COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Extension of Suspension of Group II Restriction for Certain Man-Made Fiber Textile Products Produced or Manufactured in India

November 6, 1997.

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


ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs extending suspension of the Group II restriction for certain products from India.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1998.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori 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); Uruguay Round Agreements Act.


A document published in the Federal Register on March 31, 1997 (62 FR 15159) announces suspension of the Group II restriction for rayon filament yarn in HTS number 5403.31.0040 in Category 606 from India for the period March 31, 1997 through December 31, 1997.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has decided to extend the suspension for the twelve-month period beginning on January 1, 1998 and extending through December 31, 1998. A visa is still required for this product.


Anyone wishing to comment or provide data or information regarding the treatment of imports in HTS number 5403.31.0040 from India or to comment on domestic production or availability of products included in HTS number 5403.31.0040 is invited to submit 10 copies of such comments or information to Troy H. Cribb, Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; ATTN: Helen L. LeGrande.
Comments or information submitted in response to this notice will be available for public inspection in the Office of Textiles and Apparel, room H3100, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC.

Further comments may be invited regarding particular comments or information received from the public which the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements considers appropriate for further consideration.

The solicitation of comments is not a waiver in any respect of the exemption contained in 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1) relating to matters which constitute ``a foreign affairs function of the United States.''


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 61 FR 66263, published on December 17, 1996).

Troy H. Cribb,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.


Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
November 6, 1997.


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


Dear Commissioner: Effective on January 1, 1998, manmade fiber textile products in HTS 5403.31.0040 in Category 606, in Group II, produced or manufactured in India and exported during the twelve-month period beginning on January 1, 1998 and extending through December 31, 1998, shall not be subject to the Group II quota established for the 1998 period. A visa is still required for this product.


For U.S. Customs' administrative purposes, the remaining HTS numbers in Category 606 shall be designated Category 606(1) 1

1 Category 606(1): all HTS numbers except 5403.31.0040 (Category 606(2)).

To facilitate implementation of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act and the Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC), I request that, effective on January 1, 1998, entry/entry summary procedures be required, and that you continue to count imports for consumption and withdrawals from warehouse for consumption of textile products in HTS number 5403.31.0040 in Category 606(2) 2 produced or manufactured in India and exported during the period March 31, 1997 through December 31, 1997.

2 Category 606(2): only HTS number 5403.31.0040.

Also effective on January 1, 1998, I request that entry/entry summary procedures be required, and that you count imports for consumption and withdrawals from warehouse for consumption of textile products in HTS number 5403.31.0040 in Category 606(2), produced or manufactured in India and exported during the period January 1, 1998 through December 31, 1998.

Inasmuch as these imports may later be charged against the Group II level, it is important that an accurate count be taken.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has determined that this action falls 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. 97-0000 Filed 0-00-97; 8:45 am]
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