[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67837-67839]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33910]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Announcement of Import Limits for Certain Cotton, Wool, Man-Made 
Fiber, Silk Blend and Other Vegetable Fiber Textiles and Textile 
Products Produced or Manufactured in Taiwan

December 22, 1997.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

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

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

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1998.

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 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: Section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as 
amended (7 U.S.C. 1854); Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as 
amended.


[[Page 67838]]


    In exchange of letters dated December 10, 1997, the American 
Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural 
Representative Office (TECRO) agreed to extend the current textile 
agreement for three consecutive one-year periods, beginning on January 
1, 1998 and extending through December 31, 2000.
    In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the 
Commissioner of Customs to establish limits for the 1998 period.
    These limits may be revised if Taiwan becomes a member of the World 
Trade Organization (WTO) and the WTO agreement is applied to Taiwan.
    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 62 FR 66057, published on December 17, 1997).
J. Hayden Boyd,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
December 22, 1997.

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); Executive Order 11651 of 
March 3, 1972, as amended; and the textile agreement, effected by 
exchange of letters dated January 10, 1997 and May 2, 1997, as 
extended, between the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei 
Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO), effective on 
January 1, 1998, entry into the United States for consumption and 
withdrawal from warehouse for consumption of cotton, wool, man-made 
fiber, silk blend and other vegetable fiber textiles and textile 
products in the following categories, produced or manufactured in 
Taiwan and exported during the twelve-month period which begins on 
January 1, 1998 and extends through December 31, 1998, in excess of 
the following restraint limits:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Category                        Twelve-month limit     
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group I                                                                 
  200-224, 225/317/326, 226, 227, 229, 300/ 573,050,168 square meters   
   301/607, 313-315, 360-363, 369-L/670-L/   equivalent.                
   870 \1\, 369-S \2\, 369-O \3\, 400-414,                              
   464-469, 600-606, 611, 613/614/615/617,                              
   618, 619/620, 621-624, 625/626/627/628/                              
   629, 665, 666, 669-P \4\, 669-T \5\,                                 
   669-O \6\, 670-H \7\ and 670-O \8\, as                               
   a group.                                                             
Sublevels in Group I                                                    
  218.....................................  21,132,407 square meters.   
  225/317/326.............................  37,509,965 square meters.   
  226.....................................  6,806,861 square meters.    
  300/301/607.............................  1,689,740 kilograms of which
                                             not more than 1,408,116    
                                             kilograms shall be in      
                                             Category 300; not more than
                                             1,408,116 kilograms shall  
                                             be in Category 301; and not
                                             more than 1,408,116        
                                             kilograms shall be in      
                                             Category 607.              
  363.....................................  12,085,702 numbers.         
  369-L/670-L/870.........................  48,038,034 kilograms.       
  611.....................................  3,046,008 square meters.    
  613/614/615/617.........................  18,891,037 square meters.   
  619/620.................................  13,885,205 square meters.   
  625/626/627/628/629.....................  18,067,931 square meters.   
  669-P...................................  328,468 kilograms.          
