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Title 19

Displaying title 19, up to date as of 8/06/2026. Title 19 was last amended 7/24/2026.
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Origin Verifications and Determinations

§ 10.2026 Verification and justification of claim for preferential tariff treatment.

(a) Verification. A claim for preferential tariff treatment made under § 10.2003(b) or § 10.2011, including any statements or other information submitted to CBP in support of the claim, will be subject to such verification as the Center director deems necessary. In the event that the Center director is provided with insufficient information to verify or substantiate the claim, or the Center director finds a pattern of conduct, indicating that an importer, exporter, or producer has provided false or unsupported declarations or certifications, or the exporter or producer fails to consent to a verification visit, the Center director may deny the claim for preferential treatment. A verification of a claim for preferential tariff treatment under PANTPA for goods imported into the United States may be conducted by means of one or more of the following:

(1) Written requests for information from the importer, exporter, or producer;

(2) Written questionnaires to the importer, exporter, or producer;

(3) Visits to the premises of the exporter or producer in the territory of Panama, to review the records of the type referred to in § 10.2009(c)(1) or to observe the facilities used in the production of the good, in accordance with the framework that the Parties develop for conducting verifications; and

(4) Such other procedures to which the Parties may agree.

(b) Applicable accounting principles. When conducting a verification of origin to which Generally Accepted Accounting Principles may be relevant, CBP will apply and accept the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles applicable in the country of production.

§ 10.2027 Special rule for verifications in Panama of U.S. imports of textile and apparel goods.

(a) Procedures to determine whether a claim of origin is accurate

(1) General. For the purpose of determining that a claim of origin for a textile or apparel good is accurate, CBP may request that the Government of Panama conduct a verification, regardless of whether a claim is made for preferential tariff treatment.

(2) Actions during a verification. While a verification under this paragraph is being conducted, CBP, if directed by the President, may take appropriate action, which may include:

(i) Suspending the application of preferential tariff treatment to the textile or apparel good for which a claim for preferential tariff treatment has been made, if CBP determines there is insufficient information to support the claim;

(ii) Denying the application of preferential tariff treatment to the textile or apparel good for which a claim for preferential tariff treatment has been made that is the subject of a verification if CBP determines that an enterprise has provided incorrect information to support the claim;

(iii) Detention of any textile or apparel good exported or produced by the enterprise subject to the verification if CBP determines there is insufficient information to determine the country of origin of any such good; and

(iv) Denying entry to any textile or apparel good exported or produced by the enterprise subject to the verification if CBP determines that the enterprise has provided incorrect information as to the country of origin of any such good.

(3) Actions following a verification. On completion of a verification under this paragraph, CBP, if directed by the President, may take appropriate action, which may include:

(i) Denying the application of preferential tariff treatment to the textile or apparel good for which a claim for preferential tariff treatment has been made that is the subject of a verification if CBP determines there is insufficient information, or that the enterprise has provided incorrect information, to support the claim; and

(ii) Denying entry to any textile or apparel good exported or produced by the enterprise subject to the verification if CBP determines there is insufficient information to determine, or that the enterprise has provided incorrect information as to, the country of origin of any such good.

(b) Procedures to determine compliance with applicable customs laws and regulations of the United States

(1) General. For purposes of enabling CBP to determine that an exporter or producer is complying with applicable customs laws, regulations, and procedures regarding trade in textile and apparel goods, CBP may request that the government of Panama conduct a verification.

(2) Actions during a verification. While a verification under this paragraph is being conducted, CBP, if directed by the President, may take appropriate action, which may include:

(i) Suspending the application of preferential tariff treatment to any textile or apparel good exported or produced by the enterprise subject to the verification if CBP determines there is insufficient information to support a claim for preferential tariff treatment with respect to any such good;

(ii) Denying the application of preferential tariff treatment to any textile or apparel good exported or produced by the enterprise subject to the verification if CBP determines that the enterprise has provided incorrect information to support a claim for preferential tariff treatment with respect to any such good;

(iii) Detention of any textile or apparel good exported or produced by the enterprise subject to the verification if CBP determines there is insufficient information to determine the country of origin of any such good; and

(iv) Denying entry to any textile or apparel good exported or produced by the enterprise subject to the verification if CBP determines that the enterprise has provided incorrect information as to the country of origin of any such good.

(3) Actions following a verification. On completion of a verification under this paragraph, CBP, if directed by the President, may take appropriate action, which may include:

(i) Denying the application of preferential tariff treatment to any textile or apparel good exported or produced by the enterprise subject to the verification if CBP determines there is insufficient or incorrect information, or that the enterprise has provided incorrect information, to support a claim for preferential tariff treatment with respect to any such good; and

(ii) Denying entry to any textile or apparel good exported or produced by the enterprise subject to the verification if CBP determines there is insufficient information to determine, or that the enterprise has provided incorrect information as to, the country of origin of any such good.

(c) Action by U.S. officials in conducting a verification abroad. U.S. officials may undertake or assist in a verification under this section by conducting visits in the territory of Panama, along with the competent authorities of Panama, to the premises of an exporter, producer, or any other enterprise involved in the movement of textile or apparel goods from Panama to the United States.

(d) Denial of permission to conduct a verification. If an enterprise does not consent to a verification under this section, CBP may deny entry of textile or apparel goods produced or exported by the enterprise.

(e) Continuation of appropriate action. CBP may continue to take appropriate action under paragraph (a) or (b) of this section until it receives information sufficient to enable it to make the determination described in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section.

§ 10.2028 Issuance of negative origin determinations.

If, as a result of an origin verification initiated under this subpart, CBP determines that a claim for preferential tariff treatment under this subpart should be denied, it will issue a determination in writing or via an authorized electronic data interchange system to the importer that sets forth the following:

(a) A description of the good that was the subject of the verification together with the identifying numbers and dates of the import documents pertaining to the good;

(b) A statement setting forth the findings of fact made in connection with the verification and upon which the determination is based; and

(c) With specific reference to the rules applicable to originating goods as set forth in General Note 35, HTSUS, and in §§ 10.2013 through 10.2025, the legal basis for the determination.

§ 10.2029 Repeated false or unsupported preference claims.

Where verification or other information reveals a pattern of conduct by an importer, exporter, or producer of false or unsupported representations that goods qualify under the PANTPA rules of origin set forth in General Note 35, HTSUS, CBP may suspend preferential tariff treatment under the PANTPA to entries of identical goods covered by subsequent representations by that importer, exporter, or producer until CBP determines that representations of that person are in conformity with General Note 35, HTSUS.