[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 97 (Friday, May 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29287-29288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-2559]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Determination Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act

May 17, 2005.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA)

ACTION: Directive to the Commissioner of Customs.

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SUMMARY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(CITA) has determined that certain textile and apparel goods from 
Senegal shall be treated as ``hand-loomed, handmade, or folklore 
articles'' and qualify for preferential treatment under the African 
Growth and Opportunity Act. Imports of eligible products from Senegal 
with an appropriate visa will qualify for duty-free treatment.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 6, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Flaaten, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 782-3400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: The African Growth and Opportunity Act (Title I of 
the Trade and Development Act of 2000, Pub. L. No. 106-200) (AGOA) 
provides preferential tariff treatment for imports of certain 
textile and apparel products of beneficiary sub-Saharan African 
countries, including hand-loomed, handmade, or folklore articles, of 
a beneficiary country that are certified as such by the competent 
authority in the beneficiary country. In Executive Order 13191, the 
President authorized CITA to consult with beneficiary sub-Saharan 
African countries and to determine which, if any, particular textile 
and apparel goods shall be treated as being hand-loomed, handmade, 
or folklore articles. See Implementation of the African Growth and 
Opportunity Act and the United States-Caribbean Basin Trade 
Partnership Act published on January 22, 2001, (66 FR 7272).

    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, hand-loomed, or folklore articles.
    CITA has consulted with Senegalese authorities, and has determined 
that hand-loomed fabrics, hand-loomed articles (e.g., hand-loomed rugs, 
scarves, place mats, and tablecloths), handmade articles made from 
hand-loomed fabrics, if produced in and exported from Senegal, are 
eligible for preferential tariff treatment under section 112(a) of the 
AGOA. In the letter published below, CITA directs the Commissioner, 
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection to allow duty-free entry of 
such products under U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheading 
9819.11.27 if accompanied by an appropriate AGOA visa in grouping 
``9''. No eligible folklore articles were included in Senegal's 
submission. CITA may extend this treatment to additional products 
following consultations with the Government of Senegal.

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

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

May 17, 2005.

Commissioner,
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Washington, DC 20229.
    Dear Commissioner: The Committee for the Implementation of 
Textiles Agreements

[[Page 29288]]

(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, effective 
on June 6, 2005, that the following articles shall be treated as 
``hand-loomed, handmade, and folklore articles'' under the AGOA: (a) 
Hand-loomed fabrics, hand-loomed articles (e.g., hand-loomed rugs, 
scarves, placemats, and tablecloths), (b) and hand-made articles 
made from hand-loomed fabrics, if made in Senegal from fabric hand-
loomed in Senegal. Such articles are eligible for duty-free 
treatment only if entered under subheading 9819.11.27 and 
accompanied by a properly completed visa for product grouping ``9'', 
in accordance with the provisions of the Visa Arrangement between 
the Government of Senegal and the Government of the United States 
Concerning Textile and Apparel Articles Claiming Preferential Tariff 
Treatment under Section 112 of the Trade and Development Act of 
2000. No eligible folklore articles were included in Senegal's 
submission. After additional consultations with Senegalese 
authorities, CITA may determine that other textile and apparel goods 
shall be treated as hand-loomed, handmade, or folklore articles.
    Sincerely,
James C. Leonard III,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. E5-2559 Filed 5-19-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S