| Title: | TBT-00-026 CBTPA VISA ELIMINAT |
|---|---|
| Date: | 2000-11-06 |
| To: | abi |
| Links: | previous, next |
TO: ALL ABI BROKERS.
FROM: SUSAN THOMAS
SUBJECT: TBT-00-026 CBTPA VISA ELIMINATED
DATE: 11/03/2000
NOVEMBER 3, 2000
CMP-11 FO:TP:IA:TT S
TO: ALL DIRECTORS, FIELD OPERATIONS
ALL PORT DIRECTORS
FROM: DIRECTOR, TRADE PROGRAMS
SUBJECT: TBT-00-026 - EXEMPTION OF VISA, QUOTA, GUARANTEED ACCESS
LEVELS (GAL), AND GAL CERTIFICATION FOR CERTAIN TEXTILE
APPAREL ARTICLES FROM DESIGNATED CARIBBEAN BASIN TRADE
PARTNERSHIP ACT (CBTPA) BENEFICIARY COUNTRIES
PASS TO: ASSISTANT PORT DIRECTORS, TRADE, NATIONAL IMPORT
SPECIALISTS, IMPORT SPECIALISTS, INSPECTORS, ENTRY
OFFICERS, BROKERS, IMPORTERS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES
BACKGROUND:
TITLE II OF THE TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2000 ("THE ACT"), WHICH
WAS SIGNED INTO LAW ON MAY 18, 2000, AUTHORIZED THE EXPANSION OF THE
BENEFITS TO DESIGNATED COUNTRIES IN THE CARIBBEAN BASIN. THIS TRADE
PROGRAM PROVIDES FOR THE ENTRY OF SPECIFIC TEXTILE AND APPAREL
ARTICLES FREE OF DUTY AND FREE OF ANY QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS,
LIMITATIONS OR CONSULTATION LEVELS, AS WELL AS OTHER BENEFITS TO
NON-TEXTILE PRODUCTS.
ON OCTOBER 2, 2000, THE PRESIDENT DESIGNATED THE FOLLOWING, AMONG
OTHER, AS BENEFICIARY COUNTRIES AND U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE
DETERMINED THAT THE COUNTRIES LISTED BELOW HAVE IMPLEMENTED AND
FOLLOW, OR ARE MAKING SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS TOWARD IMPLEMENTING, THE
REQUIREMENTS AND RELEVANT PROCEDURES OF CHAPTER 5 OF THE NORTH
AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (NAFTA):
BELIZE HAITI
COSTA RICA HONDURAS
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC JAMAICA
EL SALVADOR NICARAGUA
GUATEMALA PANAMA
THE COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS (CITA),
A DIRECTIVE DATED OCTOBER 30, 2000, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 2, 2000, EXEMPTS
CERTAIN TEXTILES AND APPAREL ARTICLES, PRODUCED OR MANUFACTURED IN
COSTA RICA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HAITI, JAMAICA,
AND PANAMA FROM CURRENT APPLICABLE QUOTA, GUARANTEED ACCESS LEVELS
(GAL), GAL CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS, AND VISA REQUIREMENTS.
THEREFORE, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 2, 2000, CERTAIN TEXTILES AND APPAREL
ARTICLES IMPORTED FROM THESE COUNTRIES THAT QUALIFY FOR DUTY AND
QUOTA FREE TREATMENT UNDER SECTION 211 OF THE ACT ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE
OTHERWISE APPLICABLE QUOTA, GALS, GAL CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS, AND
VISA REQUIREMENTS.
BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN TEXTILES AND APPAREL ARTICLES FROM THE
BENEFICIARY COUNTRIES ARE LIMITED FOR ONE-YEAR PERIODS, BEGINNING
OCTOBER 2, 2000 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2008. APPLICABLE QUOTA,
GALS, GAL CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS, AND VISA REQUIREMENTS WILL APPLY
FOR QUALIFYING IMPORTS OF TEXTILE AND APPAREL ARTICLES IN EXCESS OF
EACH OF THE ONE-YEAR QUANTITATIVE LIMITATIONS.
ACTION:
THE IMPORTATION OF GOODS UNDER THE CBTPA PROVISIONS WILL NO LONGER BE
SUBJECT TO OTHERWISE APPLICABLE QUOTA, GAL, VISA OR GAL CERTIFICATION
REQUIREMENTS. HOWEVER, THE PROGRAMMING FOR THE QUOTA MODULE HAS NOT
BEEN COMPLETED TO ACCOMMODATE THIS REQUIREMENT CHANGE AND THE TRADE
COMMUNITY MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY IN PROCESSING ENTRIES UNTIL THESE
CHANGES ARE MADE. APPROPRIATE QBTS ON SPECIFIC REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS
WILL BE ISSUED SHORTLY.
INFORMATION:
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS MATTER, PLEASE CONTACT SUSAN
THOMAS AT (202) 927-3719, GINA TAYLER AT (202) 927-4882, CHERIE
PARSONS AT (202) 927-7002 OR BOB ABELS AT (202) 927-1959.
/S/
ELIZABETH G. DURANT
CC: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FIELD OPERATIONS