2013 TPL & Sublimits for DR-CAFTA Apparel w/ Inputs from Mexico Announced
CBP issued a memorandum announcing the 2013 tariff preference level (TPL) limit and sublimits for certain U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) apparel goods that can benefit from cumulation1 using Mexican inputs, as provided for in HTS Chapter 98, Subchapter XXII, U.S. Note 21.
This TPL opened on January 2 for the January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013 period.
Cumulation TPL & Sublimits
According to CBP, the 2012 overall TPL for subject apparel goods is 100,000,000 square meter equivalents (SME). There are also three sublimits to this TPL:
| 1) Certain trousers, skirts, and parts thereof, of cotton or man-made fibers, or subject to cotton or man-made fiber restraints | 45,000,000 SME |
| 2) Certain cotton blue denim trousers and skirts | 20,000,000 SME |
| 3) Certain apparel goods, not knitted or crocheted, containing 36% or more by weight of wool or subject to wool restraints | 1,000,000 SME |
CBP states that this apparel is to be entered under HTS 9822.05.11, pursuant to HTS Chapter 98, Subchapter XXII, U.S. Note 21(b). In addition, the filer must use entry type code 02, 06, 07, 12, 23, 32, 38, or 52. Any of the specified apparel not made from such fabric or yarns are to be entered under HTS subheading 9822.05.13.
1Cumulation allows certain woven apparel items of HTS Chapter 62 produced with Mexican materials to claim preferential treatment as though they originated in a DR-CAFTA country, pursuant to HTS General Note 29 (d)(vii).
(QBT-12-140, dated 12/28/12)