[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 249 (Friday, December 28, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67232-67234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-31859]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Announcement of Import Limits for Certain Cotton, Wool, Man-Made 
Fiber, Silk Blend and Other Vegetable Fiber Textiles and Textile 
Products Produced or Manufactured in Taiwan and Amendment of Export 
Visa and Certification Requirements for Textiles and Textile Products 
Integrated into GATT 1994 in the First, Second and Third Stage

December 20, 2001
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs establishing 
limits and amending visa requirements.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roy Unger, 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.gov. For information on embargoes and 
quota re-openings, refer to the Office of Textiles and Apparel website 
at http://otexa.ita.doc.gov.

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 Taiwan and exported during the period January 1, 2002 
through December 31, 2002 are based on limits that will be notified to 
the Textiles Monitoring Body pursuant to the World Trade Organization 
(WTO) Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC). Taiwan will accede to 
the WTO on January 1, 2002.
    The ATC provides for the staged integration of textiles and textile 
products into the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994. 
For WTO members, the first stage of the integration took place on 
January 1, 1995 and the second stage took place on January 1, 1998. The 
products to be integrated in each stage were announced on April 26, 
1995 (see 60 FR 21075, published on May 1, 1995 and 63 FR 53881, 
published on October 7, 1998).
    The third stage of the integration will take place on January 1, 
2002 (see 60 FR 21075, published on May 1, 1995). The United States 
will implement the first three stages of integration for Taiwan on that 
date. Accordingly, certain previously restrained categories have been 
modified and their limits have been revised. Certain other previously 
restrained categories have been eliminated. Integrated products will no 
longer be subject to quota. This directives implements stages one, two 
and three integration and agreed annual growth, but does not apply 
accelerated growth. CITA will amend Taiwan's quotas by applying 
accelerated growth at a later date.
    In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the 
Commissioner of Customs to establish the 2002 limits.
    The United States will not maintain visa requirements on textiles 
and textile products that were integrated in stage one, two and three, 
that were produced or manufactured in Taiwan and exported on or after 
January 1, 2002. In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA 
directs the Commissioner of Customs to eliminate existing visa 
requirements for textiles and textile products that were integrated on 
January 1, 1995, January 1, 1998 and January 1, 2002, and exported on 
or after January 1, 2002, produced or manufactured in Taiwan (see 66 FR 
63225, published on December 5, 2001). The existing visa requirements 
for Taiwan will be maintained for goods exported prior to January 1, 
2002. Integrated goods no longer require exempt certification. In 
addition, the Export Certification System (E/C System) for Taiwan is 
rescinded effective January 1, 2002.
    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 66 FR 65178, published on December 18, 2001).

D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

December 20, 2001

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, 2002, entry into the

[[Page 67233]]

