[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 56 (Tuesday, March 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14071-14072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7722]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Extension of Temporary Amendment to the Requirements for 
Participating in the Special Access Progam for Caribbean Basin 
Countries

March 20, 1998.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs extending 
amendment of requirements for participation in the Special Access 
Program for a temporary period.

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

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 23, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori E. Mennitt, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-3400.

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.

    A notice and letter to the Commissioner of Customs published in the 
Federal Register on September 19, 1997 (62 FR 49206) announced the 
temporary amendment to the foreign origin exception for findings and 
trimmings under the Special Access Program. By date of export, the 
foreign origin exception for findings and trimmings, including elastic 
strips of less than one inch in width, under the Special Access Program 
were temporarily amended to include non-U.S. formed, U.S. cut 
interlinings for the period September 23, 1997 through March 22, 1998 
for men's and boys' suit jackets and suit-type jackets in Categories 
433, 443, 633 and 643. In the aggregate, such interlinings, findings 
and trimmings must not exceed 25 percent of the cost of the components 
of the assembled article. This amendment is being extended for a six-
month period beginning on March 23, 1998 and extending through 
September 22, 1998 for men's and boys' suit jackets and suit-type 
jackets in Categories 433, 443, 633 and 643 entered under the Special 
Access Program (9802.00.8015)

[[Page 14072]]

provided they are cut in the United States and are of a type described 
below:
    (1) A chest type plate, ``hymo'' piece or ``sleeve header'' of 
woven or welf-inserted warp knit construction of coarse animal hair or 
man-made filaments used in the manufacture of men's or boys' tailored 
suit jackets and suit-type jackets;
    (2) A weft-inserted warp knit fabric which contains and exhibits 
properties of elasticity and resilience which render the fabric 
especially suitable for attachment by fusing with a thermo-plastic 
adhesive to the coat-front, side body or back of men's or boys' 
tailored suit jackets and suit-type jackets.
    (3) A woven fabric which contains and exhibits properties of 
resiliency which render the fabric especially suitable for attachment 
by fusing with a thermo-plastic adhesive to the coat-front, side body 
or back of men's or boys' tailored suit jackets and suit-type jackets.
D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
March 20, 1998.

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 September 15, 1997, by the Chairman, 
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. That 
directive concerns the foreign origin exception for findings and 
trimmings under the Special Access Program.
    Effective on March 23, 1998, by date of export, you are directed 
to extend, for the six-month period March 23, 1998 through September 
22, 1998, the amendment to treat non-U.S. formed, U.S.-cut 
interlinings, further described below, for men's and boys' wool and 
man-made fiber suit jackets and suit-type jackets in Categories 433, 
443, 633 and 643 as qualifying for the exception for findings and 
trimmings, including elastic strips less than one inch in width, 
created under the Special Access Program established effective 
September 1, 1986 (see 51 FR 21208). In the aggregate, such 
interlinings, findings and trimmings must not exceed 25 percent of 
the cost of the components of the assembled article.
    The amendment implemented by this directive shall be of a 
temporary nature. The amendment will terminate on September 22, 
1998, by date of export.
    As described above, non-U.S. formed, U.S.-cut interlinings may 
be used in imports of men's or boys' suit jackets and suit-type 
jackets entered under the Special Access Program (9802.00.8015) 
provided they are cut in the United States and of a type described 
below:
    (1) A chest plate, ``hymo'' piece or ``sleeve header'' of woven 
or weft-inserted warp knit construction of coarse animal hair or 
man-made filaments used in the manufacture of nen's or boys' 
tailored suit jackets and suit-type jackets;
    (2) A weft-inserted warp knit fabric which contains and exhibits 
properties of elasticity and resilience which render the fabric 
especially suitable for attachment by fusing with a thermo-plastic 
adhesive to the coat-front, side body or back of men's or boys' 
tailored suit jackets and suit-type jackets.
    (3) A woven fabric which contains and exhibits properties of 
resiliency which render the fabric especially suitable for 
attachment by fusing with a thermo-plastic adhesive to the coat-
front, side body or back of men's or boys' tailored suit jackets and 
suit-type jackets.
    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,
D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
[FR Doc. 98-7722 Filed 3-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F