[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 12, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58040-58041]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28847]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Announcement of an Import Restraint Limit for Certain Cotton and 
Man-Made Fiber Textile Products Produced or Manufactured in Laos

November 4, 1996.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

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

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EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Helen L. LeGrande, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-4212. For information on the quota status of this 
limit, 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).

    The Bilateral Textile Agreement of September 15, 1994, as amended 
and extended, between the Governments of the United States and the Lao 
People's Democratic Republic establishes a limit for Categories 340/640 
for the period January 1, 1997 through December 31, 1997.
    This limit is subject to revision pursuant to the Uruguay Round 
Agreements Act and the Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles and Clothing 
(ATC). On the date that the Lao People's Democratic Republic becomes a 
member of the World Trade Organization the restraint limit will be 
modified in accordance with the ATC.
    In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the 
Commissioner of Customs to establish the 1997 limit.
    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 60 FR 65299, published on December 19, 1995). 
Information regarding the 1997 CORRELATION will be published in the 
Federal Register at a later date.
    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 bilateral agreement, but are designed to assist only in the 
implementation of certain of its provisions.
Troy H. Cribb,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
November 4, 1996.

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), and the Bilateral Textile 
Agreement of September 15, 1994, as amended and extended, between 
the Governments of the United States and the Lao People's Democratic 
Republic; and in accordance with the provisions of Executive Order 
11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended, you are directed to prohibit, 
effective on January 1, 1997, entry into the United States for 
consumption and withdrawal from warehouse for consumption of cotton 
and man-made fiber textile products in Categories 340/640, produced 
or manufactured in Laos and exported during the twelve-month period 
beginning on January 1, 1997 and extending through December 31, 
1997, in excess of 151,939 dozen.
    Imports charged to this category limit for the period January 1, 
1996 through December 31, 1996 shall be charged against that level 
of restraint to the extent of any unfilled balance. In the event the 
limit established for that period has been exhausted by previous 
entries, such goods shall be subject to the level set forth in this 
directive.
    Should the Lao People's Democratic Republic become a member of 
the World Trade Organization, the limit set forth above will be 
subject to adjustment in the future pursuant to the provisions of 
the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, the Uruguay Round Agreement on 
Textiles and Clothing and any administrative arrangements notified 
to the Textiles Monitoring Body.
    In carrying out the above directions, the Commissioner of 
Customs should construe entry into the United States for consumption

[[Page 58041]]

to include entry for consumption into the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
    The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has 
determined that this action falls 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. 96-28847 Filed 11-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F