December 29, 2006
H.R. 6406, to modify temporarily certain rates of duty and make other technical amendments to the trade laws, to extend certain trade preference programs, and for other purposes, has passed both the House and the Senate and has been presented to the President for signature. Portions of the bill include:
Africa Investment Incentive Act of 2006 - "the preferential treatment described in subsection (a) shall apply through September 30, 2012, to apparel articles wholly assembled, or knit-to-shape and wholly assembled, or both, in one or more lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries, regardless of the country of origin of the fabric or the yarn used to make such articles, in an amount not to exceed the applicable percentage of the aggregate square meter equivalents of all apparel articles imported into the United States in the preceding 12-month period for which data are available."
Andean Trade Preferences Extension Act - "Conditional Extensions- Duty-free treatment and other preferential treatment under this title shall remain in effect with respect to a beneficiary country, during the period beginning on July 1, 2007, and ending on December 31, 2007, only if on or before June 30, 2007-"
Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act of 2006 - "apparel articles described in paragraph (2) of a producer or entity controlling production that are imported directly from Haiti shall enter the United States free of duty during an applicable 1-year period, subject to the limitations set forth in paragraphs (2) and (3), if Haiti has met the requirements of subsections (d) and (e)."
The Generalized System of Preferences has been extended two years, through December 31, 2008.
The bill also includes modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, in line with the changes made by the World Customs Organization.
To view the text of the bill, go to http://thomas.loc.gov and select search for bill number HR6406. From there you can scroll down the page to Titles III through VIII concerning international trade.