Establishment and Amendment of Import Limits and Amendment of a Restraint Period and Visa Requirements for Certain Cotton, Man-Made Fiber, Silk Blend and Other Vegetable Fiber Apparel Produced or Manufactured in Sri Lanka

COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Establishment and Amendment of Import Limits and Amendment of a

Restraint Period and Visa Requirements for Certain Cotton, Man-Made

Fiber, Silk Blend and Other Vegetable Fiber Apparel Produced or

Manufactured in Sri Lanka

March 7, 1995.

AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs establishing

and amending limits and amending a restraint period and visa

requirements.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: March 14, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Helen L. LeGrande, 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: Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended;

section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C.

1854).

Pursuant to the Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles and Clothing

(ATC) and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) dated February 6, 1995

between the Governments of the United States and the Democratic

Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the current Bilateral Textile

Agreement, effected by exchange of notes dated May 23 and 24, 1988, as

amended and extended, is being converted to a twelve-month calendar

year agreement.

In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the

Commissioner of Customs to amend the current restraint period to extend

through December 31, 1994. The current limits are being amended and new

limits are being established for Categories 434 and 440. Also, limits

are being established for the period beginning on January 1, 1995 and

extending through December 31, 1995. The 1995 limits for Categories

331/631, 334/634, 335/835, 336/636/836, 340/640, 341/641, 347/348/847,

351/651, 352/652, 635 and 840 have been reduced for carryforward and

special carryforward applied to the 1994 agreement period. The 1994

limits for Categories 314 and 347/348/847 will be filled upon opening.

Goods shipped in excess of these limits are being charged to the

corresponding limits for the 1995 period. The visa arrangement is being

amended to no longer require a 340-Y/640-Y visa for goods produced or

manufactured in Sri Lanka and exported from Sri Lanka.

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 59 FR 65531, published on December 20, 1994). Also see

53 FR 34573, published on September 7, 1988; and 59 FR 14152, published

on March 25, 1994.

The letter to the Commissioner of Customs and the actions taken

pursuant to it are not designed to implement all of the provisions of

the MOU, but are designed to assist only in the implementation of

certain of its provisions.

Rita D. Hayes,

Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

March 7, 1995.

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 March 22, 1994, by the Chairman,

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. That

directive concerns imports of certain cotton, wool and man-made

fiber textile products and silk blend and other vegetable fiber

apparel, produced or manufactured in Sri Lanka and exported during

the period which began on January 1, 1994 and extends through June

30, 1995.

Effective on March 14, 1995, you are directed, pursuant to the

Uruguay Round Agreements Act, the Uruguay Round Agreement on

Textiles and Clothing (ATC), a Memorandum of Understanding dated

February 6, 1995 between the Governments of the United States and

the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, to amend the current

restraint period to begin on January 1, 1994 and extend through

December 31, 1994 at the levels listed below. The sublimit for

Categories 340-Y/640-Y\1\ is being eliminated.

\1\Category 340-Y: only HTS numbers 6205.20.2015, 6205.20.2020,

6205.20.2046, 6205.20.2050 and 6205.20.2060; Category 640-Y: only

HTS numbers 6205.30.2010, 6205.30.2020, 6205.30.2050 and

6205.30.2060.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Category 1994 twelve-month limita

------------------------------------------------------------------------

237................................ 267,674 dozen.

314................................ 3,600,000 square meters.

331/631............................ 3,330,773 dozen pairs.

333/633............................ 29,041 dozen.

334/634............................ 867,071 dozen.

335/835............................ 334,700 dozen.

336/636/836........................ 658,706 dozen.

338/339............................ 1,244,751 dozen.

340/640............................ 1,343,974 dozen.

341/641............................ 1,868,738 dozen of which not more

than 1,245,825 dozen shall be in

Category 341 and not more than

1,174,163 dozen shall be in

Category 641.

342/642/842........................ 508,054 dozen.

345/845............................ 113,332 dozen.

347/348/847........................ 1,573,138 dozen.

350/650............................ 59,280 dozen.

351/651............................ 338,285 dozen.

352/652............................ 1,329,966 dozen.

359-C/659-Cb....................... 960,102 kilograms.

360................................ 1,200,000 numbers.

363................................ 7,881,596 numbers.

369-Dc............................. 726,248 kilograms.

369-Sd............................. 689,784 kilograms.

