[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67833-67834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33914]



[[Page 67833]]

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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


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

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: 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 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.

    The import restraint limits for textile products, produced or 
manufactured in Korea and exported during the period January 1, 1998 
through December 31, 1998 are based on limits notified to the Textiles 
Monitoring Body pursuant to the Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles and 
Clothing (ATC).
    Pursuant to the provisions of the ATC, the second stage of the 
integration commences on January 1, 1998 (see 60 FR 21075, published on 
May 1, 1995). Accordingly, certain previously restrained categories may 
have been modified or eliminated and certain limits may have been 
revised. Integrated products will no longer be subject to quota. CITA 
has informed Korea of its intent to continue the bilateral visa 
arrangement for those products.
    In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the 
Commissioner of Customs to establish the 1998 limits. In accordance 
with the special swing provision contained in the exchange of notes 
dated April 2 and 8, 1997 between the Governments of the United States 
and Korea, 59,407,515 square meters equivalent is being charged to the 
1998 Group II 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 62 FR 66057, published on December 17, 1997). Also see 
62 FR 51832, published on October 3, 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 Uruguay Round Agreement on 
Textiles and Clothing (ATC), you are directed to prohibit, 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 
the Republic of Korea and exported during the twelve-month period 
beginning on January 1, 1998 and extending through December 31, 
1998, in excess of the following levels of restraint:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Category                   Twelve-month restraint limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group I                                                                 
  200-223, 224-V \1\, 224-O \2\, 225, 226,  386,870,998 square meters   
   227, 300-326, 360-363, 369pt. \3\, 400-   equivalent.                
   414, 464, 469pt. \4\, 600-629, 666, 669-                             
   P \5\, 669pt. \6\ and 670-O \7\, as a                                
   group.                                                               
Sublevels within Group I                                                
  200.....................................  461,113 kilograms.          
  201.....................................  2,183,034 kilograms.        
  218.....................................  9,346,896 square meters.    
  219.....................................  8,510,994 square meters.    
  224-V...................................  10,729,411 square meters.   
  300/301.................................  3,135,399 kilograms.        
  313.....................................  51,096,363 square meters.   
  314.....................................  28,489,091 square meters.   
  315.....................................  18,272,754 square meters.   
  317/326.................................  18,988,737 square meters.   
  363.....................................  1,094,272 numbers.          
  410.....................................  3,551,791 square meters.    
  604.....................................  388,754 kilograms.          
  607.....................................  1,121,629 kilograms.        
  611.....................................  3,738,759 square meters.    
  613/614.................................  6,231,263 square meters.    
  617.....................................  5,167,390 square meters.    
  619/620.................................  94,532,277 square meters.   
  624.....................................  9,118,923 square meters.    
  625/626/627/628/629.....................  15,952,036 square meters.   
  669-P...................................  2,294,475 kilograms.        
Group II                                                                
  237, 239pt. \8\, 331-348, 350-352, 359-H  584,556,337 square meters   
   \9\, 359pt. \10\, 431, 433-438, 440-      equivalent.                
   448, 459-W \11\, 459pt. \12\, 631, 633-                              
   652, 659-H \13\, 659-S \14\ and 659pt.                               
   \15\, as a group.                                                    
Sublevels within Group II                                               
  237.....................................  62,007 dozen.               
  239pt...................................  250,725 kilograms.          
  333/334/335.............................  280,407 dozen of which not  
                                             more than 143,320 dozen    
                                             shall be in Category 335.  
  336.....................................  59,258 dozen.               
  338/339.................................  1,246,253 dozen.            
  340.....................................  648,052 dozen of which not  
                                             more than 336,489 dozen    
                                             shall be in Category 340-D 
                                             \16\.                      
  341.....................................  182,729 dozen.              
  342/642.................................  225,379 dozen.              
  345.....................................  121,071 dozen.              
  347/348.................................  461,113 dozen.              
  350.....................................  17,235 dozen.               
  351/651.................................  236,766 dozen.              
  352.....................................  184,245 dozen.              
  359-H...................................  2,654,234 kilograms.        
  433.....................................  13,935 dozen.               
  434.....................................  7,147 dozen.                
  435.....................................  35,230 dozen.               
  436.....................................  14,914 dozen.               
  438.....................................  59,793 dozen.               
  440.....................................  198,651 dozen.              
  442.....................................  50,399 dozen.               
  443.....................................  322,056 numbers.            
  444.....................................  54,920 numbers.             
  445/446.................................  52,277 dozen.               
  447.....................................  89,190 dozen.               
  448.....................................  35,456 dozen.               
  459-W...................................  95,910 kilograms.           
  631.....................................  311,096 dozen pairs.        
  633/634/635.............................  1,358,622 dozen of which not
                                             more than 154,065 dozen    
                                             shall be in Category 633   
                                             and not more than 574,152  
                                             dozen shall be in Category 
                                             635.                       
  636.....................................  271,507 dozen.              
  638/639.................................  5,289,591 dozen.            
  640-D \17\..............................  3,136,590 dozen.            
  640-O \18\..............................  2,613,824 dozen.            

