Issue 274, October 24, 2000
Over the past two weeks, U.S. Customs has taken several actions impacting textile, origin/quota and transshipment enforcement. Last week, Customs released the updated 592a list (List of Foreign Entities Violating Textile Transshipment and Country of Origin Rules). A total of 24 foreign entities are named, with one entity appearing for the first time (G.P. Wedding Service Centre, Hong Kong). Two entities have been deleted since publication of the last list on March 30, 2000. Customs is also requesting information from the importing public with respect to another 26 foreign companies that may have engaged in similar illegal activity. No new names appear on this list and six names have been removed since publication of the last list. Any importer doing business with these companies will be required to exercise a higher degree of care in ascertaining the actual country of origin of any merchandise sold or exported by these entities.

On October 17, 2000, Customs published a new Hong Kong/ Macau /Taiwan Suspected Transshippers List, adding the names of 6 Hong Kong factories. The new companies added to the list are:

Asia Garment Factory (NT)
Mermaid Fashion Manufacturing Company Limited (K)
Riverland Knitwear Factory Limited (K)
Siu Hang Garment Factory (NT)
Triple Wealth Garment Limited (K)
Wai Fat Garment Factory Limited (K)

Imports from these factories are subject to detention and submission of documentation of the origin of the merchandise.

In addition, the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has issued a notice announcing that effective November 19, 2000, it is directing Customs to deny entry to textile products manufactured by the Indonesian company Pt. Pollux Indonesia Textile Industry, exported during the period November 19, 2000 through November 18, 2002, because this company was found to have been illegally transshipping, closed or unable to produce records to verify production.

Finally, for the first time, U.S. Customs posted a listing of all entities that paid penalties under the Customs' Civil Penalty Statute from January 1 through June 30, 2000. Customs indicated they will be publishing the list at least twice annually. The report can be found at http://www.customs.gov/news/fed-reg/notices/report1.pdf.

Our contributing writer, David M. Murphy is a partner with the firm of Grunfeld, Desiderio, Lebowitz , Silverman & Klestadt and can be reached at 212-973-7724 or www.gdlsk.com. The firm has offices in New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, Los Angeles and Atlanta. The firm practices exclusively in the areas of Customs and International Trade.

Please note that due to the complex nature of the subject matter, Danzas AEI cannot be responsible for actions taken by the reader in reliance on the information contained herein without prior consultation with Danzas AEI.