[Federal Register: September 5, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 172)]
[Notices]               
[Page 56805-56806]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05se02-24]                         

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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

 
Determination under the African Growth and Opportunity Act

August 29, 2002.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Determination.

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[[Page 56806]]

SUMMARY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(CITA) has determined that handloomed fabric and handmade articles made 
from such handloomed fabric that are produced in Kenya qualify for 
duty-free treatment under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 5, 2002.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The African Growth and Opportunity Act 
(Title I of the Trade and Development Act of 2000, Pub. L. No. 106-
2000) (AGOA) provides duty-free treatment for imports of certain 
textile and apparel products of beneficiary sub-Saharan African 
countries, including handloomed, handmade, or folklore articles that 
are certified as such by the competent authorities of the beneficiary 
country. Section 2 of Executive Order 13191 of January 17, 2001 
authorized CITA to consult with beneficiary countries and to determine 
which particular textile and apparel goods shall be treated as being 
handloomed, handmade, or folklore articles.
    On January 18, 2001, the United States Trade Representative 
directed the U.S. Customs Service to require that importers provide an 
appropriate export visa from a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country 
to obtain preferential treatment for textiles and apparel under 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 for handmade, 
handloomed, or folklore articles.
    CITA held consultations with the Government of Kenya on May 21, 
2002. CITA has determined that handloomed fabrics and handmade articles 
made from such handloomed fabrics produced in and exported from Kenya 
are eligible for preferential tariff treatment under section 112(a) of 
the AGOA if accompanied by an AGOA export visa for Grouping 9 issued by 
the Government of Kenya. In the letter published below, CITA directs 
the Commissioner of Customs to allow entry of such products of Kenya 
under Harmonized Tariff Schedule provision 9819.11.27, when accompanied 
by an appropriate export visa. CITA may extend this treatment to 
additional products following future consultation with the Government 
of Kenya.

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

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

August 29, 2002.

Commissioner of Customs,
Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC 20229.
    Dear Commissioner: The Committee for the Implementation of 
Textiles Agreements (CITA), pursuant to Sections 112(a) of the 
African Growth and Opportunity Act (Title I of Pub. L. No. 106-200) 
(AGOA) and Executive Order 13101 of January 17, 2001, has determined 
that, effective on September 5, 2002, handloomed fabric produced in 
Kenya and handmade articles produced in Kenya from such handloomed 
fabric shall be treated as being handloomed, handmade, or folklore 
articles under the AGOA, and that an export visa issued by the 
Government of Kenya for Grouping 9 is a certification by the 
Government of Kenya that the article is handloomed, handmade, or 
folklore. CITA directs you to permit duty-free entry of such 
articles accompanied by the appropriate visa and entered under 
heading 9819.11.27 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
States.
    Sincerely,
D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.
[FR Doc. 02-22582 Filed 9-4-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S