TO :	Directors, Field Operations
FROM :	Executive Director, Trade Programs Office of Field Operations
SUBJECT:	Permanent Normal Trade Relations Status for Afghanistan

Background:
Section 118 (a)(1) of the Ethics in Government Act Amendments of 1985 (Public Law 99-190) provided that the President could determine that Title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 should no longer apply to Afghanistan, and after making such a determination, proclaim the extension of nondiscriminatory trade treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to products of Afghanistan. As a result, Presidential Proclamation 5437, of January 31, 1986, modified the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) to deny nondiscriminatory trade treatment to the products of Afghanistan.

Pursuant to section 118 (c)(1), of Public Law 99-190, the President has determined that it is appropriate to restore nondiscriminatory trade treatment to products of Afghanistan, and thereby cause such products to be subject to the applicable Column 1 - General rate of duty of the HTS, in order to normalize trade relations with Afghanistan and facilitate increased trade with the United States.

Action:
Per Presidential Proclamation 7553, dated May 3, 2002, and published in the Federal Register on May 7, 2002, (67 FR 30535), nondiscriminatory trade treatment will apply to products of Afghanistan entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after June 6, 2002.

In addition, per Proclamation 7553, the HTS is modified by striking "Afghanistan" under General Note 3(b), which enumerates those countries whose products are subject to duty rates set forth in Rates of Duty Column 2 of the tariff schedule. This change is effective on or after June 6, 2002.

The Automated Commercial System has been updated to reflect the above referenced modifications. Therefore, ABI entries may be filed for products of Afghanistan with payment of duties as set forth in Rates of Duty Column 1-General subcolumn, HTS entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after June 6, 2002.

Copies of this memorandum should be made available to Port Directors; Assistant Port Directors, Trade; Import and Entry Specialists; Inspectors; brokers; importers and other interested parties.

Questions concerning this notice from the importing community should be referred to their local CBP port. The CBP port of entry may refer questions to Arlene Lugo, Trade Agreements Branch, at (202) 927-4183, or via cc:Mail.

/s/
Elizabeth G. Durant

cc: Executive Director, Field Operations