exemptions: Virgin Islands,

[Federal Register: March 17, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 51)]

[Notices]

[Page 13033-13034]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr17mr98-32]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Docket No. 971021249-8006-02]

RIN 0625-AA50

Allocation of Duty-Exemptions for Calendar Year 1998 Among Watch Producers Located in the Virgin Islands

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce; Office of Insular Affairs, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This action allocates 1998 duty-exemptions for watch producers located in the Virgin Islands pursuant to Public Law 97-446, as amended by Public Law 103-465 (``the Act'').

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Faye Robinson, (202) 482-3526.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Act the Departments of the Interior and Commerce (the Departments) share responsibility for the allocation of duty exemptions among watch assembly firms in the United States insular possessions and the Northern Mariana Islands. In accordance with Section 303.3(a) of the regulations (15 CFR Part 303), this action establishes the total quantity of duty-free insular watches and watch movements for 1998 at 4,140,000 units and divides this amount among the three insular possessions of the United States and the Northern Mariana Islands. If this amount, 2,640,000 units may be allocated to Virgin Islands producers, 500,000 to Guam producers, 500,000 to American Samoa producers and 500,000 to Northern Mariana Islands producers (63 FR 5887).

The criteria for the calculation of the 1998 duty-exemption allocations among insular producers are set forth in Section 303.14 of the regulations.

The Departments have verified the data submitted on application form ITA-334P by Virgin Islands producers and inspected their current operations in accordance with Section 303.5 of the regulations.

In calendar year 1997 the Virgin Islands watch assembly firms shipped 922,229 watches and watch movements into the customs territory of the United States under the Act. The dollar amount of creditable corporate income taxes paid by Virgin Islands producers during calendar year 1997 plus the creditable wages paid by the industry during calendar year 1997 to residents of the territory was $3,458,360.

There are no producers in Guam, American Samoa or the Northern Mariana Islands.

The calendar year 1998 Virginia Islands annual allocations set forth below are based on the data verified by the Departments in the Virgin Islands. The allocations reflect adjustments made in data supplied on the producers' annual application forms (ITA-334P) as a result of the Departments' verification.

The duty-exemption allocations for calendar year 1998 in the Virgin Islands are as follows:

Annual Name of firm

allocation

Belair Quartz, Inc......................................... 500,000 Hampden Watch Co., Inc..................................... 200,000 Progress Watch Co., Inc.................................... 350,000 Unitime Industries, Inc.................................... 500,000 Tropex, Inc. Inc........................................... 300,000

[[Page 13034]]

Robert S. LaRussa, Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, Department of Commerce. Allen Stayman Director, Office of Insular Affairs, Department of the Interior.

[FR Doc. 98-6893Filed3-16-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M, 4310-93-M