[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 233 (Friday, December 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67048-67050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32354]


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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 Hong Kong

November 30, 1998.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

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

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EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1999.

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, call (202) 927-5850, or refer to the U.S. Customs 
website at http://www.customs.ustreas.gov. 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 Hong Kong and exported during the period January 1, 
1999 through December 31, 1999 are based on limits notified to the 
Textiles Monitoring Body pursuant to the Uruguay Round Agreement on 
Textiles and Clothing (ATC).
    Effective on January 1, 1999, a visa will no longer be required for 
products integrated in the second stage of the integration of textiles 
and clothing into GATT 1994 from WTO member countries (see 63 FR 53881, 
published on October 7, 1998). A visa will continue to be required for 
non-integrated products. For quota purposes only, products remaining in 
categories partially integrated will continue to be designated by the 
designator ``pt.''
    In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the 
Commissioner of Customs to establish the 1999 limits. These limits have 
been increased, variously, for adjustments permitted under the 
flexibility provisions of the ATC.
    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). 
Information regarding the 1999

[[Page 67049]]

CORRELATION will be published in the Federal Register at a later date.
Troy H. Cribb,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
November 30, 1998.

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, 1999, 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 
Hong Kong and exported during the twelve-month period beginning on 
January 1, 1999 and extending through December 31, 1999, in excess 
of the following levels of restraint:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Category                   Twelve-month restraint limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group I
200-227, 300-326, 360-363, 369(1) \1\,      248,373,685 square meters
 369pt. \2\, 400-414, 464, 469pt. \3\, 600-  equivalent.
 629, 666, 669pt. \4\ and 670, as a group.
Sublevels in Group I
219.......................................  43,774,441 square meters.
218/225/317/326...........................  75,509,804 square meters of
                                             which not more than
                                             4,158,786 square meters
                                             shall be in Category 218(1)
                                             \5\ (yarn dyed fabric other
                                             than denim and jacquard).
611.......................................  6,901,630 square meters.
617.......................................  4,354,444 square meters.
Group I subgroup
200, 226/313, 314, 315, 369(1) and 604, as  116,923,712 square meters
 a group                                     equivalent.
Within Group I subgroup
200.......................................  377,406 kilograms.
226/313...................................  78,521,945 square meters.
314.......................................  21,176,426 square meters
315.......................................  10,469,698 square meters.
369(1) (shoptowels).......................  860,397 kilograms.
604.......................................  259,063 kilograms.
Group II
237, 239pt. \6\, 331-348, 350-352, 359(1)   855,820,099 square meters
 \7\, 359(2) \8\, 359pt. \9\, 431, 433-      equivalent.
 438, 440-448, 459pt. \10\, 631, 633-652,
 659(1) \11\, 659(2) \12\, 659pt. \13\,
 and 443/444/643/644/843/844(1), as a
 group.
Sublevels in Group II
237.......................................  1,265,837 dozen.
331.......................................  4,336,479 dozen pairs.
333/334...................................  312,390 dozen.
335.......................................  347,274 dozen.
338/339 \14\ (shirts and blouses other      2,951,725 dozen.
 than tank tops and tops, knit).
338/339(1) \15\ (tank tops and knit tops).  2,217,646 dozen.
340.......................................  2,826,588 dozen.
345.......................................  475,195 dozen.
347/348...................................  6,846,378 dozen of which not
                                             more than 6,756,378 dozen
                                             shall be in Categories 347-
                                             W/348-W \16\; and not more
                                             than 5,120,239 dozen shall
                                             be in Category 348-W.
352.......................................  7,445,492 dozen.
359(1) (coveralls, overalls and jumpsuits)  649,428 kilograms.
359(2) (vests)............................  1,353,543 kilograms.
433.......................................  10,663 dozen.
434.......................................  11,446 dozen.
435.......................................  77,706 dozen.
436.......................................  101,208 dozen.
438.......................................  831,206 dozen.
442.......................................  94,572 dozen.
443.......................................  63,856 numbers.
444.......................................  42,823 numbers.
445/446...................................  1,373,874 dozen.
447/448...................................  69,092 dozen.
631.......................................  702,558 dozen pairs.
633/634/635...............................  1,401,229 dozen of which not
                                             more than 524,090 dozen
                                             shall be in Categories 633/
                                             634; and not more than
                                             1,075,986 dozen shall be in
                                             Category 635.
638/639...................................  4,955,336 dozen.
641.......................................  856,261 dozen.
644.......................................  47,651 numbers.
645/646...................................  1,358,164 dozen.
647.......................................  584,436 dozen.
648.......................................  1,193,100 dozen of which not
                                             more than 1,178,310 dozen
                                             shall be in Category 648-W
                                             \17\.
649.......................................  899,796 dozen.
650.......................................  186,074 dozen.
652.......................................  5,226,191 dozen.
659(1) (coveralls, overalls and jumpsuits)  717,789 kilograms.
659(2) (swimsuits)........................  297,137 kilograms.
443/444/643/644/843/844(1) (made-to-        59,256 numbers.
 measure suits).
Group II subgroup
336, 341, 342, 350, 351, 636, 640, 642 and  161,892,727 square meters
 651, as a group.                            equivalent.
Within Group II subgroup
336.......................................  244,484 dozen.
341.......................................  2,861,158 dozen.
342.......................................  580,865 dozen.
350.......................................  144,826 dozen.
351.......................................  1,208,423 dozen.
636.......................................  329,033 dozen.
640.......................................  1,011,349 dozen.
642.......................................  261,660 dozen.
651.......................................  356,335 dozen.
Group III
831, 833-838, 840-844, 847-858 and 859pt.   46,482,012 square meters
 \18\, as a group.                           equivalent.
Sublevels in Group III
834.......................................  13,391 dozen.
835.......................................  116,441 dozen.
836.......................................  174,460 dozen.
840.......................................  691,677 dozen.
842.......................................  272,972 dozen.
847.......................................  371,455 dozen.
Limits not in a group
845(1) \19\ (sweaters made in Hong Kong)..  1,131,105 dozen.
845(2) \20\ (sweaters assembled in Hong     2,707,434 dozen.
 Kong from knit-to-shape components, knit
 elsewhere).
846(1) \21\ (sweaters made in Hong Kong)..  182,910 dozen.
846(2) \22\ (sweaters assembled in Hong     440,745 dozen.
 Kong from knit-to-shape components, knit
 elsewhere).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Category 369(1): only HTS number 6307.10.2005.
\2\ Category 369pt.: all HTS numbers except 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, 5702.99.1090, 5705.00.2020,
  6406.10.7700 and HTS number in 369(1).
\3\ Category 469pt.: all HTS numbers except 5601.29.0020, 5603.94.1010
  and 6406.10.9020.
\4\ Category 669pt.: all HTS numbers except 5601.10.2000, 5601.22.0090,
  5607.49.3000, 5607.50.4000 and 6406.10.9040.
\5\ Category 218(1): all HTS numbers except 5209.42.0060, 5209.42.0080,
  5211.42.0060, 5211.42.0080, 5514.32.0015 and 5516.43.0015.

