveries for export or for designation against further manufacture--earliest on hand after exports are deducted.
Line (14)--From earliest on hand after lines (12) and (13) are deducted.
Line (15)--Balance on hand.


[[Page 37967]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP02AU18.002


[[Page 37968]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP02AU18.003


[[Page 37969]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP02AU18.004


[[Page 37970]]


  Exhibit E (Combination)--Producibility Test for Products Exported (Including Drawback Deliveries) ABC Oil Co., Inc.; Beaumont, Texas Refinery, Period
                                                        From January 1, 2019 to January 31, 2019
                                              [Type and Class of Raw Material Designated--Crude, Class III]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Quantity of
                                                                                                  raw material
                                                                                                   of type and
                                                                                                      class
                            Product                                Quantity in      Industry       designated        Drawback factor       Crude allowed
                                                                     barrels      standard (%)      needed to                              for drawback
                                                                                                     produce
                                                                                                   product per
                                                                                                     barrel
(21)                                                                       (22)            (23)            (24)                     (19)            (20)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aviation Gasoline \1\..........................................      \1\ 11,218              40          28,045                  1.00126          11,232
                                                                        \1\ 176              40             440                  1.01300             178
Residual Oils \1\..............................................      \1\ 21,221              83          25,567                   .45962           9,754
                                                                    \1\ 104,397              83         125,780                   .43642          45,561
Lubricating Oils \1\...........................................       \1\ 8,774              50          17,548                  4.52178          39,674
Petrochemicals, Other \1\......................................         \1\ 195              29             672                  1.00244             195
Petrochemicals, Other \2\......................................         \2\ 696              29           2,400                  1.00244             698
Petrochemicals, Other \2\......................................         \2\ 319              29           1,100                  1.07895             344
                                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total......................................................         146,996  ..............  ..............  .......................         107,636
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Exports.
\2\ Drawback deliveries.
A--Crude allowed (column 20: 107,636 bbls. (106,594 for export, plus 1,042 for drawback deliveries)).
B--Total quantity exported (including drawback deliveries) (column 22): 146,996.
C--Largest quantity of raw material needed to produce an individual exported product (see column 24): 151,347.
D--The excess of raw material over the largest of lines A, B, or C, required to produce concurrently on a practical operating basis, using the most
  efficient processing equipment existing within the domestic industry, the exported articles (including drawback deliveries) in the quantities exported
  (or delivered): None.
E--Minimum quantity of raw material required to be designated (which is A, B, or C, whichever is largest, plus D, if applicable): 151,347 bbs.
I hereby certify that all the above drawback deliveries and products exported by the Beaumont refinery of ABC Oil Co., Inc. during the period from
  January 1, 1995 to January 31, 1995, could have been produced concurrently on a practical operating basis from 151,347 barrels of imported Class III
  crude against which drawback is claimed.

  [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP02AU18.005
  

                                 Exhibit F--Designations for Drawback Claim, ABC Oil Co., Inc.; Beaumont, Texas Refinery
                                                    [Period From January 1, 2019 to January 31, 2019]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               Quantity of
           Entry No.                Date of          Kind of materials        materials in    Date received         Date consumed          Rate of duty
                                  importation                                    barrels
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26192.........................        04/13/17  Class III Crude............          75,125        04/13/17  May 2017...................          $.1050
23990.........................        08/04/18  ......do...................          37,240        08/04/18  Oct. 2018..................           .1050
22517.........................        10/05/18  ......do...................          38,982        10/05/18  Nov. 2018..................           .1050
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 37971]]

X. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b) for 
Piece Goods (T.D. 83-73)

A. Same 8-Digit HTSUS Classification (Parallel Columns)

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Duty-paid, duty-free or
                                                domestic merchandise
                                             classifiable under the same
 Imported merchandise or drawback products    8-digit HTSUS subheading
   \1\ to be designated as the basis for      number as that designated
     drawback on the exported products        which will be used in the
                                             production of the exported
                                                      products
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Piece goods.                                Piece goods.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The piece goods used in manufacture will be classifiable under 
the same 8-digit HTSUS classification as the piece goods designated 
as the basis of claim for drawback, and are used interchangeably 
without change in manufacturing processes or resultant products 
(including, if applicable, multiple products), or wastes. Some 
tolerances between imported-designated piece goods and the used-
exported piece goods will be permitted to accommodate variations 
which are normally found in piece goods. These tolerances are no 
greater than the tolerances generally allowed in the industry for 
piece goods classifiable under the same 8-digit HTSUS classification 
as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Drawback products are those produced in the United States in 
accordance with the drawback law and regulations. Such products have 
``dual status'' under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b). They may be designated as 
the basis for drawback and also may be deemed to be domestic 
merchandise.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    1. A 4% weight tolerance so that the piece goods used in 
manufacture will be not more than 4% lighter or heavier than the 
imported piece goods which will be designated;
    2. A tolerance of 4% in the aggregate thread count per square 
inch so that the piece goods used in manufacture will have an 
aggregate thread count within 4%, more or less of the aggregate 
thread count of the imported piece goods which will be designated. 
In each case, the average yarn number of the domestic piece goods 
will be the same or greater than the average yarn number of the 
imported piece goods designated, and in each case, the substitution 
and tolerance will be employed only within the same family of 
fabrics, i.e., print cloth for print cloth, gingham for gingham, 
greige for greige, dyed for dyed, bleached for bleached, etc. The 
piece goods used in manufacture of the exported articles will be 
designated as containing the identical percentage of identical 
fibers as the piece goods designated as the basis for allowance of 
drawback; for example, piece goods containing 65% cotton and 35% 
dacron will be designated against the use of piece goods shown to 
contain 65% cotton and 35% dacron. The actual fiber composition may 
vary slightly from that described on the invoice or other acceptance 
of the fabric as having the composition described on documents in 
accordance with trade practices. Differences in value resulting from 
factors other than quality, as for example, price fluctuations, will 
not preclude an allowance of drawback.

B. Exported Articles on Which Drawback Will Be Claimed

    Finished piece goods.

C. General Statement

    The manufacturer or producer manufactures or produces for its 
own account. The manufacturer or producer may manufacture or produce 
articles for the account of another or another manufacturer or 
producer may manufacture or produce for the account of the 
manufacturer or producer under contract within the principal and 
agency relationship outlined in T.D.s. 55027(2) and 55207(1) (see 
Sec.  190.9).

D. Process of Manufacture or Production

    Piece goods are subject to any one of the following finishing 
productions:
    1. Bleaching,
    2. Mercerizing,
    3. Dyeing,
    4. Printing,
    5. A combination of the above, or
    6. Any additional finishing processes.

E. Multiple Products

    Not applicable.

F. Waste

    Rag waste may be incurred. No drawback is payable on any waste 
which results from the manufacturing operation. Unless the claim for 
drawback is based on the quantity of merchandise appearing in the 
exported articles, the records of the manufacturer or producer must 
show the quantity of rag waste, if any, and its value. In instances 
where rag waste occurs and it is impractical to account for the 
actual quantity of rag waste incurred, it may be assumed that such 
rag waste constituted 2% of the piece goods put into the finishing 
processes. If necessary to establish the quantity of merchandise 
(eligible piece goods) appearing in the exported articles, such 
waste records must also be kept.

G. Shrinkage, Gain, and Spoilage

    Unless the claim for drawback is based on the quantity of 
merchandise appearing in the exported articles, the records of the 
manufacturer or producer must show the yardage lost by shrinkage or 
gained by stretching during manufacture or production, and the 
quantity of remnants resulting and of spoilage incurred, if any. If 
necessary to establish the quantity of merchandise (eligible piece 
goods) appearing in the exported articles, such records for 
shrinkage, gain and spoilage will also be kept.

H. [Reserved]

I. Procedures and Records Maintained

    Records, which may include records kept in the normal course of 
business, will be maintained to establish:
    1. The identity, specifications, and 8-digit HTSUS 
classification of the designated merchandise;
    2. The quantity of merchandise classifiable under the same 8-
digit HTSUS classification as the designated merchandise \2\ used to 
produce the exported articles;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ If claims are to be made on an ``appearing in'' basis, the 
remainder of this sentence should read ``appearing in the exported 
articles produced.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. That, within 5 years after the date of importation of the 
designated merchandise, the manufacturer or producer used the 
merchandise to produce articles. During the same 5-year period, the 
manufacturer or producer produced \3\ the exported articles.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The date of production is the date an article is completed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To obtain drawback the claimant must establish that the 
completed articles were exported within 5 years after the 
importation of the imported merchandise. Records establishing 
compliance with these requirements will be available for audit by 
CBP during business hours. Drawback is not payable without proof of 
compliance.

J. Inventory Procedures

    The inventory records of the manufacturer or producer must show 
how the drawback recordkeeping requirements set forth in 19 U.S.C. 
1313(b) and part 190 of the CBP Regulations will be met, as 
discussed under the heading ``Procedures And Records Maintained''. 
If those records do not establish satisfaction of those legal 
requirements, drawback cannot be paid.

K. Basis of Claim for Drawback

    Drawback will be claimed on the quantity of eligible piece goods 
used in producing the exported articles only if there is no waste or 
valueless or unrecovered waste in the manufacturing operation. 
Drawback may be claimed on the quantity of eligible piece goods that 
appears in the exported articles, regardless of whether there is 
waste, and no records of waste need be maintained. If there is 
valuable waste recovered from the manufacturing operation and 
records are kept which show the quantity and value of the waste from 
each lot of piece goods, drawback may be claimed on the quantity of 
eligible piece goods used to produce the exported articles less the 
amount of piece goods which the value of the waste would replace.

[[Page 37972]]

L. General Requirements

    The manufacturer or producer will:
    1. Comply fully with the terms of this general ruling when 
claiming drawback;
    2. Open its factory and records for examination at all 
reasonable hours by authorized Government officers;
    3. Keep its drawback related records and supporting data for at 
least 3 years from the date of liquidation of any drawback claim 
predicated in whole or in part upon this general ruling;
    4. Keep its letter of notification of intent to operate under 
this general ruling current by reporting promptly to the drawback 
office which liquidates its claims any changes in the information 
required by the General Instructions of this Appendix to be included 
therein (I. General Instructions, 1 through 10) or the corporate 
name or corporate organization by succession or reincorporation;
    5. Keep a copy of this general ruling on file for ready 
reference by employees and require all officials and employees 
concerned to familiarize themselves with the provisions of this 
general ruling; and
    6. Issue instructions to insure proper compliance with title 19, 
United States Code, section 1313, part 190 of the CBP Regulations 
and this general ruling.

XI. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b) for 
Raw Sugar (T.D. 83-59)

    Drawback may be allowed under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b) upon the 
exportation of hard or soft refined sugars and sirups manufactured 
from raw sugar, subject to the following special requirements:
    A. The drawback allowance must not exceed an amount calculated 
pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, 
of the duties, taxes, and fees paid on a quantity of raw sugar 
designated by the refiner which contains a quantity of sucrose not 
in excess of the quantity required to manufacture the exported sugar 
or sirup, ascertained as provided in this general rule.
    B. The refined sugars and sirups must have been manufactured 
with the use of duty-paid, duty-free, or domestic sugar, or 
combinations thereof, within 5 years after the date of importation, 
and must have been exported within 5 years from the date of 
importation of the designated sugar.
    C. All granulated sugar testing by the polariscope 99.5 
[degrees] and over will be deemed hard refined sugar. All refined 
sugar testing by the polariscope less than 99.5 [degrees] will be 
deemed soft refined sugar. All ``blackstrap,'' ``unfiltered sirup,'' 
and ``final molasses'' will be deemed sirup.
    D. The imported duty-paid sugar selected by the refiner as the 
basis for the drawback claim (designated sugar) must be classifiable 
under the same 8-digit HTSUS classification as that used in the 
manufacture of the exported refined sugar or sirup and must have 
been used within 5 years after the date of importation. Duty-paid 
sugar which has been used at a plant of a refiner within 5 years 
after the date on which it was imported by such refiner may be 
designated as the basis for the allowance of drawback on refined 
sugars or sirups manufactured at another plant of the same refiner.
    E. For the purpose of distributing the drawback, relative values 
must be established between hard refined (granulated) sugar, soft 
refined (various grades) sugar, and sirups at the time of 
separation. The entire period covered by an abstract will be deemed 
the time of separation of the sugars and sirups covered by such 
abstract.
    F. The sucrose allowance per pound on hard refined (granulated) 
sugar established by an abstract, as provided for in this general 
ruling, will be applied to hard refined sugar commercially known as 
loaf, cut loaf, cube, pressed, crushed, or powdered sugar 
manufactured from the granulated sugar covered by the abstract.
    G. The sucrose allowance per gallon on sirup established by an 
abstract, as provided for in this general ruling, will be applied to 
sirup further advanced in value by filtration or otherwise, unless 
such sirup is the subject of a special manufacturing drawback 
ruling.
    H. As to each lot of imported or domestic sugar used in the 
manufacture of refined sugar or sirup on which drawback is to be 
claimed, the raw stock records must show the refiner's raw lot 
number, the number and character of the packages, the settlement 
weight in pounds, the settlement polarization, and the 8-digit HTSUS 
classification. Such records covering imported sugar must show, in 
addition to the foregoing, the import entry number, date of 
importation, name of importing carrier, country of origin, the 
Government weight, and the Government polarization.
    I. The melt records must show the date of melting, the number of 
pounds of each lot of raw sugar melted, and the full analysis at 
melting.
    J. There must be kept a daily record of final products boiled 
showing the date of the melt, the date of boiling, the magma filling 
serial number, the number of the vacuum pan or crystallizer filling, 
the date worked off, and the sirup filling serial number.
    K. The sirup manufacture records must show the date of boiling, 
the period of the melt, the sirup filling serial number, the number 
of barrels in the filling, the magma filling serial number, the 
quantity of sirup, its disposition in tanks or barrels and the 
refinery serial manufacture number.
    L. The refined sugar stock records must show the refinery serial 
manufacture number, the period of the melt, the date of manufacture, 
the grade of sugar produced, its polarization, the number and kind 
of packages, and the net weight. When soft sugars are manufactured, 
the commercial grade number and quantity of each must be shown.
    M. Each lot of hard or soft refined sugar and each lot of sirup 
manufactured, regardless of the character of the containers or 
vessels in which it is packed or stored, must be marked immediately 
with the date of manufacture and the refinery manufacture number 
applied to it in the refinery records provided for and shown in the 
abstract, as provided for in this general ruling, from such records. 
If all the sugar or sirup contained in any lot manufactured is not 
intended for exportation, only such of the packages as are intended 
for exportation need be marked as prescribed above, provided there 
is filed with the drawback office immediately after such marking a 
statement showing the date of manufacture, the refinery manufacture 
number, the number of packages marked, and the quantity of sugar or 
sirup contained therein. No drawback will be allowed in such case on 
any sugar or sirup in excess of the quantity shown on the statement 
as having been marked. If any packages of sugar or sirup so marked 
are repacked into other containers, the new containers must be 
marked with the marks which appeared on the original containers and 
a revised statement covering such repacking and remarking must be 
filed with the drawback office. If sirups from more than one lot are 
stored in the same tank, the refinery records must show the refinery 
manufacture number and the quantity of sirup from each lot contained 
in such tank.
    N. An abstract from the foregoing records covering manufacturing 
periods of not less than 1 month nor more than 3 months, unless a 
different period will have been authorized, must be filed when 
drawback is to be claimed on any part of the refined sugar or sirup 
manufactured during such period. Such abstract must be filed by each 
refiner with the drawback office where drawback claims are filed on 
the basis of this general ruling. Such abstract must consist of: (1) 
A raw stock record (accounting for Refiner's raw lot No., Import 
entry No., Packages No. and kind, Pounds, Polarization, By whom 
imported or withdrawn, Date of importation, Date of receipt by 
refiner, Date of melt, Importing carrier, Country of origin); (2) A 
melt record [number of pounds in each lot melted] (accounting for 
Lot No. Pounds, and Polarization degrees and pounds sucrose); (3) 
Sirup stock records (accounting for Date of boiling, Refinery serial 
manufacture No., Quantity of sirup in gallons, and Pounds sucrose 
contained therein); (4) Refined sugar stock record (accounting for 
Refinery serial production No., Date of manufacture, Hard or soft 
refined, Polarization and No., Net weight in pounds); (5) 
Recapitulation (consisting of (in pounds): (a) Sucrose in process at 
beginning of period, (b) sucrose melted during period, (c) sucrose 
in process at end of period, (d) sucrose used in manufacture, and 
(e) sucrose contained in manufacture, in which item (a) plus item 
(b), minus item (c), should equal item (d)); and (6) A statement as 
follows:
    I, _____, the ___ refiner at the ___ refinery of ___, located at 
___, do solemnly and truly declare that each of the statements 
contained in the foregoing abstract is true to the best of my 
knowledge and belief and can be verified by the refinery records, 
which have been kept in accordance with Treasury Decision 83-59 and 
Appendix A of 19 CFR part 190 and which are at all times open to the 
inspection of CBP.

Date-------------------------------------------------------------------

Signature--------------------------------------------------------------

    O. The refiner must file with each abstract a statement, showing 
the average market values of the products specified in the abstract 
and including a statement as follows:
    I, _____, (Official capacity) of the ___ (Refinery), do solemnly 
and truly declare that the values shown above are true

[[Page 37973]]

to the best of my knowledge and belief, and can be verified by our 
records.

