Temporary Amendment to the Requirements for Participating in the Special Access Progam for Caribbean Basin Countries

COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Temporary Amendment to the Requirements for Participating in the

Special Access Progam for Caribbean Basin Countries

September 16, 1996.

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

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs amending

requirements for participation in the Special Access Program for a

temporary period.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: September 23, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori E. Mennitt, International Trade

Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of

Commerce, (202) 482-3400.

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).

This notice identifies a temporary amendment to the foreign origin

exception for findings and trimmings under the Special Access Program.

Effective on September 23, 1996, by date of export, the foreign

origin exception for findings and trimmings, including elastic strips

of less than one inch in width, under the Special Access Program is

temporarily amended to include non-U.S. formed, U.S. cut interlinings,

further described below, for men's and boys' and women's and girls'

suit-type jackets in Categories 433, 435, 443, 444, 633, 635, 643 and

644. As temporarily amended, the exception still requires that, in the

aggregate, such interlinings, findings and trimmings not exceed 25

percent of the cost of the components of the assembled article. As

indicated, in order to qualify for the exception as temporarily

amended, such interlinings must be cut in the United States.

With respect to men's and boys' suit jackets and suit-type jackets

in Categories 433, 443, 633 and 643, this amendment will terminate on

September 22, 1997, by date of export. For women's and girls' suit

jackets and suit-type jackets in Categories 435, 444, 635 and 644, this

amendment will terminate on June 22, 1997, by date of export. Products

in these categories exported from the United States for assembly prior

to the expiration dates for the temporary amendment shall remain

eligible for the exception if re-

[[Page 49440]]

exported to the United States after the expiration dates for the

temporary amendment.

As described above, non-U.S. formed interlinings may be used in

imports of men's and boys' and women's and girls' suit jackets and

suit-type jackets entered under the Special Access Program

(9802.00.8015) provided they are cut in the United States and are of a

type described in (1) through (3) below:

(1) A chest plate, ``hymo'' piece or ``sleeve header'' of woven or

weft-inserted warp knit construction of coarse animal hair or man-made

filaments used in the manufacture of men's, boys', women's or girls'

tailored suit jackets and suit-type jackets;

(2) A weft-inserted warp knit fabric which contains and exhibits

properties of elasticity and resilience which render the fabric

especially suitable for attachment by fusing with a thermo-plastic

adhesive to the coat-front, side body or back of men's, boys', women's

or girls' tailored suit jackets and suit-type jackets;

(3) A woven fabric which contains and exhibits properties of

resiliency which render the fabric especially suitable for attachment

by fusing with a thermo-plastic adhesive to the coat-front, side body

or back of men's, boys', women's or girls' tailored suit jackets and

suit-type jackets.

Companies must maintain complete records of the interlining

invoices and provide access to the U.S. Customs Service (Customs) at

the time of a Compliance Review. These invoices must indicate to

Customs that the interlinings meet the above criteria.

D. Michael Hutchinson,

Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile

Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

September 16, 1996.

Commissioner of Customs,

Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC 20229.

Dear Commissioner: This directive amends but does not cancel the

directives issued to you on January 11, 1996 for Colombia; January

24, 1996 for Costa Rica, as amended; January 11, 1996 for the

Dominican Republic, as amended; December 13, 1995 for El Salvador,

as amended; November 29, 1995 for Guatemala, as amended; November

29, 1995 for Honduras; and January 11, 1996 for Jamaica, as amended,

by the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile

Agreements, for the Special Access Program.

Effective on September 23, 1996, by date of export, you are

directed to treat non-U.S. formed, U.S.-cut interlinings, further

described below, for men's and boys' and women's and girls' wool and

man-made fiber suit jackets and suit-type jackets in Categories 433,

435, 443, 444, 633, 635, 643 and 644 as qualifying for the exception

for findings and trimmings, including elastic strips less than one

inch in width, created under the Special Access Program established

effective September 1, 1986 (see 51 FR 21208). In the aggregate,

such interlinings, findings and trimmings must not exceed 25 percent

of the cost of the components of the assembled article.

The amendments implemented by this directive shall be of a

temporary nature. With respect to men's and boys' suit jackets and

suit-type jackets in Categories 433, 443, 633 and 643, this

amendment will terminate on September 22, 1997, by date of export.

For women's and girls' suit jackets and suit-type jackets in

Categories 435, 444, 635 and 644, the amendment will terminate on

June 22, 1997, by date of export.

As described above, non-U.S. formed, U.S.-cut interlinings may

be used in imports of men's, boys' and women's or girls' suit

jackets and suit-type jackets entered under the Special Access

Program (9802.00.8015) provided they are cut in the United States

and of a type described in (1) through (3) below:

(1) A chest plate, ``hymo'' piece or ``sleeve header'' of woven

or weft-inserted warp knit construction of coarse animal hair or

man-made filaments used in the manufacture of men's, boys', women's

or girls' tailored suit jackets and suit-type jackets;

(2) A weft-inserted warp knit fabric which contains and exhibits

properties of elasticity and resilience which render the fabric

especially suitable for attachment by fusing with a thermo-plastic

adhesive to the coat-front, side body or back of men's, boys',

women's or girls' tailored suit jackets and suit-type jackets;

(3) A woven fabric which contains and exhibits properties of

resiliency which render the fabric especially suitable for

attachment by fusing with a thermo-plastic adhesive to the coat-

front, side body or back of men's, boys', women's or girls' tailored

suit jackets and suit-type jackets.

Companies must maintain complete records of the interlining

invoices and provide access to the U.S. Customs Service (Customs) at

the time of a Compliance Review. These invoices must indicate to

Customs that the interlinings meet the above criteria.

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,

D. Michael Hutchinson,

Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile

Agreements.

[FR Doc. 96-24093 Filed 9-19-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F