[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 230 (Wednesday, December 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67253-67254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-31057]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
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 23, 1999.
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, 2000.

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, 
2000 through December 31, 2000 are based on limits notified to the 
Textiles Monitoring Body pursuant to the Uruguay Round Agreement on 
Textiles and Clothing (ATC).
    In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the 
Commissioner of Customs to establish the 2000 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 63 FR 71096, published on December 23, 1998). 
Information regarding the 2000 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 23, 1999.

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, 2000, 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, 2000 and extending through December 31, 2000, in excess 
of the following levels of restraint:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Category                   Twelve-month restraint limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group I
200-227, 300-326, 360-363, 369(1) \1\,      254,856,238 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.......................................  45,361,264 square meters.
218/225/317/326...........................  77,152,142 square meters of
                                             which not more than
                                             4,249,239 square meters
                                             shall be in Category 218(1)
                                             \5\ (yarn dyed fabric other
                                             than denim and jacquard).
611.......................................  7,151,815 square meters.
617.......................................  4,512,292 square meters.
Group I subgroup
200, 226/313, 314, 315, 369(1) and 604, as  121,450,414 square meters
 a group                                     equivalent.
Within Group I subgroup
200.......................................  391,087 kilograms.
226/313...................................  81,368,365 square meters.
314.......................................  21,944,072 square meters
315.......................................  10,849,223 square meters.
369(1) (shoptowels).......................  891,586 kilograms.
604.......................................  268,455 kilograms.
Group II
237, 239pt. \6\, 331-348, 350-352, 359(1)   878,157,003 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.......................................  1,311,724 dozen.
331.......................................  4,399,357 dozen pairs.
333/334...................................  319,184 dozen.
335.......................................  349,791 dozen.
338/339 \14\ (shirts and blouses other      2,973,125 dozen.
 than tank tops and tops, knit).
338/339(1) \15\ (tank tops and knit tops).  2,233,725 dozen.
340.......................................  2,847,080 dozen.
345.......................................  485,530 dozen.
347/348...................................  6,895,362 dozen of which not
                                             more than 6,805,362 dozen
                                             shall be in Categories 347-
                                             W/348-W \16\; and not more
                                             than 5,157,360 dozen shall
                                             be in Category 348-W.
352.......................................  7,715,391 dozen.
359(1) (coveralls, overalls and jumpsuits)  668,262 kilograms.
359(2) (vests)............................  1,392,796 kilograms.
433.......................................  10,817 dozen.
434.......................................  11,612 dozen.
435.......................................  78,271 dozen.
436.......................................  101,942 dozen.
438.......................................  837,232 dozen.
442.......................................  95,944 dozen.
443.......................................  64,319 numbers.
444.......................................  43,444 numbers.
445/446...................................  1,383,834 dozen.
447/448...................................  69,593 dozen.
631.......................................  728,026 dozen pairs.

[[Page 67254]]

 
633/634/635...............................  1,431,705 dozen of which not
                                             more than 535,489 dozen
                                             shall be in Categories 633/
                                             634; and not more than
                                             1,099,388 dozen shall be in
                                             Category 635.
638/639...................................  4,991,263 dozen.
641.......................................  862,469 dozen.
644.......................................  49,379 numbers.
645/646...................................  1,368,011 dozen.
647.......................................  605,620 dozen.
648.......................................  1,210,184 dozen of which not
                                             more than 1,195,394 dozen
                                             shall be in Category 648-W
                                             \17\.
649.......................................  932,414 dozen.
650.......................................  192,819 dozen.
652.......................................  5,377,750 dozen.
659(1) (coveralls, overalls and jumpsuits)  738,604 kilograms.
659(2) (swimsuits)........................  307,909 kilograms.
443/444/643/644/843/844(1) (made-to-        60,115 numbers.
 measure suits).
Group II subgroup
336, 341, 342, 350, 351, 636, 640, 642 and  164,827,032 square meters
 651, as a group.                            equivalent.
Within Group II subgroup
336.......................................  253,347 dozen.
341.......................................  2,881,900 dozen.
342.......................................  593,499 dozen.
350.......................................  147,976 dozen.
351.......................................  1,217,185 dozen.
636.......................................  340,961 dozen.
640.......................................  1,040,678 dozen.
642.......................................  271,145 dozen.
651.......................................  369,252 dozen.
Group III
831, 833-838, 840-844, 847-858 and 859pt.   47,594,094 square meters
 \18\, as a group.                           equivalent.
Sublevels in Group III
834.......................................  13,876 dozen.
835.......................................  118,130 dozen.
836.......................................  179,520 dozen.
840.......................................  701,706 dozen.
842.......................................  278,910 dozen.
847.......................................  376,841 dozen.
Limits not in a group
845(1) \19\ (sweaters made in Hong Kong)..  1,132,745 dozen.
845(2) \20\ (sweaters assembled in Hong     2,711,360 dozen.
 Kong from knit-to-shape components, knit
 elsewhere).
846(1) \21\ (sweaters made in Hong Kong)..  183,176 dozen.
846(2) \22\ (sweaters assembled in Hong     441,385 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.
\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 1999 shall be 
charged to the applicable category limits for that year (see 
directive dated November 30, 1998) 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.
    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. 99-31057 Filed 11-30-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F