[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67830-67831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33916]



[[Page 67830]]

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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Announcement of Import Restraint Limits for Certain Cotton, Man-
Made Fiber, Silk Blend and Other Vegetable Fiber Textiles and Textile 
Products Produced or Manufactured in Hong Kong

December 22, 1997.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs establishing 
limits.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Heinzen, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-4212. For information on the quota status of these 
limits, refer to the Quota Status Reports posted on the bulletin boards 
of each Customs port or call (202) 927-5850. For information on 
embargoes and quota re-openings, call (202) 482-3715.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as 
amended (7 U.S.C. 1854); Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as 
amended.

    The import restraint limits for textile products, produced or 
manufactured in Hong Kong and exported during the period January 1, 
1998 through December 31, 1998 are based on limits notified to the 
Textiles Monitoring Body pursuant to the Uruguay Round Agreement on 
Textiles and Clothing (ATC).
    Pursuant to the provisions of the ATC, the second stage of the 
integration commences on January 1, 1998 (see 60 FR 21075, published on 
May 1, 1995). Accordingly, certain previously restrained categories may 
have been modified or eliminated and certain limits may have been 
revised. Integrated products will no longer be subject to quota. CITA 
has informed Hong Kong of its intent to continue the bilateral visa 
arrangement for those products.
    In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the 
Commissioner of Customs to establish the 1998 limits. These limits have 
been increased, variously, for adjustments permitted under the 
flexibility provisions of the ATC.
    A description of the textile and apparel categories in terms of HTS 
numbers is available in the CORRELATION: Textile and Apparel Categories 
with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (see Federal 
Register notice 62 FR 66057, published on December 17, 1997). Also see 
62 FR 51832, published on October 3, 1997.
J. Hayden Boyd,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
December 22, 1997.

Commissioner of Customs,
Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC 20229.

