COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Announcement of Import Limits for Certain Cotton, Wool, Man-Made Fiber, Silk Blend and Other Vegetable Fiber Textiles and Textile Products Produced or Manufactured in Taiwan

December 22, 1997.

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


ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs establishing limits.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1998.


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 or call (202) 927-5850. 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.


In exchange of letters dated December 10, 1997, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) agreed to extend the current textile agreement for three consecutive one-year periods, beginning on January 1, 1998 and extending through December 31, 2000.

In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the Commissioner of Customs to establish limits for the 1998 period.

These limits may be revised if Taiwan becomes a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the WTO agreement is applied to Taiwan.

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 62 FR 66057, published on December 17, 1997).

J. Hayden Boyd,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.



Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
December 22, 1997.


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 textile agreement, effected by exchange of letters dated January 10, 1997 and May 2, 1997, as extended, between the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO), effective on January 1, 1998, 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 Taiwan and exported during the twelve-month period which begins on January 1, 1998 and extends through December 31, 1998, in excess of the following restraint limits:


CategoryTwelve-month limit
Group I
200-224, 225/317/326, 226, 227, 229, 300/301/607, 313-315, 360-363, 369-L/670-L/8701, 369-S2, 369-O3, 400-414, 464-469, 600-606, 611, 613/614/615/617, 618, 619/620, 621-624, 625/626/627/628/629, 665, 666, 669-P4, 669-T5, 669-O6, 670-H7 and 670-O8, as a group573,050,168 square meters equivalent.
Sublevels in Group I
21821,132,407 square meters.
225/317/32637,509,965 square meters.
2266,806,861 square meters.
300/301/6071,689,740 kilograms of which not more than 1,408,116 kilograms shall be in Category 300; not more than 1,408,116 kilograms shall be in Category 301; and not more than 1,408,116 kilograms shall be in Category 607.
36312,085,702 numbers.
369-L/670-L/87048,038,034 kilograms.
6113,046,008 square meters.
613/614/615/61718,891,037 square meters.
619/62013,885,205 square meters.
625/626/627/628/62918,067,931 square meters.
669-P328,468 kilograms.
669-T1,067,593 kilograms.
670-H18,395,052 kilograms.
Group I subgroup
200, 219, 313, 314, 315, 361, 369-S and 604, as a group141,614,645 square meters equivalent.
Within Group I subgroup
200682,828 kilograms.
21915,540,492 square meters.
31365,991,614 square meters.
31427,681,737 square meters.
31521,211,264 square meters.
3611,371,652 numbers.
369-S482,759 kilograms.
604225,488 kilograms.
Group II
237, 239, 330-332, 333/334/335, 336, 338/339, 340-345, 347/348, 349, 350/650, 351, 352/652, 353, 354, 359-C/659-C9, 359-H/659-H10, 359-O11, 431-444, 445/446, 447/448, 459, 630-632, 633/634/635, 636, 638/639, 640, 641-644, 645/646, 647/648, 649, 651, 653, 654, 659-S12, 659-O13, 831-844 and 846-859, as a group755,000,000 square meters equivalent.
Sublevels in Group II
237667,132 dozen.
2395,632,462 kilograms.
331507,215 dozen pairs.
336113,660 dozen.
338/339783,223 dozen.
3401,118,911 dozen.
345118,762 dozen.
347/3481,064,931 dozen of which not more than 1,064,931 dozen shall be in Categories 347-W/348-W14.
352/6523,015,525 dozen.
359-C/659-C1,447,633 kilograms.
359-H/659-H4,795,423 kilograms.
43315,089 dozen.
43410,478 dozen.
43524,879 dozen.
4364,953 dozen.
43827,960 dozen.
4405,416 dozen.
44243,695 dozen.
44342,246 numbers.
44460,167 numbers.
445/446135,421 dozen.
6314,867,811 dozen pairs.
633/634/6351,634,440 dozen of which not more than 959,317 dozen shall be in Categories 633/634 and not more than 850,077 dozen shall be in Category 635.
638/6396,565,058 dozen.
6401,058,909 dozen of which not more than 281,710 dozen shall be in Category 640-Y15.
642777,133 dozen.
