WORLD TRADE G/TMB/N/283
22July1997
ORGANIZATION(97-2999)
Original: English Textiles Monitoring Body
AGREEMENT ONTEXTILES AND CLOTHING
Notification under Article 2.17
UNITED STATES
Administrative Arrangements withPoland
TheTextiles Monitoring Body hasreceived anotification fromtheUnited States pursuant to
paragraph 17ofArticle 2.TheTMB iscirculating thisnotification toWTO Members fortheir
information.G/TMB/N/283
Page2
Executive Office ofthePresident
Office oftheUnited States Trade Representative
14April 1997
TheHonourable Ambassador András Szepesi
Chairman
Textiles Monitoring Body
World Trade Organization
RuedeLausanne
1211 Geneva
Dear Ambassador Szepesi,
Attached youwillfindmyGovernment 'snotification ofAdministrative Arrangements for
Bangladesh, Jamaica, Kenya, Mauritius andPoland1made pursuant toArticle 2.17oftheAgreement
onTextiles andClothing. Inaddition, Iamsubmitting corrected copies ofprevious 2.17notifications
forPakistan andHaiti. InthecaseofPakistan, thecorrected notification includes paragraph 3ofthe
bilateral agreement which wasmistakenly omitted from ouroriginal notification. Inaddition, the
corrected version ofthenotification forHaiti omits paragraph 5ofthebilateral agreement which was
mistakenly included intheoriginal notification.
Sincerely,
(signed) Ambassador RitaHayes
Chief Textile Negotiator
1This document contains the Administrative Arrangements concluded with Poland.
Administrative Arrangements concluded with the other Members listed above will be
circulated asseparate documents.G/TMB/N/283
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POLAND
Thefollowing provisions aredrawn from theUnited States -Poland bilateral textile and
apparel agreement of30and 31December 1991, asamended and extended on6and
30December 1993andhavebeenagreed tobenecessary fortheproper implementation ofrestrictions
notified totheTextiles Monitoring Body under Article 2.1oftheAgreement onTextiles and
Clothing.
Coverage ofAgreement
2.(A) Thetextiles andtextile products covered bythisAgreement arethose summarized in
Annex A.Thesystem ofcategories andtheratesofconversion intosquare metres equivalent
(sme) listed inAnnex Ashallapply inimplementing thisAgreement.
(B) Forthepurposes ofthisAgreement, thefollowing categories aremerged categories and
treated assingle categories withtheconversion factors listed below:
Designation Conversion
Category inAgreement Unit Factor
338,339 338/339 doz 6.0
645,646 645/646 doz 30.80
Classification
3.(A) Tops, yarns, piece goods, made-up articles, garments, andother textile manufactured products
(being products which derive their chief characteristics from their textile components) of
cotton, wool, man-made fibres, silkblends, non-cotton vegetable fibres, orblends thereof,
inwhich anyorallofthese fibres incombination represent thechief weight oftheproduct,
aresubject tothisAgreement. Components ofanarticle which arenotconsidered relevant
totheclassification under theGeneral Rules ofInterpretation ortheLegal Notes toSection XI
oftheHarmonized System arelikewise tobedisregarded here.
(B) Forthepurposes ofthisAgreement, textile products covered bysubparagraph (A)above shall
beclassified as:
(I) Man-made fibretextiles, iftheproduct isinchiefweight ofman-made fibres, unless:
(a) theproduct isknitted orcrocheted apparel inwhich wool equals orexceeds
23percentbyweight ofallfibres, inwhich casetheproduct willbeawool
textile; or
(b) theproduct isapparel, notknitted orcrocheted, inwhich wool equals or
exceeds 36percentbyweight ofallfibres, inwhich casetheproduct willbe
awool textile;
(c) theproduct iswoven fabric inwhich wool equals orexceeds 36percentby
weight ofallfibres, inwhich casetheproduct willbeawool textile.
