[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 237 (Thursday, December 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68248-68249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32798]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Extension of Suspension of Group II Restriction for Certain Man-
Made Fiber Textile Products Produced or Manufactured in India

December 4, 1998.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).


[[Page 68249]]


ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs extending 
suspension of the Group II restriction for certain products from India.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori 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 document published in the Federal Register on November 13, 1997 
(62 FR 60826) announced the extension of the suspension of the Group II 
restriction for rayon filament yarn in HTS number 5403.31.0040 in 
Category 606 from India for the period January 1, 1998 through December 
31, 1998.
    The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has 
decided to extend the suspension for an additional twelve-month period 
beginning on January 1, 1999 and extending through December 31, 1999. A 
visa is still required for this product.
    Anyone wishing to comment or provide data or information regarding 
the treatment of imports in HTS number 5403.31.0040 from India or to 
comment on domestic production or availability of products included in 
HTS number 5403.31.0040 is invited to submit 10 copies of such comments 
or information to Troy H. Cribb, Chairman, Committee for the 
Implementation of Textile Agreements, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
Washington, DC 20230; ATTN: Helen L. LeGrande.
    Comments or information submitted in response to this notice will 
be available for public inspection in the Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, room H3100, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC.
    Further comments may be invited regarding particular comments or 
information received from the public which the Committee for the 
Implementation of Textile Agreements considers appropriate for further 
consideration.
    The solicitation of comments is not a waiver in any respect of the 
exemption contained in 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1) relating to matters which 
constitute ``a foreign affairs function of the United States.''
    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 CORRELATION will be published in the 
Federal Register at a later date.
D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
December 4, 1998.

Commissioner of Customs,
Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC 20229.

    Dear Commissioner: Effective on January 1, 1999, man-made fiber 
textile products in HTS 5403.31.0040 in Category 606, in Group II, 
produced or manufactured in India and exported during the twelve-
month period beginning on January 1, 1999 and extending through 
December 31, 1999, shall not be subject to the Group II quota 
established for the 1999 period. A visa is still required for this 
product.
    For U.S. Customs' administrative purposes, the remaining HTS 
numbers in Category 606 shall be designated Category 606(1) \1\.
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    \1\ Category 606(1): all HTS numbers except 5403.31.0040 
(Category 606(2)).
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    To facilitate implementation of the Uruguay Round Agreement on 
Textiles and Clothing, effective on January 1, 1999, entry/entry 
summary procedures shall be required, and you shall continue to 
count imports for consumption and withdrawals from warehouse for 
consumption of textile products in HTS number 5403.31.0040 in 
Category 606(2) \2\, produced or manufactured in India and exported 
during the period January 1, 1998 through December 31, 1998.
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    \2\ Category 606(2): only HTS number 5403.31.0040.
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    Also effective on January 1, 1999, entry/entry summary 
procedures shall be required, and you shall count imports for 
consumption and withdrawals from warehouse for consumption of 
textile products in HTS number 5403.31.0040 in Category 606(2), 
produced or manufactured in India and exported during the period 
January 1, 1999 through December 31, 1999.
    Inasmuch as these imports may later be charged against the Group 
II level, it is important that an accurate count be taken.
    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. 98-32798 Filed 12-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F