[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 73 (Wednesday, April 16, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18597-18598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9327]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Determination under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)

April 10, 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 
Namibia qualify for preferential treatment under Section 112(a) of the 
African Growth and Opportunity Act. Therefore, imports of eligible 
products from Namibia with an appropriate AGOA Visa will qualify for 
duty-free treatment under the AGOA.

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 5, 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. 106-
200)(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 March 26, 2003 and CITA has 
now determined that handloomed fabrics and handmade articles made from 
such handloomed fabrics produced in and exported from Namibia are 
eligible for preferential tariff treatment under section 112(a) of the 
AGOA. In the letter published below, CITA directs the Commissioner of 
Customs and Border Protection to allow entry of such qualifying 
products from Namibia 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

April 10, 2003.

Commissioner,
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Washington, DC 20229.

[[Page 18598]]

    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 13191 of January 17, 2001, has determined 
that, effective on May 5, 2003, handloomed fabric produced in 
Namibia and handmade articles produced in Namibia 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 Namibia for Grouping ``9'' is a certification by 
the Government of Namibia 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. 03-9327 Filed 4-15c-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S