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

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 30, 1998.

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, 1999.

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,

1999 through December 31, 1999 are based on limits notified to the

Textiles Monitoring Body pursuant to the Uruguay Round Agreement on

Textiles and Clothing (ATC).

Effective on January 1, 1999, a visa will no longer be required for

products integrated in the second stage of the integration of textiles

and clothing into GATT 1994 from WTO member countries (see 63 FR 53881,

published on October 7, 1998). A visa will continue to be required for

non-integrated products. For quota purposes only, products remaining in

categories partially integrated will continue to be designated by the

designator ``pt.''

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

Commissioner of Customs to establish the 1999 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 62 FR 66057, published on December 17, 1997).

Information regarding the 1999

[[Page 67049]]

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 30, 1998.

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, 1999, 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, 1999 and extending through December 31, 1999, in excess

of the following levels of restraint:

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

Category Twelve-month restraint limit

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

Group I

200-227, 300-326, 360-363, 369(1) \1\, 248,373,685 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....................................... 43,774,441 square meters.

218/225/317/326........................... 75,509,804 square meters of

which not more than

4,158,786 square meters

shall be in Category 218(1)

\5\ (yarn dyed fabric other

than denim and jacquard).

611....................................... 6,901,630 square meters.

617....................................... 4,354,444 square meters.

Group I subgroup

200, 226/313, 314, 315, 369(1) and 604, as 116,923,712 square meters

a group equivalent.

Within Group I subgroup

200....................................... 377,406 kilograms.

226/313................................... 78,521,945 square meters.

314....................................... 21,176,426 square meters

315....................................... 10,469,698 square meters.

369(1) (shoptowels)....................... 860,397 kilograms.

604....................................... 259,063 kilograms.

Group II

237, 239pt. \6\, 331-348, 350-352, 359(1) 855,820,099 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....................................... 1,265,837 dozen.

331....................................... 4,336,479 dozen pairs.

333/334................................... 312,390 dozen.

335....................................... 347,274 dozen.

338/339 \14\ (shirts and blouses other 2,951,725 dozen.

than tank tops and tops, knit).

338/339(1) \15\ (tank tops and knit tops). 2,217,646 dozen.

340....................................... 2,826,588 dozen.

345....................................... 475,195 dozen.

347/348................................... 6,846,378 dozen of which not

more than 6,756,378 dozen

shall be in Categories 347-

W/348-W \16\; and not more

than 5,120,239 dozen shall

be in Category 348-W.

352....................................... 7,445,492 dozen.

359(1) (coveralls, overalls and jumpsuits) 649,428 kilograms.

359(2) (vests)............................ 1,353,543 kilograms.

433....................................... 10,663 dozen.

434....................................... 11,446 dozen.

435....................................... 77,706 dozen.

436....................................... 101,208 dozen.

438....................................... 831,206 dozen.

442....................................... 94,572 dozen.

443....................................... 63,856 numbers.

444....................................... 42,823 numbers.

445/446................................... 1,373,874 dozen.

447/448................................... 69,092 dozen.

631....................................... 702,558 dozen pairs.

633/634/635............................... 1,401,229 dozen of which not

more than 524,090 dozen

shall be in Categories 633/

634; and not more than

1,075,986 dozen shall be in

Category 635.

638/639................................... 4,955,336 dozen.

641....................................... 856,261 dozen.

644....................................... 47,651 numbers.

645/646................................... 1,358,164 dozen.

647....................................... 584,436 dozen.

648....................................... 1,193,100 dozen of which not

more than 1,178,310 dozen

shall be in Category 648-W

\17\.

649....................................... 899,796 dozen.

650....................................... 186,074 dozen.

652....................................... 5,226,191 dozen.

659(1) (coveralls, overalls and jumpsuits) 717,789 kilograms.

659(2) (swimsuits)........................ 297,137 kilograms.

443/444/643/644/843/844(1) (made-to- 59,256 numbers.

measure suits).

Group II subgroup

336, 341, 342, 350, 351, 636, 640, 642 and 161,892,727 square meters

651, as a group. equivalent.

Within Group II subgroup

336....................................... 244,484 dozen.

341....................................... 2,861,158 dozen.

342....................................... 580,865 dozen.

350....................................... 144,826 dozen.

351....................................... 1,208,423 dozen.

636....................................... 329,033 dozen.

640....................................... 1,011,349 dozen.

642....................................... 261,660 dozen.

651....................................... 356,335 dozen.

Group III

831, 833-838, 840-844, 847-858 and 859pt. 46,482,012 square meters

\18\, as a group. equivalent.

Sublevels in Group III

834....................................... 13,391 dozen.

835....................................... 116,441 dozen.

836....................................... 174,460 dozen.

840....................................... 691,677 dozen.

842....................................... 272,972 dozen.

847....................................... 371,455 dozen.

Limits not in a group

845(1) \19\ (sweaters made in Hong Kong).. 1,131,105 dozen.

845(2) \20\ (sweaters assembled in Hong 2,707,434 dozen.

Kong from knit-to-shape components, knit

elsewhere).

846(1) \21\ (sweaters made in Hong Kong).. 182,910 dozen.

846(2) \22\ (sweaters assembled in Hong 440,745 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.

[[Page 67050]]

\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 1998 shall be

charged to the applicable category limits for that year (see

directive dated December 22, 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.

Effective on January 1, 1999, a visa will no longer be required

for products integrated in the second stage of the integration of

textiles and clothing into GATT 1994 from WTO member countries (see

directive dated September 30, 1998). A visa will continue to be

required for non-integrated products. For quota purposes only,

products remaining in categories partially integrated will continue

to be designated by the designator ``pt.''

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. 98-32354 Filed 12-3-98; 8:45 am]

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