    Dear Commissioner: Pursuant to section 204 of the Agricultural 
Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1854); Executive Order 11651 of 
March 3, 1972, as amended; and the Uruguay Round Agreement on 
Textiles and Clothing (ATC), you are directed to prohibit, effective 
on January 1, 1998, entry into the United States for consumption and 
withdrawal from warehouse for consumption of cotton, man-made fiber, 
silk blend and other vegetable fiber textiles and textile products 
in the following categories, produced or manufactured in Hong Kong 
and exported during the twelve-month period beginning on January 1, 
1998 and extending through December 31, 1998, in excess of the 
following levels of restraint:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Category                   Twelve-month restraint limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group I                                                                 
200-227, 300-326, 360-363, 369(1) \1\,      242,056,022 square meters   
 369pt. \2\, 400-414, 464, 469pt. \3\, 600-  equivalent.                
 629, 666, 669pt. \4\ and 670, as a group.                              
Sublevels in Group I                                                    
219.......................................  42,243,126 square meters.   
218/225/317/326...........................  73,902,425 square meters of 
                                             which not more than        
                                             4,070,257 square meters    
                                             shall be in Category 218(1)
                                             \5\ (yarn dyed fabric other
                                             than denim and jacquard).  
611.......................................  6,660,198 square meters.    
617.......................................  4,202,118 square meters.    
Group I subgroup                                                        
200, 226/313, 314, 315, 369(1) and 604, as  112,565,729 square meters   
 a group                                     equivalent.                
Within Group I subgroup                                                 
200.......................................  364,204 kilograms.          
226/313...................................  75,775,098 square meters.   
314.......................................  20,435,635 square meters    
315.......................................  10,103,447 square meters.   
369(1) (shoptowels).......................  830,299 kilograms.          
604.......................................  250,001 kilograms.          
Group II                                                                
237, 239pt. \6\, 331-348, 350-352, 359(1)   834,051,359 square meters   
 \7\, 359(2) \8\, 359pt. \9\, 431, 433-      equivalent.                
 438, 440-448, 459pt. \10\, 631, 633-652,                               
 659(1) \11\, 659(2) \12\, 659pt. \13\,                                 
 and 443/444/643/644/843/844(1), as a                                   
 group.                                                                 
Sublevels in Group II                                                   
237.......................................  1,221,557 dozen.            
331.......................................  4,274,499 dozen pairs.      
333/334...................................  305,741 dozen.              
335.......................................  344,774 dozen.              
338/339 \14\ (shirts and blouses other      2,930,479 dozen.            
 than tank tops and tops, knit).                                        
338/339(1) \15\ (tank tops and knit tops).  2,201,684 dozen.            
340.......................................  2,806,243 dozen.            
345.......................................  465,080 dozen.              
347/348...................................  6,797,746 dozen of which not
                                             more than 6,707,746 dozen  
                                             shall be in Categories 347-
                                             W/348-W \16\; not more than
                                             5,083,385 dozen shall be in
                                             Category 348-W.            
352.......................................  7,185,033 dozen.            
359(1) (coveralls, overalls and jumpsuits)  631,126 kilograms.          
359(2) (vests)............................  1,315,396 kilograms.        
433.......................................  10,510 dozen.               
434.......................................  11,283 dozen.               
435.......................................  77,147 dozen.               
436.......................................  100,479 dozen.              
438.......................................  825,224 dozen.              
442.......................................  93,221 dozen.               
443.......................................  63,395 numbers.             
444.......................................  42,211 numbers.             
445/446...................................  1,363,985 dozen.            
447/448...................................  68,594 dozen.               
631.......................................  677,981 dozen pairs.        
633/634/635...............................  1,371,401 dozen of which not
                                             more than 512,934 dozen    
                                             shall be in Categories 633/
                                             634 and not more than      
                                             1,053,082 dozen shall be in
                                             Category 635.              
638/639...................................  4,919,668 dozen.            
641.......................................  850,098 dozen.              
644.......................................  45,985 numbers.             
645/646...................................  1,348,388 dozen.            
647.......................................  563,990 dozen.              
648.......................................  1,176,258 dozen of which not
                                             more than 1,161,468 dozen  
                                             shall be in Category 648-W 
                                             \17\.                      
649.......................................  868,319 dozen.              
650.......................................  179,565 dozen.              
652.......................................  5,078,903 dozen.            

[[Page 67831]]

