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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

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 23, 1999.

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, 2000.

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,

2000 through December 31, 2000 are based on limits notified to the

Textiles Monitoring Body pursuant to the Uruguay Round Agreement on

Textiles and Clothing (ATC).

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

Commissioner of Customs to establish the 2000 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 63 FR 71096, published on December 23, 1998).

Information regarding the 2000 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 23, 1999.

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, 2000, 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, 2000 and extending through December 31, 2000, in excess

of the following levels of restraint:

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

Category Twelve-month restraint limit

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

Group I

200-227, 300-326, 360-363, 369(1) \1\, 254,856,238 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....................................... 45,361,264 square meters.

218/225/317/326........................... 77,152,142 square meters of

which not more than

4,249,239 square meters

shall be in Category 218(1)

\5\ (yarn dyed fabric other

than denim and jacquard).

611....................................... 7,151,815 square meters.

617....................................... 4,512,292 square meters.

Group I subgroup

200, 226/313, 314, 315, 369(1) and 604, as 121,450,414 square meters

a group equivalent.

Within Group I subgroup

200....................................... 391,087 kilograms.

226/313................................... 81,368,365 square meters.

314....................................... 21,944,072 square meters

315....................................... 10,849,223 square meters.

369(1) (shoptowels)....................... 891,586 kilograms.

604....................................... 268,455 kilograms.

Group II

237, 239pt. \6\, 331-348, 350-352, 359(1) 878,157,003 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....................................... 1,311,724 dozen.

331....................................... 4,399,357 dozen pairs.

333/334................................... 319,184 dozen.

335....................................... 349,791 dozen.

338/339 \14\ (shirts and blouses other 2,973,125 dozen.

than tank tops and tops, knit).

338/339(1) \15\ (tank tops and knit tops). 2,233,725 dozen.

340....................................... 2,847,080 dozen.

345....................................... 485,530 dozen.

347/348................................... 6,895,362 dozen of which not

more than 6,805,362 dozen

shall be in Categories 347-

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

than 5,157,360 dozen shall

be in Category 348-W.

352....................................... 7,715,391 dozen.

359(1) (coveralls, overalls and jumpsuits) 668,262 kilograms.

359(2) (vests)............................ 1,392,796 kilograms.

433....................................... 10,817 dozen.

434....................................... 11,612 dozen.

435....................................... 78,271 dozen.

436....................................... 101,942 dozen.

438....................................... 837,232 dozen.

442....................................... 95,944 dozen.

443....................................... 64,319 numbers.

444....................................... 43,444 numbers.

445/446................................... 1,383,834 dozen.

447/448................................... 69,593 dozen.

631....................................... 728,026 dozen pairs.

[[Page 67254]]

633/634/635............................... 1,431,705 dozen of which not

more than 535,489 dozen

shall be in Categories 633/

634; and not more than

1,099,388 dozen shall be in

Category 635.

638/639................................... 4,991,263 dozen.

641....................................... 862,469 dozen.

644....................................... 49,379 numbers.

645/646................................... 1,368,011 dozen.

647....................................... 605,620 dozen.

648....................................... 1,210,184 dozen of which not

more than 1,195,394 dozen

shall be in Category 648-W

\17\.

649....................................... 932,414 dozen.

650....................................... 192,819 dozen.

652....................................... 5,377,750 dozen.

659(1) (coveralls, overalls and jumpsuits) 738,604 kilograms.

659(2) (swimsuits)........................ 307,909 kilograms.

443/444/643/644/843/844(1) (made-to- 60,115 numbers.

measure suits).

Group II subgroup

336, 341, 342, 350, 351, 636, 640, 642 and 164,827,032 square meters

651, as a group. equivalent.

Within Group II subgroup

336....................................... 253,347 dozen.

341....................................... 2,881,900 dozen.

342....................................... 593,499 dozen.

350....................................... 147,976 dozen.

351....................................... 1,217,185 dozen.

636....................................... 340,961 dozen.

640....................................... 1,040,678 dozen.

642....................................... 271,145 dozen.

651....................................... 369,252 dozen.

Group III

831, 833-838, 840-844, 847-858 and 859pt. 47,594,094 square meters

\18\, as a group. equivalent.

Sublevels in Group III

834....................................... 13,876 dozen.

835....................................... 118,130 dozen.

836....................................... 179,520 dozen.

840....................................... 701,706 dozen.

842....................................... 278,910 dozen.

847....................................... 376,841 dozen.

Limits not in a group

845(1) \19\ (sweaters made in Hong Kong).. 1,132,745 dozen.

845(2) \20\ (sweaters assembled in Hong 2,711,360 dozen.

Kong from knit-to-shape components, knit

elsewhere).

846(1) \21\ (sweaters made in Hong Kong).. 183,176 dozen.

846(2) \22\ (sweaters assembled in Hong 441,385 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.

\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 1999 shall be

charged to the applicable category limits for that year (see

directive dated November 30, 1998) 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.

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. 99-31057 Filed 11-30-99; 8:45 am]

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