[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 61 (Monday, March 31, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 15438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-7623]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Determination under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)

March 25, 2003.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Determination.

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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 
Swaziland qualify for preferential treatment under Section 112(a) of 
the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Therefore, imports of 
eligible products from Swaziland with an appropriate AGOA Visa will 
qualify for duty-free treatment under the AGOA.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 14, 2003.

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, the 
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 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 March 5, 2003 and CITA has now 
determined that handloomed fabrics and handmade articles made from such 
handloomed fabrics produced in and exported from Swaziland 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 Swaziland 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

March 25, 2003.

Commissioner,
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, 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 April 14, 2003, handloomed fabric produced in 
Swaziland and handmade articles produced in Swaziland 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 Swaziland for Grouping ``9'' is a certification by 
the Government of Swaziland 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. 03-7623 Filed 3-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S