[[Page 67834]]

                                                                        
  641.....................................  1,053,642 dozen of which not
                                             more than 39,799 dozen     
                                             shall be in Category 641-Y 
                                             \19\.                      
  643.....................................  780,589 numbers.            
  644.....................................  1,174,362 numbers.          
  645/646.................................  3,592,927 dozen.            
  647/648.................................  1,328,005 dozen.            
  650.....................................  25,221 dozen.               
  659-H...................................  1,340,420 kilograms.        
  659-S...................................  185,476 kilograms.          
Group III                                                               
  831, 833-838, 840-844, 847-858 and        17,418,627 square meters    
   859pt. \20\, as a group.                  equivalent.                
Sublevel within Group III                                               
  835.....................................  28,798 dozen.               
Group IV                                                                
  845.....................................  2,315,056 dozen.            
  846.....................................  818,787 dozen.              
Group VI                                                                
  369-L/670-L/870\21\.....................  73,117,988 square meters    
                                             equivalent.                
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Category 224-V: only HTS numbers 5801.21.0000, 5801.23.0000,        
  5801.24.0000, 5801.25.0010, 5801.25.0020, 5801.26.0010, 5801.26.0020, 
  5801.31.0000, 5801.33.0000, 5801.34.0000, 5801.35.0010, 5801.35.0020, 
  5801.36.0010 and 5801.36,0020.                                        
\2\ Category 224-O: all remaining HTS numbers in Category 224.          
\3\ Category 369pt.: 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); 5601.10.1000, 5601.21.0090, 5701.90.1020, 5701.90.2020,           
  5702.10.9020, 5702.39.2010, 5702.49.1020, 5702.49.1080, 5702.59.1000, 
  5702.99.1010, 5602.99.1090, 5705.00.2020 and 6406.10.7700.            
\4\ Category 469pt.: all HTS numbers except 5601.29.0020, 5603.94.1010  
  and 6406.10.9020.                                                     
\5\ Category 669-P: only HTS numbers 6305.32.0010, 6305.32.0020,        
  6305.33.0010, 6305.33.0020 and 6305.39.0000.                          
\6\ Category 669pt.: all HTS numbers except 6305.32.0010, 6305.32.0020, 
  6305.33.0010, 6305.33.0020 and 6305.39.0000 (Category 669-P);         
  5601.10.2000, 5601.22.0090, 5607.49.3000, 5607.50.4000 and            
  6406.10.9040.                                                         
\7\ Category 670-O: all HTS numbers except 4202.12.8030, 4202.12.8070,  
  4202.92.3020, 4202.92.3030 and 4202.92.9025 (Category 670-L).         
\8\ Category 239pt.: only HTS number 6209.20.5040 (diapers).            
\9\ Category 359-H: only HTS numbers 6505.90.1540 and 6505.90.2060.     
\10\ Category 359pt.: all HTS numbers except 6505.90.1540, 6505.20.2060 
  (Category 359-H); and 6406.99.1550.                                   
\11\ Category 459-W: only HTS number 6505.90.4090.                      
\12\ Category 459pt.: all HTS numbers except 6505.90.4090 (Category 459-
  W); 6405.20.6030, 6405.20.6060, 6405.20.6090, 6405.99.1505 and        
  6406.99.1560.                                                         
\13\ 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.                                                         
\14\ 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.                          
\15\ Category 659pt.: all HTS numbers except 6502.00.9030,              
  6504.00.91015, 6504.00.9060, 6505.90.5090, 6505.90.606090,            
  6505.90.7090 and 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); 6406.99.1510 and 6406.99.1540.                                
\16\ Category 340-D: only HTS numbers 6205.20.2015, 6205.20.2020,       
  6205.20.2025 and 6205.20.2030.                                        
\17\ Category 640-D: only HTS numbers 6205.30.2010, 6205.30.2020,       
  6205.30.2030, 6205.30.2040, 6205.90.3030 and 6205.90.4030.            
\18\ Category 640-O: all HTS numbers except 6205.30.2010, 6205.30.2020, 
  6205.30.2030, 6205.30.2040, 6205.90.3030 and 6205.90.4030 (Category   
  640-D).                                                               
\19\ Category 641-Y: only HTS numbers 6204.23.0050, 6204.29.2030,       
  6206.40.3010 and 6206.40.3025.                                        
\20\ Category 859pt.: only HTS numbers 6115.19.8040, 6117.10.6020,      
  6212.10.5030, 6212.10.9040, 6212.20.0030, 6212.30.0030, 6212.90.0090, 
  6214.10.2000 and 6214.90.0090.                                        
\21\ 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.            

    The limits set forth above are subject to adjustment pursuant to 
the provisions of the ATC and administrative arrangements notified 
to the Textiles Monitoring Body.
    Products in the above categories exported during 1997 shall be 
charged to the applicable category limits for that year (see 
directive dated November 14, 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.
    Products for integration in 1998 listed in the Federal Register 
notice published on May 1, 1995 (60 FR 21075) which are exported 
during 1997 shall be charged to the applicable limits to the extent 
of any unfilled balances. After January 1, 1998, should those 
unfilled balances be exhausted, such products shall no longer be 
charged to any limit, due to integration of these products into GATT 
1994.
    CITA has informed Korea of its intent to continue the bilateral 
visa arrangement for those products. An export visa will continue to 
be required, if applicable, for products integrated on and after 
January 1, 1998, before entry is permitted into the United States.
    The conversion factors for the following merged categories are 
listed below:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Conversion factor (Square 
                 Category                    meters equivalent/category 
                                                        unit)           
------------------------------------------------------------------------
333/334/335...............................  33.75                       
369-L/670-L/870...........................  3.8                         
633/634/635...............................  34.1                        
638/639...................................  12.96                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In accordance with exchange of notes dated April 2 and April 8, 
1997 between the Governments of the United States and Korea, for 
products exported in 1997, you are directed to charge 59,407,515 
square meters equivalent to the Group II limit established in this 
directive.
    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 of 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. 97-33914 Filed 12-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F