434................................ 7,000 dozen.

435................................ 15,750 dozen.

440................................ 10,000 dozen.

611................................ 4,700,000 square meters.

635................................ 461,873 dozen.

638/639/838........................ 758,023 dozen.

644................................ 258,635 numbers.

645/646............................ 45,526 dozen.

647/648............................ 777,128 dozen.

840................................ 250,000 dozen.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

aThe limits have not been adjusted to account for any imports exported

after December 31, 1993.

bCategory 359-C: 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; Category 659-C: 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.

cCategory 369-D: only HTS numbers 6302.60.0010, 6302.91.0005 and

6302.91.0045.

dCategory 369-S: only HTS number 6307.10.2005.

Textile products in Categories 434 and 440 which have been

released from the custody of the U.S. Customs Service under the

[[Page 13411]] provisions of 19 U.S.C. 1448(b) or 1484(a)(1) prior

to the effective date of this directive shall not be denied entry

under this directive.

Pursuant to section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as

amended (7 U.S.C. 1854), the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, the

Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC); and the

Memorandum of Understanding dated February 6, 1995 between the

Governments of the United States and the Democratic Socialist

Republic of Sri Lanka; and in accordance with the provisions of

Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended, you are directed

to prohibit, effective on March 14, 1995, entry into the United

States for consumption and withdrawal from warehouse for consumption

of cotton, wool and man-made fiber textile products and silk blend

and other vegetable fiber apparel in the following categories,

produced or manufactured in Sri Lanka exported during the period

beginning on January 1, 1995 and extending through December 31,

1995, in excess of the following restraint limits:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Category 1995 twelve-month limita

------------------------------------------------------------------------

237................................ 257,932 dozen.

314................................ 3,850,560 square meters.

331/631............................ 1,833,374 dozen pairs.

333/633............................ 48,553 dozen.

334/634............................ 324,274 dozen.

335/835............................ 166,086 dozen.

336/636/836........................ 199,574 dozen.

338/339............................ 1,137,937 dozen.

340/640............................ 851,963 dozen.

341/641............................ 1,650,443 dozen of which not more

than 1,100,295 dozen shall be in

Category 341 and not more than

1,133,370 dozen shall be in

Category 641.

342/642/842........................ 591,726 dozen.

345/845............................ 153,244 dozen.

347/348/847........................ 1,087,585 dozen.

350/650............................ 106,207 dozen.

351/651............................ 277,668 dozen.

352/652............................ 1,032,228 dozen.

359-C/659-Cb....................... 1,168,664 kilograms.

360................................ 1,283,520 numbers.

363................................ 11,000,049 numbers.

369-Dc............................. 825,855 kilograms.

369-Sd............................. 688,211 kilograms.

434................................ 7,081 dozen.

435................................ 15,174 dozen.

440................................ 10,116 dozen.

611................................ 5,027,120 square meters.

635................................ 221,448 dozen.

638/639/838........................ 810,870 dozen.

644................................ 455,175 numbers.

645/646............................ 182,069 dozen.

647/648............................ 976,192 dozen.

840................................ 233,480 dozen.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

aThe limits have not been adjusted to account for any imports exported

after December 31, 1994.

bCategory 359-C: 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; Category 659-C: 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.

cCategory 369-D: only HTS numbers 6302.60.0010, 6302.91.0005 and

6302.91.0045.

dCategory 369-S: only HTS number 6307.10.2005.

Imports charged to the category limits for the period January 1,

1994 through December 31, 1994 shall be charged to those levels of

restraint to the extent of any unfilled balances. In the event the

limits established for that period have been exhausted by previous

entries, such goods shall be subject to the 1995 levels set forth in

this directive.

You are directed to amend further the directed dated September

1, 1988 to no longer require a part-category visa for 340-Y/640-Y

for goods produced or manufactured in Sri Lanka and exported from

Sri Lanka on and after March 14, 1995. Goods exported during the

period March 14, 1995 through April 13, 1995 shall not be denied

entry if visaed as 340-Y/640-Y.

The limits set forth above are subject to adjustments in the

future pursuant to the provisions of the ATC and any administrative

arrangements notified to the Textiles Monitoring Body.

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 to the rulemaking provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1).

Sincerely,

Rita D. Hayes,

Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

[FR Doc. 95-6124 Filed 3-10-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F