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Proc 8818ProclamationObama · D Quiet signal

Proclamation 8818

To Implement the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement and for Other Purposes

This proclamation implements the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement by modifying the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) to establish preferential tariff treatment for Colombian goods, remove Colombia from GSP/ATPA/ATPDEA beneficiary status, and delegate authority to the Secretary of Commerce, CITA, and USTR for trade administration. It also corrects technical errors in prior proclamations related to Oman, NAFTA, and Korea free trade agreements.

Federal Register Open PDF 77 FR 29519

Impact dates

  1. Future staged duty reductions per Annex II of Publication 4320

  2. HTS modifications in Annex III section B effective (Peru ATPA removal)

  3. HTS modifications in Annex IV section B effective (Oman correction)

  4. HTS modifications in Annex IV section C effective (NAFTA restoration)

  5. HTS modifications in Annex IV section A effective (GSP textile amendment)

Key directives

  • Modify HTS per Annex I of USITC Publication 4320 for Colombia preferential treatment
  • Modify HTS per Annex II for staged duty reductions
  • Secretary of Commerce to establish/designate office for Agreement panel assistance
  • CITA authorized to determine commercial availability of fabrics/yarns/fibers and modify Annex 3-B
  • CITA authorized to exclude textile/apparel goods and deny preferential treatment
  • USTR authorized to fulfill congressional notification and consultation obligations
  • USTR authorized to modify HTS note 33 via Federal Register notice
  • Correct HTS errors for Oman (general note 31), NAFTA (general note 12), and Korea (general note 33)

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • HTS modifications effective per Annex dates
  • Colombia removed from GSP/ATPA/ATPDEA beneficiary lists

Near term (90d)

  • Office establishment within Commerce Department under section 105(a)
  • CITA procedures for fabric/yarn/fiber commercial availability determinations

Long term

  • Staged duty reductions for Colombian goods per Annex II schedule
  • Ongoing trade dispute resolution and textile safeguard mechanisms

Risks & tensions

  • Potential disruption to U.S. agricultural markets from tariff-rate quota implementation (section 201(d))
  • Textile industry safeguard mechanism may trigger disputes with Colombia
  • Technical corrections to prior proclamations suggest previous administrative errors in trade agreements
  • Removal of Colombia from GSP/ATPA may face opposition from development advocates
  • Delegation of presidential authority to CITA and USTR raises interagency coordination questions
Proclamation 8818: To Implement the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement and for Other Purposes · Executive Orders