[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 217 (Monday, November 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 63771]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28173]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Announcement of an Import Restraint Limit and Guaranteed Access 
Level for Certain Cotton and Man-Made Fiber Textile Products Produced 
or Manufactured in El Salvador

November 4, 2003.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner, Bureau of Customs and 
Border Protection establishing an import limit and guaranteed access 
level.

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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 limit and Guaranteed Access Level (GAL) for 
textile products in Categories 340/640, produced or manufactured in El 
Salvador 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 
limit and guaranteed access level for 2004.
    These limits are subject to adjustment pursuant to the provisions 
of the ATC and administrative arrangements notified to the Textiles 
Monitoring Body. 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) will be 
available.
    This specific limit and guaranteed access level do not apply to 
goods that qualify for quota-free entry under the Trade and Development 
Act of 2000.
    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 availability of the 2004 CORRELATION will be published in 
the Federal Register at a later date.
    Requirements for participation in the Special Access Program are 
available in Federal Register notice 63 FR 16474, published on April 3, 
1998.

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

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

November 4, 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 and man-made 
fiber textile products in Categories 340/640, produced or 
manufactured in El Salvador and exported during the twelve-month 
period beginning on January 1, 2004 and extending through December 
31, 2004, in excess of 2,077,360 dozen.
    The limit set forth above is subject to adjustment pursuant to 
the provisions of the ATC and administrative arrangements notified 
to the Textiles Monitoring Body.
    Products in Categories 340/640 exported during 2003 shall be 
charged to the applicable category limit for that year (see 
directive dated October 18, 2002) to the extent of any unfilled 
balance. In the event the limit established for that period has been 
exhausted by previous entries, such products shall be charged to the 
limit set forth in this directive.
    Also pursuant to the ATC, and under the terms of the Special 
Access Program, as set forth in 63 FR 16474 (April 3, 1998), 
effective on January 1, 2004, a guaranteed access level of 1,000,000 
dozen is being established for properly certified textile products 
in Categories 340/640 assembled in El Salvador from fabric formed 
and cut in the United States which are re-exported to the United 
States from El Salvador during the period beginning on January 1, 
2004 and extending through December 31, 2004.
    Any shipment for entry under the Special Access Program which is 
not accompanied by a valid and correct certification in accordance 
with the provisions of the certification requirements established in 
the directive of January 6, 1995 (60 FR 2740), as amended, shall be 
denied entry unless the Government of El Salvador authorizes the 
entry and any charges to the appropriate specific limit. Any 
shipment which is declared for entry under the Special Access 
Program but found not to qualify shall be denied entry into the 
United States.
    This specific limit and guaranteed access level do not apply to 
goods that qualify for quota-free entry under the Trade and 
Development Act of 2000.
    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. 03-28173 Filed 11-7-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S