[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 56 (Friday, March 22, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 10883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05551]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Effective Date of Modifications to Rules of Origin of the United 
States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In December 2018, the President modified the rules of origin 
for certain goods of Morocco under the United States-Morocco Free Trade 
Agreement (USMFTA). This notice announces the effective date for those 
modifications.

DATES: This notice is applicable on April 1, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Heinzen, Deputy Assistant U.S. 
Trade Representative for Textiles, at 202-395-6092 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Presidential Proclamation 7971 of December 
22, 2005, implemented the USMFTA with respect to the United States. The 
USMFTA Implementation Act [Pub. L. 108-302, 118 Stat. 1103] 
incorporated the tariff modifications and rules of origin necessary or 
appropriate to carry out the USMFTA in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule 
of the United States (HTSUS). Section 203 of the USMFTA Implementation 
Act provides rules for determining whether goods imported into the 
United States originate in the territory of Morocco and, thus, are 
eligible for the tariff and other treatment contemplated under the 
USMFTA. It also authorizes the President to proclaim, as a part of the 
HTSUS, the rules of origin set out in the USMFTA, and to modify 
previously proclaimed rules of origin, subject to the consultation and 
layover requirements of section 104 of the Act.
    In 2015 and 2016, the Government of Morocco submitted requests to 
modify certain textile and apparel rules of origin based on commercial 
availability of specific inputs. Following public comment on the 
proposed rules changes, the United States and Morocco reached agreement 
to modify certain rules of origin. Pursuant to the USMFTA 
Implementation Act, the International Trade Commission conducted an 
economic impact review and concluded that the impact on U.S. imports, 
exports, and production of the proposed modifications would be 
negligible. The Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Textiles and 
Clothing did not object to the proposed modifications. Congress also 
did object during the consultation and layover process.
    In Proclamation 9834 of December 21, 2018, the President determined 
pursuant to section 203 of the USMFTA Implementation Act, that the 
subject modifications to the HTSUS were appropriate and modified 
general note 27 to the HTSUS with respect to goods of Morocco. The 
modifications are effective with respect to goods of Morocco entered or 
withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on the date announced by the 
United States Trade Representative in the Federal Register.
    On March 4, 2019, Morocco notified the United States that it had 
completed its domestic procedures to give effect to the agreement to 
change the USMFTA rules of origin for certain apparel goods of 
specified fabrics with respect to goods of the United States. 
Subsequently, Morocco and the United States agreed to implement these 
changes with respect to each other's eligible goods, effective April 1, 
2019.

William Jackson,
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Textiles, Office of the U.S. 
Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2019-05551 Filed 3-21-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3290-F9-P