[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67830-67831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33916]
[[Page 67830]]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS
Announcement of Import Restraint Limits for Certain Cotton, Man-
Made Fiber, Silk Blend and Other Vegetable Fiber Textiles and Textile
Products Produced or Manufactured in Hong Kong
December 22, 1997.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).
ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs establishing
limits.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Heinzen, International Trade
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of
Commerce, (202) 482-4212. For information on the quota status of these
limits, refer to the Quota Status Reports posted on the bulletin boards
of each Customs port or call (202) 927-5850. For information on
embargoes and quota re-openings, call (202) 482-3715.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: Section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as
amended (7 U.S.C. 1854); Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as
amended.
The import restraint limits for textile products, produced or
manufactured in Hong Kong and exported during the period January 1,
1998 through December 31, 1998 are based on limits notified to the
Textiles Monitoring Body pursuant to the Uruguay Round Agreement on
Textiles and Clothing (ATC).
Pursuant to the provisions of the ATC, the second stage of the
integration commences on January 1, 1998 (see 60 FR 21075, published on
May 1, 1995). Accordingly, certain previously restrained categories may
have been modified or eliminated and certain limits may have been
revised. Integrated products will no longer be subject to quota. CITA
has informed Hong Kong of its intent to continue the bilateral visa
arrangement for those products.
In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the
Commissioner of Customs to establish the 1998 limits. These limits have
been increased, variously, for adjustments permitted under the
flexibility provisions of the ATC.
A description of the textile and apparel categories in terms of HTS
numbers is available in the CORRELATION: Textile and Apparel Categories
with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (see Federal
Register notice 62 FR 66057, published on December 17, 1997). Also see
62 FR 51832, published on October 3, 1997.
J. Hayden Boyd,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile
Agreements.
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
December 22, 1997.
Commissioner of Customs,
Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC 20229.
Dear Commissioner: Pursuant to section 204 of the Agricultural
Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1854); Executive Order 11651 of
March 3, 1972, as amended; and the Uruguay Round Agreement on
Textiles and Clothing (ATC), you are directed to prohibit, effective
on January 1, 1998, entry into the United States for consumption and
withdrawal from warehouse for consumption of cotton, man-made fiber,
silk blend and other vegetable fiber textiles and textile products
in the following categories, produced or manufactured in Hong Kong
and exported during the twelve-month period beginning on January 1,
1998 and extending through December 31, 1998, in excess of the
following levels of restraint:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Category Twelve-month restraint limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group I
200-227, 300-326, 360-363, 369(1) \1\, 242,056,022 square meters
369pt. \2\, 400-414, 464, 469pt. \3\, 600- equivalent.
629, 666, 669pt. \4\ and 670, as a group.
Sublevels in Group I
219....................................... 42,243,126 square meters.
218/225/317/326........................... 73,902,425 square meters of
which not more than
4,070,257 square meters
shall be in Category 218(1)
\5\ (yarn dyed fabric other
than denim and jacquard).
611....................................... 6,660,198 square meters.
617....................................... 4,202,118 square meters.
Group I subgroup
200, 226/313, 314, 315, 369(1) and 604, as 112,565,729 square meters
a group equivalent.
Within Group I subgroup
200....................................... 364,204 kilograms.
226/313................................... 75,775,098 square meters.
314....................................... 20,435,635 square meters
315....................................... 10,103,447 square meters.
369(1) (shoptowels)....................... 830,299 kilograms.
604....................................... 250,001 kilograms.
Group II
237, 239pt. \6\, 331-348, 350-352, 359(1) 834,051,359 square meters
\7\, 359(2) \8\, 359pt. \9\, 431, 433- equivalent.
438, 440-448, 459pt. \10\, 631, 633-652,
659(1) \11\, 659(2) \12\, 659pt. \13\,
and 443/444/643/644/843/844(1), as a
group.
Sublevels in Group II
237....................................... 1,221,557 dozen.
331....................................... 4,274,499 dozen pairs.
333/334................................... 305,741 dozen.
335....................................... 344,774 dozen.
338/339 \14\ (shirts and blouses other 2,930,479 dozen.
than tank tops and tops, knit).
338/339(1) \15\ (tank tops and knit tops). 2,201,684 dozen.
340....................................... 2,806,243 dozen.
345....................................... 465,080 dozen.
347/348................................... 6,797,746 dozen of which not
more than 6,707,746 dozen
shall be in Categories 347-
W/348-W \16\; not more than
5,083,385 dozen shall be in
Category 348-W.
352....................................... 7,185,033 dozen.
359(1) (coveralls, overalls and jumpsuits) 631,126 kilograms.
359(2) (vests)............................ 1,315,396 kilograms.
433....................................... 10,510 dozen.
434....................................... 11,283 dozen.
435....................................... 77,147 dozen.