Date-------------------------------------------------------------------

Signature--------------------------------------------------------------

    P. At the end of each calendar month the refiner must furnish to 
the drawback office a statement showing the actual sales of sirup 
and the average market values of refined sugars for the calendar 
month.
    Q. The sucrose allowance to be applied to the various products 
based on the abstract and statement provided for in this general 
ruling will be in accordance with the example set forth in Treasury 
Decision 83-59.
    R. [Reserved.]
    S. Drawback entries under this general ruling must state the 
polarization in degrees and the sucrose in pounds for the designated 
imported sugar. Drawback claims under this general ruling must 
include a statement as follows:
    I, _____, the ___ of ___, located at ___ declare that the sugar 
(or sirup) described in this entry, was manufactured by said company 
at its refinery at ___ and is part of the sugar (or sirup) covered 
by abstract No. __, filed at the port of __; that, subject to 19 
U.S.C. 1508 and 1313(t), the refinery and other records of the 
company verifying the statements contained in said abstract are now 
and at all times hereafter will be open to inspection by CBP. I 
further declare that the above-designated imported sugar (upon which 
the duties have been paid) was received by said company on _ and was 
used in the manufacture of sugar and sirup during the period covered 
by abstract No. __, CBP No. __, on file with the port director at 
___.
    I further declare that the sugar or sirup specified therein was 
exported as stated in the entry.

Date-------------------------------------------------------------------

Signature--------------------------------------------------------------

    T. General Statement. The refiner manufactures or produces for 
its own account. The refiner may manufacture or produce articles for 
the account of another or another manufacturer or producer may 
manufacture or produce for the refiner's account under contract 
within the principal and agency relationship outlined in T.D.s 
55027(2) and 55207(1) (see Sec.  190.9).
    U. Waste. No drawback is payable on any waste which results from 
the manufacturing operation. Unless drawback claims are based on the 
``appearing in'' method, records will be maintained to establish the 
value (or the lack of value), the quantity, and the disposition of 
any waste that results from manufacturing the exported articles. If 
no waste results, records to establish that fact will be maintained.
    V. Loss or Gain. The refiner will maintain records showing the 
extent of any loss or gain in net weight or measurement of the sugar 
caused by atmospheric conditions, chemical reactions, or other 
factors.
    W. [Reserved]
    X. Procedures and Records Maintained.
    Records, which may include records kept in the normal course of 
business, will be maintained to establish:
    1. The identity, specifications, and 8-digit HTSUS 
classification of the designated merchandise;
    2. The quantity of merchandise classifiable under the same 8-
digit HTSUS classification as the designated merchandise \1\ used to 
produce the exported articles; and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ If claims are to be made on an ``appearing in'' basis, the 
remainder of this sentence should read ``appearing in the exported 
articles produced.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. That, within 5 years of the date of importation of the 
designated merchandise, the refiner used the designated merchandise 
to produce articles. During the same 5-year period, the refiner 
produced \2\ the exported articles.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ The date of production is the date an article is completed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To obtain drawback the claimant must establish that the 
completed articles were exported within 5 years after the 
importation of the imported merchandise. Records establishing 
compliance with these requirements will be available for audit by 
CBP during business hours. Drawback is not payable without proof of 
compliance.
    Y. General requirements. The refiner will:
    1. Comply fully with the terms of this general ruling when 
claiming drawback;
    2. Open its factory and records for examination at all 
reasonable hours by authorized Government officers;
    3. Keep its drawback related records and supporting data for at 
least 3 years from the date of liquidation of any drawback claim 
predicated in whole or in part upon this general ruling;
    4. Keep its letter of notification of intent to operate under 
this general ruling current by reporting promptly to the drawback 
office which liquidates its claims any changes in the information 
required by the General Instructions of this Appendix to be included 
therein (I. General Instructions, 1 through 10) or the corporate 
name or corporate organization by succession or reincorporation;
    5. Keep a copy of this general ruling on file for ready 
reference by employees and require all officials and employees 
concerned to familiarize themselves with the provisions of this 
general ruling; and
    6. Issue instructions to insure proper compliance with title 19, 
United States Code, section 1313, part 190 of the CBP Regulations 
and this general ruling.

XII. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b) for 
Steel (T.D. 81-74)

A. Same 8-Digit HTSUS Classification (Parallel Columns)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Drawback products are those produced in the United States in 
accordance with the drawback law and regulations. Such products have 
``dual status'' under section 1313(b). They may be designated as the 
basis for drawback and also may be deemed to be domestic 
merchandise.
    \2\ Standards set by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), 
the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), or the American 
Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Duty-paid, duty-free or
                                                domestic merchandise
                                             classifiable under the same
 Imported merchandise or drawback products    8-digit HTSUS subheading
   \1\ to be designated as the basis for      number as that designated
     drawback on the exported products        which will be used in the
                                             production of the exported
                                                      products.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steel of one general class, e.g., an        Steel of the same general
 ingot, falling within on SAE, AISI, or      class, specification, and
 ASTM \2\ specification and, if the          grade as the steel in the
 specification contains one or more          column immediately to the
 grades, falling within one grade of the     left hereof.
 specification.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    1. The duty-paid, duty-free, or domestic steel used instead of 
the imported, duty-paid steel (or drawback products) will be 
interchangeable for manufacturing purposes with the duty-paid steel. 
To be interchangeable a steel must be able to be used in place of 
the substituted steel without any additional processing step in the 
manufacture of the article on which drawback is to be claimed.
    2. Because the duty-paid steel (or drawback products) that is to 
be designated as the basis for drawback is dutiable according to its 
value, the amount of duty can vary with its size (gauge, width, or 
length) or composition (e.g., chrome content). If such variances 
occur, designation will be by ``price extra'', and in no case will 
drawback be claimed in a greater amount than that which would have 
accrued to that steel used in manufacture of or appearing in the 
exported articles. Price extra is not available for coated or plated 
steel, covered in paragraph 4, infra, insofar as the coating or 
plating is concerned.
    3. Any fluctuation in market value caused by a factor other than 
quality does not affect drawback.
    4. If the steel is coated or plated with a base metal, in 
addition to meeting the requirements for uncoated or unplated steel 
set forth in the parallel columns, the base-metal coating or plating 
on the duty-paid, duty-free, or domestic steel used in place of the 
duty-paid steel (or drawback products) will have the same 
composition and thickness as the coating or plating on the duty-paid 
steel. If the coated or plated duty-paid steel is within an SAE, 
AISI, ASTM specification, then any duty-paid, duty-free, or domestic 
coated or plated steel must be covered by the same specification and 
grade (if two or more grades are in the specification).

[[Page 37974]]

B. Exported Articles on Which Drawback Will Be Claimed

    The exported articles will have been manufactured in the United 
States using steels described in the parallel columns above.

C. General Statement

    The manufacturer or producer manufactures or produces for its 
own account.
    The manufacturer or producer may manufacture or produce articles 
for the account of another or another manufacturer or producer may 
manufacture or produce for the account of the manufacturer or 
producer under contract within the principal and agency relationship 
outlined in T.D.s 55027(2) and 55207(1) (see Sec.  190.9).

D. Process of Manufacture or Production

    The steel described in the parallel columns will be used to 
manufacture or produce articles in accordance with Sec.  190.2.

E. Multiple Products

    Not applicable.

F. Waste

    No drawback is payable on any waste which results from the 
manufacturing operation. Unless the claim for drawback is based on 
the quantity of steel appearing in the exported articles, records 
will be maintained to establish the value (or the lack of value), 
the quantity, and the disposition of any waste that results from 
manufacturing the exported articles. If no waste results, records to 
establish that fact will be maintained.

G. Loss or Gain

    The manufacturer or producer will maintain records showing the 
extent of any loss or gain in net weight or measurement of the steel 
caused by atmospheric conditions, chemical reactions, or other 
factors.

H. [Reserved]

I. Procedures and Records Maintained

    Records, which may include records kept in the normal course of 
business, will be maintained to establish:
    1. The identity, specifications, and 8-digit HTSUS 
classification of the designated merchandise;
    2. The quantity of merchandise of the designated merchandise \3\ 
used to produce the exported articles;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ If claims are to be made on an ``appearing in'' basis, the 
remainder of this sentence should read ``appearing in the exported 
articles produced.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. That, within 5 years of the date of importation of the 
designated merchandise, the manufacturer or producer used the 
merchandise to produce articles. During the same 5-year period, the 
manufacturer or producer produced \4\ the exported articles.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The date of production is the date an article is completed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To obtain drawback the claimant must establish that the 
completed articles were exported within 5 years after the 
importation of the imported merchandise. Records establishing 
compliance with these requirements will be available for audit by 
CBP during business hours. Drawback is not payable without proof of 
compliance.

J. Inventory Procedures

    The inventory records of the manufacturer or producer must show 
how the drawback recordkeeping requirements set forth in 19 U.S.C. 
1313(b) and part 190 of the CBP Regulations will be met, as 
discussed under the heading ``Procedures And Records Maintained''. 
If those records do not establish satisfaction of those legal 
requirements, drawback cannot be paid.

K. Basis of Claim for Drawback

    Drawback will be claimed on the quantity of steel used in 
producing the exported articles only if there is no waste or 
valueless or unrecovered waste in the manufacturing operation. 
Drawback may be claimed on the quantity of eligible steel that 
appears in the exported articles, regardless of whether there is 
waste, and no records of waste need be maintained. If there is 
valuable waste recovered from the manufacturing operation and 
records are kept which show the quantity and value of the waste from 
each lot of steel, drawback may be claimed on the quantity of 
eligible steel used to produce the exported articles less the amount 
of that steel which the value of the waste would replace.

L. General Requirements

    The manufacturer or producer will:
    1. Comply fully with the terms of this general ruling when 
claiming drawback;
    2. Open its factory and records for examination at all 
reasonable hours by authorized Government officers;
    3. Keep its drawback related records and supporting data for at 
least 3 years from the date of liquidation of any drawback claim 
predicated in whole or in part upon this general ruling;
    4. Keep its letter of notification to operate under this general 
ruling current by reporting promptly to the drawback office which 
liquidates its claims any changes in the information required by the 
General Instructions of this Appendix to be included therein (I. 
General Instructions, 1 through 10) or the corporate name or 
corporate organization by succession or reincorporation;
    5. Keep a copy of this general ruling on file for ready 
reference by employees and require all officials and employees 
concerned to familiarize themselves with the provisions of this 
general ruling; and
    6. Issue instructions to insure proper compliance with title 19, 
United States Code, section 1313, part 190 of the CBP Regulations 
and this general ruling.

XIII. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b) for 
Sugar (T.D. 81-92)

A. Same 8-Digit HTSUS Classification (Parallel Columns)

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Duty-paid, duty-free or
                                                domestic merchandise
                                             classifiable under the same
 Imported merchandise or drawback products    8-digit HTSUS subheading
   \1\ to be designated as the basis for      number as that designated
     drawback on the exported products        which will be used in the
                                             production of the exported
                                                      products
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Granulated or liquid sugar for           1. Granulated or liquid
 manufacturing, containing sugar solids of   sugar for manufacturing,
 not less than 99.5 sugar degrees.           containing sugar solids of
                                             less than 99.5 sugar
                                             degrees.
2. Granulated or liquid sugar for           2. Granulated or liquid
 manufacturing, containing sugar solids of   sugar for manufacturing,
 not less than 99.5 sugar degrees.           containing sugar solids of
                                             less than 99.5 sugar
                                             degrees.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The sugars listed above test within three-tenths of a degree on 
the polariscope. Sugars in each column are completely 
interchangeable with the sugars directly opposite and designation 
will be made on this basis only. The designated sugar on which 
claims for drawback will be based will be classifiable under the 
same 8-digit HTSUS classification. Differences in value resulting 
from factors other than quality, such as market fluctuation, will 
not affect the allowance of drawback.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Drawback products are those produced in the United States in 
accordance with the drawback law and regulations. Such products have 
``dual status'' under section 1313(b). They may be designated as the 
basis for drawback and also may be deemed to be domestic 
merchandise.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Exported Articles on Which Drawback Will Be Claimed

    Edible substances (including confectionery) and/or beverages 
and/or ingredients therefor.

C. General Statement

    The manufacturer or producer manufactures or produces for its 
own account. The manufacturer or producer may manufacture or produce 
articles for the account of another or another manufacturer or 
producer may manufacture or produce for the account of the 
manufacturer or producer under contract within the principal and 
agency relationship outlined in T.D.s 55027(2) and 55207(1) (see 
Sec.  190.9).

D. Process of Manufacture or Production

    The sugars are subjected to one or more of the following 
operations to form the desired product(s):
    1. Mixing with other substances,
    2. Cooking with other substances,
    3. Boiling with other substances,

[[Page 37975]]

    4. Baking with other substances,
    5. Additional similar processes.

E. Multiple Products

    Not applicable.

F. Waste

    No drawback is payable on any waste which results from the 
manufacturing operation. Unless the claim for drawback is based on 
the quantity of sugar appearing in the exported articles, records 
will be maintained to establish the value (or the lack of value), 
the quantity, and the disposition of any waste that results from 
manufacturing the exported articles. If no waste results, records to 
establish that fact will be maintained.

G. Loss or Gain

    The manufacturer or producer will maintain records showing the 
extent of any loss or gain in net weight or measurement of the sugar 
caused by atmospheric conditions, chemical reactions, or other 
factors.

H. [Reserved]

I. Procedures And Records Maintained

    Records, which may include records kept in the normal course of 
business, will be maintained to establish:
    1. The identity, specifications, and 8-digit HTSUS 
classification of the designated merchandise;
    2. The quantity of merchandise classifiable under the same 8-
digit HTSUS classification as the designated merchandise \2\ used to 
produce the exported articles;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ If claims are to be made on an ``appearing in'' basis, the 
remainder of this sentence should read ``appearing in the exported 
articles produced.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. That, within 5 years of the date of importation of the 
designated merchandise, the manufacturer or producer used the 
merchandise to produce articles. During the same 5-year period, the 
manufacturer or producer produced \3\ the exported articles.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The date of production is the date an article is completed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To obtain drawback the claimant must establish that the 
completed articles were exported within 5 years after the 
importation of the imported merchandise. Records establishing 
compliance with these requirements will be available for audit by 
CBP during business hours. Drawback is not payable without proof of 
compliance.

J. Inventory Procedures

    The inventory records of the manufacturer or producer, will show 
how the drawback recordkeeping requirements set forth in 19 U.S.C. 
1313(b) and part 190 of the CBP Regulations will be met, as 
discussed under the heading ``Procedures And Records Maintained''. 
If those records do not establish satisfaction of those legal 
requirements, drawback cannot be paid.

K. Basis of Claim for Drawback

    Drawback will be claimed on the quantity of sugar used in 
producing the exported articles only if there is no waste or 
valueless or unrecovered waste in the manufacturing operation. 
Drawback may be claimed on the quantity of eligible sugar that 
appears in the exported articles regardless of whether there is 
waste, and no records of waste need be maintained. If there is 
valuable waste recovered from the manufacturing operation and 
records are kept which show the quantity and value of the waste, 
drawback may be claimed on the quantity of eligible material used to 
produce the exported articles less the amount of that sugar which 
the value of the waste would replace.

L. General Requirements

    The manufacturer or producer will:
    1. Comply fully with the terms of this general ruling when 
claiming drawback;
    2. Open its factory and records for examination at all 
reasonable hours by authorized Government officers;
    3. Keep its drawback related records and supporting data for at 
least 3 years from the date of liquidation of any drawback claim 
predicated in whole or in part upon this general ruling;
    4. Keep its letter of notification of intent to operate under 
this general ruling current by reporting promptly to the drawback 
office which liquidates its claims any changes in the information 
required by the General Instructions of this Appendix to be included 
therein (I. General Instructions, 1 through 10) or the corporate 
name or corporate organization by succession or reincorporation;
    5. Keep a copy of this general ruling on file for ready 
reference by employees and require all officials and employees 
concerned to familiarize themselves with the provisions of this 
general ruling; and
    6. Issue instructions to insure proper compliance with title 19, 
United States Code, section 1313, part 190 of the CBP Regulations 
and this general ruling.

XIV. General Manufacturing Drawback Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) for 
Woven Piece Goods (T.D. 83-84)

    Drawback may be allowed under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) upon the 
exportation of bleached, mercerized, printed, dyed, or redyed piece 
goods manufactured or produced by any one or a combination of the 
foregoing processes with the use of imported woven piece goods, 
subject to the following special requirements:

A. Imported Merchandise or Drawback Products <SUP>1</SUP> Used
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Drawback products are those produced in the United States in 
accordance with the drawback law and regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Imported merchandise or drawback products (woven piece goods) 
are used in the manufacture of the exported articles upon which 
drawback claims will be based.

B. Exported Articles on Which Drawback Will Be Claimed

    Exported articles on which drawback will be claimed will be 
manufactured in the United States using imported merchandise or 
drawback products.

C. General Statement

    The manufacturer or producer manufactures or produces for its 
own account. The manufacturer or producer may manufacture or produce 
articles for the account of another or another manufacturer or 
producer may manufacture or produce for the account of the 
manufacturer or producer under contract within the principal and 
agency relationship outlined in T.D.s 55027(2) and 55207(1) (see 
Sec.  190.9).

D. Process of Manufacture or Production

    The imported merchandise or drawback products will be used to 
manufacture or produce articles in accordance with Sec.  190.2.
    The piece goods used in manufacture or production under this 
general manufacturing drawback ruling may also be subjected to one 
or more finishing processes. Drawback will not be allowed under this 
general manufacturing drawback ruling when the process performed 
results only in the restoration of the merchandise to its condition 
at the time of importation.