643502,751 numbers.
644723,737 numbers.
645/6464,107,691 dozen.
647/6485,248,544 dozen of which not more than 5,248,544 dozen shall be in Categories 647-W/648-W16.
659-S1,601,702 kilograms.
83519,020 dozen.
Group II Subgroup
333/334/335, 341, 342, 350/650, 351, 447/448, 636, 641 and 651, as a group76,035,766 square meters equivalent.
Within Group II Subgroup
333/334/335292,416 dozen of which not more than 158,392 dozen shall be in Category 335.
341338,229 dozen.
342211,293 dozen.
350/650135,358 dozen.
351351,522 dozen.
447/44820,618 dozen.
636379,718 dozen.
641730,350 dozen of which not more than 255,622 dozen shall be in Category 641-Y17.
651440,833 dozen.
Group III
Sublevel in Group III
845851,213 dozen.
1Category 870; Category 369-L: only HTS numbers 4202.12.4000, 4202.12.8020, 4202.12.8060, 4202.92.1500, 4202.92.3015 and 4202.92.6090; Category 670-L: only HTS numbers 4202.12.8030, 4202.12.8070, 4202.92.3020, 4202.92.3030 and 4202.92.9025.
2Category 369-S: only HTS number 6307.10.2005.
3Category 369-O: all HTS numbers except 4202.12.4000, 4202.12.8020, 4202.12.8060, 4202.92.1500, 4202.92.3015, 4202.92.6090 (Category 369-L); and 6307.10.2005 (Category 369-S).
4Category 669-P: only HTS numbers 6305.32.0010, 6305.32.0020, 6305.33.0010, 6305.33.0020 and 6305.39.0000.
5Category 669-T: only HTS numbers 6306.12.0000, 6306.19.0010 and 6306.22.9030.
6Category 669-O: all HTS numbers except 6305.32.0010,6305.32.0020, 6305.33.0010, 6305.33.0020, 6305.39.0000 (Category 669-P); 6306.12.0000, 6306.19.0010 and 6306.22.9030 (Category 669-T).
7Category 670-H: only HTS numbers 4202.22.4030 and 4202.22.8050.
8Category 670-O: all HTS numbers except 4202.22.4030 4202.22.8050 (Category 670-H); 4202.12.8030, 4202.12.8070, 4202.92.3020, 4202.92.3030 and 4202.92.9025 (Category 670-L).
9Category 359-C: 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; Category 659-C: 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.
10Category 359-H: only HTS numbers 6505.90.1540 and 6505.90.2060; Category 659-H: only HTS numbers 6502.00.9030, 6504.00.9015, 6504.00.9060, 6505.90.5090, 6505.90.6090, 6505.90.7090 and 6505.90.8090.
11Category 359-O: all HTS numbers except 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 (Category 359-C); 6505.90.1540 and 6505.90.2060 (Category 359-H).
12Category 659-S: 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.
13Category 659-O: all HTS numbers except 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 (Category 659-C); 6502.00.9030, 6504.00.9015, 6504.00.9060, 6505.90.5090, 6505.90.6090, 6505.90.7090, 6505.90.8090 (Category 659-H); 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 (Category 659-S).
14Category 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.
15Category 640-Y: only HTS numbers 6205.30.2010, 6205.30.2020, 6205.30.2050 and 6205.30.2060.
16Category 647-W: only HTS numbers 6203.23.0060, 6203.23.0070, 6203.29.2030, 6203.29.2035, 6203.43.2500, 6203.43.3500, 6203.43.4010, 6203.43.4020, 6203.43.4030, 6203.43.4040, 6203.49.1500, 6203.49.2015, 6203.49.2030, 6203.49.2045, 6203.49.2060, 6203.49.8030, 6210.40.5030, 6211.20.1525, 6211.20.3820 and 6211.33.0030; 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.
17Category 641-Y: only HTS numbers 6204.23.0050, 6204.29.2030, 6206.40.3010 and 6206.40.3025.

The limits set forth above are subject to adjustment pursuant to the current bilateral agreement concerning imports of textile and apparel products from Taiwan.

Products in the above categories exported during 1997 shall be charged to the applicable category limits for that year (see directive dated November 4, 1996) 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.

These limits may be revised if Taiwan becomes a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the WTO agreement is applied to Taiwan.

The conversion factors are as follows:


CategoryConversion factors (square meters equivalent/category unit)
300/301/6078.5
333/334/33533.75
352/65211.3
359-C/659-C10.1
359-H/659-H11.5
369-L/670-L/8703.8
633/634/63534.1
638/63912.5


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 to the rulemaking provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1).

Sincerely,

J. Hayden Boyd,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 97-0000 Filed 0-00-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F