[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 130 (Friday, July 8, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39490-39491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-3590]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Determination Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act

June 30, 2005.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA)

ACTION: Directive to the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection

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

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 18, 2005.

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. 106-200) 
(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. (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 Ethiopian 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, and the folklore articles described in the annex 
to this notice, if produced in and exported from Ethiopia, 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 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''.

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

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

June 30, 2005.

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 13191 of January 17, 2001, has 
determined, effective on July 18, 2005, that the following articles 
shall be treated as ``handloomed, handmade, and folklore articles'' 
under the AGOA: (a) handloomed fabrics, handloomed articles (e.g., 
handloomed rugs, scarves, placemats, and tablecloths), and hand-made 
articles made from handloomed fabrics, if made in Ethiopia from 
fabric handloomed in Ethiopia; and (b) the folklore articles 
described in the attached annex if made in Ethiopia. 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 Ethiopia 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. After additional 
consultations with Ethiopian authorities, CITA may determine that 
additional textile and apparel goods shall be treated as folklore 
articles.
    Sincerely,
James C. Leonard III,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

ANNEX
CITA has determined that the following textile and apparel goods 
shall be treated as folklore articles for purposes of the AGOA if 
made in Ethiopia. Articles must be ornamented in characteristic 
Ethiopian or regional folk style. An article may not include modern 
features such as zippers, elastic, elasticized fabrics, or hook-and-
pile fasteners (such as velcroc or similar holding fabric). An 
article may not incorporate patterns that are not traditional or 
historical to Ethiopia, such as airplanes, buses, cowboys, or 
cartoon characters and may not incorporate designs referencing 
holidays or festivals not common to traditional Ethiopian culture, 
such as Halloween and Thanksgiving. Typical Ethiopian designs may 
use, but are not limited to, geometric shapes and diamond-shaped or 
modified diamond-shaped crosses.

Eligible folklore articles:

(a) Shema Borsa (Hand-woven bag/pouch)
Shema Borsas are made of relatively thick cotton hand-woven fabric 
on the exterior with or without an inside lining that is generally 
machine-woven fabric, and may be hand- or machine-stitched together. 
The Shema Borsas are typically 10 - 14 inches wide and 10 - 14 
inches tall decorated with features including typical small 
geometrical diamond-shaped patterns, which can be woven into the 
fabric itself or ornamented with strips of woven silk in geometric 
shapes, braided silk appliqu[eacute]s, small shells, nuts, silver 
jewelry, beads, or fringe. The Shema Borsa may or may not have a 
fold over

[[Page 39491]]

flap and have carrying strap(s) and may come with or without 
closures such as a small strip of decorative fabric looping around a 
shell, bead or nut.

(b) Sofa Trase Libse (cushion covers/pillow covers)
The Sofa Trase Libse is made of hand-woven material on the front 
face, often backed with machine made woven or non-woven fabric for 
support and machine-stitched together, typically 12 - 18 inches tall 
and wide. Sofa Trase Libses are decorated with typical geometric 
diamond-shaped designs, may be embroidered, and are slotted in the 
back as an opening or slotted with a closure of button(s).
[FR Doc. E5-3590 Filed 7-7-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S