[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 223 (Friday, November 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 69504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-29491]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Request for Public Comments on the Extension of Temporary 
Amendment to the Requirements for Participating in the Special Access 
Program for Caribbean Basin Countries and the Outward Processing 
Program

November 13, 2000.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Request for public comments concerning the extension of 
amendment to the requirements for participation in the Special Access 
Program and the Outward Processing Program.

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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.
    In order to qualify for Special Access Program treatment, a textile 
product must be assembled from U.S. fabric in a Caribbean Basin 
Initiative (CBI) or Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) country with 
which the United States has entered into a bilateral agreement 
regarding guaranteed access levels under the Special Access Program. 
The product must be assembled from fabric formed and cut in the United 
States; meaning that all fabric components of the assembled product 
(with the exception of findings and trimmings, including elastic 
strips) must be U.S. formed and cut. Upon entry into the United States, 
the product must be classified under heading 9802.00.8015 of the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
    Findings and trimmings of non-U.S. origin may be incorporated into 
the assembled product provided they do not exceed 25 percent of the 
cost of the components of the assembled product. Certain non-U.S. 
formed, U.S. cut interlinings for suit jackets and suit-type jackets 
may currently qualify as findings and trimmings under a temporary 
amendment to the Special Access Program.
    A notice and letter to the Commissioner of Customs published in the 
Federal Register on December 18, 1998 (see 63 FR 70112), and amended on 
December 24, 1998 (see 64 FR 149, published on January 4, 1999), 
extended, through December 31, 2000, the exemption period for women's 
and girls' and men's and boys' chest type 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 
tailored suit jackets and suit-type jackets in Categories 433, 435, 
443, 444, 633, 635, 643 and 644, which are entered under the Special 
Access Program (9802.00.8015), provided they are cut in the United 
States.
    On January 1, 2000, goods covered under the Outward Processing 
Program (9802.00.8017) were also authorized to use this exemption, as 
outlined in the letter and notice to the Commissioner of Customs, dated 
December 9, 1999 (see 64 FR 69746, published on December 14, 1999).
    The purpose of this notice is to request public comment on CITA's 
intention to extend through December 31, 2002, this exemption for 
women's and girls' and men's and boys' ``hymo'' type interlining. There 
will be a 30-day comment period beginning on November 17, 2000 and 
extending through December 18, 2000. Anyone wishing to comment or 
provide data for information regarding domestic production or 
availability of the products mentioned above is invited to submit 
comments or information to Richard B. Steinkamp, Chairman, Committee 
for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Washington, DC 20230: ATTN: Becky Geiger.
    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.
    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 64 FR 71982, published on December 22, 1999). 
Information regarding the 2001 CORRELATION will be published in the 
Federal Register at a later date.

Richard B. Steinkamp,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 00-29491 Filed 11-16-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F