(II) Cotton textiles, ifnotcovered by(I)andiftheproduct isinchief weight ofcotton,
unless theproduct isawoven fabric inwhich wool equals orexceeds 36percentby
weight ofallfibres, inwhich casetheproduct willbeawool textile.G/TMB/N/283
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(III) Wool textiles, ifneither oftheforegoing applies, andtheproduct isinchief weight
ofwool.
(IV) Silkblend ornon-cotton vegetable fibretextiles, ifnoneoftheforegoing applies and
theproduct isinchief weight ofsilkornon-cotton vegetable fibre, unless:
(a) cotton withwool and/or man-made fibres intheaggregate equal orexceed
50percentbyweight ofthecomponent fibres thereof andthecotton
component equals orexceeds theweight ofeachofthetotalwool and/or
man-made fibre components, inwhich casetheproduct willbeacotton
textile;
(b) ifnotcovered by(IV)(a) andwool exceeds 17percentbyweight ofall
component fibres, inwhich casetheproduct willbeconsidered awool
textile;
(c) ifnotcovered by(IV)(a) or(b)andman-made fibres incombination with
cotton and/or wool intheaggregate equal orexceed 50percentbyweight
ofthecomponent fibres thereof andtheman-made fibrecomponent exceeds
theweight ofthetotalwool and/or totalcotton component, inwhich casethe
product willbeconsidered aman-made fibretextile.
(C) Notwithstanding theabove, garments which contain 70percentormore byweight silk
(unless theyalsocontain over17percentbyweight wool), andproducts other thangarments
which contain 85percentormore byweight silk,arenotsubject tothisAgreement. Silk
blend andnon-cotton vegetable fibre sweaters, asdetermined above, shall bedivided into
"silk blend" sweaters and"non-cotton vegetable fibre" sweaters. Forthepurposes ofthis
provision, sweaters shallbeclassified as"silkblend" ifthesilkcomponent exceeds byweight
thenon-cotton vegetable fibre component (ifany). Sweaters notclassified as"silk blend"
sweaters inaccordance withtheforegoing shallbeclassified as"non-cotton vegetable fibre"
sweaters. Garments containing 70percentormore byweight silkandover17percentby
weight wool shallbeclassified aswool textiles, under subparagraph (B)(IV)(b).
(D) Coverage under thisparagraph isintended tobeidentical withtheterms ofArticle 12ofthe
Arrangement regarding international trade intextiles andinconformance withparagraph 24
ofthe31July1986 Protocol ofExtension. Intheevent ofaquestion regarding whether a
product iscovered bythisAgreement byvirtue ofbeing inchief weight ofcotton, wool,
man-made fibre, silkblend, ornon-cotton vegetable fibre, thechief value ofthefibres may
beconsidered.
USAssistance intheImplementation oftheLimitation Provisions
8.(A) TheGovernment oftheRepublic ofPoland shalladminister itsexport control system under
theAgreement. TheGovernment oftheUnited States mayassist theGovernment ofthe
Republic ofPoland inimplementing thelimitation provisions oftheAgreement.
(B) Textiles andtextile products willbecharged totheapplicable limit oftheagreement year
based onthedateonwhich thegoods areexported from theRepublic ofPoland. Thedate
ofexport istheactual datethemerchandise finally leaves thecountry ofexportation. For
merchandise exported byvessel, thisisthedayonwhich thecarrier departs thelastportin
thecountry oforigin.G/TMB/N/283
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Overshipment Charges
(C) Textiles andtextile products exported from theRepublic ofPoland inexcess ofauthorized
limits inanyagreement yearmaybedenied entry intotheUnited States. Anysuchshipments
denied entry maybepermitted entry intotheUnited States onorafterthebeginning ofthe
succeeding agreement yearandcharged totheapplicable limitinthatagreement year.
