[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 6, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 67604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-28195]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Determination under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)

October 31, 2002.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Determination.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(CITA) has determined that handloomed fabric and handmade articles made 
from such handloomed fabric that are produced in and exported from 
Botswana qualify for preferential treatment under Section 112(a) of the 
African Growth and Opportunity Act. Therefore, imports of eligible 
products from Botswana with an appropriate AGOA Visa will qualify for 
duty-free treatment under the AGOA.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 18, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Flaaten, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-3400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The African Growth and Opportunity Act 
(Title I of the Trade and Development Act of 2000, Pub. L. No. 106-
2000)(AGOA) provides preferential tariff treatment for imports of 
certain textile and apparel products of beneficiary sub-Saharan African 
countries. In a letter to the Commissioner of Customs dated January 18, 
2001, the United States Trade Representative directed Customs to 
require that importers provide an appropriate export visa from a 
beneficiary sub-Saharan African country to obtain preferential 
treatment under section 112(a) of the AGOA (66 FR 7837). The first 
digit of the visa number corresponds to one of 9 groupings of textile 
and apparel products that are eligible for preferential tariff 
treatment. Grouping ``9'' is reserved for Handmade, handloomed, or 
folklore articles.
    In Section 2 of Executive Order 13191 of January 17, 2001, CITA is 
authorized to ``consult with beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries 
and to determine which, if any, particular textile and apparel goods 
shall be treated as being handloomed, handmade, or folklore articles'' 
(66 FR 7272). Consultations were held on October 9, 2002, and CITA has 
now determined that handloomed fabrics and handmade articles made from 
such handloomed fabrics produced in and exported from Botswana are 
eligible for preferential tariff treatment under section 112(a) of the 
AGOA. In the letter published below, CITA directs the Commissioner of 
Customs to allow entry of such products of Botswana under Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule provision 9819.11.27, when accompanied by an 
appropriate export visa in grouping ``9.''

James C. Leonard III,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

October 31, 2002.

Commissioner of Customs,
Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC 20229.
    Dear Commissioner: Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC 
20229.Dear Commissioner: The Committee for the Implementation of 
Textiles Agreements (CITA), pursuant to Sections 112(a) of the 
African Growth and Opportunity Act (Title I of Pub. L. No. 106-200) 
(AGOA) and Executive Order 13101 of January 17, 2001, has determined 
that, effective on November 18, 2002 handloomed fabric produced in 
Botswana and handmade articles produced in Botswana from such 
handloomed fabric shall be treated as being handloomed, handmade, or 
folklore articles under the AGOA, and that an export visa issued by 
the Government of Botswana for Grouping ``9'' is a certification by 
the Government of Botswana that the article is handloomed, handmade, 
or folklore. CITA directs you to permit duty-free entry of such 
articles accompanied by the appropriate visa and entered under 
heading 9819.11.27 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
States.
    Sincerely,
James C. Leonard III,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 02-28195 Filed 11-5-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S