[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 158 (Thursday, August 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 46039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-16154]



[[Page 46039]]

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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Determination Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act

August 13, 2007.
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 additional textile and apparel goods 
from Mali 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 Mali with an appropriate visa will qualify for 
duty-free treatment.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 27, 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 describes 
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 hand-loomed, handmade, folklore 
articles, or ethnic printed fabrics. See 66 FR 7271, 7271-72 (January 
22, 2001); 70 FR 37959, 37961 & 63 (June 30, 2005).
    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. See 66 FR 7837 (January 25, 2001). 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 Malian authorities and has previously 
determined that handloomed fabrics, handloomed articles (e.g., 
handloomed rugs, scarves, place mats, and tablecloths), handmade 
articles made from handloomed fabrics, and certain folklore articles 
and ethnic printed fabrics are eligible for preferential treatment. See 
71 FR 78408 (December 29, 2006). This directive expands Mali's existing 
Category 9 treatment to include certain additional folklore articles 
described in Annex A to this notice, if produced in and exported from 
Mali. These goods are eligible for preferential tariff treatment under 
section 112(a) of the AGOA, as amended. 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''.

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

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

August 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 August 27, 2007, that certain folklore products 
described in Annex A 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 Mali 
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 Malian 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: Malian Folklore Products

    CITA has determined that the following textile and apparel goods 
shall be treated as folklore articles for purposes of the AGOA if 
made in Mali. Articles must be ornamented in characteristic Malian 
or regional folk style. An article may not include modern features 
such as zippers, elastic, elasticized fabrics, snaps, or hook-and-
pile fasteners (such as Velcro (copyright) or similar holding 
fabric). An article may not incorporate patterns that are not 
traditional or historical to Mali, such as airplanes, buses, 
cowboys, or cartoon characters and may not incorporate designs 
referencing holidays or festivals not common to traditional Malian 
culture, such as Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Eligible folklore articles:

    (a) Bogolan (Mudcloth) Bags: This bag is constructed of several 
narrow strips of 100% heavy cotton hand-woven fabric, hand or 
machine sewn together, dyed and painted in geometric shapes using 
natural dyes. The Bogolan bags may or may not have an interior 
lining which is generally made of machine-made fabric. Handles 
attached to the top of the bag are also made of the handwoven 
mudcloth fabric. Dimensions vary.
[FR Doc. E7-16154 Filed 8-15-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S