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 Taiwan and exported during 
the twelve-month period which begins on January 1, 2002 and 
extending through December 31, 2002, in excess of the following 
levels of restraint:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Category                        Twelve-month limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group I
200-221, 224, 225/317/326, 226, 227, 300/   205,611,995 square meters
 301, 313-315, 360-363, 369-S \1\, 369-O     equivalent.
 \2\, 400-414, 469pt \3\, 603, 604, 611,
 613/614/615/617, 618, 619/620, 623, 624,
 625/626/627/628/629 and 666pt \4\, as a
 group.
Sublevels in Group I
218.......................................  23,326,223 square meters.
225/317/326...............................  41,403,983 square meters.
226.......................................  7,513,501 square meters.
300/301...................................  1,781,052 kilograms of which
                                             not more than 1,494,524
                                             kilograms shall be in
                                             Category 300; not more than
                                             1,494,524 kilograms shall
                                             be in Category 301.
363.......................................  12,329,235 numbers.
611.......................................  3,362,222 square meters.
613/614/615/617...........................  20,852,171 square meters.
619/620...................................  15,326,668 square meters.
625/626/627/628/629.......................  19,943,616 square meters.
Group I subgroup
200, 219, 313, 314, 315, 361, 369-S and     153,118,428 square meters
 604, as a group.                            equivalent.
Within Group I subgroup
200.......................................  753,714 kilograms.
219.......................................  17,153,795 square meters.
313.......................................  68,671,137 square meters.
314.......................................  30,555,457 square meters.
315.......................................  23,413,267 square meters.
361.......................................  1,514,047 numbers.
369-S.....................................  492,487 kilograms.
604.......................................  239,325 kilograms.
Group II
237, 239pt \5\, 331pt. \6\, 332, 333/334/   621,535,524 square meters
 335, 336, 338/339, 340-345, 347/348, 351,   equivalent.
 352/652, 359-C/659-C \7\, 659-H \8\,
 359pt. \9\, 433-438, 445/446, 447/448,
 459pt. \10\, 631pt. \11\, 633/634/635,
 636, 638/639, 640, 641-644, 645/646, 647/
 648, 651, 659-S \12\, 659pt. \13\, 846
 and 852, as a group.
Sublevels in Group II
237.......................................  736,389 dozen.
239pt.....................................  1,346,848 kilograms.
331pt.....................................  143,982 dozen pairs.
336.......................................  125,460 dozen.
338/339...................................  831,284 dozen.
340.......................................  1,123,393 dozen.
345.......................................  131,090 dozen.
347/348...................................  1,064,931 dozen of which not
                                             more than 1,064,931 dozen
                                             shall be in Categories 347-
                                             W/348-W \14\.
352/652...................................  3,328,576 dozen.
359-C/659-C...............................  1,447,633 kilograms.
659-H.....................................  2,069,969 kilograms.
433.......................................  15,701 dozen.
434.......................................  10,904 dozen.
435.......................................  25,889 dozen.
436.......................................  5,155 dozen.
438.......................................  29,095 dozen.
440.......................................  5,636 dozen.
442.......................................  43,871 dozen.
443.......................................  43,961 numbers.
444.......................................  62,611 numbers.
445/446...................................  138,149 dozen.
633/634/635...............................  1,634,440 dozen of which not
                                             more than 959,317 dozen
                                             shall be in Categories 633/
                                             634 and not more than
                                             850,077 dozen shall be in
                                             Category 635.
638/639...................................  6,565,058 dozen.
640.......................................  1,058,909 dozen of which not
                                             more than 281,710 dozen
                                             shall be in Category 640-Y
                                             \15\.
642.......................................  777,133 dozen.
643.......................................  523,166 numbers.
644.......................................  798,870 numbers.
645/646...................................  4,107,691 dozen.
647/648...................................  5,248,544 dozen of which not
                                             more than 5,248,544 dozen
                                             shall be in Categories 647-
                                             W/648-W \16\.
659-S.....................................  1,601,702 kilograms.
Group II Subgroup
333/334/335, 341, 342, 351, 447/448, 636,   72,524,979 square meters
 641 and 651, as a group.                    equivalent.
Within Group II Subgroup
333/334/335...............................  322,771 dozen of which not
                                             more than 174,835 dozen
                                             shall be in Category 335.
341.......................................  345,045 dozen.
342.......................................  215,550 dozen.
351.......................................  358,605 dozen.
447/448...................................  21,454 dozen.
636.......................................  395,136 dozen.
641.......................................  733,276 dozen of which not
                                             more than 256,646 dozen
                                             shall be in Category 641-Y
                                             \17\.
651.......................................  449,715 dozen.
Group III
Sublevel in Group III.....................
845.......................................  854,623 dozen.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Category 369-S: only HTS number 6307.10.2005.
\2\ Category 369-O: all HTS numbers except 6307.10.2005 (Category 369-
  S); and 4202.12.4000, 4202.12.8020, 4202.12.8060, 4202.22.4020,
  4202.22.4500, 4202.22.8030, 4202.32.4000, 4202.32.9530, 4202.92.1500,
  4202.92.3016, 4202.92.6091, 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, 5805.00.3000,
  5807.10.0510, 5807.90.0510, 6301.30.0010, 6301.30.0020, 6302,51.1000,
  6302.51.2000, 6302.51.3000, 6302.51.4000, 6302.60.0010, 6302.60.0030,
  6302.91.0005, 6302.91.0025, 6302.91.0045, 6302.91.0050, 6302.91.0060,
  6303.11.0000, 6303.91.0010, 6303.91.0020, 6304.91.0020, 6304.92.0000,
  6305.20.0000, 6306.11.0000, 6307.10.1020, 6307.10.1090, 6307.90.3010,
  6307.90.4010, 6307.90.5010, 6307.90.8910, 6307.90.8945, 6307.90.9905,
  6307.90.9982, 6406.10.7700, 9404.90.1000, 9404.90.8040 and
  9404.90.9505 (Category 369pt.).
\3\  Category 469pt.: all HTS numbers except 5601.29.0020, 5603.94.1010,
  6304.19.3040, 6304.91.0050, 6304.99.1500, 6304.99.6010, 6308.00.0010
  and 6406.10.9020.
\4\ Category 666pt.: all HTS numbers except 5805.00.4010, 6301.10.0000,
  6301.40.0010, 6301.40.0020, 6301.90.0010, 6302.53.0010, 6302.53.0020,
  6302.53.0030, 6302.93.1000, 6302.93.2000, 6303.12.0000, 6303.19.0010,
  6303.92.1000, 6303.92.2010, 6303.92.2020, 6303.99.0010, 6304.11.2000,
  6304.19.1500, 6304.19.2000, 6304.91.0040, 6304.93.0000, 6304.99.6020,
  6307.90.9984, 9404.90.8522 and 9404.90.9522.
\5\ Category 239pt.: only HTS number 6209.20.5040 (diapers).
\6\ Category 331pt.: all HTS numbers except 6116.10.1720, 6116.10.4810,
  6116.10.5510, 6116.10.7510, 6116.92.6410, 6116.92.6420, 6116.92.6430,
  6116.92.6440, 6116.92.7450, 6116.92.7460, 6116.92.7470, 6116.92.8800,
  6116.92.9400 and 6116.99.9510.