436....................................... 100,479 dozen.
438....................................... 825,224 dozen.
442....................................... 93,221 dozen.
443....................................... 63,395 numbers.
444....................................... 42,211 numbers.
445/446................................... 1,363,985 dozen.
447/448................................... 68,594 dozen.
631....................................... 677,981 dozen pairs.
633/634/635............................... 1,371,401 dozen of which not
more than 512,934 dozen
shall be in Categories 633/
634 and not more than
1,053,082 dozen shall be in
Category 635.
638/639................................... 4,919,668 dozen.
641....................................... 850,098 dozen.
644....................................... 45,985 numbers.
645/646................................... 1,348,388 dozen.
647....................................... 563,990 dozen.
648....................................... 1,176,258 dozen of which not
more than 1,161,468 dozen
shall be in Category 648-W
\17\.
649....................................... 868,319 dozen.
650....................................... 179,565 dozen.
652....................................... 5,078,903 dozen.
[[Page 67831]]
659(1) (coveralls, overalls and jumpsuits) 697,559 kilograms.
659(2) (swimsuits)........................ 286,743 kilograms.
443/444/643/644/843/844(1) (made-to- 58,408 numbers.
measure suits).
Group II subgroup
336, 341, 342, 350, 351, 636, 640, 642 and 159,010,659 square meters
651, as a group. equivalent.
Within Group II subgroup
336....................................... 235,932 dozen.
341....................................... 2,840,564 dozen.
342....................................... 568,500 dozen.
350....................................... 141,744 dozen.
351....................................... 1,199,726 dozen.
636....................................... 317,522 dozen.
640....................................... 982,847 dozen.
642....................................... 252,506 dozen.
651....................................... 343,870 dozen.
Group III
831, 833-838, 840-844, 847-858 and 859pt. 45,395,915 square meters
\18\, as a group. equivalent.
Sublevels in Group III
834....................................... 12,922 dozen.
835....................................... 114,777 dozen.
836....................................... 169,543 dozen.
840....................................... 681,791 dozen.
842....................................... 267,161 dozen.
847....................................... 366,146 dozen.
Limits not in a group
845(1) \19\ (sweaters made in Hong Kong).. 1,129,466 dozen.
845(2) \20\ (sweaters assembled in Hong 2,703,514 dozen.
Kong from knit-to-shape components, knit
elsewhere).
846(1) \21\ (sweaters made in Hong Kong).. 182,645 dozen.
846(2) \22\ (sweaters assembled in Hong 440,107 dozen.
Kong from knit-to-shape components, knit
elsewhere).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Category 369(1): only HTS number 6307.10.2005.
\2\ Category 369pt.: all HTS numbers except 5601.10.1000, 5601.21.0090,
5701.90.1020, 5701.90.2020, 5702.10.9020, 5702.39.2010, 5702.49.1020,
5702.49.1080, 5702.59.1000, 5702.99.1010, 5702.99.1090, 5705.00.2020,
6406.10.7700 and HTS number in 369(1).
\3\ Category 469pt.: all HTS numbers except 5601.29.0020, 5603.94.1010
and 6406.10.9020.
\4\ Category 669pt.: all HTS numbers except 5601.10.2000, 5601.22.0090,
5607.49.3000, 5607.50.4000 and 6406.10.9040.
\5\ Category 218(1): all HTS numbers except 5209.42.0060, 5209.42.0080,
5211.42.0060, 5211.42.0080, 5514.32.0015 and 5516.43.0015.
\6\ Category 239pt.: only HTS number 6209.20.5040 (diapers).
\7\ Category 359(1): only HTS numbers 6103.42.2025, 6103.49.8034,
6104.62.1020, 6104.69.8010, 6114.20.0048, 6114.20.0052, 6203.42.2010,
6203.42.2090, 6204.62.2010, 6211.32.0010, 6211.32.0025 and
6211.42.0010.
\8\ Category 359(2): only HTS numbers 6103.19.2030, 6103.19.9030,
6104.12.0040, 6104.19.8040, 6110.20.1022, 6110.20.1024, 6110.20.2030,
6110.20.2035, 6110.90.9044, 6110.90.9046, 6201.92.2010, 6202.92.2020,
6203.19.1030, 6203.19.9030, 6204.12.0040, 6204.19.8040, 6211.32.0070
and 6211.42.0070.
\9\ Category 359pt.: all HTS numbers except 6406.99.1550 and HTS numbers
in 359(1) and 359(2).
\10\ Category 459pt.: all HTS numbers except 6405.20.6030, 6405.20.6060,
6405.20.6090, 6406.99.1505 and 6406.99.1560.
