[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 216 (Friday, November 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60235-60236]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29465]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Establishment of an Import Limit for Certain Man-Made Fiber 
Textile Products Produced or Manufactured in Thailand

November 3, 1997.
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: November 12, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ross Arnold, 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); Uruguay Round Agreements Act.

    In a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) dated October 28, 1997, the 
Governments of the United States and Thailand agreed, pursuant to 
Article 6 of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Textiles and 
Clothing (ATC), to establish limits for Category 603, produced or 
manufactured in Thailand and exported during the periods October 1, 
1997 through December 31, 1997; January 1, 1998 through December 31, 
1998; January 1, 1999 through December 31, 1999; and January 1, 2000 
through September 30, 2000.
    In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the 
Commissioner of Customs to establish a limit for Category 603 for the 
period October 1, 1997 through December 31, 1997.
    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 61 FR 66263, published on December 17, 1996). Also see 
61 FR 58044, published on November 12, 1996; and 62 FR 49207, published 
on September 19, 1997.
    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, the Uruguay Round Agreement on 
Textiles and Clothing and the MOU, but are designed to assist only in 
the implementation of certain of their provisions.
Troy H. Cribb,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
November 3, 1997.

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 4, 1996, by the

[[Page 60236]]

Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. That 
directive concerns imports of certain cotton, wool, man-made fiber, 
silk blend and other vegetable fiber textiles and textile products, 
produced or manufactured in Thailand and exported during the twelve-
month period beginning on January 1, 1997 and extending through 
December 31, 1997.
    Effective on November 12, 1997, you are directed to establish a 
limit for textile products in Category 603 at a level of 550,000 
kilograms \1\ for the period October 1, 1997 through December 31, 
1997, pursuant to the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, the Uruguay 
Round Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC) and a Memorandum of 
Understanding dated October 28, 1997 between the Governments of the 
United States and Thailand.
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    \1\ The limit has not been adjusted to account for any imports 
exported after September 30, 1997.
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    Textile products in Category 603 which have been exported to the 
United States prior to October 1, 1997 shall not be subject to this 
directive.
    Textile products in Category 603 which have been released from 
the custody of the U.S. Customs Service under the provisions of 19 
U.S.C. 1448(b) or 1484(a)(1) prior to the effective date of this 
directive shall not be denied entry under this directive.
    Import charges for Category 603 will be provided as data become 
available.
    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. 97-29465 Filed 11-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F