[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 14, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57225-57226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28087]



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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Announcing Settlement on Import Limits and Guaranteed Access 
Levels and Amending Visa Requirements for Certain Cotton and Man-Made 
Fiber Textile Products Produced or Manufactured in Guatemala

November 7, 1995.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs amending a 
limit and restraint period and directing Customs to begin signing form 
ITA-370P.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: November 15, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Aldrich, 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: Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended; 
section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C. 
1854).

    In a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) dated October 19, 1995, the 
Governments of the United States and the Republic of Guatemala agreed, 
pursuant to the Uruguay Round Agreements Act and the Uruguay Round 
Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC), to establish a limit for 
Categories 342/642 for the periods May 31, 1995 through December 31, 
1995; January 1, 1996 through December 31, 1996; January 1, 1997 
through December 31, 1997; and January 1, 1998 through May 30, 1998. 
The governments also agreed to establish Guaranteed Access Levels 
(GALs) for Categories 342/642 for the periods January 1, 1996 through 
December 31, 1996; January 1, 1997 through December 31, 1997; and 
January 1, 1998 through May 30, 1998.
    Beginning on November 15, 1995, the U.S. Customs Service will start 
signing the first section of the form ITA-370P for shipments of U.S. 
formed and cut parts in Categories 342/642 that are destined for 
Guatemala and subject to the GAL established for Categories 342/642 for 
the period beginning on January 1, 1996 and extending through December 
31, 1996. These products are governed by Harmonized Tariff item number 
9802.00.8015 and chapter 61 Statistical Note 5 and chapter 62 
Statistical Note 3 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Interested 
parties should be aware that shipments of cut parts in Categories 342/
642 must be accompanied by a form ITA-370P, signed by a U.S. Customs 
officer, prior to export from the United States for assembly in 
Guatemala in order to qualify for entry under the Special Access 
Program.
    In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the 
Commissioner of Customs to amend the current level and restraint period 
for Categories 342/642, and to begin signing the first section of form 
ITA-370P. Also, visa requirements are being amended to include the 
coverage of merged Categories 342/642.
    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 59 FR 65531, published on December 20, 1994). Also see 
55 FR 3079, published on January 30, 1990; and 60 FR 44316, published 
on August 25, 1995.
    Requirements for participation in the Special Access Program are 
provided in Federal Register notices 51 FR 21208, published on June 11, 
1986; 52 FR 26057, published on July 10, 1987; 54 FR 50425, published 
on December 6, 1989; and 55 FR 3079, published on January 30, 1990.
    The letter to the Commissioner of Customs and the actions taken 
pursuant to it are not designed to implement all of the provisions of 
the Uruguay Round Agreements Act and the Uruguay Round Agreement on 
Textiles and Clothing, but are designed to assist only in the 
implementation of certain of their provisions.
D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
November 7, 1995.

Commissioner of Customs,
Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC 20229.

    Dear Commissioner: This directive amends, but does not cancel, 
the directives issued to you on August 22, 1995 by the Chairman, 
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. That 
directive concerns imports of certain cotton and man-made fiber 
textile products, produced or manufactured in Guatemala and exported 
during the twelve-month period beginning on May 31, 1995 through May 
30, 1996.
    Effective on November 15, 1995, you are directed, pursuant to 
the Memorandum of Understanding dated October 19, 1995 between the 
Governments of the United States and the Republic of Guatemala, the 

[[Page 57226]]
Uruguay Round Agreements Act and the Uruguay Round Agreement on 
Textiles and Clothing, to amend the current restraint period for 
Categories 342/642 to end on December 31, 1995 at a level of 285,685 
dozen \1\.

    \1\ The limit has not been adjusted to account for any imports 
exported after May 30, 1995.
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    Effective on November 15, 1995, you are directed to amend the 
directive dated January 24, 1990 to require a visa for goods in 
Categories 342 and 642 which are produced or manufactured in 
Guatemala and exported from Guatemala on and after November 15, 
1995. Shipments of goods in Categories 342 and 642 may be visaed as 
merged Categories 342/642 or the correct category corresponding to 
the actual shipment. Goods exported during the period November 15, 
1995 through December 14, 1995 shall not be denied entry for lack of 
a visa.
    Shipments entered or withdrawn from warehouse according to this 
directive which are not accompanied by an appropriate export visa 
shall be denied entry and a new visa must be obtained.
    Beginning on November 15, 1995, the U.S. Customs Service is 
directed to start signing the first section of the form ITA-370P for 
shipments of U.S. formed and cut parts in Categories 342/642 that 
are destined for Guatemala and re-exported to the United States on 
and after January 1, 1996.
    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,
D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
[FR Doc. 95-28087 Filed 11-13-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F