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Importing into the United States - Indo-American Chamber Of ...

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conditions of <strong>the</strong> order when it becomes final.<br />

If <strong>the</strong> President determines that entry of <strong>the</strong><br />

merchandise is not in violation of section 337,<br />

<strong>the</strong> bond is canceled.<br />

45. Importations of articles bearing <strong>the</strong> title,<br />

abbreviations, initials, symbols, emblems,<br />

seals, or badges of any subdivision of <strong>the</strong><br />

Department of <strong>the</strong> Treasury, or likeness<br />

<strong>the</strong>reof, are prohibited unless <strong>the</strong> subdivision<br />

has authorized <strong>the</strong> use of <strong>the</strong> symbol, initials,<br />

etc. See 31 U.S.C. 333(c).<br />

46. Artifacts/Cultural Property. A number of<br />

U.S. laws are applicable to importations of artifacts<br />

such as archaeological and ethnological<br />

objects. For example, U.S. law prohibits <strong>the</strong><br />

importation of pre-Columbian monumental<br />

and architectural sculpture and murals from<br />

countries in Central and South America<br />

without proper export permits from <strong>the</strong><br />

country of origin. U.S. Customs will not accept<br />

an export permit from a third country. Also,<br />

importations of certain archeological and<br />

ethnographic material from El Salvador,<br />

Guatemala, Peru, Mali, and Canada are specifically<br />

restricted from entering <strong>the</strong> <strong>United</strong> <strong>States</strong><br />

unless <strong>the</strong>y are accompanied by an export certificate<br />

issued by <strong>the</strong> country of origin. The U.S.<br />

Customs Service has published import restrictions<br />

on objects and artifacts of this nature in<br />

<strong>the</strong> Federal Register; <strong>the</strong>se restrictions may also<br />

be viewed at <strong>the</strong> U.S. Information Agency’s<br />

Web site, www.usia.gov/education/culprop.<br />

These restrictions are aimed at deterring <strong>the</strong><br />

pillage of o<strong>the</strong>r countries’ cultural heritage and<br />

at fostering opportunities for access to cultural<br />

objects for legitimate scientific, cultural, and<br />

educational purposes.<br />

Federal law also prohibits <strong>the</strong> importation<br />

of any article of cultural property stolen from<br />

museums or from religious or secular public<br />

monuments. Importers should be aware that a<br />

treaty exists between <strong>the</strong> <strong>United</strong> <strong>States</strong> and<br />

Mexico on cultural property recovery.<br />

Would-be buyers of such property should be<br />

aware that, unlike purchases of customary<br />

tourist merchandise, purchases of cultural<br />

objects do not confer ownership should <strong>the</strong><br />

object be found to be stolen. The U.S. National<br />

Stolen Property Act may be applicable in such<br />

cases, particularly if a country of origin<br />

declares by law that it owns all cultural objects,<br />

known or unknown, within its present-day<br />

political boundaries.<br />

Purveyors of such merchandise have been<br />

known to offer fake export cerificates. Prospective<br />

buyers should be aware that Customs<br />

inspectors are expert at spotting fraudulent<br />

export certificates that accompany cultural<br />

property. Customs inspectors will also examine<br />

declaration forms to determine whe<strong>the</strong>r any<br />

false information has been entered, since this<br />

also constitutes a violation.<br />

For current information about countries<br />

for which <strong>the</strong> <strong>United</strong> <strong>States</strong> has issued specific<br />

import restrictions, contact <strong>the</strong> <strong>United</strong> <strong>States</strong><br />

Information Agency, Washington, DC, Tel.<br />

202.619.6612, or visit <strong>the</strong> agency’s Web site:<br />

www.usia.gov/education/culprop. For information<br />

about how <strong>the</strong>se restrictions are enforced,<br />

contact <strong>the</strong> U.S. Customs Service Intellectual<br />

Property Rights Branch, Tel. 202.927.2330.<br />

47. <strong>United</strong> <strong>States</strong> Trade Representative<br />

Actions. As authorized by <strong>the</strong> Trade Act of<br />

1974, <strong>the</strong> <strong>United</strong> <strong>States</strong> Trade Representative<br />

(USTR) administers Section 301 complaints<br />

against foreign unfair trade practices that harm<br />

U.S. exporters. USTR actions that may directly<br />

affect U.S. importers include <strong>the</strong> suspension of<br />

concessions. For example, <strong>the</strong> USTR may suspend<br />

<strong>the</strong> normal-trade-relations rate of duty<br />

and substitute a substantially higher rate of<br />

duty on designated products from a foreign<br />

country that is found to be discriminating<br />

against U.S. products.<br />

Importers and Internet shoppers should<br />

monitor <strong>the</strong> USTR web site (http://192.239.92.<br />

165/index.html) on a regular basis to determine<br />

whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>ir products may become subject to<br />

a substituted rate of duty. The USTR will normally<br />

propose a list of products and provide a<br />

comment period for businesses that may be<br />

affected by a higher duty rate.<br />

The International Trade Administration at<br />

<strong>the</strong> Department of Commerce has set up a notification<br />

system that will advise importers of<br />

USTR actions that may affect imported products.<br />

Importers who wish to receive such notification<br />

should sign up at <strong>the</strong> following URL:<br />

http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/industry/otea/301-<br />

alert/form.html.<br />

84 U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE

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