TRADE ALERT

 

Documentation Requirements for Preferential Claims on Textiles & Apparel

 

(November 16, 2007)

 

 

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently issued a memorandum outlining the documentation requirements for validating preferential duty claims of textiles and other wearing garments.  An excerpt from the new requirement is listed below:

 

Documents to Support Claims Involving Agreements/Groupings Requiring U.S. Yarn or Fabric

1.      Records demonstrating that the imported merchandise was produced using U.S. formed yarn or fabric, or U.S. cut or knit-to-shape components. Such records include certificates of origin, purchase orders, invoices, delivery notices, and, in some cases, records of yarn, fabric, or panel formation from the actual producer of a component.

2.      Transportation and export records (e.g., bills of lading).

3.      Entry documents showing movement of the inputs into the regional country of final production.

 

Documents to Support Claims Involving Agreements/Groupings Requiring Regional Yarn or Fabric

  1. Records demonstrating that a party to the transaction sourced regionally formed yarn, fabric, or cut or knit-to-shape components clearly dedicated to the final imported merchandise.  Such records include purchase orders, invoices, delivery notices, etc.  These documents should demonstrate a direct correlation of the materials or components to the finished good by way of style numbers, fabric type and construction, or other means.
  2. Transportation and export records (e.g., bills of lading) from the regional country of origin of the yarn or fabric to the regional country of final production.
  3. Entry documents showing movement of the inputs into the regional country of final production.
  4. Documents showing movement and delivery of inputs within the regional country of final production.

 

Upon request by CBP, all importers should be prepared to produce the required documents listed above when claiming preferential tariff treatment or free trade for textiles and other wearing apparel.

 

For complete details, please see the memorandum at:

http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/tbts/tbt2007/tbt_07_019.ctt/tbt_07_019.doc

 

The Deringer Logistics Consulting Group offers a full scope of services to support importers, exporters, carriers, and supply chain partners.  For more information, please call 518-297-3511, or e-mail consulting@anderinger.com.