(D) Exports fromtheRepublic ofPoland inexcess oftheauthorized limitinanyagreement year,
ifallowed entry intotheUnited States during thatagreement year, willbecharged tothe
applicable limitinthesucceeding agreement year.
(E) TheGovernment oftheUnited States shallpromptly inform theGovernment oftheRepublic
ofPoland ofanycharges made pursuant tosubparagraphs (B),(C)and(D).
(F) Anyaction taken pursuant tosubparagraphs 8(B), (C)and(D)above willnotprejudice the
rights ofeither Government regarding consultations.
Spacing Provisions
(G) TheGovernment oftheRepublic ofPoland shalluseitsbestefforts tospace exports from
Poland totheUnited States within eachcategory evenly throughout theagreement year, taking
intoconsideration normal seasonal factors.
Properly Marked Commercial Samples andPersonal Shipments
9. Merchandise imported forthepersonal useoftheimporter andnotforresale, regardless of
value, andproperly marked commercial sample shipments valued atUS$250 orlessshall notbe
charged toagreement levels.
Exchange ofInformation
10. Subject todomestic laws, attherequest oftheother Government, eachGovernment agrees
tosupply anyinformation within itspossession reasonably believed tobenecessary forthe
enforcement ofthisAgreement.
Exchange ofData
11.(A) TheGovernment oftheUnited States shallpromptly supply theGovernment oftheRepublic
ofPoland withdataonmonthly imports ofcotton, man-made fibre, wool, silkblend and
non-cotton vegetable fibretextiles andtextile products ofPoland intotheUnited States.
(B) TheGovernment oftheRepublic ofPoland shall promptly supply theGovernment ofthe
United States withdataonquarterly exports ofcotton, man-made fibre, wool, silkblend and
non-cotton vegetable fibretextiles andtextile products ofPoland totheUnited States.
Cooperation inthePrevention ofCircumvention
12.(A) TheGovernment oftheUnited States andtheGovernment ofPoland agree totakemeasures
necessary toaddress, toinvestigate and,where appropriate, totakelegaland/or administrative
action toprevent circumvention ofthisAgreement bytransshipment, rerouting, false
declaration concerning country oforigin, falsification ofofficial documents oranyother
means.G/TMB/N/283
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(B) Bothparties agree tocooperate fully, consistent withtheirdomestic lawsandprocedures, in
instances ofcircumvention oralleged circumvention oftheAgreement toaddress problems
arising fromcircumvention andtoestablish therelevant factsintheplaces ofimport, export
and, where applicable, transshipment. Such cooperation, totheextent consistent with
domestic lawsandprocedures, willinclude investigation ofcircumvention practices; exchange
ofdocuments, correspondence, reports andother relevant information totheextent available;
andfacilitation ofimpromptu plantvisits andcontacts byrepresentatives ofeither party, upon
request andonacase-by-case basis.
(C) Ifeither party believes thatthisAgreement isbeing circumvented, itmay request
consultations toaddress thematter ormatters concerned withaview toseeking amutually
satisfactory solution. Eachparty agrees toholdsuchconsultations promptly, beginning within
30daysofarequest byaparty andconcluding within 90days, unless extended bymutual
agreement, andtocooperate fullyinterms oftheelements setoutinparagraph Babove.
(D) Should theparties beunable toreach asatisfactory solution inthecourse oftheconsultations
called forunder paragraph C,thentheGovernments ofPoland andtheUnited States agree
thatincases where evidence regarding circumvention hasbeenprovided, theUnited States
maydeduct fromthequantitative limits forthatagreement period amounts atleastequivalent
totheamount oftransshipped products ofPolish origin. Theamounts transshipped shallbe
theamounts andthecountry oforigin shallbethecountry oforigin sodetermined byUS
Customs. Inaddition, theGovernments ofPoland andtheUnited States agree thatdeductions
fromthequantitative limits established under thisAgreement maybemade inthose instances
inwhich: a)theUSpossesses information showing asubstantial likelihood thatcircumvention
hasoccurred, b)theUShasrequested fromPoland cooperation orinformation relevant tothe
possible circumvention thatisofatypethatisavailable toorcould reasonably beobtained
bytheGovernment ofPoland, andc)theGovernment ofPoland hasnotprovided such
information orcooperation within theperiod forconsultation outlined inparagraph C.Any
suchaction shallbenotified totheTSBwithfulljustification.
