ExecutiveOrdersEO
Proc 8331ProclamationG.W. Bush · R Quiet signal

Proclamation 8331

To Implement the Dominican Republic-Central America- United States Free Trade Agreement With Respect to Costa Rica and for Other Purposes

This proclamation implements the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) with respect to Costa Rica, modifying the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to provide preferential tariff treatment, remove Costa Rica from GSP and Caribbean Basin trade preference programs, and make technical corrections to pharmaceutical tariffs. The changes generally take effect January 1, 2009, with some provisions effective on dates specified in annexes.

Federal Register Open PDF 73 FR 79585

Impact dates

  1. General effective date for goods entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption

Key directives

  • Modify HTS to implement CAFTA-DR preferential tariff treatment for Costa Rica
  • Remove Costa Rica from GSP beneficiary developing countries enumeration
  • Remove Costa Rica from CBERA and CBTPA beneficiary country enumerations
  • Make technical corrections to pharmaceuticals annex of HTS
  • Incorporate by reference Annexes I, II, and III of USITC Publication 4038

Timeline

Immediate

  • Proclamation signed December 23, 2008

Near term (90d)

  • Most provisions effective January 1, 2009
  • HTS modifications for tariff-rate quotas and preferential treatment take effect

Long term

  • Ongoing preferential trade treatment under CAFTA-DR
  • Permanent removal of Costa Rica from GSP, CBERA, and CBTPA preference programs

Risks & tensions

  • Some provisions have unspecified effective dates ('relevant dates indicated in Annexes I, II, or III')
  • Supersession clause may create uncertainty about which prior proclamations are affected
Proclamation 8331: To Implement the Dominican Republic-Central America- United States Free Trade Agreement With Respect to Costa Rica and for Other Purposes · Executive Orders