Renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and Retroactive Application for Certain Liquidations and Reliquidations Under the GSP, 17561-17562 [2018-08411]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 77 / Friday, April 20, 2018 / Notices or no proposals submitted for this CRADA. The Coast Guard will provide no funding for reimbursement of proposal development costs. Proposals and any other material submitted in response to this notice will not be returned. Proposals submitted are expected to be unclassified and have not more than five single-sided pages (excluding cover page, DD 1494, JF–12, etc.). The Coast Guard will select proposals at its sole discretion on the basis of: (1) How well they communicate an understanding, of and ability to meet, the proposed CRADA’s goal; and (2) How well they address the following criteria: (a) Technical capability to support the non-Federal party contributions described, and (b) Resources available for supporting the non-Federal party contributions described. Currently, the Coast Guard is considering GORE for participation in this CRADA. This consideration is based on the fact that GORE has demonstrated its technical ability and availability of appropriate facilities to effectively determine insulation properties of clothing. However, we do not wish to exclude other viable participants from this or future similar CRADAs. This is a technology assessment effort. The goal of the Coast Guard for this CRADA is to determine the insulation properties of the Coast Guard’s MWCSS in the air instead of the water which the system was designed for. Special consideration will be given to small business firms/consortia, and preference will be given to business units located in the U.S. This notice is issued under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a). Dated: April 10, 2018. G.C. Rothrock, Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Commanding Officer, U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center. [FR Doc. 2018–08311 Filed 4–19–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–04–P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES U.S. Customs and Border Protection Renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and Retroactive Application for Certain Liquidations and Reliquidations Under the GSP U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security. ACTION: General notice. AGENCY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:44 Apr 19, 2018 Jkt 244001 The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) is a renewable preferential trade program that allows the eligible products of designated beneficiary developing countries to enter the United States free of duty. The GSP program expired on December 31, 2017, but has been renewed through December 31, 2020, effective April 22, 2018, with retroactive effect between January 1, 2018, through April 21, 2018, by a provision in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018. This document provides notice to importers that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will again accept claims for GSP duty-free treatment for merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption and that CBP will process refunds on duties paid, without interest, on GSP-eligible merchandise that was entered during the period that the GSP program was lapsed. Formal and informal entries that were filed electronically via the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) using Special Program Indicator (SPI) Code ‘‘A’’ as a prefix to the tariff number will be automatically processed by CBP and no further action by the filer is required to initiate the refund process. Non-ABI filers, and ABI filers that did not include SPI Code ‘‘A’’ on the entry, must timely submit a duty refund request to CBP. CBP will continue conducting verifications to ensure that GSP benefits are available to eligible entries only. DATES: As of April 22, 2018, the filing of GSP-eligible entry summaries may be resumed without the payment of estimated duties, and CBP will initiate the automatic liquidation or reliquidation of formal and informal entries of GSP-eligible merchandise that was entered on or after January 1, 2018, through April 21, 2018, and filed via ABI with SPI Code ‘‘A’’ notated on the entry. Requests for refunds of GSP duties paid on eligible non-ABI entries, or eligible ABI entries filed without SPI Code ‘‘A,’’ must be filed with CBP no later than September 19, 2018. ADDRESSES: Instructions for submitting a request to CBP to liquidate or reliquidate entries of GSP-eligible merchandise that was entered on or after January 1, 2018, through April 21, 2018 but without the SPI Code ‘‘A’’ are located at https://www.cbp.gov/trade/ priority-issues/trade-agreements/ special-trade-legislation/generalizedsystem-preferences. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General questions concerning this notice should be directed to Seth Mazze, Office of Trade, Trade Agreements Branch, 202–863–6567 or at fta@ SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 17561 dhs.gov. For operational questions regarding: Formal/Informal Entries and Baggage Declarations: Randy Mitchell, 202–863–6532; Mail Entries: Robert Woods, 202–344–1236; Non-ABI Informal Entries: Contact the appropriate Center of Excellence and Expertise. Questions from filers regarding ABI transmissions should be directed to their assigned ABI client representative. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Section 501 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2461), authorizes the President to establish a Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) to provide duty-free treatment for eligible articles imported directly from designated beneficiary countries for specific time periods. Pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 2465, as amended by section 201(a) of Pub. L. 114–27, 129 Stat. 371, duty-free treatment under the GSP program expired on December 31, 2017. On March 23, 2018, President Donald J. Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Pub. Law 115–141, 132 Stat. 348) (the Act). Section 501 of Title V of the Act pertains to the extension of duty-free treatment and the retroactive application for certain liquidations and reliquidations under the GSP. Section 501(b)(1) provides that GSP duty-free treatment will be applied to eligible articles from designated beneficiary countries that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after April 22, 2018 through December 31, 2020. Section 501(b)(2) provides that for entries made on or after January 1, 2018 through April 21, 2018 (30th day after the date of enactment of the Act), to which duty-free treatment would have applied if GSP had been in effect during that time period (‘‘covered entries’’), any duty paid with respect to such entry will be refunded provided that a request for liquidation or reliquidation of that entry, containing sufficient information to enable U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to locate the entry or to reconstruct the entry if it cannot be located, is filed with CBP no later than September 19, 2018 (180 days after enactment of the