19 U.S.C. § 1304
Marking of imported articles and containers
Whenever an article is excepted under subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section from the requirements of marking, the immediate container, if any, of such article, or such other container or containers of such article as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, shall be marked in such manner as to indicate to an ultimate purchaser in the United States the English name of the country of origin of such article, subject to all provisions of this section, including the same exceptions as are applicable to articles under subdivision (3) of subsection (a). If articles are excepted from marking requirements under clause (F), (G), or (H) of subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section, their usual containers shall not be subject to the marking requirements of this section. Usual containers in use as such at the time of importation shall in no case be required to be marked to show the country of their own origin.
No exception may be made under subsection (a)(3) with respect to compressed gas cylinders designed to be used for the transport and storage of compressed gases whether or not certified prior to exportation to have been made in accordance with the safety requirements of sections 178.36 through 178.68 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, each of which shall be marked with the English name of the country of origin by means of die stamping, molding, etching, raised lettering, or an equally permanent method of marking.
No exception may be made under subsection (a)(3) with respect to inlet frames, tree and trench grates, lampposts, lamppost bases, cast utility poles, bollards, hydrants, utility boxes, manhole rings or frames, covers, and assemblies thereof each of which shall be marked on the top surface with the English name of the country of origin by means of die stamping, cast-in-mold lettering, etching, engraving, or an equally permanent method of marking in a location such that it will remain visible after installation.
The marking requirements of subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply to articles described in subheadings 0901.21, 0901.22, 0902.10, 0902.20, 0902.30, 0902.40, 2101.10, and 2101.20 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, as in effect on
The marking requirements of subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply to articles provided for under subheadings 0904.11, 0904.12, 0904.20, 0905.00, 0906.10, 0906.20, 0907.00, 0908.10, 0908.20, 0908.30, 0909.10, 0909.20, 0909.30, 0909.40, 0909.50, 0910.10, 0910.20, 0910.30, 0910.40, 0910.50, 0910.91, 0910.99, 1106.20, 1207.40, 1207.50, 1207.91, 1404.90, and 3302.10, and items classifiable in categories 0712.90.60, 0712.90.8080, 1209.91.2000, 1211.90.2000, 1211.90.8040, 1211.90.8050, 1211.90.8090, 2006.00.3000, 2918.13.2000, 3203.00.8000, 3301.90.1010, 3301.90.1020, and 3301.90.1050 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, as in effect on
If at the time of importation any article (or its container, as provided in subsection (b) hereof) is not marked in accordance with the requirements of this section, and if such article is not exported or destroyed or the article (or its container, as provided in subsection (b) hereof) marked after importation in accordance with the requirements of this section (such exportation, destruction, or marking to be accomplished under customs supervision prior to the liquidation of the entry covering the article, and to be allowed whether or not the article has remained in continuous customs custody), there shall be levied, collected, and paid upon such article a duty of 10 per centum ad valorem, which shall be deemed to have accrued at the time of importation, shall not be construed to be penal, and shall not be remitted wholly or in part nor shall payment thereof be avoidable for any cause. Such duty shall be levied, collected, and paid in addition to any other duty imposed by law and whether or not the article is exempt from the payment of ordinary customs duties. The compensation and expenses of customs officers and employees assigned to supervise the exportation, destruction, or marking to exempt articles from the application of the duty provided for in this subsection shall be reimbursed to the Government by the importer.
No imported article held in customs custody for inspection, examination, or appraisement shall be delivered until such article and every other article of the importation (or their containers), whether or not released from customs custody, shall have been marked in accordance with the requirements of this section or until the amount of duty estimated to be payable under subsection (i) of this section has been deposited. Nothing in this section shall be construed as excepting any article (or its container) from the particular requirements of marking provided for in any other provision of law.
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, referred to in subsecs. (f) to (h) and (k)(2)(B), is not set out in the Code. See Publication of Harmonized Tariff Schedule note set out under section 1202 of this title.
Provisions dealing with the subject matter of this section and former section 133 of this title were contained in act Oct. 3, 1913, ch. 16, § IV, F, subsecs. 1 and 2, 38 Stat. 194, superseding similar provisions of previous tariff acts. Those subsections were superseded by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title III, § 304(a), 42 Stat. 947, and repealed by § 321 of that act. Section 304(a) of the act of 1922 was superseded by section 304 of act
2020—Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 116–113 added subsec. (k) and struck out former subsec. (k) which related to treatment of goods of a NAFTA country.
