[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 202 (Monday, October 20, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59917-59919]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26422]


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

COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Announcement of Import Restraint Limits for Certain Cotton, Wool, 
Man-Made Fiber, Silk Blend and Other Vegetable Fiber Textiles and 
Textile Products Produced or Manufactured in Hong Kong

October 14, 2003.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner, Bureau of Customs and 
Border Protection establishing limits.

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

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Naomi Freeman, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-4212. For information on the quota status of these 
limits, refer to the Quota Status Reports posted on the bulletin boards 
of each Customs port, call (202) 927-5850, or refer to the Bureau of 
Customs and Border Protection website at http://www.customs.gov. For 
information on embargoes and quota re-openings, refer to the Office of 
Textiles and Apparel website at http://otexa.ita.doc.gov.

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.
    The import restraint limits for textile products, produced or 
manufactured in Hong Kong and exported during the period January 1, 
2004 through December 31, 2004 are based on limits notified to the 
Textiles Monitoring Body pursuant to the Uruguay Round Agreement on 
Textiles and Clothing (ATC).
    In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the 
Commissioner, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, to establish the 
2004 limits. These limits have been adjusted, variously, pursuant to 
the provisions of the ATC and administrative arrangements notified to 
the Textiles Monitoring Body. These limits are subject to further 
adjustment pursuant to these provisions. However, as the ATC and all 
restrictions thereunder will terminate on January 1, 2005, no 
adjustment for carryforward (borrowing from next year's limits for use 
in the current year) has been made nor will such an adjustment be 
available in the future.
    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 68 FR 1599, published on January 13, 2003). Information 
regarding the 2004 Correlation will be published in the Federal 
Register.

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

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

October 14, 2003.

Commissioner,
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Washington, DC 20229.
    Dear Commissioner: Pursuant to section 204 of the Agricultural 
Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1854); Executive Order 11651 of 
March 3, 1972, as amended; and the Uruguay Round Agreement on 
Textiles and Clothing (ATC), you are directed to prohibit, effective 
on January 1, 2004, entry into the United States for consumption and 
withdrawal from warehouse for consumption of cotton, wool, man-made 
fiber, silk blend and other vegetable fiber textiles and textile 
products in the following categories, produced or manufactured in 
Hong Kong and exported during the twelve-month period beginning on 
January 1, 2004 and extending through December 31, 2004, in excess 
of the following levels of restraint:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Category                   Twelve-month restraint limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group I                                  ...............................
200-220, 224-227, 300-326, 360-363,      181,028,517 square meters
 369(1) \1\, 369pt. \2\, 400-414,         equivalent.
 469pt. \3\, 603, 604, 611-620, 624-629
 and 666pt. \4\, as a group.
Sublevels in Group I                     ...............................
218/225/317/326........................  84,752,686 square meters of
                                          which not more than 4,667,846
                                          square meters shall be in
                                          Category 218(1) \5\ (yarn dyed
                                          fabric other than denim and
                                          jacquard).
219....................................  53,307,547 square meters.
611....................................  8,404,654 square meters.
617....................................  5,302,747 square meters.
Group I subgroup                         ...............................
200, 226/313, 314, 315, 369(1) and 604,  142,861,341 square meters
 as a group.                              equivalent.
Within Group I subgroup                  ...............................
200....................................  459,597 kilograms.
226/313................................  95,622,293 square meters.
314....................................  25,788,184 square meters.
315....................................  12,749,766 square meters.
369(1) (shoptowels)....................  1,047,772 kilograms.
604....................................  315,482 kilograms.
Group II                                 ...............................
237, 239pt. \6\, 331pt. \7\ 332-348,     936,285,136 square meters
 351, 352, 359(1) \8\, 359(2) \9\,        equivalent.
 359pt. \10\, 433-438, 440-448, 459pt.
 \11\, 631pt. \12\ 633-648, 651, 652,
 659(1) \13\, 659(2) \14\, 659pt. \15\,
 and 443/444/643/644(1), as a group.
Sublevels in Group II                    ...............................
237....................................  1,541,510 dozen.
331pt..................................  1,640,761 dozen pairs.
333/334................................  350,628 dozen.
335....................................  358,766 dozen.
338/339 \16\ (shirts and blouses other   3,049,398 dozen.
 than tank tops and tops, knit).
338/339(1) \17\ (tank tops and knit      2,291,027 dozen.
 tops).