Act). Section 501(b)(2)(C) provides that any amounts owed by the United States pursuant to section 501(b)(2)(A) will be paid without interest. Field locations will not issue GSP refunds except as instructed to do so by CBP Headquarters. The processing of retroactive GSP duty refunds will be administered by CBP according to the terms set forth below. E:\FR\FM\20APN1.SGM 20APN1 17562 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 77 / Friday, April 20, 2018 / Notices legislation/generalized-systempreferences. Duty-Free Entry Summaries As of April 22, 2018, filers may resume filing GSP-eligible entry summaries without the payment of estimated duties. Dated: April 18, 2018. Brenda B. Smith, Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Trade. GSP Duty Refunds Formal/Informal Entries CBP will automatically liquidate or reliquidate formal and informal entries of GSP-eligible merchandise that were entered on or after January 1, 2018 through April 21, 2018, and filed electronically via the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) using Special Program Indicator (SPI) Code ‘‘A’’ as a prefix to the listed tariff number. Such entry filings will be treated as a conforming request for a liquidation or reliquidation pursuant to section 501(b)(2)(A) of the Act, and no further action by the filer is required to initiate a retroactive GSP duty refund. To avoid confusion, importers should not submit postimportation GSP claims on tariff items filed with the SPI ‘‘A’’ at entry summary. CBP expects to begin processing automatic refunds for these entries shortly after April 22, 2018. CBP will not automatically process GSP duty refunds for formal covered entries that were not filed electronically via ABI, nor for formal and informal covered entries that were filed electronically via ABI with payment of estimated duties, but without inclusion of the SPI Code ‘‘A’’ as a prefix to the listed tariff number. In both situations, requests for liquidation or reliquidation of covered entries must be made no later than September 19, 2018, pursuant to the procedures set forth in https:// www.cbp.gov/trade/priority-issues/ trade-agreements/special-tradelegislation/generalized-systempreferences. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Mail Entries For merchandise that was imported via the mail, addressees must request liquidation or reliquidation of covered entries no later than September 19, 2018, pursuant to the procedures set forth in https://www.cbp.gov/trade/ priority-issues/trade-agreements/ special-trade-legislation/generalizedsystem-preferences. Baggage Declarations and Non-ABI Informals For non-ABI informal entries and baggage declarations, travelers/ importers must request liquidation or reliquidation of covered entries no later than September 19, 2018, pursuant to the procedures set forth in https:// www.cbp.gov/trade/priority-issues/ trade-agreements/special-trade- VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:44 Apr 19, 2018 Jkt 244001 [FR Doc. 2018–08411 Filed 4–18–18; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 9111–14–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [18X.LLAK930100.L16100000.PN0000] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program, Alaska Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Intent. AGENCY: In accordance with Section 20001 of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (Tax Act), and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, (NEPA) as amended, and in a manner similar to the administration of lease sales under the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Alaska State Office, Anchorage, Alaska, intends to prepare a Leasing Environmental Impact Statement (Leasing EIS) to implement an oil and gas leasing program within the area defined as the ‘‘Coastal Plain.’’ DATES: This Notice initiates the public scoping process for the Leasing EIS. Comments on issues, impacts and potential alternatives to be analyzed may be submitted in writing until June 19, 2018. The BLM will hold public scoping meetings in Anchorage, Arctic Village, Fairbanks, Kaktovik and ˙ Utqiagvik. The BLM may hold additional public scoping meetings in other communities if there is strong community interest. The dates, times, and locations of scoping meetings will be announced through local news media, newspapers, and the BLM website. SUMMARY: You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • Website: [insert full URL]. • Email: blm_ak_coastalplain_EIS@ blm.gov. • Mail: BLM, Alaska State Office, Attention—Coastal Plain EIS, 222 West 7th Avenue, #13, Anchorage, AK 99513–7599. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicole Hayes, 907–271–4354; email blm_ak_coastalplain_EIS@blm.gov; or ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 by mail: Bureau of Land Management, 222 West 7th Avenue, #13, Anchorage, Alaska 99513–7599. You may also request to be added to the mailing list for the EIS. Documents pertaining to the EIS may be examined at https:// www.blm.gov/alaska. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM is undertaking a Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing EIS to implement the leasing program pursuant to the Tax Act (Pub. L. 115–97, Dec. 22, 2017). The Leasing EIS will serve to inform BLM’s implementation of the Tax Act, including the requirement to hold not fewer than two lease sales area-wide. It may also inform post-lease activities, including seismic and drilling exploration, development, and transportation of oil and gas in and from the Coastal Plain. Specifically, the Leasing EIS will consider and analyze the potential environmental impacts of various leasing alternatives, including the areas to offer for sale, and the terms and conditions (i.e., lease stipulations and best management practices) to be applied to leases and associated oil and gas activities to properly balance oil and gas development with existing uses and conservation of surface resources, and to limit the footprint of production and support facilities on Federal lands to no more than 2,000 surface acres. The area comprising the Coastal Plain includes approximately 1.6 million acres within the approximately 19.3 million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine the scope of issues to be addressed and to identify the significant issues related to implementing an oil and gas leasing program within the Coastal Plain. Information received during scoping will influence the development of the proposed action and alternatives and guide the environmental analysis. The BLM will work collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management decisions best suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns, as well as to develop a proposed action and alternatives consistent with the following criteria: • The EIS will consider all Federal lands and waters within the area defined by Congress as the Coastal Plain; E:\FR\FM\20APN1.SGM 20APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 77 (Friday, April 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17561-17562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08411]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection


Renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and 
Retroactive Application for Certain Liquidations and Reliquidations 
Under the GSP

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

ACTION: General notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) is a renewable 
preferential trade program that allows the eligible products of 
designated beneficiary developing countries to enter the United States 
free of duty. The GSP program expired on December 31, 2017, but has 
been renewed through December 31, 2020, effective April 22, 2018, with 
retroactive effect between January 1, 2018, through April 21, 2018, by 
a provision in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018.
    This document provides notice to importers that U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection (CBP) will again accept claims for GSP duty-free 
treatment for merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for 
consumption and that CBP will process refunds on duties paid, without 
interest, on GSP-eligible merchandise that was entered during the 
period that the GSP program was lapsed. Formal and informal entries 
that were filed electronically via the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) 
using Special Program Indicator (SPI) Code ``A'' as a prefix to the 
tariff number will be automatically processed by CBP and no further 
action by the filer is required to initiate the refund process. Non-ABI 
filers, and ABI filers that did not include SPI Code ``A'' on the 
entry, must timely submit a duty refund request to CBP. CBP will 
continue conducting verifications to ensure that GSP benefits are 
available to eligible entries only.

DATES: As of April 22, 2018, the filing of GSP-eligible entry summaries 
may be resumed without the payment of estimated duties, and CBP will 
initiate the automatic liquidation or reliquidation of formal and 
informal entries of GSP-eligible merchandise that was entered on or 
after January 1, 2018, through April 21, 2018, and filed via ABI with 
SPI Code ``A'' notated on the entry. Requests for refunds of GSP duties 
paid on eligible non-ABI entries, or eligible ABI entries filed without 
SPI Code ``A,'' must be filed with CBP no later than September 19, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: Instructions for submitting a request to CBP to liquidate or 
reliquidate entries of GSP-eligible merchandise that was entered on or 
after January 1, 2018, through April 21, 2018 but without the SPI Code 
``A'' are located at https://www.cbp.gov/trade/priority-issues/trade-agreements/special-trade-legislation/generalized-system-preferences.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General questions concerning this 
notice should be directed to Seth Mazze, Office of Trade, Trade 
Agreements Branch, 202-863-6567 or at [email protected]. For operational 
questions regarding: Formal/Informal Entries and Baggage Declarations: 
Randy Mitchell, 202-863-6532; Mail Entries: Robert Woods, 202-344-1236; 
Non-ABI Informal Entries: Contact the appropriate Center of Excellence 
and Expertise. Questions from filers regarding ABI transmissions should 
be directed to their assigned ABI client representative.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 501 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2461), 
authorizes the President to establish a Generalized System of 
Preferences (GSP) to provide duty-free treatment for eligible articles 
imported directly from designated beneficiary countries for specific 
time periods. Pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 2465, as amended by section 201(a) 
of Pub. L. 114-27, 129 Stat. 371, duty-free treatment under the GSP 
program expired on December 31, 2017.
    On March 23, 2018, President Donald J. Trump signed the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Pub. Law 115-141, 132 Stat. 348) 
(the Act). Section 501 of Title V of the Act pertains to the extension 