  669-T...................................  1,067,593 kilograms.        
  670-H...................................  18,395,052 kilograms.       
Group I subgroup                                                        
  200, 219, 313, 314, 315, 361, 369-S and   141,614,645 square meters   
   604, as a group.                          equivalent.                
Within Group I subgroup                                                 
  200.....................................  682,828 kilograms.          
  219.....................................  15,540,492 square meters.   
  313.....................................  65,991,614 square meters.   
  314.....................................  27,681,737 square meters.   
  315.....................................  21,211,264 square meters.   
  361.....................................  1,371,652 numbers.          
  369-S...................................  482,759 kilograms.          
  604.....................................  225,488 kilograms.          
Group II                                                                
  237, 239, 330-332, 333/334/335, 336, 338/ 755,000,000 square meters   
   339, 340-345, 347/348, 349, 350/650,      equivalent.                
   351, 352/652, 353, 354, 359-C/659-C                                  
   \9\, 359-H/659-H \10\, 359-O \11\, 431-                              
   444, 445/446, 447/448, 459, 630-632,                                 
   633/634/635, 636, 638/639, 640, 641-                                 
   644, 645/646, 647/648, 649, 651, 653,                                
   654, 659-S \12\, 659-O \13\, 831-844                                 
   and 846-859, as a group.                                             
Sublevels in Group II                                                   
  237.....................................  667,132 dozen.              
  239.....................................  5,632,462 kilograms.        
  331.....................................  507,215 dozen pairs.        
  336.....................................  113,660 dozen.              
  338/339.................................  783,223 dozen.              
  340.....................................  1,118,911 dozen.            
  345.....................................  118,762 dozen.              
  347/348.................................  1,064,931 dozen of which not
                                             more than 1,064,931 dozen  
                                             shall be in Categories 347-
                                             W/348-W \14\.              
  352/652.................................  3,015,525 dozen.            
  359-C/659-C.............................  1,447,633 kilograms.        
  359-H/659-H.............................  4,795,423 kilograms.        
  433.....................................  15,089 dozen.               
  434.....................................  10,478 dozen.               
  435.....................................  24,879 dozen.               
  436.....................................  4,953 dozen.                
  438.....................................  27,960 dozen.               
  440.....................................  5,416 dozen.                
  442.....................................  43,695 dozen.               
  443.....................................  42,246 numbers.             
  444.....................................  60,167 numbers.             
  445/446.................................  135,421 dozen.              
  631.....................................  4,867,811 dozen pairs.      
  633/634/635.............................  1,634,440 dozen of which not
                                             more than 959,317 dozen    
                                             shall be in Categories 633/
                                             634 and not more than      
                                             850,077 dozen shall be in  
                                             Category 635.              
  638/639.................................  6,565,058 dozen.            
  640.....................................  1,058,909 dozen of which not
                                             more than 281,710 dozen    
                                             shall be in Category 640-Y 
                                             \15\.                      
  642.....................................  777,133 dozen.              
  643.....................................  502,751 numbers.            
  644.....................................  723,737 numbers.            
  645/646.................................  4,107,691 dozen.            

