CBP Expects to Launch Documentation Exam of Certain Knit-to-Shape Garments
According to government sources and the U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is planning to detain certain knit-to-shape garments claiming a country of origin other than China, whose entry package claims their panels were knit-to-shape in a country other than China, and then sent to China to be linked and looped.
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Government sources state that CBP has found evidence that what is actually occurring in certain situations is that quota is being circumvented, as both the knitting-to-shape and linking and looping are occurring in China (without claiming China as the country of origin).
During the period of detention, CBP is expected to ask for production documentation in order to verify the entry's country of origin claim.
CBP is planning to begin its origin verification of knit-to-shape garments sometime in April 2004, and it is not known how long it will last.
In addition, government sources indicate that the initiative may impact entries that are currently quota and visa-free, as well as those subject to quota.
BP will update subscribers as new information is available.
BP Notes
CBP has been conducting 'targeted' documentation exams of textiles and apparel for over one year, with the most recent exam of socks still ongoing. (Government sources newly state that as an alternative to detaining socks while production documentation is requested and examined, CBP may "conditionally release" socks while production documentation is being provided.)
See ITT's Online Archives or 02/19/04 news, 04021910 for most recent BP summary on socks. See ITT's Online Archives or 01/29/04 news, 04012915 for BP summary on CBP's document exams during the last year.