The Connell Company
Berkeley Heights, New  Jersey 07922
August 30, 2005

The Honorable E. Clay Shaw, Jr. (R-FL)
Chairman, Subcommittee on Trade
Committee on Ways and Means
1106 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Shaw:

These written comments are submitted pursuant to Trade Advisory #TR-3 issued on Monday, July 25, 2005, on behalf of Connell Rice & Sugar Co., a Division of The Connell Company (Connell).  We support the inclusion of HR 2997, a bill regarding the liquidation or reliquidation of certain drawback claims, into this Congress’ Miscellaneous Trade Package.

This reliquidation bill is needed as a result of the U.S. Custom Service not following the standard for determining commercial interchangeability as established by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in determining whether or not to grant drawbacks for the claims identified in the above-referenced bill.  Connell strongly supports this bill as it will correct the misapplication by U.S. Customs of the commercial interchangeability standard with respect to exports of rice from the U.S. 

Should you have any questions concerning these comments, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned at the above address or phone number.  We thank the Committee for its consideration of these comments.

Grover Connell
President