WORLD TRADE G/TMB/N/270
22July1997
ORGANIZATION(97-3021)
Original: English Textiles Monitoring Body
AGREEMENT ONTEXTILES AND CLOTHING
Notification under Article 2.17
UNITED STATES
Administrative Arrangements withFiji
TheTextiles Monitoring Body hasreceived anotification fromtheUnited States pursuant to
paragraph 17ofArticle 2.TheTMB iscirculating thisnotification toWTO Members fortheir
information.G/TMB/N/270
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Executive Office ofthePresident
Office oftheUnited States Trade Representative
28February 1997
TheHonourable Ambassador András Szepesi
Chairman
Textiles Monitoring Body
World Trade Organization
RuedeLausanne
1211 Geneva
Dear Ambassador Szepesi,
Attached youwillfindmyGovernment 'snotification ofAdministrative Arrangements for
Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Fiji1,Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Korea, Macau, Malaysia,
Philippines, Qatar, Romania, SriLanka, Thailand, UAE andUruguay made pursuant toArticle 2.17
oftheAgreement onTextiles andClothing.
Sincerely,
(signed) Ambassador RitaHayes
Chief Textile Negotiator
1This document contains theAdministrative Arrangements concluded with Fiji. Administrative
Arrangements concluded withtheother Members listed above willbecirculated asseparate documents.
Note: Annex Breferred tointhetextcontains thelistofrestrictions notified bytheUnited States pursuant to
Article 2.1andassuch itisnotpartoftheAdministrative Arrangements.G/TMB/N/270
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FIJI
Thefollowing provisions aredrawn fromtheUnited States -Fijibilateral textile andapparel
agreement of26October and29December 1995andhavebeenagreed tobenecessary fortheproper
implementation ofrestrictions notified totheTextiles Monitoring Body under Article 2.1ofthe
Agreement onTextiles andClothing.
Coverage ofAgreement andClassification
2. Thetextiles andtextile products covered bythisAgreement arethose summarized in
Annex A.Thesystem ofcategories andtheratesofconversion intosquare meters equivalent (SME)
listed inAnnex Ashallapply inimplementing thisAgreement.
3.(A) Tops, yarn, 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 orthelegalnotes tosection XI
oftheharmonized system arelikewise tobedisregarded here.
(B) Forthepurpose 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 isawoven fabric inwhich wool equals orexceeds 36percent
byweight ofailfibres, inwhich casetheproduct willbeawool textile.
(II) Cotton textiles, ifnotcovered by(I)above andiftheproduct isinchief weight of
cotton, unless theproduct isawoven fabric inwhich wool equals orexceeds
36percentbyweight ofallfibres, inwhich casetheproduct willbeawool textile.
Limits
4. Commencing with thefirstagreement period andduring each subsequent term ofthis
Agreement, theGovernment ofFijishalllimitexports totheUnited States ofcotton andman-made
fibre textiles andtextile products ofFijitothespecific limits setoutinAnnex B,assuchspecific
limits maybeadjusted inaccordance withparagraph 5.G/TMB/N/270
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Flexibility Adjustments
5.(A) (I) Theextent towhich anyspecific limit setoutinAnnex Bmaybeexceeded inany
agreement period bycarry forward (borrowing aportion ofthecorresponding specific
limitfromthesucceeding agreement period) and/or carryover (theuseofanyunused
yardage (shortfall) ofthecorresponding specific limit fortheprevious agreement
period) is11percent, ofwhich carry forward shall notconstitute more than
6percent.
(II) Nocarryover shall beavailable forapplication inthefirstagreement period. No
carry forward shallbeavailable forapplication inthefinalagreement period.
(B) Forthepurpose oftheAgreement, ashortfall occurs when exports oftextiles ortextile
products ofFijitotheUnited States during anyagreement period arebelow anyspecific limit
assetoutinAnnex B.
(C) TheGovernment oftheRepublic ofFijiwillnotify theGovernment oftheUnited States when
itwishes touseunused meterage (shortfall) available incategories forcarryover, subject to
theprovisions setoutabove. However, theGovernment oftheUnited States maysupply
adjustments under thissection toanyspecific limit whenever thatadjustment appears
appropriate tofacilitate theflowoftrade andthesound administration oftheAgreement. To
theextent suchadjustments areactually utilized, theywillbeimplemented bymeans of
carryover andcarry forward, inthatorder. Anyunused carry forward willbere-credited to
thefollowing period 'slimit. This procedure willnotprejudice theoutcome ofany
consultations thatmaybeheldbetween ourgovernments concerning theamounts ofavailable
carryover andcarry forward.
Overshipment Charges
6.(A) Products ofFijishipped inexcess ofauthorized limits inanyagreement period maybedenied
entry intotheUnited States. Anysuchshipment denied entry maybepermitted intothe
United States andcharged totheapplicable limitinthesucceeding agreement period.
(B) Products ofFijishipped inexcess ofapplicable limits inanyagreement period will,ifallowed
entry intotheUnited States during thatagreement period, becharged totheapplicable limit
inthesucceeding agreement period.
(C) Anyaction taken pursuant tosubparagraph 6(A)and6(B)above willnotprejudice therights
oftheother sideregarding consultations.
Spacing Provisions
7. TheGovernment oftheRepublic ofFijishall useitsbestefforts tospace exports ofits
products totheUnited States within eachcategory evenly throughout eachagreement period, taking
intoconsideration normal seasonal factors.