                                                                        
659(1) (coveralls, overalls and jumpsuits)  697,559 kilograms.          
659(2) (swimsuits)........................  286,743 kilograms.          
443/444/643/644/843/844(1) (made-to-        58,408 numbers.             
 measure suits).                                                        
Group II subgroup                                                       
336, 341, 342, 350, 351, 636, 640, 642 and  159,010,659 square meters   
 651, as a group.                            equivalent.                
Within Group II subgroup                                                
336.......................................  235,932 dozen.              
341.......................................  2,840,564 dozen.            
342.......................................  568,500 dozen.              
350.......................................  141,744 dozen.              
351.......................................  1,199,726 dozen.            
636.......................................  317,522 dozen.              
640.......................................  982,847 dozen.              
642.......................................  252,506 dozen.              
651.......................................  343,870 dozen.              
Group III                                                               
831, 833-838, 840-844, 847-858 and 859pt.   45,395,915 square meters    
 \18\, as a group.                           equivalent.                
Sublevels in Group III                                                  
834.......................................  12,922 dozen.               
835.......................................  114,777 dozen.              
836.......................................  169,543 dozen.              
840.......................................  681,791 dozen.              
842.......................................  267,161 dozen.              
847.......................................  366,146 dozen.              
Limits not in a group                                                   
845(1) \19\ (sweaters made in Hong Kong)..  1,129,466 dozen.            
845(2) \20\ (sweaters assembled in Hong     2,703,514 dozen.            
 Kong from knit-to-shape components, knit                               
 elsewhere).                                                            
846(1) \21\ (sweaters made in Hong Kong)..  182,645 dozen.              
846(2) \22\ (sweaters assembled in Hong     440,107 dozen.              
 Kong from knit-to-shape components, knit                               
 elsewhere).                                                            
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Category 369(1): only HTS number 6307.10.2005.                      
\2\ Category 369pt.: all HTS numbers except 5601.10.1000, 5601.21.0090, 
  5701.90.1020, 5701.90.2020, 5702.10.9020, 5702.39.2010, 5702.49.1020, 
  5702.49.1080, 5702.59.1000, 5702.99.1010, 5702.99.1090, 5705.00.2020, 
  6406.10.7700 and HTS number in 369(1).                                
\3\ Category 469pt.: all HTS numbers except 5601.29.0020, 5603.94.1010  
  and 6406.10.9020.                                                     
\4\ Category 669pt.: all HTS numbers except 5601.10.2000, 5601.22.0090, 
  5607.49.3000, 5607.50.4000 and 6406.10.9040.                          
\5\ Category 218(1): all HTS numbers except 5209.42.0060, 5209.42.0080, 
  5211.42.0060, 5211.42.0080, 5514.32.0015 and 5516.43.0015.            
\6\ Category 239pt.: only HTS number 6209.20.5040 (diapers).            
\7\ Category 359(1): only HTS numbers 6103.42.2025, 6103.49.8034,       
  6104.62.1020, 6104.69.8010, 6114.20.0048, 6114.20.0052, 6203.42.2010, 
  6203.42.2090, 6204.62.2010, 6211.32.0010, 6211.32.0025 and            
  6211.42.0010.                                                         
\8\ Category 359(2): only HTS numbers 6103.19.2030, 6103.19.9030,       
  6104.12.0040, 6104.19.8040, 6110.20.1022, 6110.20.1024, 6110.20.2030, 
  6110.20.2035, 6110.90.9044, 6110.90.9046, 6201.92.2010, 6202.92.2020, 
  6203.19.1030, 6203.19.9030, 6204.12.0040, 6204.19.8040, 6211.32.0070  
  and 6211.42.0070.                                                     
\9\ Category 359pt.: all HTS numbers except 6406.99.1550 and HTS numbers
  in 359(1) and 359(2).                                                 
\10\ Category 459pt.: all HTS numbers except 6405.20.6030, 6405.20.6060,
  6405.20.6090, 6406.99.1505 and 6406.99.1560.                          
\11\ Category 659(1): only HTS numbers 6103.23.0055, 6103.43.2020,      
  6103.43.2025, 6103.49.2000, 6103.49.8038, 6104.63.1020, 6104.63.1030, 
  6104.69.1000, 6104.69.8014, 6114.30.3044, 6114.30.3054, 6203.43.2010, 
  6203.43.2090, 6203.49.1010, 6203.49.1090, 6204.63.1510, 6204.69.1010, 
  6210.10.9010, 6211.33.0010, 6211.33.0017 and 6211.43.0010.            
\12\ Category 659(2): only HTS numbers 6112.31.0010, 6112.31.0020,      
  6112.41.0010, 6112.41.0020, 6112.41.0030, 6112.41.0040, 6211.11.1010, 
  6211.11.1020, 6211.12.1010 and 6211.12.1020.                          
\13\ Category 659pt.: all HTS numbers except 6406.99.1510, 6406.99.1540 
  and HTS numbers in 659(1) and 659(2).                                 
\14\ Categories 338/339: all HTS numbers except 6109.10.0018,           
  6109.10.0023, 6109.10.0060, 6109.10.0065, 6114.20.0005 and            
  6114.20.0010.                                                         
\15\ Category 338/339(1): only HTS numbers 6109.10.0018, 6109.10.0023,  
  6109.10.0060, 6109.10.0065, 6114.20.0005 and 6114.20.0010.            
\16\ Category 347-W: only HTS numbers 6203.19.1020, 6203.19.9020,       
  6203.22.3020, 6203.22.3030, 6203.42.4005, 6203.42.4010, 6203.42.4015, 
  6203.42.4025, 6203.42.4035, 6203.42.4045, 6203.42.4050, 6203.42.4060, 
  6203.49.8020, 6210.40.9033, 6211.20.1520, 6211.20.3810 and            
  6211.32.0040;Category 348-W: only HTS numbers 6204.12.0030,           
  6204.19.8030, 6204.22.3040, 6204.22.3050, 6204.29.4034, 6204.62.3000, 
  6204.62.4005, 6204.62.4010, 6204.62.4020, 6204.62.4030, 6204.62.4040, 
  6204.62.4050, 6204.62.4055, 6204.62.4065, 6204.69.6010, 6204.69.9010, 
  6210.50.9060, 6211.20.1550, 6211.20.6810, 6211.42.0030 and            
  6217.90.9050.                                                         
\17\ Category 648-W: only HTS numbers 6204.23.0040, 6204.23.0045,       
  6204.29.2020, 6204.29.2025, 6204.29.4038, 6204.63.2000, 6204.63.3000, 
  6204.63.3510, 6204.63.3530, 6204.63.3532, 6204.63.3540, 6204.69.2510, 
  6204.69.2530, 6204.69.2540, 6204.69.2560, 6204.69.6030, 6204.69.9030, 
  6210.50.5035, 6211.20.1555, 6211.20.6820, 6211.43.0040 and            
  6217.90.9060.                                                         
\18\ Category 859pt.: only HTS numbers 6115.19.8040, 6117.10.6020,      
  6212.10.5030, 6212.10.9040, 6212.20.0030, 6212.30.0030, 6212.90.0090, 
  6214.10.2000 and 6214.90.0090.                                        
\19\ Category 845(1): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2074, 6104.29.2079,      
  6110.90.9024, 6110.90.9042 and 6117.90.9015.                          
\20\ Category 845(2): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2070, 6104.29.2077,      
  6110.90.9022 and 6110.90.9040.                                        
\21\ Category 846(1): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2068, 6104.29.2075,      
  6110.90.9020 and 6110.90.9038.                                        
\22\ Category 846(2): only HTS numbers 6103.29.2066, 6104.29.2073,      
  6110.90.9018 and 6110.90.9036.                                        

