[Federal Register: November 22, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 224)]
[Notices]
[Page 70586-70587]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22no05-39]
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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS
Determination Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act
November 16, 2005.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA)
ACTION: Directive to the Commissioner, Bureau of Customs and Border
Protection.
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SUMMARY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
(CITA) has determined that certain textile and apparel goods from
Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone with an appropriate visa will
qualify for duty-free treatment.
EFFECTIVE DATE: November 28, 2005
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Flaaten, International Trade
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of
Commerce, (202) 482-3400.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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. 106-200) (``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. Sec. 3721(a) and (b)(6));
Sections 2 and 5 of Executive Order No. 13191 of January 17, 2001;
Sections 25-27 and Paras. 13-14 of Presidential Proclamation 7912 of
June 29, 2005.
AGOA provides preferential tariff treatment for imports of certain
textile and apparel products of beneficiary sub-Saharan African
countries, including hand-loomed, 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 sub-Saharan African
countries that may be eligible for the preferential treatment described
in section 112(a) of the AGOA. In Executive Order 13191 (January 17,
2001) and Presidential Proclamation 7912 (June 29, 2005), the President
authorized CITA to consult with beneficiary sub-Saharan African
countries and to determine which, if any, particular textile and
apparel goods shall be treated as being hand-loomed, handmade, folklore
articles, or ethnic printed fabrics. (66 FR 7271-72 and 70 FR 37951,
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, hand-loomed, folklore articles, or ethnic
printed fabrics.
CITA has consulted with Sierra Leonean authorities and has
determined that hand-loomed fabrics, hand-loomed articles (e.g., hand-
loomed rugs, scarves, place mats, and tablecloths), handmade articles
made from hand-loomed fabrics, and the folklore articles described in
Annex A to this notice, if produced in and exported from Sierra Leone,
are eligible for preferential tariff treatment under section 112(a) of
the AGOA, as amended. After further consultations with Sierra Leonean
authorities, CITA may determine that additional textile and apparel
goods shall be treated as folklore articles or ethnic printed fabrics.
In the letter published below, CITA directs the Commissioner of Customs
and Border Protection to allow duty-free entry of such products under
U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheading 9819.11.27 if accompanied by
an appropriate AGOA visa in grouping ``9''.
James C. Leonard III,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
November 16, 2005.
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. 106-200) (``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. 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 November 28, 2005, that the following articles shall be
treated as ``handloomed, handmade, folklore articles, and ethnic
printed fabrics'' under the AGOA: (a) handloomed fabrics, handloomed
articles (e.g., handloomed rugs, scarves, placemats, and
tablecloths), and hand-made articles made from handloomed fabrics,
if made in Sierra Leone from fabric handloomed in Sierra Leone; and
(b) the folklore articles described in Annex A if made in Sierra
Leone. Such articles are eligible for duty-free 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 Sierra
Leone 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 Sierra Leonean authorities, CITA may determine
that additional textile and apparel goods shall be treated as
folklore articles or ethnic printed fabrics.
James C. Leonard III,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
Attachment
ANNEX A: Sierra Leonean Folklore Products
CITA has determined that the following textile and apparel goods
shall be treated as folklore articles for purposes of the AGOA if
made in Sierra Leone. Articles must be ornamented in characteristic
Sierra Leonean or regional folk style. An article may not include
modern features such as zippers, elastic, elasticized fabrics,
snaps, or hook-and-pile fasteners (such as velcro(copyright) or
similar holding fabric). An article may not incorporate patterns
that are not traditional or historical to Sierra Leone, such as
airplanes, buses, cowboys, or cartoon
[[Page 70587]]
characters and may not incorporate designs referencing holidays or
festivals not common to traditional Sierra Leonean culture, such as
Halloween and Thanksgiving.
Eligible folklore articles:
(a) Country Cloth: Strips of handloomed fabric, hand or machine
sewn together to make a larger piece of fabric, dyed with natural
dyes, striped. Dimensions depend on use (blankets are usually 3
meters x 2.4 meters, or may vary to smaller sizes, and body wraps
standard dimensions are 1.8 meters x 1 meter).
(b) Country Cloth Smocks: Made of country cloth described in
(a), traditional sleeveless garments, may come with matching hat,
round neckline with a slit down the center front. Garments typically
have a center chest pocket immediately below the neckline, and side
patch pockets may be present. If embroidered, it is usually around
the neckline and pockets. May come with or without matching brimless
cap with a flat top and cylindrical side or headwrap/scarf.
(c) Kabaslot: Primarily worn by ``Creoles'', this cotton ladies'
dress is a loose-fitting garment with matching scarf of colorful
cotton printed fabric. The body is pleated from the imperial
waistline down. Necklines may be square or be in an asymmetrical
zigzag decorative pattern. Sleeves are three-quarter length, with
ruffles around the cuff. The bottom of garment has a decorative
ruffle sewn just above the bottom hem. Garment has side pockets.
Garment may be heavily decorated with embroidery around the
neckline, pockets and back shoulder.
(d) Ronko Smocks: This loose fitting garment, is made of
handloomed cotton strips of fabric, and dyed with natural dyes,
usually a deep brown from the kola nut. May be a solid dark color,
or dark brown with geometric black patterns. The three-quarter
length upper garment is sleeveless or has half to three-quarter
length sleeves that are open at the bottom. The smock has a center
chest pocket immediately below the neckline, and may or may not have
side-seam pockets. Garment comes with matching brimless cap with a
flat top and cylindrical side.
[FR Doc. 05-23105 Filed 11-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S