Importing from Myanmar?

I don't usually do this, but here it is expedient. Rather than summarize Customs and Border Protection's guidance on imports from Burma, I'll just repeat it. I cannot quite figure out where this is placed on the CBP website, but it is called "burma_august2013.doc."


Certain Burmese Rubies, Jadeite and Articles Containing Burmese Rubies or Jadeite Are Prohibited from Importation into the United States

In light of the expiration of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 (the “BFDA”) (Public Law 108-61), as amended by the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE (Junta’s Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2008 (the “JADE Act”) (Public Law 110-286), on August 7, 2013, the President issued an Executive Order (“EO”) that prohibits the importation of “any jadeite or rubies mined or extracted from Burma and any articles of jewelry containing jadeite or rubies mined or extracted from Burma.”  This EO amends Executive Order 13310 (July 28, 2003), in relevant part, by revoking the section of that order imposing a prohibition on the importation into the United States of any article that is a product of Burma.  Therefore, with the expiration of the BFDA, as amended by the JADE Act, and with the new amendment to Executive Order 13310, there is no longer a general ban of “any article that is a product of Burma,” and certain provisions of the JADE Act and the Presidential Proclamation 8294 of September 26, 2008 (the “Proclamation”) will no longer be enforced.  As such, CBP is removing the JADE Act regulations at 19 CFR § 12.151.  CBP will no longer enforce certain provisions of the JADE Act and the Proclamation, such as the exporter certification requirement for the importation of “non-Burmese covered articles.”   

Imports Prohibited

CBP will continue to enforce the import prohibition of Burmese jadeite and rubies, and articles containing Burmese jadeite and rubies, as defined in the August 7, 2013 EO. 

For purposes of the import prohibition in the EO, the following definitions apply: 

(a)       the term "jadeite" means any jadeite classifiable under heading 7103 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS);

(b)        the term "rubies" means any rubies classifiable under heading 7103 of the HTS;

(c)        the term "articles of jewelry containing jadeite or rubies" means:

(i) any article of jewelry classifiable under heading 7113 of the HTS that contains jadeites or rubies; or

(ii) any article of jadeite or rubies classifiable under heading 7116 of the HTS.

Exception to the Import Prohibition

Section 6 of the August 7, 2013 EO states that there is no prohibition of the importation of any jadeite or rubies mined or extracted from Burma or any articles of jewelry containing jadeite or rubies mined or extracted from Burma that were previously exported from the United States, including those that accompanied an individual outside the United States for personal use, if they are reimported to the United States by the same person who exported them, without having been advanced in value or improved in condition by any process or other means while outside the United States. 

Parties who are temporarily exporting from the U.S. “any jadeite or rubies mined or extracted from Burma or any article of jewelry containing jadeite or rubies mined or extracted from Burma” are advised to register those articles prior to export through one of the following methods:
 
CBP Form 4455 - Certificate of Registration

http://forms.cbp.gov/pdf/CBP_Form_4455.pdf

CBP Form 4457 - Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Abroad

http://forms.cbp.gov/pdf/CBP_Form_4457.pdf

A carnet issued by the U.S. Council for International Business. This is more suitable for commercial samples and items for trade shows and exhibitions.

http://www.uscib.org/index.asp?documentID=718

If one of the above-referenced documents is not presented to CBP at the time of re-importation into the United States, the importer must present documentary evidence that supports the claim that subject articles were exported and re-imported by the same person without having been advanced in value or improved in condition by any process or other means while outside the United States.  Without such documentation, the articles are subject to seizure by CBP.

For questions regarding the import prohibition in the August 7, 2013 EO, contact CBP’s Partner Government Agencies (PGA) Branch at ogaandimportsafety@dhs.gov

Executive Order - Prohibiting Certain Imports of Burmese Jadeite and Rubies

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/08/07/executive-order-prohibiting-certain-imports-burmese-jadeite-and-rubies

U.S. Economic Sanctions Against Burma – See U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)

http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Pages/burma.aspx


 

Comments

Brian said…
It is here: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/entry_summary/laws/public_law/
Aug 15, 2013, 10:45:00 AM
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