[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 226 (Friday, November 22, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70413-70414]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-29750]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Determination under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)

November 18, 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 made in Lesotho and 
handmade articles made from such handloomed fabric that are made in 
Lesotho qualify for preferential treatment under Section 112(a) of the 
African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Therefore, imports of 
eligible products from Lesotho with an appropriate AGOA Visa will 
qualify for duty-free treatment under the AGOA.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 25, 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 nine groupings of 
textile and apparel products that are eligible for preferential tariff 
treatment. Grouping ``9'' is reserved for handmade, handloomed, or 
folklore articles.
    Under 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 with Lesotho were held 
on October 30, 2002, and CITA has now determined that handloomed 
fabrics produced in and exported from Lesotho and handmade articles 
produced in and exported from Lesotho made from such handloomed fabrics 
are

[[Page 70414]]

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 Lesotho 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

November 18, 2002.

Commissioner of Customs,
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 25, 2002 handloomed fabric produced in 
Lesotho and handmade articles produced in Lesotho 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 Lesotho for Grouping ``9'' is a certification by 
the Government of Lesotho 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. 02-29750 Filed 11-21-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S