2016—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 114–125, § 917(a)(3), inserted before period at end “in a location such that it will remain visible after installation”.
Pub. L. 114–125, § 917(a)(2), which directed insertion of “inlet frames, tree and trench grates, lampposts, lamppost bases, cast utility poles, bollards, hydrants, utility boxes,” before “manhole rings,”, was executed by making the insertion before “manhole rings or frames,” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Pub. L. 114–125, § 917(a)(1), substituted “castings” for “manhole rings or frames, covers, and assemblies thereof” in heading.
1999—Subsecs. (h), (i). Pub. L. 106–36, § 2423(a), added subsec. (h) and redesignated former subsec. (h) as (i). Former subsec. (i) redesignated (j).
Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 106–36, § 2423(a)(1), (b), redesignated subsec. (i) as (j) and substituted “subsection (i)” for “subsection (h)”. Former subsec. (j) redesignated (k).
Subsecs. (k), (l). Pub. L. 106–36, § 2423(a)(1), redesignated subsecs. (j) and (k) as (k) and (l), respectively.
1996—Subsecs. (f) to (h). Pub. L. 104–295, § 14(a), added subsecs. (f) and (g) and redesignated former subsec. (f) as (h). Former subsecs. (g) and (h) redesignated (i) and (j), respectively.
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 104–295, § 14(a)(1), (b), redesignated subsec. (g) as (i) and substituted “subsection (h) of this section” for “subsection (f) of this section”.
Subsecs. (j), (k). Pub. L. 104–295, § 14(a)(1), redesignated subsecs. (h) and (i) as (j) and (k), respectively.
1993—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 103–182, § 207(a)(1), substituted “engraving, or continuous paint stenciling” for “or engraving”.
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 103–182, § 207(a)(2), substituted “five methods” for “four methods” and struck out “such as paint stenciling” after “method of marking”.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103–182, § 207(a)(3), substituted “engraving, or an equally permanent method of marking” for “or engraving”.
Subsecs. (h), (i). Pub. L. 103–182, § 207(a)(4), (5), added subsec. (h) and redesignated former subsec. (h) as (i).
1988—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 100–418 amended subsec. (h) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (h) read as follows: “If any person shall, with intent to conceal the information given thereby or contained therein, deface, destroy, remove, alter, cover, obscure, or obliterate any mark required under the provisions of this chapter, he shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.”
1986—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–514 substituted “(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), no” for “No” and added par. (2).
1984—Subsecs. (c) to (h). Pub. L. 98–573 added subsecs. (c) to (e), redesignated former subsecs. (c) to (e) as (f) to (h), respectively, and in subsec. (g), as redesignated, substituted “subsection (f) of this section” for “subsection (c) of this section”.
1953—Subsec. (a)(3)(K). Act
1938—Act
Pub. L. 116–113, title II, § 209(d),
[For definition of “USMCA” as used in section 209(d) of Pub. L. 116–113, set out above, see section 4502 of this title.]
Pub. L. 114–125, title IX, § 917(b),
Pub. L. 106–36, title II, § 2423(c),
Pub. L. 104–295, § 14(c),
Amendment by Pub. L. 103–182 effective on the date the North American Free Trade Agreement enters into force with respect to the United States (
Pub. L. 100–418, title I, § 1907(a)(2),
Pub. L. 98–573, title II, § 214,
Act Aug. 8, 1953, ch. 397, § 1, 67 Stat. 507, provided that such act [see Short Title of 1953 Amendment note set out under section 1654 of this title] is effective, except as otherwise specifically provided for, on and after the thirtieth day following the date of its enactment [
The exception “except as otherwise specifically provided for” apparently refers to the amendments made to the provisions preceding subd. (1) of section 1308 of this title, and to section 1557(b) of this title, for which separate effective dates were provided as explained in notes under such sections.
Amendment by act
Act Aug. 8, 1953, ch. 397, § 23, 67 Stat. 521, provided:
For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the United States Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury, including functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 203(1), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of
Pub. L. 103–182, title II, § 207(b),
For provisions directing that if any amendments made by subtitle A or subtitle C of title XI [§§ 1101–1147 and 1171–1177] or title XVIII [§§ 1801–1899A] of Pub. L. 99–514 require an amendment to any plan, such plan amendment shall not be required to be made before the first plan year beginning on or after
Functions of officers of Department of the Treasury and functions of all agencies and employees of such Department transferred, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Treasury, with power vested in him to authorize their performance or performance of any of his functions, by any of such officers, agencies, and employees, by Reorg. Plan No. 26 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff.