[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 13, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58169-58170]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29208]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Announcing Establishment and Adjustment of Import Limits and 
Amendment of Visa Requirements for Certain Cotton Textile Products 
Produced or Manufactured in Nepal

November 7, 1996.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs announcing 
the establishment and adjustment of limits and amendment of visa 
requirements.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 13, 1996.

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 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).

    In a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) dated November 6, 1996, the 
Governments of the United States and Nepal agreed to establish a limit 
for cotton shoptowels in Category 369-S for four consecutive one-year 
periods beginning on January 1, 1997 and extending through December 31, 
2000. Also, the two governments agreed to increase the 1996 limit for 
Category 340 for special carryforward.
    Effective on January 1, 1997, textile products in Category 369 
which are produced or manufactured in Nepal and exported from Nepal on 
and after January 1, 1997 shall require a 369-S or 369-O visa. There 
will be a grace period from January 1, 1997 through January 31, 1997 
during which goods exported from Nepal in Category 369 may be 
accompanied by a 369, 369-S or 369-O visa. Textile products exported in 
Category 369 on and after February 1, 1997 must be accompanied by an 
appropriate part-category visa.
    In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the 
Commissioner of Customs to amend the visa requirements to require a 
369-S or 369-O part category visa and to increase the current limit for 
Category 340. As a result of the increase to Category 340, the limit, 
which is currently filled, will re-open.
    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). Also see 
52 FR 11724, published on April 3, 1987; and 60 FR 62410, published on 
December 6, 1995.
    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 and the November 6, 1996 MOU, but are designed 
to assist only in

[[Page 58170]]

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 7, 1996.

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

    Dear Commissioner: This directive amends, but does not cancel, 
the directive issued to you on November 29, 1995, by the Chairman of 
CITA. That directive concerns imports of certain cotton and man-made 
fiber textile products, produced or manufactured in Nepal and 
exported during the twelve-month period which began on January 1, 
1996 and extends through December 31, 1996.
    Effective on November 13, 1996, you are directed, pursuant to a 
Memorandum of Understanding dated October 24, 1996 between the 
Governments of the United States and Nepal, to increase the current 
limit for Category 340 to 438,408 dozen \1\.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The limit for Category 340 has not been adjusted to account 
for any imports exported after December 31, 1995.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Effective on January 1, 1997, textile products produced or 
manufactured in Nepal and exported from Nepal on and after January 
1, 1997, in Category 369 shall require a 369-S \2\ or 369-O \3\ 
visa. There will be a grace period from January 1, 1997 through 
January 31, 1997 during which goods exported from Nepal in Category 
369 may be accompanied by a 369, 369-S or 369-O visa. Textile 
products exported in Category 369 on and after February 1, 1997 must 
be accompanied by an appropriate part-category visa.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Category 369-S: only HTS number 6307.10.2005.
    \3\ Category 369-O: all HTS numbers except 6307.10.2005 
(Category 369-S).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has 
determined that these actions fall within the foreign affairs 
exception to 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. 96-29208 Filed 11-8-96; 1:53 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F