Australia FTA Implementing Regulations Finalized

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has adopted as final, with one clarifying change, a February 2015 rule amending its regulations to implement the preferential tariff treatment and other customs-related provisions of the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force Jan. 1, 2005. These regulations address import and export requirements, rules of origin, origin verifications and determinations, penalties, goods returned after repair or alteration, merchandise processing fees, import inspection and examination, textile and apparel goods trade, procedures for claiming preferential treatment, consultation mechanisms and customs administration, among other things.