[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 13, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68836-68837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-28765]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Extension of the Temporary Amendment to the Requirements for 
Participating in the Special Access Program and the Outward Processing 
Program

November 5, 2002.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs extending 
amendments of requirements for participation in the Special Access 
Program for a temporary period.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2003.

[[Page 68837]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Stetson, 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.
    To qualify for treatment under the Special Access Program and 
Outward Processing Program, an apparel product must be assembled in an 
appropriate country from fabric formed and cut in the United States, 
including linings and pocketing, except that 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.
    CITA currently allows certain linings to be considered findings and 
trimmings provided they are cut in the United States, exempting them 
from the requirement that such fabrics be formed in the United States. 
(63 FR 70112, as amended by 64 FR 149). A notice published in the 
Federal Register on September 11, 2002 requested public comments on 
CITA's intention to extend the current exemption period through 
December 31, 2004 (see 67 FR 57580).
    After a review of the comments received, CITA has determined that 
it will extend the exemption period through December 31, 2004, 
effective January 1, 2003. This exemption applies to 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 and Outward Processing Program.
    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).

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

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

November 5, 2002.

Commissioner of Customs,
Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC 20229.
    Dear Commissioner: This directive amends, but does not cancel, 
the directives issued to you on December 14, 1998, December 24, 
1998, December 9, 1999, and December 21, 2000, by the Chairman, 
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. Those 
directives concern the foreign origin exception for findings and 
trimmings in Categories 433, 435, 443, 444, 633, 635, 643 and 644 
under the Special Access Program which was amended and extended 
through December 31, 2002 for women's and girls' ``hymo'' type 
interlinings and for men's and boys' ``hymo'' type interlinings.
    Effective on January 1, 2003, by date of export, you are 
directed to extend through December 31, 2004, the amendment to treat 
non-U.S. formed, U.S.-cut interlinings for 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, 443, 633 and 643 as qualifying for findings and 
trimmings, including elastic strips less than one inch in width, 
created under the Special Access Program effective September 1, 1986 
(see 51 FR 21208). In the aggregate, such interlinings, findings and 
trimmings must not exceed 25 percent of the cost of the components 
of the assembled article. Non-U.S. formed, U.S.-cut interlinings may 
be used in imports of women's' and girls' and men's and boys' suit 
jackets and suit-type jackets entered under the Special Access 
Program (9802.00.8015) provided they are cut in the United States of 
a type of construction described above.
    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,
James C. Leonard III,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc.02-28765 Filed 11-12-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S