[[Page 67839]]

                                                                        
  647/648.................................  5,248,544 dozen of which not
                                             more than 5,248,544 dozen  
                                             shall be in Categories 647-
                                             W/648-W \16\.              
  659-S...................................  1,601,702 kilograms.        
  835.....................................  19,020 dozen.               
Group II Subgroup                                                       
  333/334/335, 341, 342, 350/650, 351, 447/ 76,035,766 square meters    
   448, 636, 641 and 651, as a group.        equivalent.                
Within Group II Subgroup                                                
  333/334/335.............................  292,416 dozen of which not  
                                             more than 158,392 dozen    
                                             shall be in Category 335.  
  341.....................................  338,229 dozen.              
  342.....................................  211,293 dozen.              
  350/650.................................  135,358 dozen.              
  351.....................................  351,522 dozen.              
  447/448.................................  20,618 dozen.               
  636.....................................  379,718 dozen.              
  641.....................................  730,350 dozen of which not  
                                             more than 255,622 dozen    
                                             shall be in Category 641-Y 
                                             \17\.                      
  651.....................................  440,833 dozen.              
Group III                                                               
Sublevel in Group III                                                   
  845.....................................  851,213 dozen.              
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Category 870; Category 369-L: only HTS numbers 4202.12.4000,        
  4202.12.8020, 4202.12.8060, 4202.92.1500, 4202.92.3015 and            
  4202.92.6090; Category 670-L: only HTS numbers 4202.12.8030,          
  4202.12.8070, 4202.92.3020, 4202.92.3030 and 4202.92.9025.            
\2\ Category 369-S: only HTS number 6307.10.2005.                       
\3\ Category 369-O: all HTS numbers except 4202.12.4000, 4202.12.8020,  
  4202.12.8060, 4202.92.1500, 4202.92.3015, 4202.92.6090 (Category 369- 
  L); and 6307.10.2005 (Category 369-S).                                
\4\ Category 669-P: only HTS numbers 6305.32.0010, 6305.32.0020,        
  6305.33.0010, 6305.33.0020 and 6305.39.0000.                          
\5\ Category 669-T: only HTS numbers 6306.12.0000, 6306.19.0010 and     
  6306.22.9030.                                                         
\6\ Category 669-O: all HTS numbers except 6305.32.0010, 6305.32.0020,  
  6305.33.0010, 6305.33.0020, 6305.39.0000 (Category 669-P);            
  6306.12.0000, 6306.19.0010 and 6306.22.9030 (Category 669-T).         
\7\ Category 670-H: only HTS numbers 4202.22.4030 and 4202.22.8050.     
\8\ Category 670-O: all HTS numbers except 4202.22.4030 4202.22.8050    
  (Category 670-H); 4202.12.8030, 4202.12.8070, 4202.92.3020,           
  4202.92.3030 and 4202.92.9025 (Category 670-L).                       
\9\ Category 359-C: only HTS numbers 6103.42.2025, 6103.49.8034,        
  6104.62.1020, 6104.69.8010, 6114.20.0048, 6114.20.0052, 6203.42.2010, 
  6203.42.2090, 6204.62.2010, 6211.32.0010, 6211.32.0025 and            
  6211.42.0010; Category 659-C: only HTS numbers 6103.23.0055,          
  6103.43.2020, 6103.43.2025, 6103.49.2000, 6103.49.8038, 6104.63.1020, 
  6104.63.1030, 6104.69.1000, 6104.69.8014, 6114.30.3044, 6114.30.3054, 
  6203.43.2010, 6203.43.2090, 6203.49.1010, 6203.49.1090, 6204.63.1510, 
  6204.69.1010, 6210.10.9010, 6211.33.0010, 6211.33.0017 and            
  6211.43.0010.                                                         
\10\ Category 359-H: only HTS numbers 6505.90.1540 and 6505.90.2060;    
  Category 659-H: only HTS numbers 6502.00.9030, 6504.00.9015,          
  6504.00.9060, 6505.90.5090, 6505.90.6090, 6505.90.7090 and            
  6505.90.8090.                                                         
\11\ Category 359-O: all HTS numbers except 6103.42.2025, 6103.49.8034, 
  6104.62.1020, 6104.69.8010, 6114.20.0048, 6114.20.0052, 6203.42.2010, 
  6203.42.2090, 6204.62.2010, 6211.32.0010, 6211.32.0025 and            
  6211.42.0010 (Category 359-C); 6505.90.1540 and 6505.90.2060 (Category
  359-H).                                                               
