- To : Automated Broker Interface
Subject: HELPDESK
TO : ALL ABI BROKERS.
FROM : LISA CROSBY
SUBJECT : NAF-HELPDESK
DATE : 01/29/93
3029071
JANUARY 29, 1993
CATEGORY: NAF CO:TO:T:A LAC
TO : REGIONAL DIRECTORS FOR COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS, DISTRICT
AND PORT DIRECTORS
FROM : DIRECTOR
NAFTA IMPLEMENTATION TASK FORCE
RE : FACT SHEET #1: U.S. CUSTOMS IMPLEMENTATION TASK FORCE
AND HELP DESK FOR THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE
AGREEMENT (NAFTA)
PASS TO: IMPORT SPECIALISTS, INSPECTORS, ENTRY OFFICERS AND
OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES SUCH AS BROKERS AND IMPORTERS
IN ANTICIPATION THAT CONGRESS WILL APPROVE THE NORTH
AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (NAFTA), THE U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE
HAS ESTABLISHED A SPECIAL OFFICE TASKED WITH IMPLEMENTING THOSE
PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT RELATING TO CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION.
THIS OFFICE WILL ISSUE A SERIES OF FACT SHEETS TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC ON THE NAFTA; THIS FACT SHEET IS THE
FIRST IN THAT SERIES.
IN ADDITION TO RESPONSIBILITIES RELATING TO IMPLEMENTATION,
THIS TASK FORCE WILL ANSWER GENERAL QUESTIONS ON THE NAFTA.
EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 1, 1993, A NAFTA HELP DESK IS AVAILABLE TO
PROVIDE DETAILS ON THIS NEW INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT. CUSTOMS
PERSONNEL IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WILL RESPOND TO INQUIRIES MONDAY-
FRIDAY, 8:00AM TO 5:00PM EST.
WHO MAY USE SERVICE
CUSTOMS' INFORMATION SERVICE IS AVAILABLE TO U.S. IMPORTERS
AND BROKERS, PARTIES IN CANADA AND MEXICO WHO EXPORT OR PRODUCE
GOODS FOR EXPORT TO THE UNITED STATES, AND U.S. CUSTOMS
PERSONNEL. U.S. EXPORTERS SEEKING INFORMATION ON HOW THIS
AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THEM SHOULD CONTACT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE FOR GUIDANCE. A WIDE VARIETY OF INFORMATION ON MEXICO
AND THE NAFTA IS AVAILABLE FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
THROUGH THEIR AUTOMATED FACSIMILE DELIVERY SYSTEM. A MENU OF
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THIS SYSTEM CAN BE OBTAINED BY CALLING
(202) 482-4464 AND FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS. CANADA AND MEXICO
HAVE ALSO ESTABLISHED NAFTA HELP DESKS AND U.S. EXPORTERS MAY
OBTAIN INFORMATION ON HOW CANADA OR MEXICO WILL TREAT THEIR
MERCHANDISE UNDER THE AGREEMENT BY CONTACTING THE APPROPRIATE
HELP DESK. THE TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR MEXICO'S HELP DESK IS
52-5-211-3545; CANADA'S HELP DESK CAN BE REACHED AT
(613) 941-0965.
INFORMATION AVAILABLE
U.S. CUSTOMS' NAFTA HELP DESK CAN PROVIDE GENERAL
INFORMATION ON HOW THE NAFTA WILL AFFECT CUSTOMS ISSUES,
INCLUDING COUNTRY-OF-ORIGIN MARKINGS, DUTY PHASE-OUTS, AND RULES
OF ORIGIN. ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED THROUGH THIS SERVICE IS
STRICTLY ADVISORY AND IS NOT BINDING ON ANY PARTY TO THE
AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES. THE U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE
CANNOT ISSUE ANY BINDING RULINGS UNTIL IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION
HAS BEEN PASSED BY CONGRESS AND SIGNED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON.
THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE BY CALLING (202) 783-3238:
- VOLUME 1 AND 2 OF THE AGREEMENT (INCLUDES TEXT OF AGREEMENT
AND ANNEXES; ANNEX 401, FOR EXAMPLE, GIVES THE ORIGIN RULE
FOR EACH TARIFF CLASSIFICATION NUMBER). COST: US$41.
- SCHEDULE OF U.S. TARIFF RATE REDUCTIONS. COST: US$34.
- SCHEDULE OF CANADIAN TARIFF RATE REDUCTIONS. COST: US$30.
- SCHEDULE OF MEXICAN TARIFF RATE REDUCTIONS. COST: US$34
HOW TO MAKE YOUR INQUIRY
INQUIRIES MAY BE MADE TO THE HELP DESK BY TELEPHONE AT (202)
927-0066; BY FACSIMILE AT (202) 927-0097; OR BY WRITING TO THE
NAFTA HELP DESK, 1301 CONSTITUTION AVENUE, NW, ROOM 1325,
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20229. U.S. CUSTOMS WILL ENDEAVOR TO RESPOND TO
ALL INQUIRIES WITHIN 30 DAYS.
WHEN MORE DETAILS ON HOW THE AGREEMENT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED
BECOME AVAILABLE, AN AUTOMATED FACSIMILE SYSTEM, CAPABLE OF
TRANSMITTING DIRECTLY TO A CALLER'S FACSIMILE MACHINE, WILL BE
ESTABLISHED TO DISSEMINATE THIS INFORMATION. MATERIAL ON THIS
AUTOMATED SYSTEM WILL BE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY AND WILL COVER
GENERAL AREAS OF INTEREST SUCH AS MARKING, DRAWBACK, TEMPORARY
IMPORTATIONS, ETC.
QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS FACT SHEET MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE
NAFTA HELP DESK AT (202) 927-0066.
MARIA P. REBA