[[Page 67050]]

 
\6\ Category 239pt.: only HTS number 6209.20.5040 (diapers).
\7\ Category 359(1): 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.
\8\ Category 359(2): only HTS numbers 6103.19.2030, 6103.19.9030,
  6104.12.0040, 6104.19.8040, 6110.20.1022, 6110.20.1024, 6110.20.2030,
  6110.20.2035, 6110.90.9044, 6110.90.9046, 6201.92.2010, 6202.92.2020,
  6203.19.1030, 6203.19.9030, 6204.12.0040, 6204.19.8040, 6211.32.0070
  and 6211.42.0070.
\9\ Category 359pt.: all HTS numbers except 6406.99.1550 and HTS numbers
  in 359(1) and 359(2).
\10\ Category 459pt.: all HTS numbers except 6405.20.6030, 6405.20.6060,
  6405.20.6090, 6406.99.1505 and 6406.99.1560.
\11\ Category 659(1): 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.
\12\ Category 659(2): 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 659pt.: all HTS numbers except 6406.99.1510, 6406.99.1540
  and HTS numbers in 659(1) and 659(2).
\14\ Categories 338/339: all HTS numbers except 6109.10.0018,
  6109.10.0023, 6109.10.0060, 6109.10.0065, 6114.20.0005 and
  6114.20.0010.
\15\ Category 338/339(1): only HTS numbers 6109.10.0018, 6109.10.0023,
  6109.10.0060, 6109.10.0065, 6114.20.0005 and 6114.20.0010.
\16\ 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.
\17\ 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.
\18\ 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.
\19\ Category 845(1): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2074, 6104.29.2079,
  6110.90.9024, 6110.90.9042 and 6117.90.9015.
\20\ Category 845(2): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2070, 6104.29.2077,
  6110.90.9022 and 6110.90.9040.
\21\ Category 846(1): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2068, 6104.29.2075,
  6110.90.9020 and 6110.90.9038.
\22\ Category 846(2): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2066, 6104.29.2073,
  6110.90.9018 and 6110.90.9036.

    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 1998 shall be 
charged to the applicable category limits for that year (see 
directive dated December 22, 1997) 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.
    Effective on January 1, 1999, a visa will no longer be required 
for products integrated in the second stage of the integration of 
textiles and clothing into GATT 1994 from WTO member countries (see 
directive dated September 30, 1998). A visa will continue to be 
required for non-integrated products. For quota purposes only, 
products remaining in categories partially integrated will continue 
to be designated by the designator ``pt.''
    The conversion factors for merged Categories 333/334, 633/634/
635 and 638/639 are 33, 33.90 and 13, respectively. The conversion 
factor for Category 239pt. is 8.79.
    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,
Troy H. Cribb,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 98-32354 Filed 12-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F