USAssistance inImplementation oftheLimitation Provisions
8. TheGovernment oftheRepublic ofFijishalladminister itsexport control system under the
Agreement. TheGovernment oftheUnited States mayassist theGovernment oftheRepublic ofFiji
inimplementing thelimitation provisions ofthisAgreement bycontrolling, bythedateofexport,
imports oftextiles andtextile products covered bythisAgreement.G/TMB/N/270
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Exchange ofInformation
9. Subject todomestic laws, attherequest oftheother government, eachgovernment agrees to
supply anyinformation initspossession reasonably believed tobenecessary fortheenforcement of
thisAgreement.
Exchange ofData
10.(A) TheGovernment oftheUnited States shallpromptly supply theGovernment oftheRepublic
ofFijiwithdataonmonthly imports intotheUnited States.
(B) TheGovernment oftheRepublic ofFijishall promptly supply theGovernment ofthe
United States withdataonmonthly exports ofFijitotheUnited States ofanycategory subject
tolimits assetoutinAnnex B.
Cooperation inthePrevention ofCircumvention
11.(A) TheGovernment oftheUnited States ofAmerica andtheGovernment oftheRepublic ofFiji
agree totakemeasures necessary toprevent circumvention oftheAgreement concerning trade
andtextiles andapparel bytransshipment, re-routing andfalsedeclaration concerning country
oforigin, andfalsification ofofficial documents. Accordingly, theGovernment ofthe
United States andtheGovernment oftheRepublic ofFijiwillapply thenecessary legal
provisions and/or administrative procedures tocomply withthisAgreement concerning trade
intextiles andapparel. Both parties agree that, consistent withtheir domestic lawsand
procedures, theywillcooperate fullytoaddress problems arising from circumvention.
(B) Should either party believe thatthisAgreement isbeing circumvented bytransshipment,
re-routing, falsedeclaration concerning country orplace ororigin, orfalsification ofofficial
documents, andthatno,orinadequate, measures arebeing applied toaddress ortotakeaction
against suchcircumvention, bothparties shall consult withaview toseeking amutually
satisfactory solution. Such consultations should beheldpromptly, andwithin 30dayswhen
possible. Ifamutually satisfactory solution isnotreached, thematter maybereferred by
either party involved totheTSBforrecommendations.
(C) Both parties agree, consistent withtheir domestic lawsandprocedures, totakenecessary
action toprevent, toinvestigate and,where appropriate, totakelegal and/or administrative
action against circumvention practices within theirterritory. Bothparties agree tocooperate
fully, consistent withtheirdomestic lawsandprocedures, ininstances ofcircumvention or
alleged circumvention ofthisAgreement, toestablish therelevant facts intheplaces of
import, export and,where applicable, transshipment. Itisagreed thatsuchcooperation,
consistent withdomestic lawsandprocedures, willinclude investigation ofcircumvention
practices which increase restrained exports totheUnited States ofAmerica; exchange of
documents, correspondence, reports andother relevant information totheextent available;
andfacilitation ofplant visits andcontacts, upon request andonacase-by-case basis. Both
parties should endeavour toclarify thecircumstances ofanysuchinstances ofcircumvention,
including therespective roles oftheexporters orimporters involved.
(D) Where, asaresult ofinvestigation, there issufficient evidence thatcircumvention has
occurred (e.g. where evidence isavailable concerning theplace oftrueorigin andthe
circumstances ofsuchcircumvention), bothparties agree totakeappropriate action, tothe
extent necessary toaddress theproblem. Such action mayinclude thedenial ofentry of
goods or,where goods haveentered, having dueregard totheactual circumstances andtheG/TMB/N/270
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involvement ofthecountry oftrueorigin, theadjustment ofcharges torestraint levels to
reflect thetruecountry oforigin. Also, where there isevidence thatgoods have been
transshipped through theRepublic ofFiji,such action mayinclude theintroduction of
restraints. Anysuch actions, together withtheir timing andscope, maybetaken after
consultations heldwithaview toarriving atamutually satisfactory solution andshall be
notified totheTSBwithfulljustification. Both parties mayagree onother remedies in
consultation. Anysuchagreement shallalsobenotified totheTSBandtheTSBmaymake
such recommendations totheparties concerned asitdeems appropriate. Ifamutually
satisfactory solution isnotreached, anyparty concerned mayreferthematter totheTSBfor
prompt review andrecommendation.
(E) Parties agree thatfalse declaration concerning fibre content, quantities, description or
classification ofmerchandise alsofrustrates theobjective ofthisAgreement. Where there
isevidence thatanysuchfalsedeclaration hasbeenmade forpurposes ofcircumvention,
both parties agree totakeappropriate measures, consistent with domestic laws and
procedures, against theexporters orimporters involved. Should either party believe that
thisAgreement isbeing circumvented bysuchfalsedeclarations andthatno,orinadequate,
administrative measures arebeing applied toaddress and/or totakeaction against such
circumvention, thatparty should consult promptly withtheparty involved withaviewto
seeking amutually satisfactory solution. Ifsuchasolution isnotreached, thematter may
bereferred byeither party involved totheTSBforrecommendation. Thisprovision isnot
intended toprevent parties from making technical adjustments when inadvertent errors in
declarations aremade.
Consultation onImplementation Questions
13. TheGovernment oftheUnited States andtheGovernment oftheRepublic ofFijieachagree
toconsult upon therequest oftheother onanyquestion arising intheimplementation ofthis
Agreement.G/TMB/N/270
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ANNEX A
CONVERSION
CATEGORY DESCRIPTION UNIT FACTOR
338/339/638/639 Cotton andMan-Made Dozen 6
Fibre KnitTops
338-S/339-S/ Cotton andMan-Made Dozen 6
638-S/639-S Fibre KnitTops not
Tank Tops orTees