E. Multiple Products

    Not applicable.

F. Waste

    Rag waste may be incurred. No drawback is payable on any waste 
which results from the manufacturing operation. Unless the claim for 
drawback is based on the quantity of merchandise appearing in the 
exported articles, the records of the manufacturer or producer must 
show the quantity of rag waste, if any, its value, and its 
disposition. If no waste results, records will be maintained to 
establish that fact. In instances where rag waste occurs and it is 
impractical to account for the actual quantity of rag waste 
incurred, it may be assumed that such rag waste constituted 2% of 
the woven piece goods put into process. If necessary to establish 
the quantity of merchandise (eligible piece goods) appearing in the 
exported articles, such waste records will also be kept.

G. Shrinkage, Gain, and Spoilage

    Unless the claim for drawback is based on the quantity of 
merchandise appearing in the exported articles, the records of the 
manufacturer or producer must show the yardage lost by shrinkage or 
gained by stretching during manufacture, and the quantity of 
remnants resulting and of spoilage incurred, if any. If necessary to 
establish the quantity of merchandise (eligible piece goods) 
appearing in the exported articles, such records for shrinkage, 
gain, and spoilage will also be kept.

H. Procedures and Records Maintained

    Records, which may include records kept in the normal course of 
business, will be maintained to establish:
    1. That the exported articles on which drawback is claimed were 
produced with the use of the imported merchandise; and
    2. The quantity of imported merchandise \2\ used in producing 
the exported articles.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ If claims are to be made on an ``appearing in'' basis, the 
remainder of the sentence should read ``appearing in the exported 
articles.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To obtain drawback the claimant must establish that the 
completed articles were exported within 5 years after importation of 
the imported merchandise. Records establishing compliance with these

[[Page 37976]]

requirements will be available for audit by CBP during business 
hours. Drawback is not payable without proof of compliance.

I. Inventory Procedures

    The inventory records of the manufacturer or producer must show 
how the drawback recordkeeping requirements set forth in 19 U.S.C. 
1313(a) and part 190 of the CBP Regulations will be met, as 
discussed under the heading ``Procedures and Records Maintained''. 
If those records do not establish satisfaction of those legal 
requirements, drawback cannot be paid.
    The records of the manufacturer or producer must show, as to 
each lot of piece goods manufactured or produced for exportation 
with benefit of drawback, the lot number and the date or inclusive 
dates of manufacture or production, the quantity, identity, value, 
and 8-digit HTSUS classification of the imported (or drawback 
product) piece goods used, the condition in which imported or 
received (whether in the gray, bleached, dyed, or mercerized), the 
working allowance specified in the contract under which they are 
received, the process or processes applied thereto, and the quantity 
and description of the piece goods obtained. The records must also 
show the yardage lost by shrinkage or gained by stretching during 
manufacture or production, and the quantity of remnants resulting 
and of spoilage incurred.

J. Basis of Claim for Drawback

    Drawback will be claimed on the quantity of merchandise used in 
producing the exported articles only if there is no waste or 
valueless or unrecovered waste in the manufacturing operation. 
Drawback may be claimed on the quantity of eligible merchandise that 
appears in the exported articles, regardless of whether there is 
waste, and no records of waste need be maintained. If there is 
valuable waste recovered from the manufacturing operation and 
records are kept which show the quantity and value of the waste, 
drawback may be claimed on the quantity of eligible material used to 
produce the exported articles, less the amount of that merchandise 
which the value of the waste would replace. (If remnants and/or 
spoilage occur during manufacture or production, the quantity of 
imported merchandise used will be determined by deducting from the 
quantity of piece goods received and put into manufacture or 
production the quantity of such remnants and/or spoilage. The 
remaining quantity will be reduced by the quantity thereof which the 
value of the rag waste, if any, would replace.)

K. General Requirements

    The manufacturer or producer will:
    1. Comply fully with the terms of this general ruling when 
claiming drawback;
    2. Open its factory and records for examination at all 
reasonable hours by authorized Government officers;
    3. Keep its drawback related records and supporting data for at 
least 3 years from the date of liquidation of any drawback claim 
predicated in whole or in part upon this general ruling;
    4. Keep its letter of notification of intent to operate under 
this general ruling current by reporting promptly to the drawback 
office which liquidates its claims any changes in the information 
required by the General Instructions of this Appendix to be included 
therein (I. General Instructions, 1 through 10) or the corporate 
name or corporate organization by succession or reincorporation.
    5. Keep a copy of this general ruling on file for ready 
reference by employees and require all officials and employees 
concerned to familiarize themselves with the provisions of this 
general ruling; and
    6. Issue instructions to insure proper compliance with 19, 
United States Code, Sec.  1313, part 190 of the CBP Regulations and 
this general ruling.

Appendix B to Part 190--Sample Formats for Applications for Specific 
Manufacturing Drawback Rulings

Table of Contents

I. General
II. Format for Application for Specific Manufacturing Drawback 
Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) and 1313(b) (Combination)
III. Format for Application for Specific Manufacturing Drawback 
Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b)
IV. Format for Application for Specific Manufacturing Drawback 
Ruling Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(d)
V. Format for Application for Specific Manufacturing Drawback Ruling 
Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(g)

I. General

    Applications for specific manufacturing drawback rulings using 
these sample formats must be submitted to and reviewed and approved 
by CBP Headquarters. See 19 CFR 190.8. A specific manufacturing 
drawback ruling consists of the letter of approval that CBP issues 
to the applicant. In these application formats, remarks in 
parentheses and footnotes are for explanatory purposes only and 
should not be copied. Other material should be quoted directly in 
the applications.

II. Format for Application for Specific Manufacturing Drawback Ruling 
Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(a) and 1313(b) (Combination)

COMPANY LETTERHEAD (Optional)

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Entry Process and Duty 
Refunds, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade, 90 K Street NE--
10th Floor (Mail Stop 1177), Washington, DC 20229-1177.
    Dear Sir or Madam: We, (Applicant's Name), a (State, e.g., 
Delaware) corporation (or other described entity) submit this 
application for a specific manufacturing drawback ruling that our 
manufacturing operations qualify for drawback under title 19, United 
States Code, Sec. Sec.  1313 (a) & (b), and part 190 of the CBP 
Regulations. We request that CBP authorize drawback on the basis of 
this application.

NAME AND ADDRESS AND IRS NUMBER (WITH SUFFIX) OF APPLICANT

    (Section 190.8(a) of the CBP Regulations provides that each 
manufacturer or producer of articles intended for exportation with 
the benefit of drawback must apply for a specific manufacturing 
drawback ruling, unless operating under a general manufacturing 
drawback ruling under Sec.  190.7 of the CBP Regulations. CBP will 
not approve an application which shows an unincorporated division or 
company as the applicant (see Sec.  190.8(a)).)

LOCATION OF FACTORY

    (Give the address of the factory(s) where the process of 
manufacture or production will take place. If the factory is a 
different legal entity from the applicant, so state and indicate if 
operating under an Agent's general manufacturing drawback ruling.)

PERSONS WHO WILL SIGN DRAWBACK DOCUMENTS

    (List persons legally authorized to bind the corporation who 
will sign drawback documents. Section 190.6 of the CBP Regulations 
permits only the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, or 
any employee legally authorized to bind the corporation to sign for 
a corporation. In addition, a person within a business entity with a 
customs power of attorney for the company may sign. A customs power 
of attorney may also be given to a licensed customs broker. This 
heading should be changed to Names of Partners or Proprietor in the 
case of a partnership or sole proprietorship, respectively (see 
footnote at end of this sample format for persons who may sign 
applications for specific manufacturing drawback rulings).)

CBP OFFICE WHERE DRAWBACK CLAIMS WILL BE FILED

    (The four offices where drawback claims can be filed are located 
at: New York, NY; Houston, TX; Chicago, IL; San Francisco, CA.)
    (An original application and two copies must be filed. If the 
applicant intends to file drawback claims at more than one drawback 
office, one additional copy of the application must be furnished for 
each additional office indicated.)

GENERAL STATEMENT

    (The following questions must be answered:)
    1. Who will be the importer of the designated merchandise?
    (If the applicant will not always be the importer of the 
designated merchandise, does the applicant understand its 
obligations to maintain records to support the transfer under Sec.  
190.10, and its liability under Sec.  190.63?)
    2. Will an agent be used to process the designated or the 
substituted merchandise into articles?
    (If an agent is to be used, the applicant must state it will 
comply with T.D.s 55027(2) and 55207(1) and Sec.  190.9, as 
applicable, and that its agent will submit a letter of notification 
of intent to operate under the general manufacturing drawback ruling 
for agents (see Sec.  190.7 and Appendix A) or an application for a 
specific manufacturing drawback ruling (see Sec.  190.8 and this 
Appendix B).)
    3. Will the applicant be the exporter?

[[Page 37977]]

    (If the applicant will not be the exporter in every case but 
will be the claimant, the manufacturer must state that it will 
reserve the right to claim drawback with the knowledge and written 
consent of the exporter (19 CFR 190.82).)

PROCEDURES UNDER SECTION 1313(b) (PARALLEL COLUMNS--``SAME 8-DIGIT 
CLASSIFICATION'')

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Duty-paid, duty-free or
                                             domestic merchandise of the
 Imported merchandise or drawback products       same 8-digit HTSUS
   \1\ to be designated as the basis for      subheading number as that
     drawback on the exported products        designated which will be
                                              used in the production of
                                                the exported products
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.                                          1.
2.                                          2.
3.                                          3.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (Following the items listed in the parallel columns, a statement 
will be made, by the applicant, that affirms the same 8-digit HTSUS 
classification of the merchandise. This statement should be included 
in the application exactly as it is stated below:)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Drawback products are those produced in the United States in 
accordance with the drawback law and regulations. Such products have 
``dual status'' under section 1313(b). They may be designated as the 
basis for drawback and also may be deemed to be domestic 
merchandise.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The imported merchandise which we will designate in our claims 
will be classifiable under the same 8-digit HTSUS classification as 
the merchandise used in producing the exported articles on which we 
claim drawback.
    Fluctuations in the market value resulting from factors other 
than quality will not affect the drawback.
    (In order to successfully claim drawback it is necessary to 
prove that the duty-paid, duty-free or domestic merchandise which is 
to be substituted for the imported merchandise is ``classifiable 
under the same 8-digit HTSUS classification''. In order to enable 
CBP to rule on ``the same 8-digit HTSUS classification'', the 
application must include a detailed description of the designated 
imported merchandise and of the substituted duty-paid, duty-free or 
domestic merchandise to be used to produce the exported articles, as 
well as provide the Bill of Materials and/or formulas annotated with 
the HTSUS classifications.)
    (It is essential that all the characteristics which determine 
the quality of the merchandise are provided in the application in 
order to substantiate that the merchandise meets the ``the same 8-
digit HTSUS classification'' statutory requirement. These 
characteristics should clearly distinguish merchandise of different 
qualities. For example, USDA standards; FDA standards; industry 
standards, e.g., ASTM; concentration; specific gravity; purity; 
luster; melting point, boiling point; odor; color; grade; type; 
hardness; brittleness; etc. Note that these are only a few examples 
of characteristics and that each kind of merchandise has its own set 
of specifications that characterizes its quality. If specifications 
are given with a minimum value, be sure to include a maximum value. 
The converse is also true. Often characteristics are given to CBP on 
attached specification sheets. These specifications should not 
include Material Safety Data sheets or other descriptions of the 
merchandise that do not contribute to the ``same 8-digit HTSUS 
subheading number'' determination. When the merchandise is a 
chemical, state the chemical's generic name as well as its trade 
name plus any generally recognized identifying number, e.g., CAS 
number; Color Index Number, etc.) (In order to expedite the specific 
manufacturing drawback ruling process, it will be helpful if you 
provide copies of technical standards/specifications (particularly 
industry standards such as ASTM standards) referred to in your 
application.)
    (The descriptions of the ``the same 8-digit HTSUS subheading 
number'' merchandise should be formatted in the parallel columns. 
The left-hand column will consist of the name and specifications of 
the designated imported merchandise under the heading set forth 
above. The right-hand column will consist of the name, 
specifications, and 8-digit HTSUS subheading number for the duty-
paid, duty-free or domestic merchandise under the heading set forth 
above. Amendments to rulings will be required if any changes to the 
HTSUS classifications occur.)

EXPORTED ARTICLES ON WHICH DRAWBACK WILL BE CLAIMED

    (Name each article to be exported. When the identity of the 
product is not clearly evident by its name state what the product 
is, e.g., a herbicide. There must be a match between each article 
described under the PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION section 
below and each article listed here.)

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION

    (Drawback under Sec.  1313(b) is not allowable except where a 
manufacture or production exists. Manufacture or production is 
defined, for drawback purposes, in Sec.  190.2. In order to obtain 
drawback under Sec.  1313(b), it is essential for the applicant to 
show use in manufacture or production by giving a thorough 
description of the manufacturing process. This description should 
include the name and exact condition of the merchandise listed in 
the Parallel Columns, a complete explanation of the processes to 
which it is subjected in this country, the effect of such processes, 
the name and exact description of the finished article, and the use 
for which the finished article is intended. When applicable, give 
equations of the chemical reactions. The attachment of a flow chart 
in addition to the description showing the manufacturing process is 
an excellent means of illustrating whether or not a manufacture or 
production has occurred. Flow charts can clearly illustrate if and 
at what point during the manufacturing process by-products and 
wastes are generated.)
    (This section should contain a description of the process by 
which each item of merchandise listed in the parallel columns above 
is used to make or produce every article that is to be exported.)

MULTIPLE PRODUCTS

1. Relative Values

    (Some processes result in the separation of the merchandise used 
in the same operation into two or more products. List all of the 
products. State that you will record the market value of each 
product at the time it is first separated in the manufacturing 
process. If this section is not applicable to you, then state so.)
    (Drawback law mandates the assignment of relative values when 
two or more products necessarily are produced concurrently in the 
same operation. For instance, the refining of flaxseed necessarily 
produces linseed oil and linseed husks (animal feed), and drawback 
must be distributed to each product in accordance with its relative 
value. However, the voluntary election of a steel fabricator, for 
instance, to use part of a lot of imported steel to produce 
automobile doors and part of the lot to produce automobile fenders 
does not call for relative value distribution.)
    (The relative value of a product is its value divided by the 
total value of all products, whether or not exported. For example, 
100 gallons of drawback merchandise are used to produce 100 gallons 
of products, including 60 gallons of product A, 20 gallons of 
product B, and 20 gallons of product C. At the time of separation, 
the unit values of products A, B, and C are $5, $10, and $50 
respectively. The relative value of product A is $300 divided by 
$1500 or \1/5\. The relative value of B is \2/15\ and of product C 
is \2/3\, calculated in the same manner. This means that \1/5\ of 
the drawback product payments will be distributed to product A, \2/
15\ to product B, and \2/3\ to product C.)
    (Drawback is allowable on exports of any of multiple products, 
but is not allowable on exports of valuable waste. In making this 
distinction between a product and valuable waste, the applicant 
should address the following significant elements: (1) The nature of 
the material of which the residue is composed; (2) the value of the 
residue as compared to the value of the principal manufactured 
product and the raw material; (3) the use to which it is put; (4) 
its status under the tariff laws, if imported; (5) whether it is a 
commodity recognized in commerce; (6) whether it must be subjected 
to some process to make it saleable.)

[[Page 37978]]

2. Producibility

    (Some processes result in the separation of fixed proportions of 
each product, while other processes afford the opportunity to 
increase or decrease the proportion of each product. An example of 
the latter is petroleum refining, where the refiner has the option 
to increase or decrease the production of one or more products 
relative to the others. State under this heading whether you can or 
cannot vary the proportionate quantity of each product.) (The 
MULTIPLE PRODUCTS section consists of two sub-sections: Relative 
Values and Producibility. If multiple products do not result from 
your operation state ``not applicable'' for the entire section. If 
multiple products do result from your operation Relative Values will 
always apply. However, Producibility may or may not apply. If 
Producibility does not apply to your multiple product operation 
state ``Not Applicable'' for this sub-section.)

WASTE

    (Many processes result in residue materials which, for drawback 
purposes, are treated as wastes. Describe any residue materials 
which you believe should be so treated. If no waste results, include 
a positive statement to that effect under this heading.)
    (If waste occurs, state: (1) Whether or not it is recovered, (2) 
whether or not it is valueless, and (3) what you do with it. This 
information is required whether claims are made on a ``used in'' or 
``appearing in'' basis and regardless of the amount of waste 
incurred.)
    (Irrecoverable wastes are those consisting of materials which 
are lost in the process. Valueless wastes are those which may be 
recovered but have no value. These irrecoverable and valueless 
wastes do not reduce the drawback claim provided the claim is based 
on the quantity of imported material used in manufacturing. If the 
claim is based upon the quantity of imported merchandise appearing 
in the exported article, irrecoverable and valueless waste will 
cause a reduction in the amount of drawback.)
    (Valuable wastes are those recovered wastes which have a value 
either for sale or for use in a different manufacturing process. 
However, it should be noted that this standard applies to the entire 
industry and is not a selection on your part. An option by you not 
to choose to sell or use the waste in some different operation does 
not make it valueless if another manufacturer can use the waste. 
State what you do with the waste. If you have to pay someone to get 
rid of it, or if you have buyers for the waste, you must state so in 
your application regardless of what ``Basis'' you are using.)
    (If you recover valuable waste and if you choose to claim on the 
basis of the quantity of imported or substituted merchandise used in 
producing the exported articles (less valuable waste), state that 
you will keep records to establish the quantity and value of the 
waste recovered. See ``Basis of Claim for Drawback'' section below.)

