Nepal Trade Preferences Act

To authorize preferential treatment for certain imports from Nepal, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Nepal Trade Preferences Act 2. Eligibility requirements (a) In general The President may authorize the provision of preferential treatment under this Act to articles that are imported directly from Nepal into the customs territory of the United States pursuant to section 3 if the President determines— (1) that Nepal meets the requirements set forth in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 104(a) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act ( 19 U.S.C. 3703(a) (2) after taking into account the factors set forth in paragraphs (1) through (7) of subsection (c) of section 502 of the Trade Act of 1974 19 U.S.C. 2462 (b) Withdrawal, suspension, or limitation of preferential treatment; mandatory graduation The provisions of subsections (d) and (e) of section 502 of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2462 19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq. 3. Eligible articles (a) Certain manufactured and other articles (1) In general An article described in paragraph (2) may enter the customs territory of the United States free of duty. (2) Articles described (A) In general An article is described in this paragraph if— (i) the article is the growth, product, or manufacture of Nepal; (ii) the article is imported directly from Nepal into the customs territory of the United States; (iii) the article is described in subparagraphs (B) through (G) of subsection (b)(1) of section 503 of the Trade Act of 1974 19 U.S.C. 2463 (iv) the President determines, after receiving the advice of the United States International Trade Commission in accordance with subsection (e) of that section, that the article is not import-sensitive in the context of imports from Nepal; and (v) subject to subparagraph (C), the sum of the cost or value of the materials produced in, and the direct costs of processing operations performed in, Nepal or the customs territory of the United States is not less than 35 percent of the appraised value of the article at the time it is entered. (B) Exclusions An article shall not be treated as the growth, product, or manufacture of Nepal for purposes of subparagraph (A)(i) by virtue of having merely undergone— (i) simple combining or packaging operations; or (ii) mere dilution with water or mere dilution with another substance that does not materially alter the characteristics of the article. (C) Limitation on United States cost For purposes of subparagraph (A)(v), the cost or value of materials produced in, and the direct costs of processing operations performed in, the customs territory of the United States and attributed to the 35-percent requirement under that subparagraph may not exceed 15 percent of the appraised value of the article at the time it is entered. (b) Textile and apparel articles (1) In general A textile or apparel article described in paragraph (2) or (3) may enter the customs territory of the United States free of duty. (2) Textile and apparel articles wholly assembled in Nepal (A) In general A textile or apparel article is described in this paragraph if the textile or apparel article is— (i) wholly assembled in Nepal, without regard to the country of origin of the yarn or fabric used to make the articles; and (ii) imported directly from Nepal into the customs territory of the United States. (B) Limitations (i) Low volume of imports If, during a calendar year, imports of textile and apparel articles described in subparagraph (A) from Nepal are less than 1 percent of the aggregate square meter equivalents of all textile and apparel articles imported into the customs territory of the United States during that calendar year, such imports from Nepal may be increased to an amount that is equal to not more than 1.5 percent of the aggregate square meter equivalents of all textile and apparel articles imported into the customs territory of the United States during that calendar year for the succeeding calendar year. (ii) Higher volume of imports If, during a calendar year, imports of textile and apparel articles described in subparagraph (A) from Nepal are at least 1 percent of the aggregate square meter equivalents of all textile and apparel articles imported into the customs territory of the United States during that calendar year, such imports from Nepal may be increased by an amount that is equal to not more than 1/3 (iii) Aggregate country limit In no case may the aggregate quantity of textile and apparel articles described in subparagraph (A) imported into the customs territory of the United States from Nepal during a calendar year under this subsection exceed the applicable percentage set forth in paragraph (4)(B) for that calendar year. (3) Handloomed, handmade, folklore articles and ethnic printed fabrics (A) In general A textile or apparel article is described in this paragraph if the textile or apparel article is— (i) imported directly from Nepal into the customs territory of the United States; (ii) on a list of textile and apparel articles determined by the President, after consultation with the Government of Nepal, to be handloomed, handmade, folklore articles or ethnic printed fabrics of Nepal; and (iii) certified as a handloomed, handmade, folklore article or an ethnic printed fabric of Nepal by the competent authority of Nepal. (B) Ethnic printed fabric For purposes of subparagraph (A), an ethnic printed fabric of Nepal is fabric— (i) containing a selvedge on both edges and having a width of less than 50 inches; (ii) classifiable under subheading 5208.52.30 or 5208.52.40 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States; (iii) of a type that contains designs, symbols, and other characteristics of Nepal— (I) normally produced for and sold in indigenous markets in Nepal; and (II) normally sold in Nepal by the piece as opposed to being tailored into garments before being sold in indigenous markets in Nepal; (iv) printed, including waxed, in Nepal; and (v) formed in the United States from yarns formed in the United States or formed in Nepal from yarns originating in either the United States or Nepal. (4) Limitations on benefits (A) In general Preferential treatment under this subsection shall be extended in the 1-year period beginning January 1, 2016, and in each of the succeeding 10 1-year periods, to imports of textile and apparel articles from Nepal under this subsection in an amount not to exceed the applicable percentage of the aggregate square meter equivalents of all textile and apparel articles imported into the customs territory of the United States in the most recent 12-month period for which data are available. (B) Applicable percentage For purposes of this paragraph, the term applicable percentage (5) Surge mechanism The provisions of subparagraph (B) of section 112(b)(3) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act ( 19 U.S.C. 3721(b)(3) (6) Special eligibility rules; protections against transshipment The provisions of subsection (e) of section 112 and section 113 of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721 and 3722) shall apply to textile and apparel articles imported from Nepal to which preferential treatment is extended under this subsection to the same extent and in the same manner that such provisions apply to textile and apparel articles imported from beneficiary sub-Saharan countries to which preferential treatment is extended under such section 112. 4. Reporting requirement The President shall monitor, review, and report to Congress, not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, on the implementation of this Act and on the trade and investment policy of the United States with respect to Nepal. 5. Termination of preferential treatment No preferential treatment extended under this Act shall remain in effect after December 31, 2025. 6. Effective date The provisions of this Act shall take effect on January 1, 2016.

Summary: Nepal Trade Preferences Act Authorizes the President to give preferential treatment to certain articles imported directly from Nepal into the U.S. customs territory if that country meets certain requirements under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, including a market-based economy and the rule of law, the protection of human rights and internationally-recognized worker rights, elimination of trade barriers to the United States, and non-engagement in activities that undermine U.S. national security or foreign policy interests or support acts of international terrorism. Requires Nepal also to meet certain eligibility criteria for designation as a beneficiary developing country under the Trade Act of 1974. Authorizes certain import-sensitive articles (watches, electronic articles, steel articles, footwear and certain other apparel, and glass products) imported directly from Nepal to enter the U.S. customs territory duty-free if: (1) the article is the growth, product, or manufacture of Nepal; (2) the President determines, after receiving advice from the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), that the article is not import-sensitive; and (3) the sum of the cost or value of the materials produced in, and the manufacturing costs performed in, Nepal or the U.S. customs territory is at least 35% of the appraised value of the article at the time it is entered. Limits to 15% of the appraised value of the article at the time it is entered the cost or value of the materials produced in, and the manufacturing costs performed in, the U.S. customs territory, and attributed to the 35% requirement. Grants duty-free treatment to certain textile or apparel articles: (1) wholly assembled in Nepal, without regard to the country of origin of the yarn or fabric used to make them; and (2) imported directly from Nepal into the U.S. customs territory. Prescribes requirements for handloomed, handmade, folklore articles or ethnic printed fabrics. Terminates the extension of preferential treatment to Nepal after December 31, 2025.