[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 138 (Thursday, July 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39607-39608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14009]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Determination Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act

July 13, 2007.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Directive to the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection.

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

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

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 30, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Flaaten, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-3400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Sections 112(a) and 112(b)(6) of the African Growth 
and Opportunity Act (Title I of the Trade and Development Act of 
2000, Pub. L. No. 106-200) (``AGOA''), as amended by section 7(c) of 
the AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-274) (``AGOA 
Acceleration Act'') (19 U.S.C. Sec. Sec.  3721(a) and (b)(6)); 
Sections 2 and 5 of Executive Order No. 13191 of January 17, 2001; 
Sections 25-27 and Paras. 13-14 of Presidential Proclamation 7912 of 
June 29, 2005.
    AGOA provides preferential tariff treatment for imports of certain 
textile and apparel products of beneficiary sub-Saharan African 
countries, including handloomed, handmade, or folklore articles of a 
beneficiary country that are certified as such by the competent 
authority in the beneficiary country. The AGOA Acceleration Act further 
expanded AGOA by adding ethnic printed fabrics to the list of textile 
and apparel products made in the beneficiary sub-Saharan African 
countries that may be eligible for the preferential treatment described 
in section 112(a) of the AGOA. In Executive Order 13191 (January 17, 
2001) and Presidential Proclamation 7912 (June 29, 2005), 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 handloomed, handmade, folklore 
articles, or ethnic printed fabrics. (66 FR 7271-72 and 70 FR 37959, 
37961 & 63).
    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, handloomed, folklore articles, or ethnic printed 
fabrics.
    CITA has consulted with South African authorities and has 
determined that handloomed fabrics, handloomed articles (e.g., 
handloomed rugs, scarves, place mats, and tablecloths), handmade 
articles made from handloomed fabrics, and the ethnic printed fabrics 
described in Annex A to this notice, if produced in and exported from 
South Africa, are eligible for preferential tariff treatment under 
section 112(a) of the AGOA, as amended. After further consultations 
with South African authorities, CITA

[[Page 39608]]

may determine that additional textile and apparel goods shall be 
treated as folklore articles. In the letter published below, CITA 
directs the Commissioner of U.S. 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''.

R. Matthew Priest,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

July 13, 2007.

Commissioner of Customs,
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Washington, DC 20229.
    Dear Commissioner: The Committee for the Implementation of 
Textiles Agreements (``CITA''), pursuant to Sections 112(a) and 
(b)(6) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Title I of the 
Trade and Development Act of 2000, Pub. L. No. 106-200) (``AGOA''), 
as amended by Section 7(c) of the AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004 
(Pub. L. 108-274) (``AGOA Acceleration Act'') (19 U.S.C. Sec. Sec.  
3721(a) and (b)(6)), Executive Order No. 13191 of January 17, 2001, 
and Presidential Proclamation 7912 of June 29, 2005, has determined, 
effective on July 30, 2007, that the following articles shall be 
treated as ``handloomed, handmade, folklore articles, and ethnic 
printed fabrics'' under the AGOA: (a) handloomed fabrics, handloomed 
articles (e.g., handloomed rugs, scarves, placemats, and 
tablecloths), and handmade articles made from handloomed fabrics, if 
made in South Africa from fabric handloomed in South Africa; and (b) 
ethnic printed fabrics described in Annex A, if made in South 
Africa. 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 the 
Republic of South Africa 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 further consultations with South African authorities, 
CITA may determine that additional textile and apparel goods shall 
be treated as folklore articles.
    Sincerely,
R. Matthew Priest,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

ANNEX A: South African Ethnic Printed Fabrics
Each ethnic print must meet all of the criteria listed below:
    A) selvedge on both edges
    B) width of less than 50 inches
    C) classifiable under subheading 5208.52.30 \1\ or 5208.52.40 
\2\ of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ printed plain weave fabrics of cotton, 85% or more cotton by 
weight, weighing over 100g/m2 but not more than 200 g/m2, of yarn 
number 42 or lower
    \2\ printed plain weave fabrics of cotton, 85% or more cotton by 
weight, weighing over 100g/m2 but not more than 200g/m2, of yarn 
numbers 43-68
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    D) contains designs, symbols, and other characteristics of 
African prints normally produced for and sold in Africa by the 
piece.
    E) made from fabric woven in the U.S. using U.S. yarn or woven 
in one or more eligible sub-Saharan beneficiary countries using U.S 
or African yarn
    F) printed, including waxed, in one or more eligible sub-Saharan 
beneficiary countries
[FR Doc. E7-14009 Filed 7-18-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S