STOCK IN PROCESS

    (Some processes result in another type of residual material, 
namely, stock in process, which affects the allowance of drawback. 
Stock in process may exist when residual material resulting from a 
manufacturing or processing operation is reintroduced into a 
subsequent manufacturing or processing operation; e.g., trim pieces 
from a cast article. The effect of stock in process on a drawback 
claim is that the amount of drawback for the period in which the 
stock in process was withdrawn from the manufacturing or processing 
operation (or the manufactured article, if manufacturing or 
processing periods are not used) is reduced by the quantity of 
merchandise or drawback products used to produce the stock in 
process if the ``used in'' or ``used in less valuable waste'' 
methods are used (if the ``appearing in'' method is used, there will 
be no effect on the amount of drawback), and the quantity of 
merchandise or drawback products used to produce the stock in 
process is added to the merchandise or drawback products used in the 
subsequent manufacturing or production period (or the subsequently 
produced article)).
    (If stock in process occurs and claims are to be based on stock 
in process, the application must include a statement to that effect. 
The application must also include a statement that merchandise is 
considered to be used in manufacture at the time it was originally 
processed so that the stock in process will not be included twice in 
the computation of the merchandise used to manufacture the finished 
articles on which drawback is claimed.)

LOSS OR GAIN (Separate and distinct from WASTE)

    (Some manufacturing processes result in an intangible loss or 
gain of the net weight or measurement of the merchandise used. This 
loss or gain is caused by atmospheric conditions, chemical 
reactions, or other factors. State the approximate usual percentage 
or quantity of such loss or gain. Note that percentage values will 
be considered to be measured ``by weight'' unless otherwise 
specified. Loss or gain does not occur during all manufacturing 
processes. If loss or gain does not apply to your manufacturing 
process, state ``Not Applicable.'')

PROCEDURES AND RECORDS MAINTAINED

    We will maintain records to establish:
    1. The identity, specifications, and 8-digit HTSUS subheading 
number of the merchandise we designate;
    2. The quantity of merchandise classifiable under the same 8-
digit HTSUS subheading number as the designated merchandise \2\ we 
used to produce the exported articles;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ If claims are to be made on an ``appearing in'' basis, the 
remainder of this sentence should read ``appearing in the exported 
articles we produce.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. That, within 5 years after the date of importation, we used 
the designated merchandise to produce articles. During the same 5-
year period, we produced \3\ the exported articles.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The date of production is the date an article is completed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We realize that to obtain drawback the claimant must establish 
that the completed articles were exported within 5 years after the 
importation of the imported merchandise. Our records establishing 
our compliance with these requirements will be available for audit 
by CBP during business hours. We understand that drawback is not 
payable without proof of compliance.

INVENTORY PROCEDURES

    (Describe your inventory records and state how those records 
will meet the drawback recordkeeping requirements set forth in 19 
U.S.C. 1313(b) and part 190 of the CBP Regulations as discussed 
under the heading PROCEDURES AND RECORDS MAINTAINED. To insure 
compliance the following areas, as applicable, should be included in 
your discussion:)

RECEIPT AND STORAGE OF DESIGNATED MERCHANDISE

RECORDS OF USE OF DESIGNATED MERCHANDISE

BILLS OF MATERIALS

MANUFACTURING RECORDS

WASTE RECORDS

RECORDS OF USE OF DUTY-PAID, DUTY-FREE OR DOMESTIC MERCHANDISE OF THE 
REQUIRED SAME 8-DIGIT HTSUS SUBHEADING NUMBER WITHIN 5 YEARS AFTER THE 
DATE OF IMPORTATION

FINISHED STOCK STORAGE RECORDS

SHIPPING RECORDS

    (Proof of time frames may be specific or inclusive, e.g., within 
120 days, but specific proof is preferable. Separate storage and 
identification of each article or lot of merchandise usually will 
permit specific proof of exact dates. Proof of inclusive dates of 
use, production or export may be acceptable, but in such cases it is 
best to describe very specifically the data you intend to use to 
establish each legal requirement, thereby avoiding misunderstandings 
at the time of audit.) (If you do not describe the inventory records 
that you will use, a statement that the legal requirements will be 
met by your inventory procedures is acceptable. However, it should 
be noted that without a detailed description of the inventory 
procedures set forth in the application a judgment as to the 
adequacy of such a statement cannot be made until a drawback claim 
is verified. Approval of this application for a specific 
manufacturing drawback ruling merely constitutes approval of the 
ruling application as submitted; it does not constitute approval of 
the applicant's record keeping procedures if, for example, those 
procedures are merely described as meeting the legal requirements, 
without specifically stating how the requirements will be met. 
Drawback is not payable without proof of compliance.)

BASIS OF CLAIM FOR DRAWBACK

    (There are three different bases that may be used to claim 
drawback: (1) Used in; (2) appearing in; and (3) used in less 
valuable waste.)
    (The ``used in'' basis may be employed only if there is either 
no waste or valueless or unrecovered waste in the operation. 
Irrecoverable or valueless waste does not

[[Page 37979]]

reduce the amount of drawback when claims are based on the ``used 
in'' basis. Drawback is payable in the amount of 99 percent of the 
duties, taxes, and fees paid on the quantity of imported material 
designated as the basis for the allowance of drawback on the 
exported articles. The designated quantity may not exceed the 
quantity of material actually used in the manufacture of the 
exported articles.)
    (For example, if 100 pounds of material, valued at $1.00 per 
pound, were used in manufacture resulting in 10 pounds of 
irrecoverable or valueless waste, the 10 pounds of irrecoverable or 
valueless waste would not reduce the drawback. In this case drawback 
would be payable on 99% of the duties, taxes, and fees paid on the 
100 pounds of designated material used to produce the exported 
articles.)
    (The ``appearing in'' basis may be used regardless of whether 
there is waste. If the ``appearing in'' basis is used, the claimant 
does not need to keep records of waste and its value. However, the 
manufacturer must establish the identity and quantity of the 
merchandise appearing in the exported product and provide this 
information. Waste reduces the amount of drawback when claims are 
made on the ``appearing in'' basis. Drawback is payable on 99 
percent of the duties, taxes, and fees paid on the quantity of 
material designated, which may not exceed the quantity of eligible 
material that appears in the exported articles. ``Appearing in'' may 
not be used if multiple products are involved.)
    (Based on the previous example, drawback would be payable on the 
90 pounds of merchandise which actually went into the exported 
product (appearing in) rather than the 100 pounds used in as set 
forth previously.)
    (The ``used in less valuable waste'' basis may be employed when 
the manufacturer recovers valuable waste, and keeps records of the 
quantity and value of waste from each lot of merchandise. The value 
of the waste reduces the amount of drawback when claims are based on 
the ``used in less valuable waste'' basis. When valuable waste is 
incurred, the drawback allowance on the exported article is based on 
the duties, taxes, and fees paid on the quantity of merchandise used 
in the manufacture, reduced by the quantity of such merchandise 
which the value of the waste would replace. Thus in this case, 
drawback is claimed on the quantity of eligible material actually 
used to produce the exported product, less the amount of such 
material which the value of the waste would replace. Note section 
190.26(c) of the CBP Regulations.)
    (Based on the previous examples, if the 10 pounds of waste had a 
value of $.50 per pound, then the 10 pounds of waste, having a total 
value of $5.00, would be equivalent in value to 5 pounds of the 
designated material. Thus the value of the waste would replace 5 
pounds of the merchandise used, and drawback is payable on 99 
percent of the duties, taxes, and fees paid on the 95 pounds of 
imported material designated as the basis for the allowance of 
drawback on the exported article rather than on the 100 pounds 
``used in'' or the 90 pounds ``appearing in'' as set forth in the 
above examples.)
    (Two methods exist for the manufacturer to show the quantity of 
material used or appearing in the exported article: (1) Schedule or 
(2) Abstract.)
    (A ``schedule'' shows the quantity of material used in producing 
each unit of product. The schedule method is usually employed when a 
standard line of merchandise is being produced according to fixed 
formulas. Some schedules will show the quantity of merchandise used 
to manufacture or produce each article and others will show the 
quantity appearing in each finished article. Schedules may be 
prepared to show the quantity of merchandise either on the basis of 
percentages or by actual weights and measurements. A schedule 
determines the amount that will be needed to produce a unit of 
product before the material is actually used in production.)
    (An ``abstract'' is the summary of the records which shows the 
total quantity used in producing all products during the period 
covered by the abstract. The abstract looks at a period of time, for 
instance 3 months, in which the quantity of material has been used. 
An abstract looks back at how much material was actually used after 
a production period has been completed.)
    (An applicant who fails to indicate the ``schedule'' choice must 
base its claims on the ``abstract'' method. State which Basis and 
Method you will use. An example of Used In by Schedule follows:)
    We will claim drawback on the quantity of (specify material) 
used in manufacturing (exported article) according to the schedule 
set forth below. (Section 190.8(f) of the CBP Regulations requires 
submission of the schedule with the application for a specific 
manufacturing drawback ruling. An applicant who desires to file 
supplemental schedules with the drawback office whenever there is a 
change in the quantity or material used should state:)
    We request permission to file supplemental schedules with the 
drawback office covering changes in the quantities of material used 
to produce the exported articles, or different styles or capacities 
of containers of such exported merchandise. (Neither the ``appearing 
in'' basis nor the ``schedule'' method for claiming drawback may be 
used where the relative value procedure is required.)

PROCEDURES UNDER SECTION 1313(a)

IMPORTED MERCHANDISE OR DRAWBACK PRODUCTS USED UNDER 1313(a)

    (List the imported merchandise or drawback products.)

EXPORTED ARTICLES ON WHICH DRAWBACK WILL BE CLAIMED

    (Name each article to be exported. When the identity of the 
product is not clearly evident by its name state what the product 
is, e.g., a herbicide. There must be a match between each article 
described under the PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE AND PRODUCTION section 
below and each article listed here.)
    (If the merchandise used under Sec.  1313(a) is not also used 
under Sec.  1313(b), the sections entitled PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE OR 
PRODUCTION, BY-PRODUCTS, LOSS OR GAIN, and STOCK IN PROCESS should 
be included here to cover merchandise used under Sec.  1313(a). 
However, if the merchandise used under Sec.  1313(a) is also used 
under Sec.  1313(b) these sections need not be repeated unless they 
differ in some way from the Sec.  1313(b) descriptions.)

PROCEDURES AND RECORDS MAINTAINED

    We will maintain records to establish:
    1. That the exported articles on which drawback is claimed were 
produced with the use of the imported merchandise, and
    2. The quantity of imported merchandise \4\ we used in producing 
the exported articles.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ If claims are to be made on an ``appearing in'' basis, the 
remainder of the sentence should read ``appearing in the exported 
articles we produce.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We realize that to obtain drawback the claimant must establish 
that the completed articles were exported within 5 years after 
importation of the imported merchandise. We understand that drawback 
is not payable without proof of compliance.

INVENTORY PROCEDURES

    (This section must be completed separately from that set forth 
under the Sec.  1313(b) portion of your application. The legal 
requirements under Sec.  1313(a) differ from those under Sec.  
1313(b).)
    (Describe your inventory procedures and state how you will 
identify the imported merchandise from date of importation until it 
is incorporated in the articles to be exported. Also describe how 
you will identify the finished articles from the time of manufacture 
until shipment.)

BASIS OF CLAIM FOR DRAWBACK

    (See section with this title for procedures under Sec.  1313(b). 
Either repeat the same basis of claim or use a different basis of 
claim, as described above, specifically for drawback claimed under 
Sec.  1313(a).)

AGREEMENTS

    The Applicant specifically agrees that it will:
    1. Operate in full conformance with the terms of this 
application for a specific manufacturing drawback ruling when 
claiming drawback;
    2. Open its factory and records for examination at all 
reasonable hours by authorized Government officers;
    3. Keep its drawback related records and supporting data for at 
least 3 years from the date of liquidation of any drawback claim 
predicated in whole or in part upon this application;
    4. Keep this application current by reporting promptly to the 
drawback office which liquidates its claims any changes in the 
number or locations of its offices or factories, the corporate name, 
the persons who will sign drawback documents, the basis of claim 
used for calculating drawback, the decision to use or not to use an 
agent under Sec.  190.9 or the identity of an agent under that 
section, or the corporate organization by succession or 
reincorporation;

[[Page 37980]]

    5. Keep this application current by reporting promptly to CBP 
Headquarters all other changes affecting information contained in 
this application;
    6. Keep a copy of this application and the letter of approval by 
CBP Headquarters on file for ready reference by employees and 
require all officials and employees concerned to familiarize 
themselves with the provisions of this application and that letter 
of approval; and
    7. Issue instructions to insure proper compliance with title 19, 
United States Code, section 1313, part 190 of the CBP Regulations 
and this application and letter of approval.

DECLARATION OF OFFICIAL

    I declare that I have read this application for a specific 
manufacturing drawback ruling; that I know the averments and 
agreements contained herein are true and correct; and that my 
signature on this __ day of ____ 20_, makes this application binding 
on
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

(Name of Applicant Corporation, Partnership, or Sole Proprietorship)

By \5\-----------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Section 190.6(a) requires that applications for specific 
manufacturing drawback rulings be signed by any individual legally 
authorized to bind the person (or entity) for whom the application 
is signed or the owner of a sole proprietorship, a full partner in a 
partnership, or, if a corporation, the president, a vice president, 
secretary, treasurer or employee legally authorized to bind the 
corporation. In addition, any employee of a business entity with a 
customs power of attorney filed with the CBP port for the drawback 
office which will liquidate your drawback claims may sign such an 
application, as may a licensed customs broker with a customs power 
of attorney. You should state in which CBP port your customs 
power(s) of attorney is/are filed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Signature and Title)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Print Name)

III. Format for Application for Specific Manufacturing Drawback Ruling 
Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(b)

COMPANY LETTERHEAD (Optional)

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Entry Process and Duty 
Refunds Branch, Commercial and Trade Facilitation Division, 
Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade, 90 K Street NE--10th Floor 
(Mail Stop 1177), Washington, DC 20229-1177.
    Dear Sir or Madam: We, (Applicant's Name), a (State, e.g., 
Delaware) corporation (or other described entity) submit this 
application for a specific manufacturing drawback ruling that our 
manufacturing operations qualify for drawback under title 19, United 
States Code, section 1313(b), and part 190 of the CBP Regulations. 
We request that CBP authorize drawback on the basis of this 
application.

NAME AND ADDRESS AND IRS NUMBER (WITH SUFFIX) OF APPLICANT

    (Section 190.8(a) of the CBP Regulations provides that each 
manufacturer or producer of articles intended for exportation with 
the benefit of drawback will apply for a specific manufacturing 
drawback ruling, unless operating under a general manufacturing 
drawback ruling under Sec.  190.7 of the CBP Regulations. CBP will 
not approve an application which shows an unincorporated division or 
company as the applicant (see Sec.  190.8(a)).)

LOCATION OF FACTORY

    (Give the address of the factory(s) where the process of 
manufacture or production will take place. If the factory is a 
different legal entity from the applicant, so state and indicate if 
operating under an Agent's general manufacturing drawback ruling.)

PERSONS WHO WILL SIGN DRAWBACK DOCUMENTS

    (List persons legally authorized to bind the corporation who 
will sign drawback documents. Section 190.6 of the CBP Regulations 
permits only the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, or 
any employee legally authorized to bind the corporation to sign for 
a corporation. In addition, a person within a business entity with a 
customs power of attorney for the company may sign. A customs power 
of attorney may also be given to a licensed customs broker. This 
heading should be changed to NAMES OF PARTNERS or PROPRIETOR in the 
case of a partnership or sole proprietorship, respectively (see 
footnote at end of this sample format for persons who may sign 
applications for specific manufacturing drawback rulings).)

CBP OFFICE WHERE DRAWBACK CLAIMS WILL BE FILED

    (The four offices where drawback claims can be filed are located 
at: New York, NY; Houston, TX; Chicago, IL; San Francisco, CA.)
    (An original application and two copies must be filed. If the 
applicant intends to file drawback claims at more than one drawback 
office, one additional copy of the application must be furnished for 
each additional office indicated.)

GENERAL STATEMENT

    (The following questions must be answered:)
    1. Who will be the importer of the designated merchandise?
    (If the applicant will not always be the importer of the 
designated merchandise, does the applicant understand its 
obligations to maintain records to support the transfer under Sec.  
190.10, and its liability under Sec.  190.63?)
    2. Will an agent be used to process the designated or the 
substituted merchandise into articles?
    (If an agent is to be used, the applicant must state it will 
comply with T.D.s 55027(2) and 55207(1), and Sec.  190.9, as 
applicable, and that its agent will submit a letter of notification 
of intent to operate under the general manufacturing drawback ruling 
for agents (see Sec.  190.7 and Appendix A), or an application for a 
specific manufacturing drawback ruling (see Sec.  190.8 and this 
Appendix B).)
    3. Will the applicant be the exporter?
    (If the applicant will not be the exporter in every case but 
will be the claimant, the manufacturer must state that it will 
reserve the right to claim drawback with the knowledge and written 
consent of the exporter (19 CFR 190.82).)

