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

COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

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

Fiber, Silk Blend and Other Vegetable Fiber Textiles and Textile

Products and Silk Apparel Produced or Manufactured in the People's

Republic of China

February 10, 1997.

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

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs establishing

limits

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

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 14, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Aldrich, 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) 927-6703. 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).

In a Memorandum of Understanding dated February 1, 1997, the

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

agreed to effectuate a Bilateral Cotton, Wool, Man-Made Fiber, Silk

Blend and Other Vegetable Fiber Textile Agreement and a Silk Apparel

Agreement. The textile agreement is for a four-year period, through

December 31, 2000; the silk apparel agreement is for a one-year period,

through December 31, 1997.

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

Commissioner of Customs is directed to establish limits for the period

beginning on January 1, 1997 and extending through December 31, 1997.

Should China become a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)

and should the United States apply the Agreement establishing the WTO

to China, the limits set forth above may be subject to adjustment

pursuant to the provisions of the Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles

and Clothing, the Uruguay Round Agreements Act and any administrative

arrangements notified to the Textiles Monitoring Body.

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 15381, published on April 1, 1994; and 61 FR

66263, published on December 17, 1996). Also see 62 FR 1875, published

on January 14, 1997.

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

its provisions.

Troy H. Cribb,

Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

February 10, 1997.

Commissioner of Customs,

Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC 20229.

Dear Commissioner: This directive cancels and supersedes the

directive issued to you on January 10, 1997, by the Chairman,

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. That

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

silk blend and other vegetable fiber textiles and textile products

and silk apparel, produced

[[Page 6951]]

or manufactured in China and exported during the thirteen-month

period beginning on January 1, 1996 and extending through January

31, 1997 and the eleven-month period beginning on February 1, 1997

through December 31, 1997. All charges shall be retained.

Under the terms of section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956,

as amended (7 U.S.C. 1854); pursuant to the Bilateral Cotton, Wool,

Man-Made Fiber, Silk Blend, Other Vegetable Fiber Textile and Silk

Apparel Agreement of February 1, 1997 between the Governments of the

United States and the People's Republic of China; and in accordance

with the provisions of Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as

amended, you are directed to prohibit, effective on February 14,

1997, 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 and

silk apparel in the following categories, produced or manufactured

in China and exported during the twelve-month period which began on

January 1, 1997 and extends through December 31, 1997, in excess of

the following restraint limits:

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

Category Twelve-month limit \1\

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

Group I

200, 218, 219, 226, 237, 239, 300/301, 313- 1,445,934,222 square meters

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

342, 345, 347/348, 350-352, 359-C \2\,

359-V \3\, 360-363, 369-D \4\, 369-H \5\,

369-L \6\, 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 \7\, 659-

H \8\, 659-S \9\, 666, 669-P \10\, 670-L

\11\, 831, 833, 835, 836, 840, 842 and

845-847, as a group.

Sublevels in Group I

200....................................... 695,664 kilograms.

218....................................... 11,041,519 square meters.

219....................................... 2,311,565 square meters.

226....................................... 10,496,186 square meters.

237....................................... 1,905,073 dozen.

239....................................... 2,958,920 kilograms.

300/301................................... 2,220,580 kilograms.

313....................................... 40,700,089 square meters.

314....................................... 47,270,847 square meters.

315....................................... 129,835,119 square meters.

317/326................................... 20,335,699 square meters of

which not more than

3,890,619 square meters

shall be in Category 326.

331....................................... 5,082,896 dozen pairs.

333....................................... 93,440 dozen.

334....................................... 316,242 dozen.

335....................................... 384,445 dozen.

336....................................... 165,540 dozen.

338/339................................... 2,310,781 dozen of which not

more than 1,754,135 dozen

shall be in Categories 338-

S/339-S \12\.

340....................................... 781,557 dozen of which not

more than 390,779 dozen

shall be in Category 340-Z

\13\.

341....................................... 677,214 dozen of which not

more than 406,329 dozen

shall be in Category 341-Y

\14\.

342....................................... 263,960 dozen.

345....................................... 128,517 dozen.

347/348................................... 2,337,175 dozen.

350....................................... 158,988 dozen.

351....................................... 531,492 dozen.

352....................................... 1,629,153 dozen.

359-C..................................... 576,462 kilograms.

359-V..................................... 856,398 kilograms.

360....................................... 7,391,540 numbers of which

not more than 5,041,744

dozen shall be in Category

360-P \15\.

361....................................... 4,113,290 numbers.

362....................................... 6,966,743 numbers.

363....................................... 20,984,468 numbers.

369-D..................................... 4,570,519 kilograms.

369-H..................................... 4,771,427 kilograms.

369-L..................................... 3,162,962 kilograms.

410....................................... 979,362 square meters of

which not more than 785,065

square meters shall be in

Category 410-A \16\ and not

more than 785,065 square

meters shall be in Category

410-B \17\.

433....................................... 20,643 dozen.

434....................................... 13,200 dozen.

435....................................... 24,244 dozen.

436....................................... 14,936 dozen.

438....................................... 26,137 dozen.

440....................................... 37,341 dozen of which not

more than 21,337 dozen

shall be in Category 440-M

\18\.

442....................................... 39,528 dozen.

443....................................... 127,702 numbers.

444....................................... 202,839 numbers.

445/446................................... 287,470 dozen.

447....................................... 69,916 dozen.

448....................................... 22,056 dozen.

607....................................... 3,114,484 kilograms.

611....................................... 5,163,832 square meters.

613....................................... 7,306,817 square meters.

614....................................... 11,482,140 square meters.

615....................................... 23,903,729 square meters.

617....................................... 16,701,294 square meters.

631....................................... 1,250,447 dozen pairs.

633....................................... 55,657 dozen.

634....................................... 605,513 dozen.

635....................................... 638,711 dozen.

636....................................... 541,630 dozen.

638/639................................... 2,388,826 dozen.

640....................................... 1,372,806 dozen.

641....................................... 1,300,450 dozen.

642....................................... 323,121 dozen.

643....................................... 502,309 numbers.

644/844................................... 3,614,311 numbers.

645/646................................... 821,788 dozen.

647....................................... 1,539,862 dozen.

648....................................... 1,100,221 dozen.

649....................................... 902,711 dozen.

650....................................... 111,844 dozen.

651....................................... 751,157 dozen of which not

more than 132,246 dozen

shall be in Category 651-B

\19\.

652....................................... 2,640,248 dozen.

659-C..................................... 397,670 kilograms.

659-H..................................... 2,743,832 kilograms.

659-S..................................... 594,797 kilograms.

666....................................... 3,444,092 kilograms of which

not more than 1,225,000

kilograms shall be in

Category 666-C \20\.

669-P..................................... 1,941,435 kilograms.

670-L..................................... 15,451,740 kilograms.

831....................................... 524,022 dozen pair.

833....................................... 27,258 dozen.

835....................................... 120,549 dozen.

836....................................... 270,628 dozen.

840....................................... 468,940 dozen.

842....................................... 260,899 dozen.

845....................................... 2,449,680 dozen.

846....................................... 175,578 dozen.

847....................................... 1,234,840 dozen.

Group II

330, 332, 349, 353, 354, 359-O \21\, 431, 122,343,380 square meters

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

O \22\, as a group.

Group III

201, 220, 222, 223, 224-V \23\, 224-O 253,782,597 square meters

\24\, 225, 227, 229, 369-O \25\, 400, equivalent.

414, 464, 465, 469, 600, 603, 604-O \26\,

606, 618-622, 624-629, 665, 669-O \27\

and 670-O \28\, as a group.

Sublevel in Group III

224-V..................................... 3,477,877 square meters.

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

[[Page 6952]]

Group IV

832, 834, 838, 839, 843, 850-852, 858 and 11,251,192 square meters

859, as a group. equivalent.

Levels not in a Group

369-S \29\................................ 611,378 kilograms.

863-S \30\................................ 8,575,651 numbers.

870....................................... 32,935,028 kilograms.

Silk Apparel Group

733, 734, 735, 736, 738, 739, 740, 741, 349,565,675 square meters

742, 743, 744, 745, 746, 747, 748, 750, equivalent.

751, 752, 758 and 759, as a group.

Specific limit within Group

740 (Men's and boys' shirts, not knit).... 3,336,656 dozen.

741 (Women's and girls' shirts/blouses, 8,326,303 dozen.

not knit).

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

\1\ The limits have not been adjusted to account for any imports

exported after December 31, 1996.

\2\ 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.

\3\ 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.

\4\ Category 369-D: only HTS numbers 6302.60.0010, 6302.91.0005 and

6302.91.0045.

\5\ Category 369-H: only HTS numbers 4202.22.4020, 4202.22.4500 and

4202.22.8030.

\6\ 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.

\7\ 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.

\8\ 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.

\9\ 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.

\10\ Category 669-P: only HTS numbers 6305.32.0010, 6305.32.0020,

6305.33.0010, 6305.33.0020 and 6305.39.0000.

\11\ Category 670-L: only HTS numbers 4202.12.8030, 4202.12.8070,

4202.92.3020, 4202.92.3030 and 4202.92.9025.

\12\ 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.

\13\ Category 340-Z: only HTS numbers 6205.20.2015, 6205.20.2020,

6205.20.2050 and 6205.20.2060.

\14\ Category 341-Y: only HTS numbers 6204.22.3060, 6206.30.3010,

6206.30.3030 and 6211.42.0054.

\15\ 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.

\16\ 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.

\17\ 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.

\18\ 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.

\19\ Category 651-B: only HTS numbers 6107.22.0015 and 6108.32.0015.

\20\ Category 666-C: only HTS number 6303.92.2000.

[[Page 6953]]

\21\ 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).

\22\ 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).

\23\ 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.

\24\ 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).

\25\ 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)

\26\ Category 604-O: all HTS numbers except 5509.32.0000 (Category 604-

A).

\27\ 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).

\28\ Category 670-O: only HTS numbers 4202.22.4030, 4202.22.8050 and

4202.32.9550.

\29\ Category 369-S: only HTS number 6307.10.2005.

\30\ Category 863-S: only HTS number 6307.10.2015.

Imports charged to these category limits for the period January

1, 1996 through December 31, 1996 shall be charged against 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 levels set

forth in this directive.

The conversion factor for merged Categories 638/639 is 12.96

(square meters equivalent/category unit).

Should China become a member of the World Trade Organization and

should the United States apply the Agreement establishing the WTO to

China, the limits set forth above may be subject to adjustment

pursuant to the provisions of the Uruguay Round Agreement on

Textiles and Clothing, the Uruguay Round Agreements Act 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,

Troy H. Cribb,

Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

[FR Doc. 97-3708 Filed 2-10-97; 4:56 pm]

BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F