[[Page 59918]]

 
340....................................  2,920,118 dozen.
345....................................  533,362 dozen.
347/348................................  7,069,946 dozen of which not
                                          more than 6,979,946 dozen
                                          shall be in Categories 347-W/
                                          348-W \18\; and not more than
                                          5,289,668 dozen shall be in
                                          Category 348-W.
352....................................  9,066,956 dozen.
359(1) (coveralls, overalls and          759,420 kilograms.
 jumpsuits).
359(2) (vests).........................  1,582,787 kilograms.
433....................................  11,484 dozen.
434....................................  12,328 dozen.
435....................................  80,278 dozen.
436....................................  104,558 dozen.
438....................................  858,711 dozen.
442....................................  101,869 dozen.
443....................................  65,969 numbers.
444....................................  46,127 numbers.
445/446................................  1,419,334 dozen.
447/448................................  71,378 dozen.
631pt..................................  157,772 dozen pairs.
633/634/635............................  1,572,748 dozen of which not
                                          more than 588,244 dozen shall
                                          be in Categories 633/634; and
                                          not more than 1,207,693 dozen
                                          shall be in Category 635.
638/639................................  5,119,306 dozen.
641....................................  884,594 dozen.
644....................................  58,029 numbers.
645/646................................  1,402,458 dozen.
647....................................  711,711 dozen.
648....................................  1,225,512 dozen of which not
                                          more than 1,210,722 dozen
                                          shall be in Category 648-W
                                          \19\.
652....................................  6,111,333 dozen.
659(1) (coveralls, overalls and          839,358 kilograms.
 jumpsuits).
659(2) (swimsuits).....................  361,847 kilograms.
443/444/643/644(1) (made-to-measure      63,816 numbers.
 suits).
Group II subgroup                        ...............................
336, 341, 342, 351, 636, 640, 642 and    170,125,863 square meters
 651, as a group.                         equivalent.
Within Group II subgroup                 ...............................
336....................................  297,728 dozen.
341....................................  2,955,832 dozen.
342....................................  651,966 dozen.
351....................................  1,248,409 dozen.
636....................................  400,690 dozen.
640....................................  1,182,637 dozen.
642....................................  318,643 dozen.
