Successor Entities to the Netherlands Antilles (DFARS Case 2011-D029)

Summary:

DCN 20110629 includes a final rule to revise the definitions of "Caribbean Basin country" and "designated country" due to the change in the political status of the islands that comprised the Netherlands Antilles.

Supplementary Information:

I.  Background

This final rule amends definitions of "Caribbean Basin country" and "designated country" at the clauses 252.225-7021, Trade Agreements, and 252.225-45, Balance of Payments Program--Construction Materials Under Trade Agreements.

On October 10, 2010, Curacao and Sint Maarten became autonomous territories of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius now fall under the direct administration of the Netherlands.

The Netherlands Antilles was designated as a beneficiary country under the Caribbean Basin Initiative (see 19 U.S.C. 2702). According to the initiative, successor political entities remain eligible as beneficiary countries.  

Therefore, the definitions have been revised to replace "Netherlands Antilles" with the five separate successor entities.

Dates:

The Effective Date for this final rule is 29 June 2011.

Click here to read the entire Federal Register notice for this rule.