Announcement of Import Limits for Certain Cotton, Wool, Man-Made Fiber, Silk Blend and Other Vegetable Fiber Textiles and Textile Products Produced or Manufactured in the People's Republic of China

COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Announcement of Import Limits for Certain Cotton, Wool, Man-Made

Fiber, Silk Blend and Other Vegetable Fiber Textiles and Textile

Products Produced or Manufactured in the People's Republic of China

December 22, 1997.

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

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs establishing

limits.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1998.

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 or call (202) 927-5850. 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.

A Memorandum of Understanding dated February 1, 1997 between the

Governments of the United States and the People's Republic of China

establishes limits for textiles and textile products, produced or

manufactured in China and exported during the period beginning on

January 1, 1998 and extending through December 31, 1998.

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

Commissioner of Customs is directed to establish the limits for 1998.

These limits may be revised if China becomes a member of the World

Trade Organization (WTO) and the United States applies the WTO

agreement to China.

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 62 FR 66057, published on December 17, 1997).

J. Hayden Boyd,

Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile

Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

December 22, 1997.

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 a Memorandum of Understanding dated

February 1, 1997 between the Governments of the United States and

the People's Republic of China, you are directed to prohibit,

effective on January 1, 1998, 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 China and exported during the twelve-month period

which began on January 1, 1998 and extends through December 31,

1998, in excess of the following restraint limits:

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

Category Twelve-month limit

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

Group I

200, 218, 219, 226, 237, 239, 300/301, 313- 1,460,393,564 square meters

315, 317/326, 331, 333-336, 338/339, 340- equivalent.

342, 345, 347/348, 350-352, 359-C \1\,

359-V \2\, 360-363, 369-D \3\, 369-H \4\,

369-L \5\, 410, 433-436, 438, 440, 442-

444, 445/446, 447, 448, 607, 611, 613-

615, 617, 631, 633-636, 638/639, 640-643,

644/844, 645/646, 647-652, 659-C \6\, 659-

H \7\, 659-S \8\, 666, 669-P \9\, 670-L

\10\, 831, 833, 835, 836, 840, 842 and

845-847, as a group.

Sublevels in Group I

200....................................... 716,534 kilograms.

218....................................... 11,207,142 square meters.

219....................................... 2,369,354 square meters.

226....................................... 10,758,591 square meters.

237....................................... 1,962,225 dozen.

239....................................... 3,018,098 kilograms.

300/301................................... 2,253,889 kilograms.

313....................................... 41,432,691 square meters.

314....................................... 48,452,618 square meters.

315....................................... 131,782,646 square meters.

317/326................................... 20,945,770 square meters of

which not more than

4,007,338 square meters

shall be in Category 326.

331....................................... 5,159,139 dozen pairs.

333....................................... 96,243 dozen.

334....................................... 320,985 dozen.

335....................................... 386,367 dozen.

336....................................... 169,678 dozen.

338/339................................... 2,322,334 dozen of which not

more than 1,762,906 dozen

shall be in Categories 338-

S/339-S \11\.

340....................................... 787,419 dozen of which not

more than 393,710 dozen

shall be in Category 340-Z

\12\.

341....................................... 682,293 dozen of which not

more than 409,376 dozen

shall be in Category 341-Y

\13\.

342....................................... 266,599 dozen.

345....................................... 128,774 dozen.

347/348................................... 2,341,850 dozen.

350....................................... 163,758 dozen.

351....................................... 547,437 dozen.

352....................................... 1,637,299 dozen.

359-C..................................... 593,756 kilograms.

359-V..................................... 873,526 kilograms.

360....................................... 7,613,286 numbers of which

not more than 5,192,996

numbers shall be in

Category 360-P \14\.

361....................................... 4,216,122 numbers.

362....................................... 7,106,078 numbers.

363....................................... 21,299,235 numbers.

369-D..................................... 4,661,929 kilograms.

369-H..................................... 4,900,256 kilograms.

369-L..................................... 3,257,851 kilograms.

410....................................... 989,156 square meters of

which not more than 792,916

square meters shall be in

Category 410-A \15\ and not

more than 792,916 square

meters shall be in Category

410-B \16\.

433....................................... 20,747 dozen.

434....................................... 13,266 dozen.

435....................................... 24,365 dozen.

436....................................... 15,011 dozen.

438....................................... 26,268 dozen.

440....................................... 37,528 dozen of which not

more than 21,444 dozen

shall be in Category 440-M

\17\.

442....................................... 39,725 dozen.

443....................................... 128,340 numbers.

444....................................... 204,867 numbers.

445/446................................... 287,758 dozen.

447....................................... 70,265 dozen.

448....................................... 22,167 dozen.

607....................................... 3,192,346 kilograms.

[[Page 67828]]

611....................................... 5,292,928 square meters.

