Country of Origin Marking: Review of Laws, Regulations, and Practices

Résumé

Following receipt on January 11, 1996, of a request from the Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives, the Commission instituted Investigation No. 332-366, Country of Origin Marking: Review of Laws, Regulations, and Practices, under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)). As requested by the Committee, the Commission will provide a report that will include the following: (1) A legislative and administrative history of U.S. marking rules, including a comparison of the concepts and approaches for determining country of origin for foreign and domestic goods; (2) An analysis of the administrative processes in the United States for determining origin and appealing decisions on marking issues; and (3) An evaluation of the problems which the country of origin marking rules create for industry, and the benefits of these rules to consumers, including the costs to government and industry of enforcement and compliance. As requested by the Committee, the Commission in its investigation will focus on the industries producing electronics, steel, pharmaceuticals, hand tools, and frozen vegetables; other industries where information is available will be stud