PROPOSED DEFINITIONS FOR CERTAIN BABY SOCKS
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) today released a public version of its report on the impact of proposed definitions for certain baby socks in the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS).
The investigation, Probable Effect of Proposed Definitions for Certain Baby Socks, was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative in a letter received on May 26, 2006; the ITC’s confidential report was submitted to the USTR on August 25, 2006.
In his letter, the USTR noted that under a memorandum of understanding signed by the United States and China in 2005, quantitative restraints are imposed on certain textile and apparel products originating in China, to be in effect through 2008. He noted that a question has arisen as to whether certain articles that are currently classified in the HTS as baby socks (and therefore subject to the restraint levels) are instead more appropriately classified as footwear articles (which would not be subject to the restraint levels).
The USTR provided two proposed definitions of baby socks and asked the ITC to provide information on the probable effect of each on U.S. imports from China, total U.S. imports, and on domestic producers of the articles affected.
Probable Effect of Proposed Definitions for Certain Baby Socks (Inv. No. 332-475, USITC Publication No. 3880, August 2006) will be posted in the Publications section of the ITC Internet site at www.usitc.gov. Printed copies may be requested by calling 202-205-2000 or by writing the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be made by fax to 202-205-2104.
ITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Senate Committee on Finance, or the House Committee on Ways and Means. The resulting reports convey the Commission’s objective findings and independent analyses on the subject investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the ITC submits its finding and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigation reports are subsequently released to the public unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.