(E) Should theUnited States choose toexercise itsrights under paragraph Dtodeduct anamount
oramounts from thequantitative limits ofacountry where repeated instances of
circumvention havebeendemonstrated within thecurrent orimmediately preceding agreement
year, thentheUnited States maydeduct fromthequantitative limitamounts uptothree times
theamounts transshipped, provided thatsuchdeductions aredistributed equally ineachofthe
three following years.
(F) Where there isevidence showing thatgoods originating inanother country havebeenshipped
through Poland totheUnited States asthough theywereproducts ofPoland, theGovernments
ofPoland andtheUnited States agree totakeappropriate action. Suchaction mayinclude the
introduction ofrestraints intherelevant category orcategories ordeducting theamount of
goods soshipped fromthequantitative limits established forthecurrent agreement yearunder
thisAgreement forshipments originating inPoland. Anysuchactions, together withtheir
timing andscope, maybetaken afterconsultation heldwithaviewofarriving atamutually
satisfactory solution andshallbenotified totheTSBwithfulljustification. Suchconsultations
should beheldpromptly, beginning within 30daysofarequest byaparty andconcluding
within 90days, unless extended bymutual agreement. Should theparties beunable toreach
asatisfactory solution, thentheGovernments ofPoland andtheUnited States agree thatin
cases where clearinformation regarding circumvention hasbeenprovided, theUnited States
may introduce arestraint or,where arestraint already exists, may deduct from the
quantitative limits established under thisAgreement forthatagreement period anamount
equivalent totheamount ofproduct transshipped through Poland.G/TMB/N/283
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(G) Parties agree thatfalse declaration concerning fibre content, quantities, description or
classifications ofmerchandise alsofrustrates theobjective ofthisAgreement. Where there is
evidence thatanysuchfalsedeclaration hasbeenmade forpurposes ofcircumvention, both
parties agree totake appropriate measures, consistent with their domestic laws and
procedures, against exporters orimporters involved. Should either party believe thatthis
Agreement isbeing circumvented bysuch false declaration andthatno,orinadequate,
administrative measures arebeing applied toaddress and/or totakeaction against such
circumvention, thatparty should consult promptly withtheparty involved withaview to
seeking amutually satisfactory solution. Such consultations should beheld promptly,
beginning within 30daysofarequest byaparty, andconcluding within 90days, unless
extended bymutual agreement. Should theparties beunable toreach asatisfactory solution,
thentheGovernments ofPoland andtheUnited States agree thatincases where evidence
regarding suchfalsedeclarations hasbeenprovided, thentheUnited States maydeduct from
thequantitative limits established forthecurrent agreement yearanamount equivalent tothe
amount ofproduct subject tothefalse declaration orclassification. Thisprovision isnot
intended toprevent parties from making technical adjustments when inadvertent errors in
declarations havebeenmade.
Consultation onImplementation Questions
13. TheGovernment oftheUnited States andtheGovernment oftheRepublic ofPoland each
agree toconsult upon therequest oftheother onanyquestion arising intheimplementation ofthis
Agreement.
Mutually Satisfactory Administrative Arrangements
14. Mutually satisfactory administrative arrangements oradjustments maybemade toresolve
minor problems arising intheimplementation ofthisAgreement, including differences inpoints of
procedure oroperation.