[[Page 67234]]

 
\7\ Category 359-C: 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; Category 659-C: 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.
\8\ Category 659-H: only HTS numbers 6502.00.9030, 6504.00.9015,
  6504.00.9060, 6505.90.5090, 6505.90.6090, 6505.90.7090 and
  6505.90.8090.
\9\ Category 359pt.: all HTS numbers except 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 (Category 359-C); 6115.19.8010, 6117.10.6010,
  6117.20.9010, 6203.22.1000, 6204.22.1000, 6212.90.0010, 6214.90.0010,
  6406.99.1550, 6505.90.1525, 6505.90.1540, 6505.90.2060, 6505.90.2545.
\10\ Category 459pt.: all HTS numbers except 6115.19.8020, 6117.10.1000,
  6117.10.2010, 6117.20.9020, 6212.90.0020, 6214.20.0000, 6405.20.6030,
  6405.20.6060, 6405.20.6090, 6406.99.1505, 6406.99.1560.
\11\ Category 631pt.: all HTS numbers except 6116.10.1730, 6116.10.4820,
  6116.10.5520, 6116.10.7520, 6116.93.8800, 6116.93.9400, 6116.99.4800,
  6116.99.5400 and 6116.99.9530.
\12\ Category 659-S: 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 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, 6211.43.0010
  (Category 659-C); 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 (Category 659-S); 6115.11.0010,
  6115.12.2000, 6117.10.2030, 6117.20.9030, 6212.90.0030, 6214.30.0000,
  6214.40.0000, 6406.99.1510, 6406.99.1540.
\14\ 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.
\15\ Category 640-Y: only HTS numbers 6205.30.2010, 6205.30.2020,
  6205.30.2050 and 6205.30.2060.
\16\ Category 647-W: only HTS numbers 6203.23.0060, 6203.23.0070,
  6203.29.2030, 6203.29.2035, 6203.43.2500, 6203.43.3500, 6203.43.4010,
  6203.43.4020, 6203.43.4030, 6203.43.4040, 6203.49.1500, 6203.49.2015,
  6203.49.2030, 6203.49.2045, 6203.49.2060, 6203.49.8030, 6210.40.5030,
  6211.20.1525, 6211.20.3820 and 6211.33.0030; 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.
\17\ Category 641-Y: only HTS numbers 6204.23.0050, 6204.29.2030,
  6206.40.3010 and 6206.40.3025.

    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 exported during 2001 shall be charged to the applicable 
category limits for that year (see directive dated February 15, 
2001) 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.
    Taiwanese products integrated into the General Agreement on 
Tariffs and Trade 1994 in stages one, two and three (listed in the 
Federal Register notice published on May 1, 1995, 60 FR 21075) which 
are exported during 2001 shall be charged to the applicable 2001 
limits to the extent of any unfilled balances. After January 1, 
2002, should those 2001 limits be filled, such products shall no 
longer be charged to any limit.
    The conversion factors are as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Conversion factors (square
                 Category                    meters equivalent/category
                                                        unit)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
333/334/335...............................  33.75
352/652...................................  11.3
359-C/659-C...............................  10.1
633/634/635...............................  34.1
638/639...................................  12.5
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    You are also directed to amend the current visa requirements for 
certain textiles and textile products produced or manufactured in 
Taiwan and exported on or after January 1, 2002.
    Effective on January 1, 2002, for goods exported on or after 
January 1, 2002, export visas and exempt certifications will not be 
required for textiles and textile products produced or manufactured 
in Taiwan that were integrated into the General Agreement on Tariffs 
and Trade (GATT) 1994 on January 1, 1995, January 1, 1998 and 
January 1, 2002 (see directive dated November 29, 2001). Export 
visas will continue to be required for products integrated on 
January 1, 2002 from Taiwan that were exported prior to January 1, 
2002.
    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 to 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. 01-31859 Filed 12-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S