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2012 Oman FTA TPL for Certain Cotton/MMF Apparel Opened Jan 3

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a memorandum on the 2012 U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA) tariff preference level (TPL) for certain cotton or man-made fiber (MMF) apparel goods provided for in HTS Chapter 61 or 62 that are cut or knit-to-shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in Oman from fabric or yarn produced or obtained outside the territory of Oman or of the U.S. (“third country”).

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This TPL is provided for in HTS Chapter 99, Subchapter XVI, U.S. Note 13 and allows subject apparel to be entered duty-free. Such goods should be entered under HTS subheading 9916.99.20. TPL expires on December 31, 2018.

2012 TPL Limit is 50,000,000 SME, Opened Jan 3

The 2012 Oman FTA TPL is for the period of January 1 through December 31, 2012 and opened on January 3, 2012. The TPL limit for this time period is 50,000,000 square meters equivalent (SME).

Whenever goods are classified under this provision as ensembles in combination with an ensemble provision in HTS Chapter 61 or 62, the reporting HTS number shall be for the specific component apparel article in the ensemble, as opposed to the ensemble HTS number. Each specific apparel article in the ensemble must be classified separately with the appropriate HTS Chapter 61 or 62 provision, in combination with 9916.99.20. CBP adds that "OM" should be used as the primary SPI indicator.

Once the in-quota allocation is filled, such goods will be allowed to enter at Normal Trade Relations (NTR) rate or General rate of duty as noted in the HTS.

(As of December 27, 2011, the 2011 TPL for Oman FTA apparel was 0.59% filled.)

(QBT-11-585, dated 12/22/11)