Right toPropose Revisions totheAgreement
17. TheGovernment oftheUnited States andtheGovernment oftheRepublic ofPoland mayat
anytimepropose revisions totheterms ofthisAgreement. Eachagrees toconsult promptly withthe
other about suchproposals withaviewtomaking suchrevisions tothisAgreement, ortaking such
other appropriate action asmaybemutually agreed upon.G/TMB/N/283
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ANNEX A
USTextile andApparel Category System Under theHarmonized System
Categories numbered inthe:
200series areofcotton and/or man-made fibre
300series areofcotton
400series areofwool
600series areofman-made fibre
800series areofsilkblends ornon-cotton vegetable fibres
Category Description Unit Conversion Factor
toSquare Metres
YARN:
200 Yarns putupforretail sale, kg. 6.60
andsewing thread
201 Specialty yarns kg. 6.50
300 Carded cotton yarn kg. 8.50
301 Combed cotton yarn kg. 8.50
400 Wool yarn kg. 3.70
600 Textured filament yarn kg. 6.50
603 Yarn containing 85%ormore
byweight artificial staple fibre kg. 6.30
604 Yarn containing 85%ormore by
weight synthetic staple fibre kg. 7.60
606 Non-textured filament yarn kg. 20.10
607 Other staple fibreyarn kg. 6.50
800 Silkblends ornon-cotton
vegetable fibreyarn kg. 8.50
FABRIC:
218 Ofyarns ofdifferent colour m2 1.00
219 Duck m2 1.00
220 Fabric ofspecial weave m2 1.00
222 Knitfabric kg. 12.30
223 Non-woven fabric kg. 14.00
224 Pile&tufted fabric m2 1.00
225 Bluedenim m2 1.00
226 Cheesecloth, batiste, lawn, voile m2 1.00
227 Oxford cloth m2 1.00
229 Special purpose fabric kg. 13.60
313 Sheeting m2 1.00
314 Poplin &broadcloth m2 1.00
315 Printcloth m2 1.00
317 Twills m2 1.00
326 Sateens m2 1.00
410 Woven fabric m2 1.00G/TMB/N/283
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414 Other wool fabric kg. 2.80
611 Woven fabric containing 85%or
more byweight artificial staple m2 1.00
613 Sheeting m2 1.00
614 Poplin &broadcloth m2 1.00
615 Printcloth m2 1.00
617 Twills &sateens m2 1.00
618 Woven artificial filament fabric m2 1.00
619 Polyester filament fabric m2 1.00
620 Other synthetic filament fabric m2 1.00
621 Impression fabric kg. 14.40
622 Glass fibrefabric m2 1.00
624 MMF fabric, woven, containing more
than15%butlessthan36%wool m2 1.00
625 Poplin &broadcloth ofstaple/
filament fibrecombinations m2 1.00
626 Printcloth ofstaple/filament
fibrecombination m2 1.00
627 Sheeting ofstaple/filament
fibrecombinations m2 1.00
628 Twills &sateens ofstaple/filament
fibrecombinations m2 1.00
629 Other fabrics ofstaple/filament
fibrecombinations m2 1.00
810 Woven fabric, silkblend &non-
cotton vegetable fibre m2 1.00
APPAREL:
237 Playsuits, sunsuits, etc doz 19.20
239 Babies 'garments andclothing
accessories kg. 6.30
330 Handkerchiefs doz 1.40
331 Gloves andmittens dpr 2.90
332 Hosiery dpr 3.80
333 M&B suit-type coats doz 30.30
334 Other M&B coats doz 34.50
335 W&G coats doz 34.50
336 Dresses doz 37.90
338 M&B knitshirts doz 6.00
339 W&G knitshirts &blouses doz 6.00
340 M&B shirts, notknit doz 20.10
341 W&G shirts &blouses, notknit doz 12.10
342 Skirts doz 14.90
