[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 184 (Friday, September 20, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49439-49440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24093]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Temporary Amendment to the Requirements for Participating in the 
Special Access Progam for Caribbean Basin Countries

September 16, 1996.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs amending 
requirements for participation in the Special Access Program for a 
temporary period.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: September 23, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori E. Mennitt, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-3400.

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).

    This notice identifies a temporary amendment to the foreign origin 
exception for findings and trimmings under the Special Access Program.
    Effective on September 23, 1996, by date of export, the foreign 
origin exception for findings and trimmings, including elastic strips 
of less than one inch in width, under the Special Access Program is 
temporarily amended to include non-U.S. formed, U.S. cut interlinings, 
further described below, for men's and boys' and women's and girls' 
suit-type jackets in Categories 433, 435, 443, 444, 633, 635, 643 and 
644. As temporarily amended, the exception still requires that, in the 
aggregate, such interlinings, findings and trimmings not exceed 25 
percent of the cost of the components of the assembled article. As 
indicated, in order to qualify for the exception as temporarily 
amended, such interlinings must be cut in the United States.
    With respect to men's and boys' suit jackets and suit-type jackets 
in Categories 433, 443, 633 and 643, this amendment will terminate on 
September 22, 1997, by date of export. For women's and girls' suit 
jackets and suit-type jackets in Categories 435, 444, 635 and 644, this 
amendment will terminate on June 22, 1997, by date of export. Products 
in these categories exported from the United States for assembly prior 
to the expiration dates for the temporary amendment shall remain 
eligible for the exception if re-

[[Page 49440]]

exported to the United States after the expiration dates for the 
temporary amendment.
    As described above, non-U.S. formed interlinings may be used in 
imports of men's and boys' and women's and girls' suit jackets and 
suit-type jackets entered under the Special Access Program 
(9802.00.8015) provided they are cut in the United States and are of a 
type described in (1) through (3) below:
    (1) A chest plate, ``hymo'' piece or ``sleeve header'' of woven or 
weft-inserted warp knit construction of coarse animal hair or man-made 
filaments used in the manufacture of men's, boys', women's or girls' 
tailored suit jackets and suit-type jackets;
    (2) A weft-inserted warp knit fabric which contains and exhibits 
properties of elasticity and resilience which render the fabric 
especially suitable for attachment by fusing with a thermo-plastic 
adhesive to the coat-front, side body or back of men's, boys', women's 
or girls' tailored suit jackets and suit-type jackets;
    (3) A woven fabric which contains and exhibits properties of 
resiliency which render the fabric especially suitable for attachment 
by fusing with a thermo-plastic adhesive to the coat-front, side body 
or back of men's, boys', women's or girls' tailored suit jackets and 
suit-type jackets.
    Companies must maintain complete records of the interlining 
invoices and provide access to the U.S. Customs Service (Customs) at 
the time of a Compliance Review. These invoices must indicate to 
Customs that the interlinings meet the above criteria.
D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
September 16, 1996.

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 January 11, 1996 for Colombia; January 
24, 1996 for Costa Rica, as amended; January 11, 1996 for the 
Dominican Republic, as amended; December 13, 1995 for El Salvador, 
as amended; November 29, 1995 for Guatemala, as amended; November 
29, 1995 for Honduras; and January 11, 1996 for Jamaica, as amended, 
by the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements, for the Special Access Program.
    Effective on September 23, 1996, by date of export, you are 
directed to treat non-U.S. formed, U.S.-cut interlinings, further 
described below, for men's and boys' and women's and girls' wool and 
man-made fiber suit jackets and suit-type jackets in Categories 433, 
435, 443, 444, 633, 635, 643 and 644 as qualifying for the exception 
for findings and trimmings, including elastic strips less than one 
inch in width, created under the Special Access Program established 
effective September 1, 1986 (see 51 FR 21208). In the aggregate, 
such interlinings, findings and trimmings must not exceed 25 percent 
of the cost of the components of the assembled article.
    The amendments implemented by this directive shall be of a 
temporary nature. With respect to men's and boys' suit jackets and 
suit-type jackets in Categories 433, 443, 633 and 643, this 
amendment will terminate on September 22, 1997, by date of export. 
For women's and girls' suit jackets and suit-type jackets in 
Categories 435, 444, 635 and 644, the amendment will terminate on 
June 22, 1997, by date of export.
    As described above, non-U.S. formed, U.S.-cut interlinings may 
be used in imports of men's, boys' and women's or girls' suit 
jackets and suit-type jackets entered under the Special Access 
Program (9802.00.8015) provided they are cut in the United States 
and of a type described in (1) through (3) below:
    (1) A chest plate, ``hymo'' piece or ``sleeve header'' of woven 
or weft-inserted warp knit construction of coarse animal hair or 
man-made filaments used in the manufacture of men's, boys', women's 
or girls' tailored suit jackets and suit-type jackets;
    (2) A weft-inserted warp knit fabric which contains and exhibits 
properties of elasticity and resilience which render the fabric 
especially suitable for attachment by fusing with a thermo-plastic 
adhesive to the coat-front, side body or back of men's, boys', 
women's or girls' tailored suit jackets and suit-type jackets;
    (3) A woven fabric which contains and exhibits properties of 
resiliency which render the fabric especially suitable for 
attachment by fusing with a thermo-plastic adhesive to the coat-
front, side body or back of men's, boys', women's or girls' tailored 
suit jackets and suit-type jackets.
    Companies must maintain complete records of the interlining 
invoices and provide access to the U.S. Customs Service (Customs) at 
the time of a Compliance Review. These invoices must indicate to 
Customs that the interlinings meet the above criteria.
    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. 96-24093 Filed 9-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F