    The limits set forth above are subject to adjustment pursuant to 
the provisions of the ATC and administrative arrangements notified 
to the Textiles Monitoring Body.
    Products in the above categories exported during 1997 shall be 
charged to the applicable category limits for that year (see 
directive dated December 5, 1996) to the extent of any unfilled 
balances. In the event the limits established for that period have 
been exhausted by previous entries, such products shall be charged 
to the limits set forth in this directive.
    Products for integration in 1998 listed in the Federal Register 
notice published on May 1, 1995 (60 FR 21075) which are exported 
during 1997 shall be charged to the applicable limits to the extent 
of any unfilled balances. After January 1, 1998, should those 
unfilled balances be exhausted, such products shall no longer be 
charged to any limit, due to integration of these products into GATT 
1994.
    CITA has informed Hong Kong of its intent to continue the 
bilateral visa arrangement for those products. An export visa will 
continue to be required, if applicable, for products integrated on 
and after January 1, 1998, before entry is permitted into the United 
States.
    The conversion factors for merged Categories 333/334, 633/634/
635 and 638/639 are 33, 33.90 and 13, respectively. The conversion 
factor for Category 239pt. is 8.79.
    In carrying out the above directions, the Commissioner of 
Customs should construe entry into the United States for consumption 
to include entry for consumption into the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico.
    The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has 
determined that these actions fall within the foreign affairs 
exception of the rulemaking provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1).
    Sincerely,
J. Hayden Boyd,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
[FR Doc. 97-33916 Filed 12-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F