Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 1996

Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to require that interest on claims be accrued from the date of the claim for the reliquidation (refund) of excess duties paid on certain entries of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) products.

(Sec. 2) Amends Federal customs law to repeal the requirement that certain small vessels departing from a foreign port, or which visited a hovering vessel, carry a certificate for the importation into the United States of alcoholic spirits.

Includes all expenses associated with recovering indebtedness owed to the Government under the customs laws among the amounts the Secretary shall contract with private collection agencies to recover.

(Sec. 3) Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to require certain customs fees charged against merchandise imported from a foreign trade zone to be applied only to the value of the privileged or nonprivileged part of such merchandise. Declares that the similar application of such customs fees to imported U.S. agricultural products processed and packed in a foreign trade zone shall be effective to entries made on or after certain dates.

(Sec. 6) Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to authorize the United States Customs Service to extend the time for filing a drawback (refund) claim for duties for up to 18 months if a major disaster on or after January 1, 1994, prevented timely filing of such claim.

(Sec. 7) Directs the Customs Service to provide for the liquidation or reliquidation (refund) of certain entries made at New York, New York, in accordance with the results of an administrative review, during the period from May 1, 1984, through March 31, 1985, by the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce (case number A-580-008).

(Sec. 8) Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to grant duty-free treatment, through February 1, 1999, of the personal effects of, and other equipment imported and used by, participants, their families and associated members, and officials involved in the 1998 Goodwill Games.

(Sec. 11) Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to proscribe any fee assessment for certain customs services provided in connection with the arrival of any passenger on board a commercial vessel traveling only between ports within the customs territory of the United States.

Provides that specified fee exemptions do not apply in the case of the arrival of any passenger on board a commercial vessel whose journey originates and terminates at the same place in the U.S. if there are no intervening stops.

Mandates a one-time only assessment of certain customs fees for each passenger in the case of a commercial vessel making a single voyage involving two or more United States ports with respect to which the passengers would otherwise be charged a fee.

(Sec. 13) Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to provide that certain marking requirements with respect to imported articles and containers shall not apply to: (1) certain metal forgings and hand tools made from such forgings; (2) certain coffee and tea products; and (3) spice products.

(Sec. 14) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to liquidate or reliquidate as duty-free a certain entry of warp knitting machines. Requires a refund of duties and interest paid with respect to such entry.

(Sec. 17) Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to provide for a personal allowance exemption from duties on merchandise purchased by U.S. residents in a duty-free sales enterprise upon their return to the customs territory of the United States, provided the person meets certain exemption eligibility requirements.

(Sec. 18) Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to grant duty-free treatment to certain imported silver and gold bars. Provides for staged rate reductions for specified items.

(Sec. 19) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to liquidate or reliquidate as duty-free certain entries of lead fuel test assemblies. Requires a refund of duties paid with respect to such entries.

(Sec. 20) Amends the Customs and Trade Act of 1990 to declare that the duty on foreign repairs made to U.S.-flag vessels shall not apply to the cost of equipment or spare parts for repairs made to certain U.S.-flag LASH (Lighter Aboard Ship) barges that entered the United States between January 1, 1993, and December 31, 1994, provided certain conditions are met.

(Sec. 21) Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to declare that importers of civil aircraft that have been entered duty-free shall: (1) maintain such supporting documentation as the Secretary of the Treasury may require; and (2) be deemed to certify that such imported article is a civil aircraft, or has been imported for use in civil aircraft and will so be used. (Currently, importers must file a statement, along with the supporting documentation, with the appropriate customs officer stating that such article is and will be used as a civil aircraft, or that it has been imported for use in civil aircraft, and that it has been approved for such use by the Federal Aviation Administration.)

(Sec. 22) Suspends, through December 31, 1998, the duty on methyl 2-(4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenoxy) propionate (dichlorofop-methyl) in bulk form or in forms or packages for retail sale containing no other pesticide products.

(Sec. 23) Imposes duties upon certain fireworks. Increases the column one duty rate regarding specified other types of fireworks.

(Sec. 24) Grants duty-free treatment to 3,3-diaminobenzidine (tetraamino biphenyl).

(Sec. 25) Reduces, through December 31, 1998, the duty on n-phenyl-n'-(1,2,3-thiadiazol-5'yl urea (thidiazuron) in bulk or in forms or packages for retail sale.

(Sec. 26) Grants duty-free treatment to 2-amino-3-chlorobenzoic acid, methyl ester.

(Sec. 27) Makes technical and conforming amendments to the Uruguay Round Agreements Act and the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act.