345 Sweaters doz 30.80
347 M&B trousers, breeches &shorts doz 14.90
348 W&G trousers, breeches &shorts doz 14.90
349 Brassieres &other body supporting
garments doz 4.00
350 Robes, dressing gowns, etc. doz 42.60
351 Nightwear andpyjamas doz 43.50
352 Underwear doz 9.20G/TMB/N/283
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353 M&B down-filled coats doz 34.50
354 W&G down-filled coats doz 34.50
359 Other cotton apparel kg. 8.50
431 Gloves andmittens dpr 1.80
432 Hosiery dpr 2.30
433 M&B suit-type coats doz 30.10
434 Other M&B coats doz 45.10
435 W&G coats doz 45.10
436 Dresses doz 41.10
438 Knitshirts &blouses doz 12.50
439 Babies 'garments andclothing
accessories kg. 6.30
440 Shirts &blouses, notknit doz 20.10
442 Skirts doz 15.00
443 M&B suits no. 3.76
444 W&G suits no. 3.76
445 M&B sweaters doz 12.40
446 W&G sweaters doz 12.40
447 M&B trousers, breeches &shorts doz 15.00
448 W&G trousers, breeches &shorts doz 15.00
459 Other wool apparel kg. 3.70
630 Handkerchiefs doz 1.40
631 Gloves andmittens dpr 2.90
632 Hosiery doz 3.80
633 M&B suit-type coats doz 30.30
634 Other M&B coats doz 34.50
635 W&G coats doz 34.50
636 Dresses doz 37.90
638 M&B knitshirts doz 15.00
639 W&G knitshirts &blouses doz 12.50
640 M&B shirts, nonknit doz 20.10
641 W&G shirts &blouses, notknit doz 12.10
642 Skirts doz 14.90
643 M&B suits no. 3.76
644 W&G suits no. 3.76
645 M&B sweaters doz 30.80
646 W&G sweaters doz 30.80
647 M&B trousers, breeches &shorts doz 14.90
648 W&G trousers, breeches &shorts doz 14.90
649 Brassieres &other body supporting
garments doz 4.00
650 Robes, dressing gowns, etc. doz 42.60
651 Nightwear andpyjamas doz 43.50
652 Underwear doz 13.40
653 M&B down-filled coats doz 34.50
654 W&G down-filled coats doz 34.50
659 Other man-made fibreapparel kg. 14.40
831 Gloves andmittens dpr 2.90
832 Hosiery dpr 3.80
833 M&B suit-type coats doz 30.30
834 Other M&B coats doz 34.50
835 W&G coats doz 34.50
836 Dresses doz 37.90G/TMB/N/283
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838 Knitshirts &blouses doz 11.70
839 Babies 'garments andclothing
accessories kg. 6.30
840 Shirts &blouses, notknit doz 16.70
842 Skirts doz 14.90
843 M&B suits no. 3.76
844 W&G suits no. 3.76
845 Sweaters ofnon-cotton vegetable
fibres doz 30.80
846 Sweaters, ofsilkblends doz 30.80
847 Trousers, breeches &shorts doz 14.90
850 Robes, dressing gowns, etc. doz 42.60
851 Nightwear andpyjamas doz 43.50
852 Underwear doz 11.30
858 Neckwear kg. 6.60
859 Other apparel kg. 12.50
MADE-UP AND MISCELLANEOUS TEXTILES:
360 Pillowcases no. 0.90
361 Sheets no. 5.20
362 Bedspreads andquilts no. 5.80
363 Terry andother piletowels no. 0.40
369 Other cotton manufactures kg. 8.50
464 Blankets kg. 2.40
465 Floor coverings m2 1.00
469 Other wool manufactures kg. 3.70
665 Floor coverings m2 1.00
666 Other man-made fibrefurnishings kg. 14.40
669 Other man-made fibre
manufactures kg. 14.40
670 Flatgoods, handbags, and
luggage kg. 3.70
863 Towels no. 0.40
870 Luggage kg. 3.70
871 Flatgoods andhandbags kg. 3.70
899 Other silk&vegetable fibre
manufactures kg. 11.10