Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 68 Part 1.djvu/1168

 PUBLIC LAW 7 6 8 - S E P T. 1, 1954

1136

Public Law 768 September 1, 1954 [H. R. 10009]

Cust f i c a 'uS'n 1954.

[68

STAT.

CHAPTER 1213

AN ACT To provide for the review of customs tariff schedules, to improve procedures for the tariff classification of unenumerated articles, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the A^rt'oV United States of America in Go7igress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Customs Simplification Act of 1954"'. TITLE I — R E VI E W O F CUSTOMS T A R I F F S C H E D U L E S

46 Stat. 590. 19 USC 1654.

Transmission o f data, e t c., to President and Congress.

Report.

SEC. 101. (a) The United States Tariff Commission shall proceed promptly to make a complete study of all provisions of the customs laws of the United States under which imported articles may be classified for tariff purposes, including the dutiable and free lists and related special provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended and as modified, the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code relating to the duties designated as import taxes, as amended and as modified, and other laws. The Commission shall compile a revision and consolidation of such provisions of the customs laws which, in the judgment of the Commission, will accomplish to the extent practicable the following purposes: (1) Establish schedules of tariff classifications which will be logical in arrangement and terminology and adapted to the changes which have occurred since 1930 in the character and importance of articles produced in and imported into the United States and in the markets in which they are sold. (2) Elimmate anomalies and illogical results in the classification of articles. (3) Simplify the determination and application of tariff classifications. (b) The Commission shall seek to accomplish the purposes of subsection (a) without suggesting changes in any rate or rates of duty on individual products, whether those rates are applied by statute or by Presidential proclamation. Where, however, in the judgment of the Commission, the purposes of subsection (a) cannot be accomplished without such changes, the Commission shall specify each incidental change in rates which in its judgment would accomplish such purposes, and shall accompany it with a summary of all the data on which such suggested change was based, together with a statement of the probable effect of such suggested change on any industry in the United States. Before suggesting any changes in rates of duty, the Commission shall give public notice of its intention to do so and shall afford reasonable opportunity for parties interested to be present, to produce evidence, and to be heard at public hearings with respect to the probable effect of such suggested changes on any industry in the United States. (c) Not later than two years after the enactment of this Act the Commission shall transmit copies of the schedules and accompanying data and statements to the President and to the chairmen of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate. (d) On or before March 15, 1955, the Commission shall report to the President and to the chairmen of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate (1) the progress that has been made in carrying out the provisions of this section, (2) the significant complexities of tariff classification that have been developed as existing in the present law, and (3) suggestions as to standards and methods which might be

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