\12\ Category 659-S: only HTS numbers 6112.31.0010, 6112.31.0020,       
  6112.41.0010, 6112.41.0020, 6112.41.0030, 6112.41.0040, 6211.11.1010, 
  6211.11.1020, 6211.12.1010 and 6211.12.1020.                          
\13\ Category 659-O: all HTS numbers except 6103.23.0055, 6103.43.2020, 
  6103.43.2025, 6103.49.2000, 6103.49.8038, 6104.63.1020, 6104.63.1030, 
  6104.69.1000, 6104.69.8014, 6114.30.3044, 6114.30.3054, 6203.43.2010, 
  6203.43.2090, 6203.49.1010, 6203.49.1090, 6204.63.1510, 6204.69.1010, 
  6210.10.9010, 6211.33.0010, 6211.33.0017 and 6211.43.0010 (Category   
  659-C); 6502.00.9030, 6504.00.9015, 6504.00.9060, 6505.90.5090,       
  6505.90.6090, 6505.90.7090, 6505.90.8090 (Category 659-H);            
  6112.31.0010, 6112.31.0020, 6112.41.0010, 6112.41.0020, 6112.41.0030, 
  6112.41.0040, 6211.11.1010, 6211.11.1020, 6211.12.1010 and            
  6211.12.1020 (Category 659-S).                                        
\14\ Category 347-W: only HTS numbers 6203.19.1020, 6203.19.9020,       
  6203.22.3020, 6203.22.3030, 6203.42.4005, 6203.42.4010, 6203.42.4015, 
  6203.42.4025, 6203.42.4035, 6203.42.4045, 6203.42.4050, 6203.42.4060, 
  6203.49.8020, 6210.40.9033, 6211.20.1520, 6211.20.3810 and            
  6211.32.0040; Category 348-W: only HTS numbers 6204.12.0030,          
  6204.19.8030, 6204.22.3040, 6204.22.3050, 6204.29.4034, 6204.62.3000, 
  6204.62.4005, 6204.62.4010, 6204.62.4020, 6204.62.4030, 6204.62.4040, 
  6204.62.4050, 6204.62.4055, 6204.62.4065, 6204.69.6010, 6204.69.9010, 
  6210.50.9060, 6211.20.1550, 6211.20.6810, 6211.42.0030 and            
  6217.90.9050.                                                         
\15\ Category 640-Y: only HTS numbers 6205.30.2010, 6205.30.2020,       
  6205.30.2050 and 6205.30.2060.                                        
\16\ Category 647-W: only HTS numbers 6203.23.0060, 6203.23.0070,       
  6203.29.2030, 6203.29.2035, 6203.43.2500, 6203.43.3500, 6203.43.4010, 
  6203.43.4020, 6203.43.4030, 6203.43.4040, 6203.49.1500, 6203.49.2015, 
  6203.49.2030, 6203.49.2045, 6203.49.2060, 6203.49.8030, 6210.40.5030, 
  6211.20.1525, 6211.20.3820 and 6211.33.0030; Category 648-W: only HTS 
  numbers 6204.23.0040, 6204.23.0045, 6204.29.2020, 6204.29.2025,       
  6204.29.4038, 6204.63.2000, 6204.63.3000, 6204.63.3510, 6204.63.3530, 
  6204.63.3532, 6204.63.3540, 6204.69.2510, 6204.69.2530, 6204.69.2540, 
  6204.69.2560, 6204.69.6030, 6204.69.9030, 6210.50.5035, 6211.20.1555, 
  6211.20.6820, 6211.43.0040 and 6217.90.9060.                          
\17\ Category 641-Y: only HTS numbers 6204.23.0050, 6204.29.2030,       
  6206.40.3010 and 6206.40.3025.                                        

    The limits set forth above are subject to adjustment pursuant to 
the current bilateral agreement concerning imports of textile and 
apparel products from Taiwan.
    Products in the above categories exported during 1997 shall be 
charged to the applicable category limits for that year (see 
directive dated November 4, 1996) to the extent of any unfilled 
balances. In the event the limits established for that period have 
been exhausted by previous entries, such products shall be charged 
to the limits set forth in this directive.
    These limits may be revised if Taiwan becomes a member of the 
World Trade Organization (WTO) and the WTO agreement is applied to 
Taiwan.
    The conversion factors are as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Conversion factors (square 
                 Category                    meters equivalent/category 
                                                        unit)           
------------------------------------------------------------------------
300/301/607...............................  8.5                         
333/334/335...............................  33.75                       
352/652...................................  11.3                        
359-C/659-C...............................  10.1                        
359-H/659-H...............................  11.5                        
369-L/670-L/870...........................  3.8                         
633/634/635...............................  34.1                        
638/639...................................  12.5                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In carrying out the above directions, the Commissioner of 
Customs should construe entry into the United States for consumption 
to include entry for consumption into the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico.
    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,
J. Hayden Boyd,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
[FR Doc. 97-33910 Filed 12-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F