of duty-free treatment and the retroactive application for certain 
liquidations and reliquidations under the GSP. Section 501(b)(1) 
provides that GSP duty-free treatment will be applied to eligible 
articles from designated beneficiary countries that are entered, or 
withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after April 22, 2018 
through December 31, 2020. Section 501(b)(2) provides that for entries 
made on or after January 1, 2018 through April 21, 2018 (30th day after 
the date of enactment of the Act), to which duty-free treatment would 
have applied if GSP had been in effect during that time period 
(``covered entries''), any duty paid with respect to such entry will be 
refunded provided that a request for liquidation or reliquidation of 
that entry, containing sufficient information to enable U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection (CBP) to locate the entry or to reconstruct the 
entry if it cannot be located, is filed with CBP no later than 
September 19, 2018 (180 days after enactment of the Act). Section 
501(b)(2)(C) provides that any amounts owed by the United States 
pursuant to section 501(b)(2)(A) will be paid without interest.
    Field locations will not issue GSP refunds except as instructed to 
do so by CBP Headquarters. The processing of retroactive GSP duty 
refunds will be administered by CBP according to the terms set forth 
below.

[[Page 17562]]

Duty-Free Entry Summaries

    As of April 22, 2018, filers may resume filing GSP-eligible entry 
summaries without the payment of estimated duties.

GSP Duty Refunds

Formal/Informal Entries

    CBP will automatically liquidate or reliquidate formal and informal 
entries of GSP-eligible merchandise that were entered on or after 
January 1, 2018 through April 21, 2018, and filed electronically via 
the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) using Special Program Indicator 
(SPI) Code ``A'' as a prefix to the listed tariff number. Such entry 
filings will be treated as a conforming request for a liquidation or 
reliquidation pursuant to section 501(b)(2)(A) of the Act, and no 
further action by the filer is required to initiate a retroactive GSP 
duty refund. To avoid confusion, importers should not submit post-
importation GSP claims on tariff items filed with the SPI ``A'' at 
entry summary. CBP expects to begin processing automatic refunds for 
these entries shortly after April 22, 2018.
    CBP will not automatically process GSP duty refunds for formal 
covered entries that were not filed electronically via ABI, nor for 
formal and informal covered entries that were filed electronically via 
ABI with payment of estimated duties, but without inclusion of the SPI 
Code ``A'' as a prefix to the listed tariff number. In both situations, 
requests for liquidation or reliquidation of covered entries must be 
made no later than September 19, 2018, pursuant to the procedures set 
forth in https://www.cbp.gov/trade/priority-issues/trade-agreements/special-trade-legislation/generalized-system-preferences.

Mail Entries

    For merchandise that was imported via the mail, addressees must 
request liquidation or reliquidation of covered entries no later than 
September 19, 2018, pursuant to the procedures set forth in https://www.cbp.gov/trade/priority-issues/trade-agreements/special-trade-legislation/generalized-system-preferences.

Baggage Declarations and Non-ABI Informals

    For non-ABI informal entries and baggage declarations, travelers/
importers must request liquidation or reliquidation of covered entries 
no later than September 19, 2018, pursuant to the procedures set forth 
in https://www.cbp.gov/trade/priority-issues/trade-agreements/special-trade-legislation/generalized-system-preferences.

    Dated: April 18, 2018.
Brenda B. Smith,
Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Trade.
[FR Doc. 2018-08411 Filed 4-18-18; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 9111-14-P
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