§182.72. Verification of claim for preferential tariff treatment. — Inbound Citations

(a) CBP will initiate all verifications of automotive goods, including covered vehicles, pursuant to the means set forth in § 182.72(a) of this part. The general verification and determination provisions set forth in subpart G of this part and the provisions contained in this section are applicable for automotive good verifications.

(a) For textile and apparel goods, CBP has two alternative means of conducting a verification. CBP may conduct a verification for purposes of determining whether a textile and apparel good qualifies for preferential tariff treatment using any of the means described in § 182.72(a) of this part. Alternatively, as described in this section, CBP may conduct a site visit to the premises of the exporter or producer of textile or apparel goods in Mexico or Canada for the purpose of determining:

(1) That a textile or apparel good qualifies for preferential tariff treatment; or

(a) When conducting a verification through a request for information or a questionnaire as provided for in § 182.72(a)(1), CBP will send the importer, exporter or producer a written request for information, a written questionnaire, or its electronic equivalent, including a request for specific documentation to support the claim for preferential tariff treatment.

(1) The written request for information, written questionnaire, or its electronic equivalent will contain the following:

(i) The objective and scope of the verification, including the specific issue that the verification is seeking to resolve; and

(i) The importer, exporter, or producer must make the records, which are required to be maintained to demonstrate that the good qualifies for preferential tariff treatment under the USMCA, available for inspection by a CBP official conducting a verification. CBP may deny the claim for preferential tariff treatment of the good for failure to maintain the required records or if a CBP official is denied access to the records.

(ii) During the verification of a material, any records in the material producer's possession demonstrating that the material qualifies as originating must be made available for inspection by a CBP official conducting a verification. CBP may consider the material that is used in the production of the good and is the subject of the verification to be non-originating material if a CBP official is denied access to these records.