COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Temporary Amendment to the Requirements for Participating in the Special Access Progam for Caribbean Basin Countries


September 16, 1996.

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


ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs amending requirements for participation in the Special Access Program for a temporary period.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 23, 1996.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori E. Mennitt, International Trade Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-3400.


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).


This notice identifies a temporary amendment to the foreign origin exception for findings and trimmings under the Special Access Program.

Effective on September 23, 1996, by date of export, the foreign origin exception for findings and trimmings, including elastic strips of less than one inch in width, under the Special Access Program is temporarily amended to include non-U.S. formed, U.S. cut interlinings, further described below, for men's and boys' and women's and girls' suit-type jackets in Categories 433, 435, 443, 444, 633, 635, 643 and 644. As temporarily amended, the exception still requires that, in the aggregate, such interlinings, findings and trimmings not exceed 25 percent of the cost of the components of the assembled article. As indicated, in order to qualify for the exception as temporarily amended, such interlinings must be cut in the United States.

With respect to men's and boys' suit jackets and suit-type jackets in Categories 433, 443, 633 and 643, this amendment will terminate on September 22, 1997, by date of export. For women's and girls' suit jackets and suit-type jackets in Categories 435, 444, 635 and 644, this amendment will terminate on June 22, 1997, by date of export. Products in these categories exported from the United States for assembly prior to the expiration dates for the temporary amendment shall remain eligible for the exception if re-exported to the United States after the expiration dates for the temporary amendment.


As described above, non-U.S. formed interlinings may be used in imports of men's and boys' and women's and girls' suit jackets and suit-type jackets entered under the Special Access Program (9802.00.8015) provided they are cut in the United States and are of a type described in (1) through (3) below:

(1) A chest plate, ``hymo'' piece or ``sleeve header'' of woven or weft-inserted warp knit construction of coarse animal hair or man-made filaments used in the manufacture of men's, boys', women's or girls' tailored suit jackets and suit-type jackets;

(2) A weft-inserted warp knit fabric which contains and exhibits properties of elasticity and resilience which render the fabric especially suitable for attachment by fusing with a thermo-plastic adhesive to the coat-front, side body or back of men's, boys', women's or girls' tailored suit jackets and suittype jackets;

(3) A woven fabric which contains and exhibits properties of resiliency which render the fabric especially suitable for attachment by fusing with a thermo-plastic adhesive to the coatfront, side body or back of men's, boys', women's or girls' tailored suit jackets and suit-type jackets.

Companies must maintain complete records of the interlining invoices and provide access to the U.S. Customs Service (Customs) at the time of a Compliance Review. These invoices must indicate to Customs that the interlinings meet the above criteria.



D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.


Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
September 16, 1996.


Commissioner of Customs,
Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC 20229.


Dear Commissioner: This directive amends but does not cancel the directives issued to you on January 11, 1996 for Colombia; January 24, 1996 for Costa Rica, as amended; January 11, 1996 for the Dominican Republic, as amended; December 13, 1995 for El Salvador, as amended; November 29, 1995 for Guatemala, as amended; November 29, 1995 for Honduras; and January 11, 1996 for Jamaica, as amended, by the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, for the Special Access Program.

Effective on September 23, 1996, by date of export, you are directed to treat non-U.S. formed, U.S.-cut interlinings, further described below, for men's and boys' and women's and girls' wool and man-made fiber suit jackets and suit-type jackets in Categories 433, 435, 443, 444, 633, 635, 643 and 644 as qualifying for the exception for findings and trimmings, including elastic strips less than one inch in width, created under the Special Access Program established effective September 1, 1986 (see 51 FR 21208). In the aggregate, such interlinings, findings and trimmings must not exceed 25 percent of the cost of the components of the assembled article.


The amendments implemented by this directive shall be of a temporary nature. With respect to men's and boys' suit jackets and suit-type jackets in Categories 433, 443, 633 and 643, this amendment will terminate on September 22, 1997, by date of export. For women's and girls' suit jackets and suit-type jackets in Categories 435, 444, 635 and 644, the amendment will terminate on June 22, 1997, by date of export.

As described above, non-U.S. formed, U.S.-cut interlinings may be used in imports of men's, boys' and women's or girls' suit jackets and suit-type jackets entered under the Special Access Program (9802.00.8015) provided they are cut in the United States and of a type described in (1) through (3) below:

(1) A chest plate, ``hymo'' piece or ``sleeve header'' of woven or weft-inserted warp knit construction of coarse animal hair or man-made filaments used in the manufacture of men's, boys', women's or girls' tailored suit jackets and suit-type jackets;

(2) A weft-inserted warp knit fabric which contains and exhibits properties of elasticity and resilience which render the fabric especially suitable for attachment by fusing with a thermo-plastic adhesive to the coat-front, side body or back of men's, boys', women's or girls' tailored suit jackets and suittype jackets;

(3) A woven fabric which contains and exhibits properties of resiliency which render the fabric especially suitable for attachment by fusing with a thermo-plastic adhesive to the coatfront, side body or back of men's, boys', women's or girls' tailored suit jackets and suit-type jackets.

Companies must maintain complete records of the interlining invoices and provide access to the U.S. Customs Service (Customs) at the time of a Compliance Review. These invoices must indicate to Customs that the interlinings meet the above criteria.
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,

D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 96-0000 Filed 0-00-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F