\11\ Category 659(1): only HTS numbers 6103.23.0055, 6103.43.2020,
6103.43.2025, 6103.49.2000, 6103.49.8038, 6104.63.1020, 6104.63.1030,
6104.69.1000, 6104.69.8014, 6114.30.3044, 6114.30.3054, 6203.43.2010,
6203.43.2090, 6203.49.1010, 6203.49.1090, 6204.63.1510, 6204.69.1010,
6210.10.9010, 6211.33.0010, 6211.33.0017 and 6211.43.0010.
\12\ Category 659(2): only HTS numbers 6112.31.0010, 6112.31.0020,
6112.41.0010, 6112.41.0020, 6112.41.0030, 6112.41.0040, 6211.11.1010,
6211.11.1020, 6211.12.1010 and 6211.12.1020.
\13\ Category 659pt.: all HTS numbers except 6406.99.1510, 6406.99.1540
and HTS numbers in 659(1) and 659(2).
\14\ Categories 338/339: all HTS numbers except 6109.10.0018,
6109.10.0023, 6109.10.0060, 6109.10.0065, 6114.20.0005 and
6114.20.0010.
\15\ Category 338/339(1): only HTS numbers 6109.10.0018, 6109.10.0023,
6109.10.0060, 6109.10.0065, 6114.20.0005 and 6114.20.0010.
\16\ Category 347-W: only HTS numbers 6203.19.1020, 6203.19.9020,
6203.22.3020, 6203.22.3030, 6203.42.4005, 6203.42.4010, 6203.42.4015,
6203.42.4025, 6203.42.4035, 6203.42.4045, 6203.42.4050, 6203.42.4060,
6203.49.8020, 6210.40.9033, 6211.20.1520, 6211.20.3810 and
6211.32.0040;Category 348-W: only HTS numbers 6204.12.0030,
6204.19.8030, 6204.22.3040, 6204.22.3050, 6204.29.4034, 6204.62.3000,
6204.62.4005, 6204.62.4010, 6204.62.4020, 6204.62.4030, 6204.62.4040,
6204.62.4050, 6204.62.4055, 6204.62.4065, 6204.69.6010, 6204.69.9010,
6210.50.9060, 6211.20.1550, 6211.20.6810, 6211.42.0030 and
6217.90.9050.
\17\ Category 648-W: only HTS numbers 6204.23.0040, 6204.23.0045,
6204.29.2020, 6204.29.2025, 6204.29.4038, 6204.63.2000, 6204.63.3000,
6204.63.3510, 6204.63.3530, 6204.63.3532, 6204.63.3540, 6204.69.2510,
6204.69.2530, 6204.69.2540, 6204.69.2560, 6204.69.6030, 6204.69.9030,
6210.50.5035, 6211.20.1555, 6211.20.6820, 6211.43.0040 and
6217.90.9060.
\18\ Category 859pt.: only HTS numbers 6115.19.8040, 6117.10.6020,
6212.10.5030, 6212.10.9040, 6212.20.0030, 6212.30.0030, 6212.90.0090,
6214.10.2000 and 6214.90.0090.
\19\ Category 845(1): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2074, 6104.29.2079,
6110.90.9024, 6110.90.9042 and 6117.90.9015.
\20\ Category 845(2): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2070, 6104.29.2077,
6110.90.9022 and 6110.90.9040.
\21\ Category 846(1): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2068, 6104.29.2075,
6110.90.9020 and 6110.90.9038.
\22\ Category 846(2): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2066, 6104.29.2073,
6110.90.9018 and 6110.90.9036.
The limits set forth above are subject to adjustment pursuant to
the provisions of the ATC and administrative arrangements notified
to the Textiles Monitoring Body.
Products in the above categories exported during 1997 shall be
charged to the applicable category limits for that year (see
directive dated December 5, 1996) to the extent of any unfilled
balances. In the event the limits established for that period have
been exhausted by previous entries, such products shall be charged
to the limits set forth in this directive.
Products for integration in 1998 listed in the Federal Register
notice published on May 1, 1995 (60 FR 21075) which are exported
during 1997 shall be charged to the applicable limits to the extent
of any unfilled balances. After January 1, 1998, should those
unfilled balances be exhausted, such products shall no longer be
charged to any limit, due to integration of these products into GATT
1994.
CITA has informed Hong Kong of its intent to continue the
bilateral visa arrangement for those products. An export visa will
continue to be required, if applicable, for products integrated on
and after January 1, 1998, before entry is permitted into the United
States.
The conversion factors for merged Categories 333/334, 633/634/
635 and 638/639 are 33, 33.90 and 13, respectively. The conversion
factor for Category 239pt. is 8.79.
In carrying out the above directions, the Commissioner of
Customs should construe entry into the United States for consumption
to include entry for consumption into the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico.
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has
determined that these actions fall within the foreign affairs
exception of the rulemaking provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1).
Sincerely,
J. Hayden Boyd,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile
Agreements.
[FR Doc. 97-33916 Filed 12-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F