PARALLEL COLUMNS--``SAME 8-DIGIT HTSUS CLASSIFICATION'')

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Duty-Paid, Duty-Free or
                                             Domestic Merchandise of the
 Imported Merchandise or Drawback Products       Same 8-Digit HTSUS
   \1\ to be Designated as the Basis for      Subheading Number as that
     Drawback on the Exported Products        Designated Which Will be
                                              Used in the Production of
                                                the Exported Products
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.                                          1.
2.                                          2.
3.                                          3.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (Following the items listed in the parallel columns, a statement 
will be made, by the applicant, that affirms the ``same 8-digit 
HTSUS subheading number'' of the merchandise. This statement should 
be included in the application exactly as it is stated below:)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Drawback products are those produced in the United States in 
accordance with the drawback law and regulations. Such products have 
``dual status'' under section 1313(b). They may be designated as the 
basis for drawback and also may be deemed to be domestic 
merchandise.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The imported merchandise which we will designate on our claims 
will be classifiable under the same 8-digit HTSUS subheading number 
as to the merchandise used in producing the exported articles on 
which we claim drawback, such that the merchandise used would, if 
imported, be subject to the same rate of duty as the imported 
designated merchandise.
    Fluctuations in the market value resulting from factors other 
than quality will not affect the drawback.
    (In order to successfully claim drawback it is necessary to 
prove that the duty-paid, duty-free or domestic merchandise which is 
to be substituted for the imported merchandise is ``classifiable 
under the same 8-digit HTSUS subheading number''. In order to enable 
CBP to rule on ``same 8-digit HTSUS subheading number'', the 
application must include a detailed description of the designated 
imported merchandise and of the

[[Page 37981]]

substituted duty-paid, duty-free or domestic merchandise to be used 
to produce the exported articles, as well as provide the Bill of 
Materials and/or formulas annotated with the HTSUS classification.)
    (It is essential that all the characteristics which determine 
the quality of the merchandise are provided in the application in 
order to substantiate that the merchandise meets the ``same 8-digit 
HTSUS subheading number'' statutory requirement. These 
characteristics should clearly distinguish merchandise of different 
qualities. For example, USDA standards; FDA standards; industry 
standards, e.g., ASTM; concentration; specific gravity; purity; 
luster; melting point, boiling point; odor; color; grade; type; 
hardness; brittleness; etc. Note that these are only a few examples 
of characteristics and that each kind of merchandise has its own set 
of specifications that characterizes its quality. If specifications 
are given with a minimum value, be sure to include a maximum value. 
The converse is also true. Often characteristics are given to CBP on 
attached specification sheets. These specifications should not 
include Material Safety Data sheets or other descriptions of the 
merchandise that do not contribute to the ``same 8-digit HTSUS 
subheading number'' determination. When the merchandise is a 
chemical, state the chemical's generic name as well as its trade 
name plus any generally recognized identifying number, e.g., CAS 
number; Color Index Number, etc.)
    (In order to expedite the specific manufacturing drawback ruling 
review process, it will be helpful if you provide copies of 
technical standards/specifications (particularly industry standards 
such as ASTM standards) referred to in your application.)
    (The descriptions of the ``same 8-digit HTSUS subheading 
number'' merchandise should be formatted in the parallel columns. 
The left-hand column will consist of the name and specifications of 
the designated imported merchandise under the heading set forth 
above. The right-hand column will consist of the name, 
specifications, and 8-digit HTSUS subheading number for the duty-
paid, duty-free or domestic merchandise under the heading set forth 
above. Amendments to rulings will be required if any changes to the 
HTSUS classifications occur.)

EXPORTED ARTICLES ON WHICH DRAWBACK WILL BE CLAIMED

    (Name each article to be exported. When the identity of the 
product is not clearly evident by its name state what the product 
is, e.g., a herbicide. There must be a match between each article 
described under the PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE AND PRODUCTION section 
below and each article listed here.)

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION

    (Drawback under Sec.  1313(b) is not allowable except where a 
manufacture or production exists. Manufacture or production is 
defined, for drawback purposes, in Sec.  190.2. In order to obtain 
drawback under Sec.  1313(b), it is essential for the applicant to 
show use in manufacture or production by giving a thorough 
description of the manufacturing process. This description should 
include the name and exact condition of the merchandise listed in 
the Parallel Columns, a complete explanation of the processes to 
which it is subjected in this country, the effect of such processes, 
the name and exact description of the finished article, and the use 
for which the finished article is intended. When applicable, give 
equations of the chemical reactions. The attachment of a flow chart 
in addition to the description showing the manufacturing process is 
an excellent means of illustrating whether or not a manufacture or 
production has occurred. Flow charts can clearly illustrate if and 
at what point during the manufacturing process by-products and 
wastes are generated.)
    (This section should contain a description of the process by 
which each item of merchandise listed in the parallel columns above 
is used to make or produce every article that is to be exported.)

MULTIPLE PRODUCTS

1. Relative Values

    (Some processes result in the separation of the merchandise used 
in the same operation into two or more products. List all of the 
products. State that you will record the market value of each 
product or by-product at the time it is first separated in the 
manufacturing process. If this section is not applicable to you, 
then state so.)
    (Drawback law mandates the assignment of relative values when 
two or more products necessarily are produced concurrently in the 
same operation. For instance, the refining of flaxseed necessarily 
produces linseed oil and linseed husks (animal feed), and drawback 
must be distributed to each product in accordance with its relative 
value. However, the voluntary election of a steel fabricator, for 
instance, to use part of a lot of imported steel to produce 
automobile doors and part of the lot to produce automobile fenders 
does not call for relative value distribution.)
    (The relative value of a product is its value divided by the 
total value of all products, whether or not exported. For example, 
100 gallons of drawback merchandise are used to produce 100 gallons 
of products, including 60 gallons of product A, 20 gallons of 
product B, and 20 gallons of product C. At the time of separation, 
the unit values of products A, B, and C are $ 5, $ 10, and $ 50 
respectively. The relative value of product A is $ 300 divided by $ 
1500 or \1/5\. The relative value of B is \2/15\ and of product C is 
\2/3\, calculated in the same manner. This means that \1/5\ of the 
drawback product payments will be distributed to product A, \2/15\ 
to product B, and \2/3\ to product C.)
    (Drawback is allowable on exports of any of multiple products, 
but is not allowable on exports of valuable waste. In making this 
distinction between a product and valuable waste, the applicant 
should address the following significant elements: (1) the nature of 
the material of which the residue is composed; (2) the value of the 
residue as compared to the value of the principal manufactured 
product and the raw material; (3) the use to which it is put; (4) 
its status under the tariff laws, if imported; (5) whether it is a 
commodity recognized in commerce; (6) whether it must be subjected 
to some process to make it saleable.)

2. Producibility

    (Some processes result in the separation of fixed proportions of 
each product, while other processes afford the opportunity to 
increase or decrease the proportion of each product. An example of 
the latter is petroleum refining, where the refiner has the option 
to increase or decrease the production of one or more products 
relative to the others. State under this heading whether you can or 
cannot vary the proportionate quantity of each product.)
    (The MULTIPLE PRODUCTS section consists of two sub-sections: 
Relative Values and Producibility. If multiple products do not 
result from your operation state ``Not Applicable'' for the entire 
section. If multiple products do result from your operation Relative 
Values will always apply. However, Producibility may or may not 
apply. If Producibility does not apply to your multiple product 
operation state ``Not Applicable'' for this sub-section.)

WASTE

    (Many processes result in residue materials which, for drawback 
purposes, are treated as waste. Describe any residue materials which 
you believe should be so treated. If no waste results, include a 
positive statement to that effect under this heading.)
    (If waste occurs, state: (1) whether or not it is recovered, (2) 
whether or not it is valueless, and (3) what you do with it. This 
information is required whether claims are made on a ``used in'' or 
``appearing in'' basis and regardless of the amount of waste 
incurred.)
    (Irrecoverable wastes are those consisting of materials which 
are lost in the process. Valueless wastes are those which may be 
recovered but have no value. These irrecoverable and valueless 
wastes do not reduce the drawback claim provided the claim is based 
on the quantity of imported material used in manufacturing. If the 
claim is based upon the quantity of imported merchandise appearing 
in the exported article, irrecoverable and valueless waste will 
cause a reduction in the amount of drawback.)
    (Valuable wastes are those recovered wastes which have a value 
either for sale or for use in a different manufacturing process. 
However, it should be noted that this standard applies to the entire 
industry and is not a selection on your part. An option by you not 
to choose to sell or use the waste in some different operation does 
not make it valueless if another manufacturer can use the waste. 
State what you do with the waste. If you have to pay someone to get 
rid of it, or if you have buyers for the waste, you must state so in 
your application regardless of what ``Basis'' you are using.)
    (If you recover valuable waste and if you choose to claim on the 
basis of the quantity of imported or substituted merchandise used in 
producing the exported articles less valuable waste, state that you 
will keep records to establish the quantity and value of the waste 
recovered. See ``Basis of Claim for Drawback'' section below.)

[[Page 37982]]

STOCK IN PROCESS

    (Some processes result in another type of residual material, 
namely, stock in process, which affects the allowance of drawback. 
Stock in process may exist when residual material resulting from a 
manufacturing or processing operation is reintroduced into a 
subsequent manufacturing or processing operation; e.g., trim pieces 
from a cast article. The effect of stock in process on a drawback 
claim is that the amount of drawback for the period in which the 
stock in process was withdrawn from the manufacturing or processing 
operation (or the manufactured article, if manufacturing or 
processing periods are not used) is reduced by the quantity of 
merchandise or drawback products used to produce the stock in 
process if the ``used in'' or ``used in less valuable waste'' 
methods are used (if the ``appearing in'' method is used, there will 
be no effect on the amount of drawback), and the quantity of 
merchandise or drawback products used to produce the stock in 
process is added to the merchandise or drawback products used in the 
subsequent manufacturing or production period (or the subsequently 
produced article)).
    (If stock in process occurs and claims are to be based on stock 
in process, the application must include a statement to that effect. 
The application must also include a statement that merchandise is 
considered to be used in manufacture at the time it was originally 
processed so that the stock in process will not be included twice in 
the computation of the merchandise used to manufacture the finished 
articles on which drawback is claimed.)

LOSS OR GAIN (Separate and distinct from WASTE)

    (Some manufacturing processes result in an intangible loss or 
gain of the net weight or measurement of the merchandise used. This 
loss or gain is caused by atmospheric conditions, chemical 
reactions, or other factors. State the approximate usual percentage 
or quantity of such loss or gain. Note that percentage values will 
be considered to be measured ``by weight'' unless otherwise 
specified. Loss or gain does not occur during all manufacturing 
processes. If loss or gain does not apply to your manufacturing 
process, state ``Not Applicable.'')

PROCEDURES AND RECORDS MAINTAINED

    We will maintain records to establish:
    1. The identity, specifications, and 8-digit HTSUS subheading 
number of the merchandise we designate;
    2. The quantity of merchandise classifiable under the same 8-
digit HTSUS subheading number as the designated merchandise \2\ we 
used to produce the exported articles;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ If claims are to be made on an ``appearing in'' basis, the 
remainder of this sentence should read ``appearing in the exported 
articles we produce.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. That, within 5 years after the date of importation, we used 
the designated merchandise to produce articles. During the same 5-
year period, we produced \3\ the exported articles;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The date of production is the date an article is completed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We realize that to obtain drawback the claimant must establish 
that the completed articles were exported within 5 years after the 
importation of the imported merchandise. Our records establishing 
our compliance with these requirements will be available for audit 
by CBP during business hours. We understand that drawback is not 
payable without proof of compliance.

INVENTORY PROCEDURES

    (Describe your inventory records and state how those records 
will meet the drawback recordkeeping requirements set forth in 19 
U.S.C. 1313(b) and part 190 of the CBP Regulations as discussed 
under the heading PROCEDURES AND RECORDS MAINTAINED. To help ensure 
compliance the following areas, as applicable, should be included in 
your discussion:)

RECEIPT AND STORAGE OF DESIGNATED MERCHANDISE

RECORDS OF USE OF DESIGNATED MERCHANDISE

BILLS OF MATERIALS

MANUFACTURING RECORDS

WASTE RECORDS

RECORDS OF USE OF DUTY-PAID, DUTY-FREE OR DOMESTIC MERCHANDISE OF THE 
REQUIRED SAME 8-DIGIT HTSUS SUBHEADING WITHIN 5 YEARS AFTER IMPORTATION 
OF THE DESIGNATED MERCHANDISE

FINISHED STOCK STORAGE RECORDS

SHIPPING RECORDS

    (Proof of time frames may be specific or inclusive, e.g., within 
120 days, but specific proof is preferable. Separate storage and 
identification of each article or lot of merchandise usually will 
permit specific proof of exact dates. Proof of inclusive dates of 
use, production or export may be acceptable, but in such cases it is 
better to describe very specifically the data you intend to use to 
establish each legal requirement, thereby avoiding misunderstandings 
at the time of audit.)
    (If you do not describe the inventory records that you will use, 
a statement that the legal requirements will be met by your 
inventory procedures is acceptable. However, it should be noted that 
without a detailed description of the inventory procedures set forth 
in the application, a judgment as to the adequacy of such a 
statement cannot be made until a drawback claim is verified. 
Approval of this application for a specific manufacturing drawback 
ruling merely constitutes approval of the ruling application as 
submitted; it does not constitute approval of the applicant's record 
keeping procedures if, for example, those procedures are merely 
described as meeting the legal requirements, without specifically 
stating how the requirements will be met. Drawback is not payable 
without proof of compliance.)

BASIS OF CLAIM FOR DRAWBACK

    (There are three different bases that may be used to claim 
drawback: (1) used in; (2) appearing in; and (3) used in less 
valuable waste.)
    (The ``used in'' basis may be employed only if there is either 
no waste or valueless or unrecovered waste in the operation. 
Irrecoverable or valueless waste does not reduce the amount of 
drawback when claims are based on the ``used in'' basis. Drawback is 
payable in the amount of 99 percent of the duties, taxes, and fees 
paid on the quantity of imported material designated as the basis 
for the allowance of drawback on the exported articles. The 
designated quantity may not exceed the quantity of material actually 
used in the manufacture of the exported articles.)
    (For example, if 100 pounds of material, valued at $1.00 per 
pound, were used in manufacture resulting in 10 pounds of 
irrecoverable or valueless waste, the 10 pounds of irrecoverable or 
valueless waste would not reduce the drawback. In this case drawback 
would be payable on 99% of the duties, taxes, and fees paid on the 
100 pounds of designated material used to produce the exported 
articles.)
    (The ``appearing in'' basis may be used regardless of whether 
there is waste. If the ``appearing in'' basis is used, the claimant 
does not need to keep records of waste and its value. However, the 
manufacturer must establish the identity and quantity of the 
merchandise appearing in the exported product and provide this 
information. Waste reduces the amount of drawback when claims are 
made on the ``appearing in'' basis. Drawback is payable on 99 
percent of the duties, taxes, and fees paid on the quantity of 
material designated, which may not exceed the quantity of eligible 
material that appears in the exported articles. ``Appearing in'' may 
not be used if multiple products are involved.)
    (Based on the previous example, drawback would be payable on the 
90 pounds of merchandise which actually went into the exported 
product (appearing in) rather than the 100 pounds used in as set 
forth previously.)
    (The ``used in less valuable waste'' basis may be employed when 
the manufacturer recovers valuable waste, and keeps records of the 
quantity and value of waste from each lot of merchandise. The value 
of the waste reduces the amount of drawback when claims are based on 
the ``used in less valuable waste'' basis. When valuable waste is 
incurred, the drawback allowance on the exported article is based on 
the duties, taxes, and fees paid on the quantity of merchandise used 
in the manufacture, reduced by the quantity of such merchandise 
which the value of the waste would replace. Thus in this case, 
drawback is claimed on the quantity of eligible material actually 
used to produce the exported product, less the amount of such 
material which the value of the waste would replace. Note section 
190.26(c) of the CBP Regulations.)
    (Based on the previous examples, if the 10 pounds of waste had a 
value of $.50 per pound, then the 10 pounds of waste, having a total 
value of $ 5.00, would be equivalent

[[Page 37983]]

in value to 5 pounds of the designated material. Thus the value of 
the waste would replace 5 pounds of the merchandise used, and 
drawback is payable on 99 percent of the duties, taxes, and fees 
paid on the 95 pounds of imported material designated as the basis 
for the allowance of drawback on the exported article rather than on 
the 100 pounds ``used in'' or the 90 pounds ``appearing in'' as set 
forth in the above examples.)
    (Two methods exist for the manufacturer to show the quantity of 
material used or appearing in the exported article: (1) Schedule or 
(2) Abstract.)
    (A ``schedule'' shows the quantity of material used in producing 
each unit of product. The schedule method is usually employed when a 
standard line of merchandise is being produced according to fixed 
formulas. Some schedules will show the quantity of merchandise used 
to manufacture or produce each article and others will show the 
quantity appearing in each finished article. Schedules may be 
prepared to show the quantity of merchandise either on the basis of 
percentages or by actual weights and measurements. A schedule 
determines the amount that will be needed to produce a unit of 
product before the material is actually used in production.)
    (An ``abstract'' is the summary of the records which shows the 
total quantity used in producing all products during the period 
covered by the abstract. The abstract looks at a period of time, for 
instance 3 months, in which the quantity of material has been used. 
An abstract looks back at how much material was actually used after 
a production period has been completed.)
    (An applicant who fails to indicate the ``schedule'' choice must 
base its claims on the ``abstract'' method. State which Basis and 
Method you will use. An example of Used In by Schedule would read:)
    We will claim drawback on the quantity of (specify material) 
used in manufacturing (exported article) according to the schedule 
set forth below.
    (Section 190.8(f) of the CBP Regulations requires submission of 
the schedule with the application for a specific manufacturing 
drawback ruling. An applicant who desires to file supplemental 
schedules with the drawback office whenever there is a change in the 
quantity or material used should state:)
    We request permission to file supplemental schedules with the 
drawback office covering changes in the quantities of material used 
to produce the exported articles, or different styles or capacities 
of containers of such exported merchandise.
    (Neither the ``appearing in'' basis nor the ``schedule'' method 
for claiming drawback may be used where the relative value procedure 
is required.)

