Federal Register: December 26, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 247)
DOCID: FR Doc E6-21992
COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
NOTICE: NOTICES
ACTION: African Growth and Opportunity Act:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Directive to the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Determination under the African Growth and Opportunity Act
EFFECTIVE DATES: January 10, 2007
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain additional textile and apparel goods from the United Republic of Tanzania shall be treated as ``handloomed, handmade, folklore articles, or ethnic printed fabrics'' and qualify for preferential treatment under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Imports of eligible products from Tanzania with an appropriate visa will qualify for dutyfree treatment.
SUMMARY:
Tanzania; handloomed, handmade, folklore articles, or ethnic printed fabrics,
DOCUMENT BODY 2:
December 18, 2006.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Authority: Authority: Sections 112(a) and 112(b)(6) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Title I of the Trade and Development Act of 2000, Pub. L. No. 106200) (``AGOA''), as amended by Section 7(c) of the AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108 274) (``AGOA Acceleration Act'') (19 U.S.C. Sec. 3721(a) and (b)(6)); Sections 2 and 5 of Executive Order No. 13191 of January 17, 2001; Sections 2527 and Paras. 1314 of Presidential
Proclamation 7912 of June 29, 2005.
AGOA provides preferential tariff treatment for imports of certain
textile and apparel products of beneficiary subSaharan African
countries, including handloomed, handmade, or folklore articles of a
beneficiary country that are certified as such by the competent
authority in the beneficiary country. The AGOA Acceleration Act further
expanded AGOA by adding ethnic printed fabrics to the list of textile
and apparel products made in the beneficiary subSaharan African
countries that may be eligible for the preferential treatment described
in section 112(a) of the AGOA. In Executive Order 13191 (January 17, [[Page 77390]]
2001) and Presidential Proclamation 7912 (June 29, 2005), the President
authorized CITA to consult with beneficiary subSaharan African
countries and to determine which, if any, particular textile and
apparel goods shall be treated as being handloomed, handmade, folklore
articles, or ethnic printed fabrics. (66 FR 727172 and 70 FR 37959, 37961 & 63)
In a letter to the Commissioner of Customs dated January 18, 2001, the United States Trade Representative directed Customs to require that importers provide an appropriate export visa from a beneficiary sub Saharan African country to obtain preferential treatment under section 112(a) of the AGOA (66 FR 7837). The first digit of the visa number corresponds to one of nine groupings of textile and apparel products that are eligible for preferential tariff treatment. Grouping ``9'' is reserved for handmade, handloomed, folklore articles, or ethnic printed fabrics.
CITA has consulted with Tanzanian authorities and has previously
determined that handloomed fabrics, handloomed articles (e.g.,
handloomed rugs, scarves, place mats, and tablecloths), handmade
articles made from handloomed fabrics, and certain folklore articles
are eligible for preferential treatment (69 FR 54268). This directive
expands Tanzania's existing Category 9 treatment to include certain
ethnic printed fabrics described in Annex A to this notice, if produced
in and exported from Tanzania. These goods are eligible for
preferential tariff treatment under section 112(a) of the AGOA, as
amended. In the letter published below, CITA directs the Commissioner
of Customs and Border Protection to allow dutyfree entry of such
products under U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheading 9819.11.27 if accompanied by an appropriate AGOA visa in grouping ``9''.
Philip J. Martello,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
December 18, 2006.
Commissioner,
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Washington, DC 20229.
Dear Commissioner: The Committee for the Implementation of
Textiles Agreements (``CITA''), pursuant to Sections 112(a) and
(b)(6) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Title I of the
Trade and Development Act of 2000, Pub. L. No. 106200) (``AGOA''),
as amended by Section 7(c) of the AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004
(Pub. L. 108274) (``AGOA Acceleration Act'') (19 U.S.C. Sec.
3721(a) and (b)(6)), Executive Order No. 13191 of January 17, 2001,
and Presidential Proclamation 7912 of June 29, 2005, has determined,
effective on January 10, 2007, that ethnic printed fabrics described
in Annex A are eligible for dutyfree treatment only if entered
under subheading 9819.11.27 and accompanied by a properly completed
visa for product grouping ``9'', in accordance with the provisions
of the Visa Arrangement between the Government of the United
Republic of Tanzania and the Government of the United States
Concerning Textile and Apparel Articles Claiming Preferential Tariff
Treatment under Section 112 of the Trade and Development Act of
2000. After further consultations with Tanzanian authorities, CITA
may determine that additional textile and apparel goods shall be treated as folklore articles or ethnic printed fabrics.
Sincerely,
Philip J. Martello,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile
Agreements.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Anna Flaaten, International Trade Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 4823400.