UNESCO experts meeting in Florence (It. Firenze), Italy in the early 1950s
adopted 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.
Full Text of the Florence Agreement
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.
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