U.S.-Laos Trade Agreement Enters Into Force
On Febrary 11, 2005, the U.S. Trade Representative published a notice in the Federal Register announcing that the trade agreement between the U.S. and the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos) entered into force on February 4, 2005. As a result, all products of Laos entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption into to the U.S. on or after February 4, 2005 will receive most-favored-nation (MFN) tariff treatment (also known as "normal trade relations"). U.S. products imported into Laos will receive MFN treatment on or after February 11, 2005. The Federal Register notice published by USTR can be found at the following link: a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-2723.pdf.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recently published an Administrative Message announcing that the Automated Commercial System has been programmed to allow entry filers to enter goods originating in Laos under Normal Trade Relations duty rates, also known as "Column 1" duty rates.