[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 200 (Monday, October 16, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 61148]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-26518]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Duty and Quota Free Imports of Apparel Articles Assembled From 
Regional and Other Fabric for Beneficiary Sub-Saharan African Countries

October 11, 2000.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

ACTION: Publishing the First 12-Month Cap on Duty and Quota Free 
Benefits.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Philip J. Martello, Director, Trade 
and Data Division, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-3400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Title I, Section 112(b)(3) of the Trade and 
Development Act of 2000, Presidential Proclamation 7350 of October 
4, 2000 (65 FR 59321).

    Title I of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 provides for duty 
and quota-free treatment for certain textile and apparel articles 
imported from designated beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries. 
Section 112(b)(3) of that Act provides duty and quota-free treatment 
for certain apparel articles assembled in beneficiary sub-Saharan 
African countries from fabric formed in one or more beneficiary 
countries. More specifically, this treatment is for apparel articles 
wholly assembled in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African 
countries from fabric wholly formed in one or more beneficiary 
countries from yarn originating in the U.S. or one or more beneficiary 
countries (including fabrics not formed from yarns, if such fabrics are 
classifiable under heading 5602 and 5603 of the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States and are wholly formed and cut in one or 
more beneficiary country).
    Moreover, this preferential treatment is also available for apparel 
articles wholly assembled in one or more lesser-developed beneficiary 
sub-Saharan African countries, regardless of the country of origin of 
the fabric used to make such articles. This preferential treatment for 
lesser-developed countries applies through September 30, 2004.
    This preferential tariff treatment is limited to imports of 
qualifying apparel articles in an amount not to exceed one and one-half 
percent of the aggregate square meter equivalents of all apparel 
articles imported into the United States in the preceding 12-month 
period for which data are available. For the purpose of this notice, 
the 12-month period for which data are available is the 12-month period 
ended July 31, 2000. In Presidential Proclamation 7350 (published in 
the Federal Register on October 4, 2000, 65 FR 59321), the President 
directs CITA to publish the aggregate quantity of imports allowed 
during each 12-month period, in the Federal Register.
    For the one-year period, beginning on October 1, 2000, and 
extending through September 30, 2001, the aggregate quantity of imports 
eligible for preferential tariff treatment under these provisions is 
246,500,393 square meter equivalents. This quantity will be 
recalculated for each subsequent year, under Section 112(b)(3)(A). 
Apparel articles entered in excess of this quantity shall be subject to 
otherwise applicable tariffs.
    The amount is calculated using the aggregate square meter 
equivalents of all apparel articles imported into the United States, 
derived from the set of Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) lines listed 
in the Annex to the World Trade Organization Agreement on Textiles and 
Clothing (ATC), and the conversion factors for units of measure into 
square meter equivalents used by the United States in implementing the 
ATC.

Richard B. Steinkamp
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
[FR Doc.00-26518 Filed 10-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F