613....................................... 7,489,487 square meters.

614....................................... 11,769,194 square meters.

615....................................... 24,501,322 square meters.

617....................................... 17,118,826 square meters.

631....................................... 1,281,708 dozen pairs.

633....................................... 56,770 dozen.

634....................................... 617,623 dozen.

635....................................... 651,485 dozen.

636....................................... 547,047 dozen.

638/639................................... 2,412,714 dozen.

640....................................... 1,379,670 dozen.

641....................................... 1,306,952 dozen.

642....................................... 331,199 dozen.

643....................................... 509,844 numbers.

644/844................................... 3,650,454 numbers.

645/646................................... 823,432 dozen.

647....................................... 1,555,261 dozen.

648....................................... 1,111,223 dozen.

649....................................... 929,792 dozen.

650....................................... 114,640 dozen.

651....................................... 766,180 dozen of which not

more than 134,891 dozen

shall be in Category 651-B

\18\.

652....................................... 2,719,455 dozen.

659-C..................................... 405,623 kilograms.

659-H..................................... 2,805,568 kilograms.

659-S..................................... 609,667 kilograms.

666....................................... 3,512,974 kilograms of which

not more than 1,225,625

kilograms shall be in

Category 666-C \19\.

669-P..................................... 1,989,971 kilograms.

670-L..................................... 15,838,034 kilograms.

831....................................... 545,507 dozen pair.

833....................................... 28,212 dozen.

835....................................... 122,056 dozen.

836....................................... 277,394 dozen.

840....................................... 474,802 dozen.

842....................................... 266,117 dozen.

845....................................... 2,454,580 dozen.

846....................................... 177,334 dozen.

847....................................... 1,247,188 dozen.

Group II

330, 332, 349, 353, 354, 359-O \20\, 431, 123,566,814 square meters

432, 439, 459, 630, 632, 653, 654 and 659- equivalent.

O \21\, as a group.

Group III

201, 220, 222, 223, 224-V \22\, 224-O 256,320,423 square meters

\23\, 225, 227, 229, 369-O \24\, 400, equivalent.

414, 464, 465, 469, 600, 603, 604-O \25\,

606, 618-622, 624-629, 665, 669-O \26\

and 670-O \27\, as a group.

Sublevel in Group III

224-V..................................... 3,564,824 square meters.

225....................................... 6,150,000 square meters.

Group IV

832, 834, 838, 839, 843, 850-852, 858 and 11,476,216 square meters

859, as a group. equivalent.

Levels not in a Group

369-S \28\................................ 612,601 kilograms.

863-S \29\................................ 8,618,529 numbers.

870....................................... 33,099,703 kilograms.

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

\1\ Category 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.

\2\ Category 359-V: 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.

\3\ Category 369-D: only HTS numbers 6302.60.0010, 6302.91.0005 and

6302.91.0045.

\4\ Category 369-H: only HTS numbers 4202.22.4020, 4202.22.4500 and

4202.22.8030.

\5\ Category 369-L: only HTS numbers 4202.12.4000, 4202.12.8020,

4202.12.8060, 4202.92.1500, 4202.92.3015 and 4202.92.6090.

\6\ 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.

\7\ Category 659-H: only HTS numbers 6502.00.9030, 6504.00.9015,

6504.00.9060, 6505.90.5090, 6505.90.6090, 6505.90.7090 and 6505.90.8090.

\8\ Category 659-S: 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.

\9\ Category 669-P: only HTS numbers 6305.32.0010, 6305.32.0020,

6305.33.0010, 6305.33.0020 and 6305.39.0000.

\10\ Category 670-L: only HTS numbers 4202.12.8030, 4202.12.8070,

4202.92.3020, 4202.92.3030 and 4202.92.9025.

\11\ Category 338-S: all HTS numbers except 6109.10.0012,

6109.10.0014, 6109.10.0018 and 6109.10.0023; Category 339-S: all HTS

numbers except 6109.10.0040, 6109.10.0045, 6109.10.0060 and

6109.10.0065.

\12\ Category 340-Z: only HTS numbers 6205.20.2015, 6205.20.2020,

6205.20.2050 and 6205.20.2060.

\13\ Category 341-Y: only HTS numbers 6204.22.3060, 6206.30.3010,

6206.30.3030 and 6211.42.0054.

\14\ Category 360-P: only HTS numbers 6302.21.3010, 6302.21.5010,

6302.21.7010, 6302.21.9010, 6302.31.3010, 6302.31.5010, 6302.31.7010 and

6302.31.9010.

