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Statutory Import Programs

Statutory Import Programs

The Florence Agreement Program

UNESCO experts meeting in Florence (It. Firenze), Italy in the early 1950sadopted the terms of an international agreement to promote international understanding and peace by lowering barriers to the exchange of cultural, scientific, and educational materials, most importantly by waiving tariffs on such materials. The agreement covers diverse categories: books and other printed materials, art and museum pieces, tourism materials, audiovisual materials, and the like. Annex D of the agreement covers scientific instruments and apparatus.

The United States became a full party to the agreement when it enacted implementing legislation in 1966. The legislation provides that Annex D scientific instruments may be entered free of duty into the United States only if the Secretary of Commerce first finds that a scientifically equivalent instrument is not being manufactured domestically. By delegation from the Secretary, the director of the Statutory Import Programs Staff is responsible for making and publishing the required findings.

Contact Information

Tyler O’Daniel

Eva Kim

Full Text of the Agreement
Agreement on the Importation of Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Materials, with Annexes A to E and Protocol annexed 1950.
Full Text of the Agreement
Florence Agreement Regulations
The Agreement on the importation of Educational, Scientific and Cultural Materials (Florence Agreement; "the Agreement") is a multinational treaty, which seeks to further the cause of peace through the freer exchange of ideas and knowledge across national boundaries, primarily by eliminating tariffs on certain educational, scientific and cultural materials
The Agreement Regulations
Application Form
The Request for Duty-Free Entry of Scientific Instrument or Apparatus is not an interactive form. It must be filled out, printed and mailed. Applicants must submit the completed signed original and four copies including supporting documents to:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Attention: Entry Process and Duty Refunds Branch
90 K Street, NE, 10th Floor
Washington, DC 20229
Click for the Application Form

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

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