[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 61 (Monday, March 31, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 15159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8046]



[[Page 15159]]

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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Suspension of the Group II Restriction for Certain Man-Made Fiber 
Textile Products Produced or Manufactured in India and Request for 
Public Comment

March 26, 1997.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs suspending 
the Group II restriction for certain products from India.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: March 31, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Heinzen, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-4212.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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

    The purpose of this notice is to advise the public that, effective 
on March 31, 1997, the Group II restriction is suspended for rayon 
filament yarn in HTS number 5403.31.0040 in Category 606 from India. 
The United States has conferred with the Government of India and 
interested parties regarding this action. A visa is still required for 
this product.
    The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements is 
considering eliminating permanently the restriction on these products 
from India at the beginning of the next agreement year (January 1, 
1998), pursuant to Article 2:15 of the Agreement on Textiles and 
Clothing (ATC).
    Anyone wishing to comment or provide data or information regarding 
the treatment of imports in HTS number 5403.31.0040 from India or to 
comment on domestic production or availability of products included in 
HTS number 5403.31.0040 is invited to submit 10 copies of such comments 
or information to Troy H. Cribb, Chairman, Committee for the 
Implementation of Textile Agreements, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
Washington, DC 20230; ATTN: Helen L. LeGrande.
    Comments or information submitted in response to this notice will 
be available for public inspection in the Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, room H3100, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC.
    Further comments may be invited regarding particular comments or 
information received from the public which the Committee for the 
Implementation of Textile Agreements considers appropriate for further 
consideration.
    The solicitation of comments is not a waiver in any respect of the 
exemption contained in 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1) relating to matters which 
constitute ``a foreign affairs function of the United States.''
    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 61 FR 66263, published on December 17, 1996).
Troy H. Cribb,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
March 26, 1997.

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

    Dear Commissioner: This directive amends, but does not cancel, 
the directive issued to you on December 20, 1996, by the Chairman, 
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. That 
directive concerns imports of certain cotton, man-made fiber, silk 
blend and other vegetable fiber textiles and textile products, 
produced or manufactured in India and exported during the twelve-
month period which began on January 1, 1997 and extends through 
December 31, 1997.
    Effective on March 31, 1997, man-made fiber textile products in 
HTS 5403.31.0040 in Category 606, in Group II, produced or 
manufactured in India and exported during the period March 31, 1997 
through December 31, 1997, shall not be charged to the Group II 
restraint level. A visa is still required for this product. Import 
charges already made to this HTS number shall be retained.
    For U.S. Customs' administrative purposes, the remaining HTS 
numbers in Category 606 shall be designated Category 606(1) \1\.
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    \1\ Category 606(1): all HTS numbers except 5403.31.0040 
(Category 606(2)).
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    To facilitate implementation of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act 
and the Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC), I 
request that, effective on March 31, 1997, entry/entry summary 
procedures be required, and that you count imports for consumption 
and withdrawals from warehouse for consumption of textile products 
in HTS number 5403.31.0040 in Category 606(2) \2\, produced or 
manufactured in India and exported during the period March 31, 1997 
through December 31, 1997.
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    \2\ Category 606(2): only HTS number 5403.31.0040.
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    Inasmuch as these imports may later be charged against the Group 
II level, it is important that an accurate count be taken.
    This letter will be published in the Federal Register.
    Sincerely,
Troy H. Cribb,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 97-8046 Filed 3-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F