AGREEMENTS

    The Applicant specifically agrees that it will:
    1. Operate in full conformance with the terms of this 
application for a specific manufacturing drawback ruling when 
claiming drawback;
    2. Open its factory and records for examination at all 
reasonable hours by authorized Government officers;
    3. Keep its drawback related records and supporting data for at 
least 3 years from the date of liquidation of any drawback claim 
predicated in whole or in part upon this application;
    4. Keep this application current by reporting promptly to the 
drawback office which liquidates its claims any changes in the 
number or locations of its offices or factories, the corporate name, 
the persons who will sign drawback documents, the basis of claim 
used for calculating drawback, the decision to use or not to use an 
agent under Sec.  190.9 or the identity of an agent under that 
section, or the corporate organization by succession or 
reincorporation;
    5. Keep this application current by reporting promptly to CBP 
Headquarters, all other changes affecting information contained in 
this application;
    6. Keep a copy of this application and the letter of approval by 
CBP Headquarters on file for ready reference by employees and 
require all officials and employees concerned to familiarize 
themselves with the provisions of this application and that letter 
of approval; and
    7. Issue instructions to insure proper compliance with title 19, 
United States Code, section 1313, part 190 of the CBP Regulations 
and this application and letter of approval.

Declaration of Official

    I declare that I have read this application for a specific 
manufacturing drawback ruling; that I know the averments and 
agreements contained herein are true and correct; and that my 
signature on this __ day of __ 20_, makes this application binding 
on
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

(Name of Applicant Corporation, Partnership, or Sole Proprietorship)

By \4\-----------------------------------------------------------------

(Signature and Title)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ Section 190.6(a) requires that applications for specific 
manufacturing drawback rulings be signed by any individual legally 
authorized to bind the person (or entity) for whom the application 
is signed or the owner of a sole proprietorship, a full partner in a 
partnership, or, if a corporation, the president, a vice president, 
secretary, treasurer or employee legally authorized to bind the 
corporation. In addition, any employee of a business entity with a 
customs power of attorney filed with the CBP port for the drawback 
office which will liquidate your drawback claims may sign such an 
application, as may a licensed customs broker with a customs power 
of attorney. You should state in which CBP port your customs 
power(s) of attorney is/are filed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Print Name)

IV. Format for Application for Specific Manufacturing Drawback Ruling 
Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(d)

COMPANY LETTERHEAD (Optional)

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Entry Process and Duty 
Refunds Branch, Commercial and Trade Facilitation Division, 
Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade, 90 K Street NE--10th Floor 
(Mail Stop 1177), Washington, DC 20229-1177.
    Dear Sir or Madam: We, (Applicant's Name), a (State, e.g., 
Delaware) corporation (or other described entity) submit this 
application for a specific manufacturing drawback ruling that our 
manufacturing operations qualify for drawback under title 19, United 
States Code, section 1313(d), and part 190 of the CBP Regulations. 
We request that CBP authorize drawback on the basis of this 
application.

NAME AND ADDRESS AND IRS NUMBER (WITH SUFFIX) OF APPLICANT

    (Section 190.8(a) of the CBP Regulations provides that each 
manufacturer or producer of articles intended for exportation with 
the benefit of drawback must apply for a specific manufacturing 
drawback ruling, unless operating under a general manufacturing 
drawback ruling under Sec.  190.7 of the CBP Regulations. CBP will 
not approve an application which shows an unincorporated division or 
company as the applicant (see Sec.  190.8(a)).)

LOCATION OF FACTORY

    (Give the address of the factory(s) where the process of 
manufacture or production will take place. If the factory is a 
different legal entity from the applicant, so state and indicate if 
operating under an Agent's general manufacturing drawback ruling.)

PERSONS WHO WILL SIGN DRAWBACK DOCUMENTS

    (List persons legally authorized to bind the corporation who 
will sign drawback documents. Section 190.6 of the CBP Regulations 
permits only the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, or 
any employee legally authorized to bind the corporation to sign for 
a corporation. In addition, a person within a business entity with a 
customs power of attorney for the company may sign. A customs power 
of attorney may also be given to a licensed customs broker. This 
heading should be changed to NAMES OF PARTNERS or PROPRIETOR in the 
case of a partnership or sole proprietorship, respectively (see 
footnote at end of this sample format for persons who may sign 
applications for specific manufacturing drawback rulings).

CBP OFFICE WHERE DRAWBACK CLAIMS WILL BE FILED

    (The four offices where drawback claims can be filed are located 
at: New York, NY; Houston, TX; Chicago, IL; San Francisco, CA.)
    (An original application and two copies must be filed. If the 
applicant intends to file drawback claims at more than one drawback 
office, one additional copy of the application must be furnished for 
each additional office indicated.)

GENERAL STATEMENT

    (The exact material placed under this heading in individual 
cases will vary, but it should include such information as the type 
of business in which the manufacturer is engaged, whether the 
manufacturer is manufacturing for its own account or is performing 
the operation on a toll basis (including commission or conversion 
basis) for the account of others, whether the manufacturer is a 
direct exporter of its

[[Page 37984]]

products or sells or delivers them to others for export, and whether 
drawback will be claimed by the manufacturer or by others.)
    (If an agent is to be used, the applicant must state it will 
comply with T.D.s 55027(2) and 55207(1), and Sec.  190.9, as 
applicable, and that its agent will submit a letter of notification 
of intent to operate under the general manufacturing drawback ruling 
for agents (see Sec.  190.7 and Appendix A), or an application for a 
specific manufacturing drawback ruling (see Sec.  190.8 and this 
Appendix B).)
    (Regarding drawback operations conducted under Sec.  1313(d), 
the data may describe the flavoring extracts, medicinal, or toilet 
preparations (including perfumery) manufactured with the use of 
domestic tax-paid alcohol; and where such alcohol is obtained or 
purchased.)

TAX-PAID MATERIAL USED UNDER SECTION 1313(d)

(Describe or list the tax-paid material)

EXPORTED ARTICLES ON WHICH DRAWBACK WILL BE CLAIMED

(Name each article to be exported)

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION

    (Drawback under Sec.  1313(d) is not allowable except where a 
manufacture or production exists. ``Manufacture or production'' is 
defined, for drawback purposes, in Sec.  190.2. In order to obtain 
drawback under Sec.  1313(d), it is essential for the applicant to 
show use in manufacture or production by giving a thorough 
description of the manufacturing process. Describe how the tax-paid 
material is processed into the export article.)

WASTE

    (Many processes result in residue materials which, for drawback 
purposes, are treated as wastes. Describe any residue materials 
which you believe should be so treated. If no waste results, include 
a positive statement to that effect under this heading.) (If waste 
occurs, state: (1) whether or not it is recovered, (2) whether or 
not it is valueless, and (3) what you do with it. This information 
is required whether claims are made on a ``used in'' or ``appearing 
in'' basis and regardless of the amount of waste incurred.)
    (Irrecoverable wastes are those consisting of materials which 
are lost in the process. Valueless wastes are those which may be 
recovered but have no value. These irrecoverable and valueless 
wastes do not reduce the drawback claim provided the claim is based 
on the quantity of domestic tax-paid alcohol used in manufacturing. 
If the claim is based upon the quantity of domestic tax-paid alcohol 
appearing in the exported article, irrecoverable and valueless waste 
will cause a reduction in the amount of drawback.)
    (Valuable wastes are those recovered wastes which have a value 
either for sale or for use in a different manufacturing process. 
However, it should be noted that this standard applies to the entire 
industry and is not a selection on your part. An option by you not 
to choose to sell or use the waste in some different operation, does 
not make it valueless if another manufacturer can use the waste. 
State what you do with the waste. If you have to pay someone to get 
rid of it, or if you have buyers for the waste, you must state so in 
your application regardless of what ``Basis'' you are using.)
    (If you recover valuable waste and if you choose to claim on the 
basis of the quantity of domestic tax-paid alcohol used in producing 
the exported articles (less valuable waste), state that you will 
keep records to establish the quantity and value of the waste 
recovered. See ``Basis of Claim for Drawback'' section below.)

STOCK IN PROCESS

    (Some processes result in another type of residual material, 
namely, stock in process, which affects the allowance of drawback. 
Stock in process may exist when residual material resulting from a 
manufacturing or processing operation is reintroduced into a 
subsequent manufacturing or processing operation; e.g., trim pieces 
from a cast article. The effect of stock in process on a drawback 
claim is that the amount of drawback for the period in which the 
stock in process was withdrawn from the manufacturing or processing 
operation (or the manufactured article, if manufacturing or 
processing periods are not used) is reduced by the quantity of 
merchandise or drawback products used to produce the stock in 
process if the ``used in'' or ``used in less valuable waste'' 
methods are used (if the ``appearing in'' method is used, there will 
be no effect on the amount of drawback), and the quantity of 
merchandise or drawback products used to produce the stock in 
process is added to the merchandise or drawback products used in the 
subsequent manufacturing or production period (or the subsequently 
produced article)).
    (If stock in process occurs and claims are to be based on stock 
in process, the application must include a statement to that effect. 
The application must also include a statement that the domestic tax-
paid alcohol is considered to be used in manufacture at the time it 
was originally processed so that the stock in process will not be 
included twice in the computation of the domestic tax-paid alcohol 
used to manufacture the finished articles on which drawback is 
claimed.)

LOSS OR GAIN (Separate and distinct from WASTE)

    (Some manufacturing processes result in an intangible loss or 
gain of the net weight or measurement of the merchandise used. This 
loss or gain is caused by atmospheric conditions, chemical 
reactions, or other factors. State the approximate usual percentage 
or quantity of such loss or gain. Note that percentage values will 
be considered to be measured ``by weight'' unless otherwise 
specified. Loss or gain does not occur during all manufacturing 
processes. If loss or gain does not apply to your manufacturing 
process, state ``Not Applicable.'')

PROCEDURES AND RECORDS MAINTAINED

    We will maintain records to establish:
    1. That the exported articles on which drawback is claimed were 
produced with the use of a particular lot (or lots) of domestic tax-
paid alcohol, and
    2. The quantity of domestic tax-paid alcohol\1\ we used in 
producing the exported articles.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ If claims are to be made on an ``appearing in'' basis, the 
remainder of this sentence should read ``appearing in the exported 
articles we produce.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We realize that to obtain drawback the claimant must establish 
that the completed articles were exported within 5 years after the 
tax has been paid on the domestic alcohol. Our records establishing 
our compliance with these requirements will be available for audit 
by CBP during business hours. We understand that drawback is not 
payable without proof of compliance.

INVENTORY PROCEDURES

    (Describe your inventory records and state how those records 
will meet the drawback recordkeeping requirements set forth in 19 
U.S.C. 1313(d) and part 190 of the CBP Regulations as discussed 
under the heading PROCEDURES AND RECORDS MAINTAINED. To help ensure 
compliance the following areas should be included in your 
discussion:)

RECEIPT AND RAW STOCK STORAGE RECORDS

MANUFACTURING RECORDS

FINISHED STOCK STORAGE RECORDS

BASIS OF CLAIM FOR DRAWBACK

    (There are three different bases that may be used to claim 
drawback: (1) used in; (2) appearing in; and (3) used in less 
valuable waste.)
    (The ``used in'' basis may be employed only if there is either 
no waste or valueless or unrecovered waste in the operation. 
Irrecoverable or valueless waste does not reduce the amount of 
drawback when claims are based on the ``used in'' basis. Drawback is 
payable in the amount of 100% of the tax paid on the quantity of 
domestic alcohol used in the manufacture of flavoring extracts and 
medicinal or toilet preparation (including perfumery).)
    (For example, if 100 gallons of alcohol, valued at $ 1.00 per 
gallon, were used in manufacture resulting in 10 gallons of 
irrecoverable or valueless waste, the 10 gallons of irrecoverable or 
valueless waste would not reduce the drawback. In this case drawback 
would be payable on 100% of the tax paid on the 100 gallons of 
domestic alcohol used to produce the exported articles.)
    The ``appearing in'' basis may be used regardless of whether 
there is waste. If the ``appearing in'' basis is used, the claimant 
does not need to keep records of waste and its value. However, the 
manufacturer must establish the identity and quantity of the 
merchandise appearing in the exported product and provide this 
information. Waste reduces the amount of drawback when claims are 
made on the ``appearing in'' basis. Drawback is payable on 100% of 
the tax paid on the quantity of domestic alcohol which appears in 
the exported articles.
    (Based on the previous example, drawback would be payable on the 
90 gallons of

[[Page 37985]]

domestic alcohol which actually went into the exported product 
(appearing in) rather than the 100 gallons used in as set forth 
previously.)
    (The ``used in less valuable waste'' basis may be employed when 
the manufacturer recovers valuable waste, and keeps records of the 
quantity and value of waste from each lot of domestic tax-paid 
alcohol. The value of the waste reduces the amount of drawback when 
claims are based on the ``used in less valuable waste'' basis. When 
valuable waste is incurred, the drawback allowance on the exported 
article is based on the quantity of tax-paid alcohol used to 
manufacture the exported articles, reduced by the quantity of such 
alcohol which the value of the waste would replace.)
    (Based on the previous examples, if the 10 gallons of waste had 
a value of $.50 per gallon, then the 10 gallons of waste, having a 
total value of $ 5.00, would be equivalent in value to 5 gallons of 
the tax-paid alcohol. Thus the value of the waste would replace 5 
gallons of the alcohol used, and drawback is payable on 100% of the 
tax paid on 95 gallons of alcohol rather than on the 100 gallons 
``used in'' or the 90 gallons ``appearing in'' as set forth in the 
above examples.) (Two methods exist for the manufacturer to show the 
quantity of material used or appearing in the exported article: (1) 
Schedule or (2) Abstract.)
    (A ``schedule'' shows the quantity of material used in producing 
each unit of product. The schedule method is usually employed when a 
standard line of merchandise is being produced according to fixed 
formulas. Some schedules will show the quantity of merchandise used 
to manufacture or produce each article and others will show the 
quantity appearing in each finished article. Schedules may be 
prepared to show the quantity of merchandise either on the basis of 
percentages or by actual weights and measurements. A schedule 
determines the amount that will be needed to produce a unit of 
product before the material is actually used in production.)
    (An ``abstract'' is the summary of the records which shows the 
total quantity used in producing all products during the period 
covered by the abstract. The abstract looks at a period of time, for 
instance 3 months, in which the quantity of material has been used. 
An abstract looks back at how much material was actually used after 
a production period has been completed.)
    (An applicant who fails to indicate the ``schedule'' choice must 
base its claims on the ``abstract'' method. State which Basis and 
Method you will use. An example of Used In by schedule follows:)
    We will claim drawback on the quantity of (specify material) 
used in manufacturing (exported article) according to the schedule 
set forth below.
    (Section 190.8(f) of the CBP Regulations requires submission of 
the schedule with the application for a specific manufacturing 
drawback ruling. An applicant who desires to file supplemental 
schedules with the drawback office whenever there is a change in the 
quantity or material used should state:)
    We request permission to file supplemental schedules with the 
drawback office covering changes in the quantities of material used 
to produce the exported articles, or different styles or capacities 
of containers of such exported merchandise.
    (Neither the ``appearing in'' basis nor the ``schedule'' method 
for claiming drawback may be used where the relative value procedure 
is required.)

AGREEMENTS

    The Applicant specifically agrees that it will:
    1. Operate in full conformance with the terms of this 
application for a specific manufacturing drawback ruling when 
claiming drawback;
    2. Open its factory and records for examination at all 
reasonable hours by authorized Government officers;
    3. Keep its drawback related records and supporting data for at 
least 3 years from the date of liquidation of any drawback claim 
predicated in whole or in part upon this application;
    4. Keep this application current by reporting promptly to the 
drawback office which liquidates its claims any changes in the 
number or locations of its offices or factories, the corporate name, 
the persons who will sign drawback documents, the basis of claim 
used for calculating drawback, the decision to use or not to use an 
agent under Sec.  190.9 or the identity of an agent under that 
section, the drawback office where claims will be filed under the 
ruling, or the corporate organization by succession or 
reincorporation;
    5. Keep this application current by reporting promptly to CBP 
Headquarters, all other changes affecting information contained in 
this application;
    6. Keep a copy of this application and the letter of approval by 
CBP Headquarters on file for ready reference by employees and 
require all officials and employees concerned to familiarize 
themselves with the provisions of this application and that letter 
of approval; and
    7. Issue instructions to insure proper compliance with title 19, 
United States Code, section 1313, part 190 of the CBP Regulations 
and this application and letter of approval.