651....................................  433,937 dozen.
Group III-only 852.....................  11,125,041 square meters
                                          equivalent.
Limits not in a group                    ...............................
845(1) \20\ (sweaters made in Hong       1,129,483 dozen.
 Kong).
845(2) \21\ (sweaters assembled in Hong  2,703,551 dozen.
 Kong from knit-to-shape components,
 knit elsewhere).
846(1) \22\ (sweaters made in Hong       182,647 dozen.
 Kong).
846(2) \23\ (sweaters assembled in Hong  440,113 dozen.
 Kong from knit-to-shape components,
 knit elsewhere).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Category 369(1): only HTS number 6307.10.2005.
\2\ Category 369pt.: all HTS numbers except 4202.12.4000, 4202.12.8020,
  4202.12.8060, 4202.22.4020, 4202.22.4500, 4202.22.8030, 4202.32.4000,
  4202.32.9530, 4202.92.0505, 4202.92.1500, 4202.92.3016, 4202.92.6091,
  5601.10.1000, 5601.21.0090, 5701.90.1020, 5701.90.2020, 5702.10.9020,
  5702.39.2010, 5702.49.1020, 5702.49.1080, 5702.59.1000, 5702.99.1010,
  5702.99.1090, 5705.00.2020, 5805.00.3000, 5807.10.0510, 5807.90.0510,
  6301.30.0010, 6301.30.0020, 6302,51.1000, 6302.51.2000, 6302.51.3000,
  6302.51.4000, 6302.60.0010, 6302.60.0030, 6302.91.0005, 6302.91.0025,
  6302.91.0045, 6302.91.0050, 6302.91.0060, 6303.11.0000, 6303.91.0010,
  6303.91.0020, 6304.91.0020, 6304.92.0000, 6305.20.0000, 6306.11.0000,
  6307.10.1020, 6307.10.1090, 6307.90.3010, 6307.90.4010, 6307.90.5010,
  6307.90.8910, 6307.90.8945, 6307.90.9882, 6406.10.7700, 9404.90.1000,
  9404.90.8040, 9404.90.9505 and HTS number in 369(1).
\3\ Category 469pt.: all HTS numbers except 5601.29.0020, 5603.94.1010,
  6304.19.3040, 6304.91.0050, 6304.99.1500, 6304.99.6010, 6308.00.0010
  and 6406.10.9020.
\4\ Category 666pt.: all HTS numbers except 5805.00.4010, 6301.10.0000,
  6301.40.0010, 6301.40.0020, 6301.90.0010, 6302.53.0010, 6302.53.0020,
  6302.53.0030, 6302.93.1000, 6302.93.2000, 6303.12.0000, 6303.19.0010,
  6303.92.1000, 6303.92.2010, 6303.92.2020, 6303.99.0010, 6304.11.2000,
  6304.19.1500, 6304.19.2000, 6304.91.0040, 6304.93.0000, 6304.99.6020,
  6307.90.9884, 9404.90.8522 and 9404.90.9522.
\5\ Category 218(1): all HTS numbers except 5209.42.0060, 5209.42.0080,
  5211.42.0060, 5211.42.0080, 5514.32.0015 and 5516.43.0015.
\6\ Category 239pt.: only HTS number 6209.20.5040 (diapers).
\7\ Category 331pt.: all HTS numbers except 6116.10.1720, 6116.10.4810,
  6116.10.5510, 6116.10.7510, 6116.92.6410, 6116.92.6420, 6116.92.6430,
  6116.92.6440, 6116.92.7450, 6116.92.7460, 6116.92.7470, 6116.92.8800,
  6116.92.9400 and 6116.99.9510.
\8\ Category 359(1): only HTS numbers 6103.42.2025, 6103.49.8034,
  6104.62.1020, 6104.69.8010, 6114.20.0048, 6114.20.0052, 6203.42.2010,
  6203.42.2090, 6204.62.2010, 6211.32.0010, 6211.32.0025 and
  6211.42.0010.
\9\ Category 359(2): only HTS numbers 6103.19.2030, 6103.19.9030,
  6104.12.0040, 6104.19.8040, 6110.20.1022, 6110.20.1024, 6110.20.2030,
  6110.20.2035, 6110.90.9044, 6110.90.9046, 6201.92.2010, 6202.92.2020,
  6203.19.1030, 6203.19.9030, 6204.12.0040, 6204.19.8040, 6211.32.0070
  and 6211.42.0070.

