[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 146 (Friday, July 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 41395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19610]
[[Page 41395]]
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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS
Regulations to Prevent Circumvention of Textiles and Textile
Products Agreements
July 27, 1999.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).
ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs directing
Customs to issue regulations regarding the denial of entry of shipments
from companies determined to be illegally transshipping.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Heinzen, International Trade
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of
Commerce, (202) 482-4212.
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; Executive Order 12475 of May 9, 1984, as amended.
Under Title 19, Section 12.130 of the Code of Federal Regulations,
U.S. Customs is required to make a country of origin determination of
textiles and textile products. Such determination may be made on the
basis of information provided by the importer or, at the discretion of
U.S. Customs, on the best information available. In order to develop
such information, U.S. Customs often has conducted on-site verification
of production in foreign countries.
The Chairman of CITA has authorized U.S. Customs to deny entry of
certain textiles and textile products subject to Section 204 of the
Agricultural Act of 1956 if U.S. Customs on-site verification of
production is not permitted (see Federal Register notice 61 FR 33793,
published on June 28, 1996). Based on information obtained, including
through on-site verifications, U.S. Customs reports that some companies
have been found to be illegally transshipping, have been closed, or
have been unable to produce records to verify production. In order to
secure compliance with U.S. law, including Section 204 and U.S. customs
law, to carry out textile and textile product agreements, and to avoid
circumvention of textile agreements, CITA directs the Commissioner of
Customs as soon as possible to issue regulations permitting U.S.
Customs to deny entry to textiles and textile products where the
declared manufacturer has been named in a CITA directive as a company
found to be illegally transshipping, closed or unable to produce
records to verify production.
In future directives, the Chairman of CITA may direct U.S. Customs
to deny entry to textiles and textile products allegedly manufactured
in companies found to be illegally transshipping, closed, or unable to
produce records to verify production. CITA will publish such
directives, including the names of such companies, in the Federal
Register.
Troy H. Cribb
Chairman, Committee for the implementation of Textile Agreements
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
July 27, 1999.
Commissioner of Customs
Department of Treasury, Washington, DC 20229
Dear Commissioner: Under Title 19, Section 12.130 of the Code of
Federal Regulations, U.S. Customs is required to make a country of
origin determination of textiles and textile products. Such
determination may be made on the basis of information provided by
the importer or, at the discretion of U.S. Customs, on the best
information available. In order to develop such information, U.S.
Customs has often conducted on-site verification of production in
foreign countries.
The Chairman of the Committee for the Implementation of Textile
Agreements (CITA) has authorized the Commissioner of Customs to deny
entry of certain textiles and textile products subject to Section
204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956 if U.S. Customs on-site
verification of production is not permitted (see 61 FR 33793, dated
June 24, 1996). Based on information obtained, including through on-
site verifications, U.S. Customs reports that some companies have
been found to be illegally transshipping, have been closed, or have
been unable to produce records to verify production. In order to
secure compliance with U.S. law, including Section 204 and U.S.
customs law, to carry out textile and textile product agreements,
and to avoid circumvention of textile agreements, CITA directs the
Commissioner of Customs, as soon as possible, to issue regulations
permitting U.S. Customs to deny entry to textiles and textile
products where the declared manufacturer has been named in a CITA
directive as a company found to be illegally transshipping, closed
or unable to produce records to verify production.
In future directives, the Chairman of CITA may direct U.S.
Customs to deny entry to textiles and textile products allegedly
manufactured in companies found to be illegally transshipping,
closed, or unable to produce records to verify production. CITA will
publish such directives, including the names of such companies, in
the Federal Register.
CITA has determined that these actions fall within the foreign
affairs exception of the rulemaking provisions of 5 U.S.C.
553(a)(1).
Sincerely,
Troy H. Cribb
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
[FR Doc. 99-19610 Filed 7-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F
