COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Announcement of Import Restraint Limits for Certain Cotton, Wool, Man-Made Fiber, Silk Blend and Other Vegetable Fiber Textiles and Textile Products Produced or Manufactured in Hong Kong

November 23, 1999.

AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).


ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs establishing limits.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2000.


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, call (202) 927-5850, or refer to the U.S. Customs website at http://www.customs.ustreas.gov. 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, 2000 through December 31, 2000 are based on limits notified to the Textiles Monitoring Body pursuant to the Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC).

In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the Commissioner of Customs to establish the 2000 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 63 FR 71096, published on December 23, 1998). Information regarding the 2000 CORRELATION will be published in the Federal Register at a later date.
Troy H. Cribb,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.



Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
November 23, 1999.


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, 2000, entry into the United States for consumption and withdrawal from warehouse for consumption of cotton, wool, 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, 2000 and extending through December 31, 2000, in excess of the following levels of restraint:


CategoryTwelve-month restraint limit
Group I
200-227, 300-326, 360-363, 369(1)1, 369pt.2, 400-414, 464, 469pt.3, 600-629, 666, 669pt.4 and 670, as a group254,856,238 square meters equivalent.
Sublevels in Group I
21945,361,264 square meters.
218/225/317/32677,152,142 square meters of which not more than 4,249,239 square meters shall be in Category 218(1)5(yarn dyed fabric other than denim and jacquard).
6117,151,815 square meters.
6174,512,292 square meters.
Group I subgroup
200, 226/313, 314, 315, 369(1) and 604, as a group121,450,414 square meters equivalent.
Within Group I subgroup
200391,087 kilograms.
226/31381,368,365 square meters.
31421,944,072 square meters
31510,849,223 square meters.
369(1)(shoptowels)891,586 kilograms.
604268,455 kilograms.
Group II
237, 239pt.6, 331-348, 350-352, 359(1)7, 359(2)8, 359pt.9, 431, 433-438, 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 group878,157,003 square meters equivalent.
Sublevels in Group II
2371,311,724 dozen.
3314,399,357 dozen pairs.
333/334319,184 dozen.
335349,791 dozen.
338/33914(shirts and blouses other than tank tops and tops, knit)2,973,125 dozen.
338/339(1)15(tank tops and knit tops)2,233,725 dozen.
3402,847,080 dozen.
345485,530 dozen.
347/3486,895,362 dozen of which not more than 6,805,362 dozen shall be in Categories 347-W/348-W16; and not more than 5,157,360 dozen shall be in Category 348-W.
3527,715,391 dozen.
359(1)(coveralls, overalls and jumpsuits)668,262 kilograms.
359(2)(vests)1,392,796 kilograms.
43310,817 dozen.
43411,612 dozen.
43578,271 dozen.
436101,942 dozen.
438837,232 dozen.
44295,944 dozen.
44364,319 numbers.
44443,444 numbers.
445/4461,383,834 dozen.
447/44869,593 dozen.
631728,026 dozen pairs.
633/634/6351,431,705 dozen of which not more than 535,489 dozen shall be in Categories 633/634; and not more than 1,099,388 dozen shall be in Category 635.
638/6394,991,263 dozen.
641862,469 dozen.
64449,379 numbers.
645/6461,368,011 dozen.
647605,620 dozen.
6481,210,184 dozen of which not more than 1,195,394 dozen shall be in Category 648-W17.
649932,414 dozen.
650192,819 dozen.
6525,377,750 dozen.
659(1)(coveralls, overalls and jumpsuits)738,604 kilograms.
659(2)(swimsuits)307,909 kilograms.
443/444/643/644/843/844(1)(made-to-measure suits)60,115 numbers.
Group II subgroup
336, 341, 342, 350, 351, 636, 640, 642 and 651, as a group164,827,032 square meters equivalent.
Within Group II subgroup
336253,347 dozen.
3412,881,900 dozen.
342593,499 dozen.
350147,976 dozen.
3511,217,185 dozen.
636340,961 dozen.
6401,040,678 dozen.
642271,145 dozen.
651369,252 dozen.
Group III
831, 833-838, 840-844, 847-858 and 859pt.18, as a group47,594,094 square meters equivalent.
Sublevels in Group III
83413,876 dozen.
835118,130 dozen.
836179,520 dozen.
840701,706 dozen.
842278,910 dozen.
847376,841 dozen.
Limits not in a group
845(1)19(sweaters made in Hong Kong)1,132,745 dozen.
845(2)20(sweaters assembled in Hong Kong from knit-toshape components, knit elsewhere)2,711,360 dozen.
846(1)21(sweaters made in Hong Kong)183,176 dozen.
846(2)22(sweaters assembled in Hong Kong from knit-toshape components, knit elsewhere)441,385 dozen.
1Category 369(1): only HTS number 6307.10.2005.
2Category 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).
3Category 469pt.: all HTS numbers except 5601.29.0020, 5603.94.1010 and 6406.10.9020.
4Category 669pt.: all HTS numbers except 5601.10.2000, 5601.22.0090, 5607.49.3000, 5607.50.4000 and 6406.10.9040.
5Category 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.
6Category 239pt.: only HTS number 6209.20.5040 (diapers).
7Category 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.
8Category 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.
9Category 359pt.: all HTS numbers except 6406.99.1550 and HTS numbers in 359(1) and 359(2).
10Category 459pt.: all HTS numbers except 6405.20.6030, 6405.20.6060, 6405.20.6090, 6406.99.1505 and 6406.99.1560.
11Category 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.
12Category 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.
13Category 659pt.: all HTS numbers except 6406.99.1510, 6406.99.1540 and HTS numbers in 659(1) and 659(2).
14Categories 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.
15Category 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.
16Category 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.
17Category 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.
18Category 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.
19Category 845(1): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2074, 6104.29.2079, 6110.90.9024, 6110.90.9042 and 6117.90.9015.
20Category 845(2): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2070, 6104.29.2077, 6110.90.9022 and 6110.90.9040.
21Category 846(1): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2068, 6104.29.2075, 6110.90.9020 and 6110.90.9038.
22Category 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 1999 shall be charged to the applicable category limits for that year (see directive dated November 30, 1998) 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.

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,

Troy H. Cribb,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 99-0000 Filed 0-00-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F