\15\ Category 410-A: only HTS numbers 5111.11.3000, 5111.11.7030,

5111.11.7060, 5111.19.2000, 5111.19.6020, 5111.19.6040, 5111.19.6060,

5111.19.6080, 5111.20.9000, 5111.30.9000, 5111.90.3000, 5111.90.9000,

5212.11.1010, 5212.12.1010, 5212.13.1010, 5212.14.1010, 5212.15.1010,

5212.21.1010, 5212.22.1010, 5212.23.1010, 5212.24.1010, 5212.25.1010,

5311.00.2000, 5407.91.0510, 5407.92.0510, 5407.93.0510, 5407.94.0510,

5408.31.0510, 5408.32.0510, 5408.33.0510, 5408.34.0510, 5515.13.0510,

5515.22.0510, 5515.92.0510, 5516.31.0510, 5516.32.0510, 5516.33.0510,

5516.34.0510 and 6301.20.0020.

\16\ Category 410-B: only HTS numbers 5007.10.6030, 5007.90.6030,

5112.11.2030, 5112.11.2060, 5112.19.9010, 5112.19.9020, 5112.19.9030,

5112.19.9040, 5112.19.9050, 5112.19.9060, 5112.20.3000, 5112.30.3000,

5112.90.3000, 5112.90.9010, 5112.90.9090, 5212.11.1020, 5212.12.1020,

5212.13.1020, 5212.14.1020, 5212.15.1020, 5212.21.1020, 5212.22.1020,

5212.23.1020, 5212.24.1020, 5212.25.1020, 5309.21.2000, 5309.29.2000,

5407.91.0520, 5407.92.0520, 5407.93.0520, 5407.94.0520, 5408.31.0520,

5408.32.0520, 5408.33.0520, 5408.34.0520, 5515.13.0520, 5515.22.0520,

5515.92.0520, 5516.31.0520, 5516.32.0520, 5516.33.0520 and 5516.34.0520.

\17\ Category 440-M: HTS numbers 6203.21.0030, 6203.23.0030,

6205.10.1000, 6205.10.2010, 6205.10.2020, 6205.30.1510, 6205.30.1520,

6205.90.3020, 6205.90.4020 and 6211.31.0030.

\18\ Category 651-B: only HTS numbers 6107.22.0015 and 6108.32.0015.

\19\ Category 666-C: only HTS number 6303.92.2000.

\20\ Category 359-O: all HTS numbers except 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,

6211.42.0010 (Category 359-C); 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

(Category 359-V).

\21\ Category 659-O: all HTS numbers except 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, 6211.43.0010

(Category 659-C); 6502.00.9030, 6504.00.9015, 6504.00.9060,

6505.90.5090, 6505.90.6090, 6505.90.7090, 6505.90.8090 (Category 659-H);

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

(Category 659-S).

\22\ Category 224-V: only HTS numbers 5801.21.0000, 5801.23.0000,

5801.24.0000, 5801.25.0010, 5801.25.0020, 5801.26.0010, 5801.26.0020,

5801.31.0000, 5801.33.0000, 5801.34.0000, 5801.35.0010, 5801.35.0020,

5801.36.0010 and 5801.36.0020.

\23\ Category 224-O: all HTS numbers except 5801.21.0000,

5801.23.0000, 5801.24.0000, 5801.25.0010, 5801.25.0020, 5801.26.0010,

5801.26.0020, 5801.31.0000, 5801.33.0000, 5801.34.0000, 5801.35.0010,

5801.35.0020, 5801.36.0010 and 5801.36.0020 (Category 224-V).

\24\ Category 369-O: all HTS numbers except 6302.60.0010, 6302.91.0005

and 6302.91.0045 (Category 369-D); 4202.22.4020, 4202.22.4500,

4202.22.8030 (Category 369-H); 4202.12.4000, 4202.12.8020, 4202.12.8060,

4202.92.1500, 4202.92.3015, 4202.92.6090 (Category 369-L); and

6307.10.2005 (Category 369-S)

[[Page 67829]]

\25\ Category 604-O: all HTS numbers except 5509.32.0000 (Category 604-

A).

\26\ Category 669-O: all HTS numbers except 6305.32.0010,

6305.32.0020, 6305.33.0010, 6305.33.0020 and 6305.39.0000 (Category 669-

P).

\27\ Category 670-O: only HTS numbers 4202.22.4030, 4202.22.8050 and

4202.32.9550.

\28\ Category 369-S: only HTS number 6307.10.2005.

\29\ Category 863-S: only HTS number 6307.10.2015.

The limits set forth above are subject to adjustment pursuant to

the current bilateral agreement between the Governments of the

United States and the People's Republic of China.

Products in the above categories exported during 1997 shall be

charged to the applicable category limits for that year (see

directive dated February 10, 1997) 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.

These limits may be revised if China becomes a member of the

World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United States applies the WTO

agreement to China.

The conversion factor for merged Categories 638/639 is 12.96

(square meters equivalent/category unit).

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,

J. Hayden Boyd,

Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile

Agreements.

[FR Doc. 97-33917 Filed 12-29-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F