made textiles: Hong Kong,

[Federal Register: December 1, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 230)]

[Notices]

[Page 67253-67254]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr01de99-41]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

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

November 23, 1999. AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

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

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2000.

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, call (202) 927-5850, or refer to the U.S. Customs website at http://www.customs.ustreas.gov. 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, 2000 through December 31, 2000 are based on limits notified to the Textiles Monitoring Body pursuant to the Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC).

In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the Commissioner of Customs to establish the 2000 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 63 FR 71096, published on December 23, 1998). Information regarding the 2000 CORRELATION will be published in the Federal Register at a later date. Troy H. Cribb, Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements November 23, 1999.

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, 2000, entry into the United States for consumption and withdrawal from warehouse for consumption of cotton, wool, 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, 2000 and extending through December 31, 2000, in excess of the following levels of restraint:

Category

Twelve-month restraint limit

Group I 200-227, 300-326, 360-363, 369(1) \1\, 254,856,238 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....................................... 45,361,264 square meters. 218/225/317/326........................... 77,152,142 square meters of which not more than 4,249,239 square meters shall be in Category 218(1) \5\ (yarn dyed fabric other than denim and jacquard). 611....................................... 7,151,815 square meters. 617....................................... 4,512,292 square meters. Group I subgroup 200, 226/313, 314, 315, 369(1) and 604, as 121,450,414 square meters a group

equivalent. Within Group I subgroup 200....................................... 391,087 kilograms. 226/313................................... 81,368,365 square meters. 314....................................... 21,944,072 square meters 315....................................... 10,849,223 square meters. 369(1) (shoptowels)....................... 891,586 kilograms. 604....................................... 268,455 kilograms. Group II 237, 239pt. \6\, 331-348, 350-352, 359(1) 878,157,003 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....................................... 1,311,724 dozen. 331....................................... 4,399,357 dozen pairs. 333/334................................... 319,184 dozen. 335....................................... 349,791 dozen. 338/339 \14\ (shirts and blouses other 2,973,125 dozen. than tank tops and tops, knit). 338/339(1) \15\ (tank tops and knit tops). 2,233,725 dozen. 340....................................... 2,847,080 dozen. 345....................................... 485,530 dozen. 347/348................................... 6,895,362 dozen of which not more than 6,805,362 dozen shall be in Categories 347- W/348-W \16\; and not more than 5,157,360 dozen shall be in Category 348-W. 352....................................... 7,715,391 dozen. 359(1) (coveralls, overalls and jumpsuits) 668,262 kilograms. 359(2) (vests)............................ 1,392,796 kilograms. 433....................................... 10,817 dozen. 434....................................... 11,612 dozen. 435....................................... 78,271 dozen. 436....................................... 101,942 dozen. 438....................................... 837,232 dozen. 442....................................... 95,944 dozen. 443....................................... 64,319 numbers. 444....................................... 43,444 numbers. 445/446................................... 1,383,834 dozen. 447/448................................... 69,593 dozen. 631....................................... 728,026 dozen pairs.

[[Page 67254]]

633/634/635............................... 1,431,705 dozen of which not more than 535,489 dozen shall be in Categories 633/ 634; and not more than 1,099,388 dozen shall be in Category 635. 638/639................................... 4,991,263 dozen. 641....................................... 862,469 dozen. 644....................................... 49,379 numbers. 645/646................................... 1,368,011 dozen. 647....................................... 605,620 dozen. 648....................................... 1,210,184 dozen of which not more than 1,195,394 dozen shall be in Category 648-W \17\. 649....................................... 932,414 dozen. 650....................................... 192,819 dozen. 652....................................... 5,377,750 dozen. 659(1) (coveralls, overalls and jumpsuits) 738,604 kilograms. 659(2) (swimsuits)........................ 307,909 kilograms. 443/444/643/644/843/844(1) (made-to-

60,115 numbers. measure suits). Group II subgroup 336, 341, 342, 350, 351, 636, 640, 642 and 164,827,032 square meters 651, as a group.

equivalent. Within Group II subgroup 336....................................... 253,347 dozen. 341....................................... 2,881,900 dozen. 342....................................... 593,499 dozen. 350....................................... 147,976 dozen. 351....................................... 1,217,185 dozen. 636....................................... 340,961 dozen. 640....................................... 1,040,678 dozen. 642....................................... 271,145 dozen. 651....................................... 369,252 dozen. Group III 831, 833-838, 840-844, 847-858 and 859pt. 47,594,094 square meters \18\, as a group.

equivalent. Sublevels in Group III 834....................................... 13,876 dozen. 835....................................... 118,130 dozen. 836....................................... 179,520 dozen. 840....................................... 701,706 dozen. 842....................................... 278,910 dozen. 847....................................... 376,841 dozen. Limits not in a group 845(1) \19\ (sweaters made in Hong Kong).. 1,132,745 dozen. 845(2) \20\ (sweaters assembled in Hong 2,711,360 dozen. Kong from knit-to-shape components, knit elsewhere). 846(1) \21\ (sweaters made in Hong Kong).. 183,176 dozen. 846(2) \22\ (sweaters assembled in Hong 441,385 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 1999 shall be charged to the applicable category limits for that year (see directive dated November 30, 1998) 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.

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, Troy H. Cribb, Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

[FR Doc. 99-31057Filed11-30-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F