DECLARATION OF OFFICIAL

    I declare that I have read this application for a specific 
manufacturing drawback ruling; that I know the averments and 
agreements contained herein are true and correct; and that my 
signature on this _ day of ____ 20 _, makes this application binding 
on
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

(Name of Applicant Corporation, Partnership, or Sole Proprietorship)

By \2\-----------------------------------------------------------------

(Signature and Title)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Print Name)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Section 190.6(a) requires that applications for specific 
manufacturing drawback rulings be signed by any individual legally 
authorized to bind the person (or entity) for whom the application 
is signed or the owner of a sole proprietorship, a full partner in a 
partnership, or, if a corporation, the president, a vice president, 
secretary, treasurer or employee legally authorized to bind the 
corporation. In addition, any employee of a business entity with a 
customs power of attorney filed with the CBP port for the drawback 
office which will liquidate your drawback claims may sign such an 
application, as may a licensed customs broker with a customs power 
of attorney. You should state in which CBP port your customs 
power(s) of attorney is/are filed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

V. Format for Application for Specific Manufacturing Drawback Ruling 
Under 19 U.S.C. 1313(g).

COMPANY LETTERHEAD (Optional)

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Entry Process and Duty 
Refunds Branch, Commercial and Trade Facilitation Division, 
Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade, 90 K Street NE--10th Floor 
(Mail Stop 1177), Washington, DC 20229-1177.
    Dear Sir or Madam: We, (Applicant's Name), a (State, e.g., 
Delaware) corporation (or other described entity) submit this 
application for a specific manufacturing drawback ruling that our 
manufacturing operations qualify for drawback under title 19, United 
States Code, section 1313(g), and part 190 of the CBP Regulations. 
We request that CBP authorize drawback on the basis of this 
application.

NAME AND ADDRESS AND IRS NUMBER (WITH SUFFIX) OF APPLICANT

    (Section 190.8(a) of the CBP Regulations provides that each 
manufacturer or producer of articles intended for exportation with 
the benefit of drawback must apply for a specific manufacturing 
drawback ruling, unless operating under a general manufacturing 
drawback ruling under Sec.  190.7 of the CBP Regulations. CBP will 
not approve an application which shows an unincorporated division or 
company as the applicant (see Sec.  190.8(a).)

LOCATION OF FACTORY OR SHIPYARD

    (Give the address of the factory(s) or shipyard(s) at which the 
construction and equipment will take place. If the factory or 
shipyard is a different legal entity from the applicant, so state 
and indicate if operating under an Agent's general manufacturing 
drawback ruling.)

PERSONS WHO WILL SIGN DRAWBACK DOCUMENTS

    (List persons legally authorized to bind the corporation who 
will sign drawback documents. Section 190.6 of the CBP Regulations 
permits only the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, or 
any employee legally authorized to bind the corporation to sign for 
a corporation. In addition, a person within a business entity with a 
customs power of attorney for the company may sign. A customs power 
of attorney may also be given to a licensed customs broker. This 
heading should be changed to NAMES OF PARTNERS or PROPRIETOR in the 
case of a partnership or sole proprietorship, respectively (see 
footnote at end of this sample format for persons who may sign 
applications for specific manufacturing drawback rulings).)

CBP OFFICE WHERE DRAWBACK CLAIMS WILL BE FILED

    (The four offices where drawback claims can be filed are located 
at: New York, NY;

[[Page 37986]]

Houston, TX; Chicago, IL; San Francisco, CA.)
    (An original application and two copies must be filed. If the 
applicant intends to file drawback claims at more than one drawback 
office, one additional copy of the application must be furnished for 
each additional office indicated.)

GENERAL STATEMENT

    (The following questions must be answered:
    1. Who will be the importer of the merchandise? (If the 
applicant will not always be the importer, does the applicant 
understand its obligations to maintain records to support the 
transfer under 19 CFR 190.10, and its liability under 19 CFR 
190.63?)
    2. Who is the manufacturer?
    (Is the applicant constructing and equipping for his own account 
or merely performing the operation on a toll basis for others?)
    (If an agent is to be used, the applicant must state it will 
comply with T.D.s 55027(2) and 55207(1), and Sec.  190.9, as 
applicable, and that its agent will submit a letter of notification 
of intent to operate under the general manufacturing drawback ruling 
for agents (see Sec.  190.7 and Appendix A), or an application for a 
specific manufacturing drawback ruling (see Sec.  190.8 and this 
Appendix B).)
    3. Will the applicant be the drawback claimant?
    (State how the vessel will qualify for drawback under 19 U.S.C. 
1313(g). Who is the foreign person or government for whom the vessel 
is being made or equipped?)
    (There must be included under this heading the following 
statement:
    We are particularly aware of the terms of Sec.  190.76(a)(1) of 
and subpart M of part 190 of the CBP Regulations, and will comply 
with these sections where appropriate.)

IMPORTED MERCHANDISE OR DRAWBACK PRODUCTS USED

    (Describe the imported merchandise or drawback products.)

ARTICLES CONSTRUCTED AND EQUIPPED FOR EXPORT

    (Name the vessel or vessels to be made with imported merchandise 
or drawback products.)

PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT

    (What is required here is a clear, concise description of the 
process of construction and equipment involved. The description 
should also trace the flow of materials through the manufacturing 
process for the purpose of establishing physical identification of 
the imported merchandise or drawback products and of the articles 
resulting from the processing.)

WASTE

    (Many processes result in residue materials which, for drawback 
purposes, are treated as wastes. Describe any residue materials 
which you believe should be so treated. If no waste results, include 
a positive statement to that effect under this heading.)
    (If waste occurs, state: (1) whether or not it is recovered, (2) 
whether or not it is valueless, and (3) what you do with it. This 
information is required whether claims are made on a ``used in'' or 
``appearing in'' basis and regardless of the amount of waste 
incurred.)
    (Irrecoverable wastes are those consisting of materials which 
are lost in the process. Valueless wastes are those which may be 
recovered but have no value. These irrecoverable and valueless 
wastes do not reduce the drawback claim provided the claim is based 
on the quantity of imported material used in manufacturing. If the 
claim is based upon the quantity of imported merchandise appearing 
in the exported article, irrecoverable and valueless waste will 
cause a reduction in the amount of drawback.)
    (Valuable wastes are those recovered wastes which have a value 
either for sale or for use in a different manufacturing process. 
However, it should be noted that this standard applies to the entire 
industry and is not a selection on your part. An option by you not 
to choose to sell or use the waste in some different operation does 
not make it valueless if another manufacturer can use the waste. 
State what you do with the waste. If you have to pay someone to get 
rid of it, or if you have buyers for the waste, you must state so in 
your application regardless of what ``Basis'' you are using.)
    (If you recover valuable waste and if you choose to claim on the 
basis of the quantity of imported or substituted merchandise used in 
producing the exported articles (less valuable waste), state that 
you will keep records to establish the quantity and value of the 
waste recovered. See ``Basis of Claim for Drawback'' section below.)

LOSS OR GAIN (Separate and distinct from WASTE)

    (Some manufacturing processes result in an intangible loss or 
gain of the net weight or measurement of the merchandise used. This 
loss or gain is caused by atmospheric conditions, chemical 
reactions, or other factors. State the approximate usual percentage 
or quantity of such loss or gain. Note that percentage values will 
be considered to be measured ``by weight'' unless otherwise 
specified. Loss or gain does not occur during all manufacturing 
processes. If loss or gain does not apply to your manufacturing 
process, state ``Not Applicable.'')

PROCEDURES AND RECORDS MAINTAINED

    We will maintain records to establish:
    1. That the exported article on which drawback is claimed was 
constructed and equipped with the use of a particular lot (or lots) 
of imported material; and
    2. The quantity of imported merchandise \1\ we used in producing 
the exported article.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ If claims are to be made on an ``appearing in'' basis, the 
remainder of this sentence should read ``appearing in the exported 
articles we produce.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We realize that to obtain drawback the claimant must establish 
that the completed articles were exported within 5 years after the 
importation of the imported merchandise. Our records establishing 
our compliance with these requirements will be available for audit 
by CBP during business hours. We understand that drawback is not 
payable without proof of compliance.

INVENTORY PROCEDURES

    (Describe your inventory records and state how those records 
will meet the drawback recordkeeping requirements set forth in 19 
U.S.C. 1313 and part 190 of the CBP Regulations as discussed under 
the heading PROCEDURES AND RECORDS MAINTAINED. To help ensure 
compliance the following should be included in your discussion:)

RECEIPT AND RAW STOCK STORAGE RECORDS

CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT RECORDS

FINISHED STOCK STORAGE RECORDS

SHIPPING RECORDS

BASIS OF CLAIM FOR DRAWBACK

    (There are three different bases that may be used to claim 
drawback: (1) Used in; (2) appearing in; and (3) used in less 
valuable waste.)
    (The ``used in'' basis may be employed only if there is either 
no waste or valueless or unrecovered waste in the operation. 
Irrecoverable or valueless waste does not reduce the amount of 
drawback when claims are based on the ``used in'' basis. Drawback is 
payable in the amount of 99 percent of the duties, taxes, and fees 
paid on the quantity of imported material used to construct and 
equip the exported article.)
    (For example, if 100 pounds of material, valued at $ 1.00 per 
pound, were used in manufacture resulting in 10 pounds of 
irrecoverable or valueless waste, the 10 pounds of irrecoverable or 
valueless waste would not reduce the drawback. In this case drawback 
would be payable on 99% of the duties, taxes, and fees paid on the 
100 pounds of imported material used in constructing and equipping 
the exported articles.)
    (The ``appearing in'' basis may be used regardless of whether 
there is waste. If the ``appearing in'' basis is used, the claimant 
does not need to keep records of waste and its value. However, the 
manufacturer must establish the identity and quantity of the 
merchandise appearing in the exported product and provide this 
information. Waste reduces the amount of drawback when claims are 
made on the ``appearing in'' basis. Drawback is payable on 99 
percent of the duties, taxes, and fees paid on the quantity of 
imported material which appears in the exported articles. 
``Appearing in'' may not be used if multiple products are involved.)
    (Based on the previous example, drawback would be payable on the 
90 pounds of imported material which actually went into the exported 
product (appearing in) rather than the 100 pounds used in as set 
forth previously.)
    (The ``used in less valuable waste'' basis may be employed when 
the manufacturer recovers valuable waste, and keeps records of the 
quantity and value of waste from each lot of merchandise. The value 
of the waste reduces the amount of drawback when claims are based on 
the ``used in less

[[Page 37987]]

valuable waste'' basis. When valuable waste is incurred, the 
drawback allowance on the exported article is based on the duties, 
taxes, and fees paid on the quantity of imported material used to 
construct and equip the exported product, reduced by the quantity of 
such material which the value of the waste would replace. Thus in 
this case, drawback is claimed on the quantity of eligible material 
actually used to produce the exported product, less the amount of 
such material which the value of the waste would replace. Note 
section 190.26(c) of the CBP Regulations.)
    (Based on the previous examples, if the 10 pounds of waste had a 
value of $.50 per pound, then the 10 pounds of waste, having a total 
value of $5.00, would be equivalent in value to 5 pounds of the 
imported material. Thus the value of the waste would replace 5 
pounds of the merchandise used, and drawback is payable on 99 
percent of the duties, taxes, and fees paid on the 95 pounds of 
imported material rather than on the 100 pounds ``used in'' or the 
90 pounds ``appearing in'' as set forth in the above examples.)
    (Two methods exist for the manufacturer to show the quantity of 
material used or appearing in the exported article: (1) Schedule or 
(2) Abstract.)
    (A ``schedule'' shows the quantity of material used in producing 
each unit of product. The schedule method is usually employed when a 
standard line of merchandise is being produced according to fixed 
formulas. Some schedules will show the quantity of merchandise used 
to manufacture or produce each article and others will show the 
quantity appearing in each finished article. Schedules may be 
prepared to show the quantity of merchandise either on the basis of 
percentages or by actual weights and measurements. A schedule 
determines the amount that will be needed to produce a unit of 
product before the material is actually used in production.)
    (An ``abstract'' is the summary of the records which shows the 
total quantity used in producing all products during the period 
covered by the abstract. The abstract looks at a period of time, for 
instance 3 months, in which the quantity of material has been used. 
An abstract looks back at how much material was actually used after 
a production period has been completed.)
    (An applicant who fails to indicate the ``schedule'' choice must 
base its claims on the ``abstract'' method. State which Basis and 
Method you will use. An example of Used In by Schedule would read:)
    We will claim drawback on the quantity of (specify material) 
used in manufacturing (exported article) according to the schedule 
set forth below.
    (Section 190.8(f) of the CBP Regulations requires submission of 
the schedule with the application for a specific manufacturing 
drawback ruling. An applicant who desires to file supplemental 
schedules with the drawback office whenever there is a change in the 
quantity or material used should state:)
    We request permission to file supplemental schedules with the 
drawback office covering changes in the quantities of material used 
to produce the exported articles, or different styles or capacities 
of containers of such exported merchandise.
    (Neither the ``appearing in'' basis nor the ``schedule'' method 
for claiming drawback may be used where the relative value procedure 
is required.)

AGREEMENTS

    The Applicant specifically agrees that it will:
    1. Operate in full conformance with the terms of this 
application for a specific manufacturing drawback ruling when 
claiming drawback;
    2. Open its factory and records for examination at all 
reasonable hours by authorized Government officers;
    3. Keep its drawback related records and supporting data for at 
least 3 years from the date of liquidation of any drawback claim 
predicated in whole or in part upon this application;
    4. Keep this application current by reporting promptly to the 
drawback office which liquidates its claims any changes in the 
number or locations of its offices or factories, the corporate name, 
the persons who will sign drawback documents, the basis of claim 
used for calculating drawback, the decision to use or not to use an 
agent under Sec.  190.9 or the identity of an agent under that 
section, the drawback office where claims will be filed under the 
ruling, or the corporate organization by succession or 
reincorporation;
    5. Keep this application current by reporting promptly to CBP 
Headquarters, all other changes affecting information contained in 
this application;
    6. Keep a copy of this application and the letter of approval by 
CBP Headquarters on file for ready reference by employees and 
require all officials and employees concerned to familiarize 
themselves with the provisions of this application and that letter 
of approval; and
    7. Issue instructions to help ensure proper compliance with 
title 19, United States Code, section 1313, part 190 of the CBP 
Regulations and this application and letter of approval.

DECLARATION OF OFFICIAL

    I declare that I have read this application for a specific 
manufacturing drawback ruling; that I know the averments and 
agreements contained herein are true and correct; and that my 
signature on this __ day of ____ 20 _, makes this application 
binding on
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

(Name of Applicant Corporation, Partnership, or Sole Proprietorship)

By \2\-----------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Section 190.6(a) requires that applications for specific 
manufacturing drawback rulings be signed by any individual legally 
authorized to bind the person (or entity) for whom the application 
is signed or the owner of a sole proprietorship, a full partner in a 
partnership, or, if a corporation, the president, a vice president, 
secretary, treasurer or employee legally authorized to bind the 
corporation. In addition, any employee of a business entity with a 
customs power of attorney filed with the CBP port for the drawback 
office which will liquidate your drawback claims may sign such an 
application, as may a licensed customs broker with a customs power 
of attorney. You should state in which CBP port your customs 
power(s) of attorney is/are filed.

(Signature and Title)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PART 191--DRAWBACK

0
6. The general authority citations for part 191 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 19 U.S.C. 66, 1202 (General Note 3(i), 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States), 1313, 1624;
* * * * *
0
7. Revise Sec.  191.0 to read as follows:


Sec.  191.0  Scope.

    This part sets forth general provisions applicable to drawback 
claims and specialized provisions applicable to specific types of 
drawback claims filed under 19 U.S.C. 1313, prior to the February 24, 
2016, amendments to the U.S. drawback law. Drawback claims may not be 
filed under this part after February 23, 2019. For drawback claims 
filed under 19 U.S.C. 1313, as amended, see part 190. Additional 
drawback provisions relating to the North American Free Trade Agreement 
(NAFTA) are contained in subpart E of part 181 of this chapter.
0
8. Revise Sec.  191.1 to read as follows:


Sec.  191.1   Authority of the Commissioner of CBP.

    Pursuant to DHS Delegation number 7010.3, the Commissioner of CBP 
has the authority to prescribe, and pursuant to Treasury Department 
Order No. 100-16 (set forth in the appendix to part 0 of this chapter), 
the Secretary of the Treasury has the sole authority to approve, rules 
and regulations regarding drawback.
0
9. In Sec.  191.3:
0
a. Revise the section heading;
0
b. Amend paragraph (a)(3) by removing the word ``and'' at the end of 
the paragraph;
0
c. Amend paragraph (a)(4) by removing the ``(iv).'' and adding in its 
place the words ``(iv); and'';
0
d. Add paragraph (a)(5).
0
e. Revise paragraph (b).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  191.3   Duties, taxes, and fees subject or not subject to 
drawback.

    (a) * * *
    (5) Harbor maintenance taxes (see Sec.  24.24 of this chapter) for 
unused merchandise drawback pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1313(j), and drawback 
for substitution of finished petroleum derivatives pursuant to 19 
U.S.C. 1313(p)(2)(A)(iii) or (iv).
    (b) Duties and fees not subject to drawback include:

[[Page 37988]]

    (1) Harbor maintenance taxes (see Sec.  24.24 of this chapter) 
except where unused merchandise drawback pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1313(j) 
or drawback for substitution of finished petroleum derivatives pursuant 
to 19 U.S.C. 1313(p)(2)(A)(iii) or (iv) is claimed;
    (2) Merchandise processing fees (see Sec.  24.23 of this chapter), 
except where unused merchandise drawback pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1313(j) 
or drawback for substitution of finished petroleum derivatives pursuant 
to 19 U.S.C. 1313(p)(2)(A)(iii) or (iv) is claimed; and
    (3) Antidumping and countervailing duties on merchandise entered, 
or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after August 23, 
1988.
* * * * *
0
10. Section 191.5 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  191.5   Guantanamo Bay, insular possessions, trust territories.

