[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54268-54269]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-2092]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Determination Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act

September 1, 2004.
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 
Tanzania shall be treated as ``handloomed, handmade, or folklore 
articles'' and qualify for preferential treatment under the African 
Growth and Opportunity Act. Imports of eligible products from Tanzania 
with an appropriate visa will qualify for duty-free treatment.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 13, 2004.

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: The African Growth and Opportunity Act (Title I of 
the Trade and Development Act of 2000, Pub. L. No. 106-200) (AGOA) 
provides preferential tariff treatment for imports of certain 
textile and apparel products of beneficiary sub-Saharan African 
countries, including handloomed, handmade, or folklore articles of a 
beneficiary country that are certified as such by the competent 
authority in the beneficiary country. In Executive Order 13191, 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 handloomed, handmade, or 
folklore articles. (66 FR 7272).

[[Page 54269]]

    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, handloomed, or folklore articles.
    CITA has consulted with Tanzanian authorities, and has determined 
that handloomed fabrics, handloomed articles (e.g., handloomed rugs, 
scarves, place mats, and tablecloths), handmade articles made from 
handloomed fabrics, and the folklore articles described in the annex to 
this notice, if produced in and exported from Tanzania, are eligible 
for preferential tariff treatment under section 112(a) of the AGOA. 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

September 1, 2004.

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) of the 
African Growth and Opportunity Act (Title I of Pub. L. No. 106-200) 
(AGOA) and Executive Order 13191 of January 17, 2001, has 
determined, effective on September 13, 2004, that the following 
articles shall be treated as ``handloomed, handmade, and folklore 
articles'' 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 Tanzania from fabric handloomed in Tanzania; and (b) the 
folklore articles described in the attachment to this letter if made 
in Tanzania. 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 
Tanzania 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 
additional consultations with Tanzanian authorities, CITA may 
determine that other textile and apparel goods shall be treated as 
handloomed, handmade, or folklore articles.
    Sincerely,
James C. Leonard III,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

ANNEX - Folklore Articles

CITA has determined that the following textile and apparel goods 
shall be treated as folklore articles for purposes of the AGOA if 
made in Tanzania and certified by a competent authority. Articles 
must be ornamented in characteristic Tanzanian or regional folk 
style, i.e., Kikoi items, as described below. An article may not 
include modern features such as zippers, elastic, elasticized 
fabrics, or hook-and-pile fasteners (such as Velcro [reg] or similar 
holding fabric). An article may not incorporate patterns that are 
not traditional or historical to Tanzania, such as airplanes, buses, 
cowboys, or cartoon characters and may not incorporate designs 
referencing holidays or festivals not common to traditional 
Tanzanian culture, such as Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Kikoi (also spelled kikoy)

Kikoi is a traditional Tanzanian multipurpose fabric of the East 
African coast, varying in size depending on use. Kikoi is a 100 
percent cotton fabric, either handloomed or machine-made. Kikoi has 
distinct striped or plaid patterns and usually has knotted or un-
knotted tassels along each hem. If striped, the stripes are vertical 
along the selvedge edges in bright colors, such as red, yellow, 
orange, green, or blue for garments. Folklore articles made of Kikoi 
fabric eligible for treatment as folklore articles are currently 
limited to the Mgolole, the Traditional Kikoi Shirt, and the 
Traditional Kikoi Boubou, as described below. Handloomed Kikoi 
fabric and handmade articles of such fabric may be eligible for 
preferential AGOA treatment as handloomed or handmade articles, but 
not as folklore articles.

Eligible folklore articles:

(a) Mgolole (Body Wrap, Scarf)
Made of Kikoi fabric, these traditional garments are worn as a wrap 
around garment by both men and women all over the East African 
coast, similar to the sarong of South East Asia. This traditional 
garment is draped over one shoulder and held in place with a knot. 
The Kikoi Mgolole can also be thrown over one shoulder for 
decoration or treated as a normal scarf. Dimensions for the Mgolole 
are approximately 45 x 80 inches long for wraps and 12 x 80 inches 
for scarves. The unfinished top and lower hems are knotted or un-
knotted tassels along each hem.

(b) Traditional Kikoi Shirt
Made of Kikoi fabric, the article is a loose-fitting, straight-
seamed shirt. Sleeves are half to three-quarter in length. The 
neckline is rounded or v- shaped, without collar. The shirt may or 
may not have square-shaped breast and lower front pockets. It may 
have wooden button fastenings below the neckline. Kikoi striped- 
trim typically decorates the neckline, pockets and each arm opening. 
The bottom hem and/or pockets may be finished or left unfinished 
with fringe or knotted tassels hanging.

(c) Traditional Kikoi Boubou (long tunic)
A loose flowing, straight-seamed, non-tailored, full-length outer 
tunic, made of Kikoi fabric. The neckline is rounded or v-shaped, 
without collar. Kikoi striped- trim decorates the neckline and each 
arm opening, which extend down the full length of the garment. There 
are no discernable sleeves. The garment is rectangular in shape. The 
bottom hem can be finished or left unfinished with fringe knotted 
tassels hanging.
[FR Doc. E4-2092 Filed 9-7-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-S