[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10108-10109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4432]



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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

Possible Modifications to the International Harmonized System 
Nomenclature

AGENCY: International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Request for proposals to amend the international Harmonized 
System nomenclature.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is soliciting proposals from interested parties 
and agencies to amend the international Harmonized Commodity 
Description and Coding System (Harmonized System), including the rules 
of interpretation, section and chapter notes and the texts of the 
headings and subheadings, with a view to keeping the System current 
with changes in technology and trading patterns. Specific proposals in 
this connection will be reviewed by the Commission staff for potential 
submission to the Customs Co-operation Council, now known as the World 
Customs Organization (WCO), in Brussels, Belgium.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 10, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eugene A. Rosengarden, Director, 
Office of Tariff Affairs & Trade Agreements (O/TA&TA) (telephone (202) 
205-2592) or Holm J. Kappler, Deputy Director (O/TA&TA) ((202) 205-
2598), U.S. International Trade Commission, Washington, D.C. 20436.

BACKGROUND: Beginning with its 11th Session in March, 1995, the HS 
Review Sub-Committee of the WCO will initiate its second major review 
of the Harmonized System. Administered by the WCO, the Harmonized 
System provides the basis for the customs tariff and statistical 
nomenclatures of all major trading countries of the world, including 
the United States.
    The Harmonized System was established by an international 
convention, which, inter alia, provides that the System should be kept 
up-to-date in the light of changes in technology and patterns of 
international trade.
    The Commission, the U.S. Customs Service and the Bureau of the 
Census have been assigned responsibilities for the development of U.S. 
technical proposals related to the Harmonized System under section 1210 
of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (19 U.S.C. 3010). 
As indicated in a 1988 notice issued by the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR) (53 FR 45646 of Nov. 10, 1988), the Commission is 
the lead agency in considering proposals for amendments to the 
Harmonized System that are intended to ensure that the System is kept 
abreast of changes in technology and patterns of international trade.

REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS: In accordance with the USTR notice, the 
Commission is seeking proposals for specific modifications to the 
Harmonized System (including the rules of interpretation, section and 
chapter notes and the texts of the headings and subheadings) that will 
further the above goals. No proposals for changes to the national-level 
provisions (which include U.S. 8-digit subheadings, statistical 
annotations and rates of duty) will be considered by the Commission as 
a part of this review. Interested parties, associations and government 
agencies should submit specific language for proposed amendments to the 
Harmonized System together with appropriate descriptive comments and, 
to the extent available, trade data.
    As part of this review, the Commission particularly invites 
proposals concerning the following matters:

--The separate identification in the HS of waste products of 
environmental concern,
--The separate identification of dangerous or toxic chemicals,
--The deletion of HS headings or subheadings with low trade volume,
--The identification of new products important in international trade,
--The simplification of the HS, e.g., by the elimination of 
classification provisions which are difficult to administer.

WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS: Interested parties, including other Federal 
agencies, are invited to submit written proposals concerning this 
review of the Harmonized System. Proposals must be 
[[Page 10109]] submitted by not later than May 15, 1995, in order to be 
considered by the Commission. Commercial or financial information that 
a party desires the Commission to treat as confidential must be 
submitted on separate sheets of paper, each clearly marked 
``Confidential Business Information'' at the top. All submissions 
requesting confidential treatment must conform with the requirements of 
Sec. 201.6 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 
201.6). All written submissions, except for confidential business 
information, will be made available for inspection by interested 
persons. All submissions should be addressed to the Secretary, United 
States International Trade Commission, 500 E St. S.W., Washington, D.C. 
20436.
    Hearing impaired individuals are advised that information on this 
matter can be obtained by contacting our TDD terminal on (202) 205-
1810.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: February 14, 1995.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-4432 Filed 2-22-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P