    Guantanamo Bay Naval Station is considered foreign territory for 
drawback purposes and, accordingly, drawback may be permitted on 
articles shipped there. Drawback is not allowed, except on claims made 
under 19 U.S.C. 1313(j)(1), on articles shipped to the U.S. Virgin 
Islands, American Samoa, Wake Island, Midway Islands, Kingman Reef, 
Guam, Canton Island, Enderbury Island, Johnston Island, or Palmyra 
Island. Puerto Rico is not considered foreign territory for drawback 
purposes and, accordingly, drawback may not be permitted on articles 
shipped there from elsewhere in the customs territory of the United 
States.
0
11. In Sec.  191.22, paragraph (a) is amended by adding a new sentence 
to the end of the paragraph to read as follows:


Sec.  191.22   Substitution drawback.

    (a) * * * For purposes of drawback of internal revenue tax imposed 
under Chapters 32, 38, 51, and 52 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 
as amended (IRC), drawback granted on the export or destruction of 
substituted merchandise will be limited to the amount of taxes paid 
(and not returned by refund, credit, or drawback) on the substituted 
merchandise.
* * * * *
0
12. In Sec.  191.32:
0
a. Remove the word ``and'' at the end of paragraph (b)(2);
0
b. Remove ``.'' and adding, in its place, ``; and''; at the end of 
paragraph (b)(3) and;
0
c. Add paragraph (b)(4) to read as follows:


Sec.  191.32   Substitution drawback.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (4) For purposes of drawback of internal revenue tax imposed under 
Chapters 32, 38, 51, and 52 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as 
amended (IRC), drawback granted on the export or destruction of 
substituted merchandise will be limited to the amount of taxes paid 
(and not returned by refund, credit, or drawback) on the substituted 
merchandise.
* * * * *
0
13. Section 191.42 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  191.42   Procedures and supporting documentation.

    (a) Time limit for exportation or destruction. Drawback will be 
denied on merchandise that is exported or destroyed after the statutory 
3-year time period.
    (b) Required documentation. The claimant must submit documentation 
to CBP as part of the complete drawback claim (see Sec.  191.51) to 
establish that the merchandise did not conform to sample or 
specification, was shipped without the consent of the consignee, or was 
defective as of the time of importation (see Sec.  191.45 for 
additional requirements for claims made with respect to rejected retail 
merchandise under 19 U.S.C. 1313(c)(1)(C)(ii)). If the claimant was not 
the importer, the claimant must also:
    (1) Submit a statement signed by the importer and every other 
person, other than the ultimate purchaser, that owned the goods that no 
other claim for drawback was made on the goods by any other person; and
    (2) Certify that records are available to support the statement 
required in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
    (c) Notice. A notice of intent to export or destroy merchandise 
which may be the subject of a rejected merchandise drawback claim (19 
U.S.C. 1313(c)) must be provided to CBP to give CBP the opportunity to 
examine the merchandise. The claimant, or the exporter (for destruction 
under CBP supervision, see Sec.  191.71), must file at the port of 
intended redelivery to CBP custody a Notice of Intent to Export, 
Destroy, or Return Merchandise for Purposes of Drawback on CBP Form 
7553 at least 5 working days prior to the date of intended return to 
CBP custody. Waiver of prior notice for exportations under 19 U.S.C. 
1313(j) (see Sec.  191.91) is inapplicable to exportations under 19 
U.S.C. 1313(c).
    (d) Required information. The notice must provide the bill of 
lading number, if known, the name and telephone number, mailing 
address, and, if available, fax number and email address of a contact 
person, and the location of the merchandise.
    (e) Decision to waive examination. Within 2 working days after 
receipt of the Notice of Intent to Export, Destroy, or Return 
Merchandise for Purposes of Drawback (see paragraph (c) of this 
section), CBP will notify, in writing, the party designated on the 
Notice of CBP's decision to either examine the merchandise to be 
exported or destroyed, or to waive examination. If CBP timely notifies 
the designated party, in writing, of its decision to examine the 
merchandise (see paragraph (f) of this section), but the merchandise is 
exported or destroyed without having been presented to CBP for such 
examination, any drawback claim, or part thereof, based on the Notice 
of Intent to Export, Destroy, or Return Merchandise for Purposes of 
Drawback, must be denied. If CBP notifies the designated party, in 
writing, of its decision to waive examination of the merchandise, or, 
if timely notification of a decision by CBP to examine or to waive 
examination is absent, the merchandise may be exported or destroyed 
without delay and will be deemed to have been returned to CBP custody.
    (f) Time and place of examination. If CBP gives timely notice of 
its decision to examine the merchandise to be exported or destroyed, 
the merchandise to be examined must be promptly presented to CBP. CBP 
must examine the merchandise within 5 working days after presentation 
of the merchandise. The merchandise may be exported or destroyed 
without examination if CBP fails to timely examine the merchandise 
after presentation to CBP, and in such case the merchandise will be 
deemed to have been returned to CBP custody. If the examination is 
completed at a port other than the port of actual exportation or 
destruction, the merchandise must be transported in-bond to the port of 
exportation or destruction.
    (g) Extent of examination. The appropriate CBP office may permit 
release of merchandise without examination, or may examine, to the 
extent determined to be necessary, the items exported or destroyed.
    (h) Drawback claim. When filing the drawback claim, the drawback 
claimant must correctly calculate the amount of drawback due (see Sec.  
191.51(b)). The procedures for restructuring a claim (see Sec.  191.53) 
apply to rejected merchandise drawback if the claimant has an ongoing 
export program which qualifies for this type of drawback.

[[Page 37989]]

    (i) Exportation. Claimants must provide documentary evidence of 
exportation (see subpart G of this part). The claimant may establish 
exportation by mail as set out in Sec.  191.74 of this part.
0
14. Section 191.45 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  191.45   Returned retail merchandise.

    (a) Special rule for substitution. Section 313(c)(1)(C)(ii) of the 
Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1313(c)(1)(C)(ii)), provides 
for drawback upon the exportation or destruction under CBP supervision 
of imported merchandise which has been entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse, for consumption, duty-paid and ultimately sold at retail by 
the importer, or the person who received the merchandise from the 
importer, and for any reason returned to and accepted by the importer, 
or the person who received the merchandise from the importer.
    (b) Eligibility requirements. (1) Drawback is allowable, subject to 
compliance with all requirements set forth in this subpart; and
    (2) The claimant must also show by evidence satisfactory to CBP 
that drawback may be claimed by--
    (i) Designating an entry of merchandise that was imported within 1 
year before the date of exportation or destruction of the merchandise 
described in paragraph (a) of this section under CBP supervision.
    (ii) Certifying that the same 8-digit HTSUS subheading number and 
specific product identifier (such as part number, SKU, or product code) 
apply to both the merchandise designated for drawback (in the import 
documentation) and the returned merchandise.
    (c) Allowable refund. The amount of drawback allowable will be 
equal to 99 percent of the amount of duties, taxes, and fees paid with 
respect to the imported merchandise.
    (d) Denial of claims. No drawback will be refunded if CBP is not 
satisfied that the claimant has provided, upon request, the 
documentation necessary to support the certification required in 
paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section.
0
15. Amend Sec.  191.51 by adding a new paragraph (a)(3) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  191.51   Completion of drawback claims.

    (a) * * *
    (3) Limitation on eligibility for imported merchandise. Claimants 
are prohibited from filing any drawback claims under part 191 for 
imported merchandise associated with an entry summary if any other 
merchandise covered on that entry summary has been designated as the 
basis of a drawback substitution claim under part 190.
* * * * *
0
16. Section 191.81 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  191.81  Liquidation.

    (a) Time of liquidation. Drawback entries may be liquidated after:
    (1) Liquidation of the designated import entry or entries becomes 
final pursuant to paragraph (e) of this section; or
    (2) Deposit of estimated duties on the imported merchandise and 
before liquidation of the designated import entry or entries.
    (b) Claims based on estimated duties. (1) Drawback may be paid upon 
liquidation of a claim based on estimated duties if one or more of the 
designated import entries have not been liquidated, or the liquidation 
has not become final (because of a protest being filed) (see also Sec.  
173.4(c) of this chapter), only if the drawback claimant and any other 
party responsible for the payment of liquidated import duties each 
files a written request for payment of each drawback claim, waiving any 
right to payment or refund under other provisions of law, to the extent 
that the estimated duties on the unliquidated import entry are included 
in the drawback claim for which drawback on estimated duties is 
requested under this paragraph. The drawback claimant must, to the best 
of its knowledge, identify each import entry that has been protested 
and that is included in the drawback claim. A drawback entry, once 
finally liquidated on the basis of estimated duties pursuant to 
paragraph (e)(2), will not be adjusted by reason of a subsequent final 
liquidation of the import entry.
    (2) However, if final liquidation of the import entry discloses 
that the total amount of import duty is different from the total 
estimated duties deposited, except in those cases when drawback is 100% 
of the duty, the party responsible for the payment of liquidated 
duties, as applicable, will:
    (i) Be liable for 1 percent of all increased duties found to be due 
on that portion of merchandise recorded on the drawback entry; or
    (ii) Be entitled to a refund of 1 percent of all excess duties 
found to have been paid as estimated duties on that portion of the 
merchandise recorded on the drawback entry.
    (c) Claims based on voluntary tenders or other payments of duties--
(1) General. Subject to the requirements in paragraph (c)(2) of this 
section, drawback may be paid upon liquidation of a claim based on 
voluntary tenders of the unpaid amount of lawful ordinary customs 
duties or any other payment of lawful ordinary customs duties for an 
entry, or withdrawal from warehouse, for consumption (see Sec.  
191.3(a)(1)(iii)), provided that:
    (i) The tender or payment is specifically identified as duty on a 
specifically identified entry, or withdrawal from warehouse, for 
consumption;
    (ii) Liquidation of the specifically identified entry, or 
withdrawal from warehouse, for consumption became final prior to such 
tender or payment; and
    (iii) Liquidation of the drawback entry in which that specifically 
identified import entry, or withdrawal from warehouse, for consumption 
is designated has not become final.
    (2) Written request and waiver. Drawback may be paid on claims 
based on voluntary tenders or other payments of duties under this 
subsection only if the drawback claimant and any other party 
responsible for the payment of the voluntary tenders or other payments 
of duties each files a written request for payment of each drawback 
claim based on such voluntary tenders or other payments of duties, 
waiving any claim to payment or refund under other provisions of law, 
to the extent that the voluntary tenders or other payment of duties 
under this paragraph are included in the drawback claim for which 
drawback on the voluntary tenders or other payment of duties is 
requested under this paragraph.
    (d) Claims based on liquidated duties. Drawback will be based on 
the final liquidated duties paid that have been made final by operation 
of law (except in the case of the written request for payment of 
drawback on the basis of estimated duties, voluntary tender of duties, 
and other payments of duty, and waiver, provided for in paragraphs (b) 
and (c) of this section).
    (e) Liquidation procedure. (1) General. When the drawback claim has 
been completed by the filing of the entry and other required documents, 
and exportation (or destruction) of the merchandise or articles has 
been established, CBP will determine drawback due on the basis of the 
complete drawback claim, the applicable general manufacturing drawback 
ruling or specific manufacturing drawback ruling, and any other 
relevant evidence or information. Notice of liquidation will be given 
electronically as provided in Sec. Sec.  159.9 and 159.10(c)(3).
    (2) Liquidation by operation of law. (i) Liquidated import entries. 
A drawback claim that satisfies the requirements of

[[Page 37990]]

paragraph (d) that is not liquidated within one year from the date of 
the drawback claim (see Sec.  190.51(e)(1)(i)) will be deemed 
liquidated for the purposes of the drawback claim at the drawback 
amount asserted by the claimant or claim, unless the time for 
liquidation is extended in accordance with Sec.  159.12 or if 
liquidation is suspended as required by statute or court order.
    (ii) Unliquidated import entries. A drawback claim that satisfies 
the requirements of paragraphs (b) or (c) of this section will be 
deemed liquidated upon the deposit of estimated duties on the 
unliquidated imported merchandise (see Sec.  191.81(b)).
    (iii) Applicability. The provisions of paragraphs (e)(2)(i) of this 
section will apply to drawback entries made on or after December 3, 
2004. An entry or claim for drawback filed before December 3, 2004, the 
liquidation of which was not final as of December 3, 2004, will be 
deemed liquidated on the date that is 1 year after December 3, 2004, at 
the drawback amount asserted by the claimant at the time of the entry 
or claim.
    (f) Relative value; multiple products--(1) Distribution. Where two 
or more products result from the manufacture or production of 
merchandise, drawback will be distributed to the several products in 
accordance with their relative values at the time of separation.
    (2) Values. The values to be used in computing the distribution of 
drawback where two or more products result from the manufacture or 
production of merchandise under drawback conditions must be the market 
value (as provided for in the definition of relative value in Sec.  
191.2(u)), unless other values are approved by CBP.
    (g) Payment. CBP will authorize payment of the amount of the refund 
due as drawback to the claimant.
0
17. Section 191.103 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  191.103  Additional requirements.

    (a) Manufacturer claims domestic drawback. In the case of medicinal 
preparations and flavoring extracts, the claimant must file with the 
drawback entry, a declaration of the manufacturer showing whether a 
claim has been or will be filed by the manufacturer with the Alcohol 
and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) for domestic drawback on alcohol 
under Sec. Sec.  5111, 5112, 5113, and 5114, Internal Revenue Code, as 
amended (26 U.S.C. 5111, 5112, 5113, and 5114).
    (b) Manufacturer does not claim domestic drawback--(1) Submission 
of statement. If no claim has been or will be filed with TTB for 
domestic drawback on medicinal preparations or flavoring extracts, the 
manufacturer must submit a statement setting forth that fact to the 
Director, National Revenue Center, TTB.
    (2) Contents of the statement. The statement must show the:
    (i) Quantity and description of the exported products;
    (ii) Identity of the alcohol used by serial number of package or 
tank car;
    (iii) Name and registry number of the distilled spirits plant from 
which the alcohol was withdrawn;
    (iv) Date of withdrawal;
    (v) Serial number of the applicable record of tax determination 
(see 27 CFR 17.163(a) and 27 CFR 19.626(c)(7); and
    (vi) CBP office where the claim will be filed.
    (3) Verification of the statement. The Director, National Revenue 
Center, TTB, will verify receipt of this statement, forward the 
original of the document to the drawback office designated, and retain 
the copy.
0
18. Section 191.104 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  191.104  Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) 
certificates.

    (a) Request. The drawback claimant or manufacturer must request the 
Director, National Revenue Center, TTB, provide the CBP office where 
the drawback claim will be processed with a tax-paid certificate on TTB 
Form 5100.4 (Certificate of Tax-Paid Alcohol).
    (b) Contents. The request must state the:
    (1) Quantity of alcohol in proof gallons;
    (2) Serial number of each package;
    (3) Amount of tax paid on the alcohol;
    (4) Name, registry number, and location of the distilled spirits 
plant;
    (5) Date of withdrawal;
    (6) Name of the manufacturer using the alcohol in producing the 
exported articles;
    (7) Address of the manufacturer and its manufacturing plant; and
    (8) CBP drawback office where the drawback claim will be processed.
    (c) Extract of TTB certificate. If a certification of any portion 
of the alcohol described in the TTB Form 5100.4 is required for 
liquidation of drawback entries processed in another drawback office, 
the drawback office, on written application of the person who requested 
its issuance, will transmit a copy of the extract from the certificate 
for use at that drawback office. The drawback office will note that the 
copy of the extract was prepared and transmitted.
0
19. Section 191.103 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  191.106  Amount of drawback.

    (a) Claim filed with TTB. If the declaration required by Sec.  
191.103 of this subpart shows that a claim has been or will be filed 
with TTB for domestic drawback, drawback under Sec.  313(d) of the Act, 
as amended (19 U.S.C. 1313(d)), will be limited to the difference 
between the amount of tax paid and the amount of domestic drawback 
claimed.
    (b) Claim not filed with TTB. If the declaration and verified 
statement required by Sec.  191.103 show that no claim has been or will 
be filed by the manufacturer with TTB for domestic drawback, the 
drawback will be the full amount of the tax on the alcohol used. 
Drawback under this provision may not be granted absent receipt from 
TTB of a copy of TTB Form 5100.4 (Certificate of Tax-Paid Alcohol) 
indicating that taxes have been paid on the exported product for which 
drawback is claimed.
    (c) No deduction of 1 percent. No deduction of 1 percent will be 
made in drawback claims under Sec.  313(d) of the Act, as amended (19 
U.S.C. 1313(d)).
    (d) Payment. The drawback due will be paid in accordance with Sec.  
191.81(f).
0
20. In Sec.  191.171, add paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  191.171  General; drawback allowance.

* * * * *
    (d) Federal excise tax. For purposes of drawback of internal 
revenue tax imposed under Chapters 32 and 38 of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986, as amended (IRC), drawback granted on the export of 
substituted merchandise will be limited to the amount of taxes paid 
(and not returned by refund, credit, or drawback) on the substituted 
merchandise.

Kevin K. McAleenan,
Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
    Approved:
Timothy E. Skud,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
[FR Doc. 2018-16279 Filed 7-27-18; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P


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