[[Page 59919]]

 
\10\ Category 359pt.: all HTS numbers except 6115.19.8010, 6117.10.6010,
  6117.20.9010, 6203.22.1000, 6204.22.1000, 6212.90.0010, 6214.90.0010,
  6406.99.1550, 6505.90.1525, 6505.90.1540, 6505.90.2060, 6505.90.2545
  and HTS numbers in 359(1) and 359(2).
\11\ Category 459pt.: all HTS numbers except 6115.19.8020, 6117.10.1000,
  6117.10.2010, 6117.20.9020, 6212.90.0020, 6214.20.0000, 6405.20.6030,
  6405.20.6060, 6405.20.6090, 6406.99.1505, 6406.99.1560.
\12\ Category 631pt.: all HTS numbers except 6116.10.1730, 6116.10.4820,
  6116.10.5520, 6116.10.7520, 6116.93.8800, 6116.93.9400, 6116.99.4800,
  6116.99.5400 and 6116.99.9530.
\13\ Category 659(1): only HTS numbers 6103.23.0055, 6103.43.2020,
  6103.43.2025, 6103.49.2000, 6103.49.8038, 6104.63.1020, 6104.63.1030,
  6104.69.1000, 6104.69.8014, 6114.30.3044, 6114.30.3054, 6203.43.2010,
  6203.43.2090, 6203.49.1010, 6203.49.1090, 6204.63.1510, 6204.69.1010,
  6210.10.9010, 6211.33.0010, 6211.33.0017 and 6211.43.0010.
\14\ Category 659(2): only HTS numbers 6112.31.0010, 6112.31.0020,
  6112.41.0010, 6112.41.0020, 6112.41.0030, 6112.41.0040, 6211.11.1010,
  6211.11.1020, 6211.12.1010 and 6211.12.1020.
\15\ Category 659pt.: all HTS numbers except 6115.11.0010, 6115.12.2000,
  6117.10.2030, 6117.20.9030, 6212.90.0030, 6214.30.0000, 6214.40.0000,
  6406.99.1510, 6406.99.1540 and HTS numbers in 659(1) and 659(2).
\16\ Categories 338/339: all HTS numbers except 6109.10.0018,
  6109.10.0023, 6109.10.0060, 6109.10.0065, 6114.20.0005 and
  6114.20.0010.
\17\ Category 338/339(1): only HTS numbers 6109.10.0018, 6109.10.0023,
  6109.10.0060, 6109.10.0065, 6114.20.0005 and 6114.20.0010.
\18\ Category 347-W: only HTS numbers 6203.19.1020, 6203.19.9020,
  6203.22.3020, 6203.22.3030, 6203.42.4005, 6203.42.4010, 6203.42.4015,
  6203.42.4025, 6203.42.4035, 6203.42.4045, 6203.42.4050, 6203.42.4060,
  6203.49.8020, 6210.40.9033, 6211.20.1520, 6211.20.3810 and
  6211.32.0040; Category 348-W: only HTS numbers 6204.12.0030,
  6204.19.8030, 6204.22.3040, 6204.22.3050, 6204.29.4034, 6204.62.3000,
  6204.62.4005, 6204.62.4010, 6204.62.4020, 6204.62.4030, 6204.62.4040,
  6204.62.4050, 6204.62.4055, 6204.62.4065, 6204.69.6010, 6204.69.9010,
  6210.50.9060, 6211.20.1550, 6211.20.6810, 6211.42.0030 and
  6217.90.9050.
\19\ Category 648-W: only HTS numbers 6204.23.0040, 6204.23.0045,
  6204.29.2020, 6204.29.2025, 6204.29.4038, 6204.63.2000, 6204.63.3000,
  6204.63.3510, 6204.63.3530, 6204.63.3532, 6204.63.3540, 6204.69.2510,
  6204.69.2530, 6204.69.2540, 6204.69.2560, 6204.69.6030, 6204.69.9030,
  6210.50.5035, 6211.20.1555, 6211.20.6820, 6211.43.0040 and
  6217.90.9060.
\20\ Category 845(1): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2074, 6104.29.2079,
  6110.90.9024, 6110.90.9042 and 6117.90.9015.
\21\ Category 845(2): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2070, 6104.29.2077,
  6110.90.9022 and 6110.90.9040.
\22\ Category 846(1): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2068, 6104.29.2075,
  6110.90.9020 and 6110.90.9038.
\23\ Category 846(2): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2066, 6104.29.2073,
  6110.90.9018 and 6110.90.9036.

    The limits set forth above are subject to adjustment pursuant to 
the provisions of the ATC and administrative arrangements notified 
to the Textiles Monitoring Body.
    Products in the above categories exported during 2003 shall be 
charged to the applicable category limits for that year (see 
directive dated November 1, 2002) to the extent of any unfilled 
balances. In the event the limits established for that period have 
been exhausted by previous entries, such products shall be charged 
to the limits set forth in this directive.
    The conversion factors for merged Categories 333/334, 633/634/
635 and 638/639 are 33, 33.90 and 13, respectively. The conversion 
factor for Category 239pt. is 8.79.
    In carrying out the above directions, the Commissioner, Bureau 
of Customs and Border Protection should construe entry into the 
United States for consumption to include entry for consumption into 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
    The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has 
determined that these actions fall 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. 03-26422 Filed 10-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S