COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Final List of Products for Second, Third and Final Phase Integration of Textile and Apparel Products into GATT 1994



AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.


NOTICE: Announcement of the Textile and Apparel Products to be Integrated into the GATT 1994 in the Second, Third and Final Phases.



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Carducci, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202)482-3400.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:


The Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC), approved by Congress as part of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, provides for the integration of the textiles and clothing sectors into the World Trade Organization.

The second and third phases of the integration will commence on January 1, 1998, and January 1, 2002, respectively. According to the provisions in the ATC, products in the second integration phase will account for not less than 17% of the total volume of imports in 1990 of the products in the annex to the ATC. Products in the third integration phase will account for not less than 18% of this total volume. (The first integration phase took effect on January 1, 1995 and the list of products in the first integration phase was published in the Federal Register on October 13, 1994 (59 FR 51942). The final phase of the integration will commence on January 1, 2005, and will include textile and apparel products in the annex to the ATC which were not integrated during the first, second or third integration phases.) Products were selected from the ATC's four required groups: clothing, fabric, made-up textile products and tops and yarn.

In determining the products to be integrated in phases two and three, CITA has proceeded in accordance with the ATC, implementing legislation and Statement of Administrative Action. CITA has followed the Administration's commitment, made in the Statement of Administrative Action, that "integration of the most sensitive products will be deferred until the end of the ten-year period". Accordingly, CITA requested comments from interested parties and received over 80 submissions from individuals, companies, trade associations, unions and foreign governments. Also, the Committee consulted and met with individuals, advisory groups, and association representatives, and held a public hearing at which testimony from 32 parties was presented. The comments received on integration reflect a broad cross-section of views on its implementation.

On January 30, 1995, CITA published in the Federal Register (60 FR 5625) a draft list of the second and third phases of integration and announced that a public hearing would be held in mid-March. The deadline to submit public comment on the draft integration list was February 23, 1995. The deadline for submissions of testimony for the public hearing was March 2, 1995. Due to the demand for additional time and late submissions, the Committee extended the date until March 15, 1995. The public hearing was held on March 20, 1995. CITA heard from importers, retailers, textile and apparel manufacturers, trade associations, unions and individuals who make up the soft goods chain. During the process, all public comments and testimony received from interested parties were available for viewing at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Textiles and Apparel. In accordance with the U.S. Uruguay Round commitment, CITA has weighed all comments, testimonies, and other submissions to conclude the following list.

Parties interested in obtaining the final list electronically can click here to download (Wordperfect Format), (PDF) or Excel Format.