CSMS Message: 01-001050

TO: DIRECTORS, FIELD OPERATIONS
FROM: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TRADE PROGRAMS
OFFICE OF FIELD OPERATIONS

PASS TO: PORT DIRECTORS, ASSISTANT PORT DIRECTORS, IMPORT
SPECIALISTS, INSPECTORS, ENTRY SPECIALISTS, BROKERS
AND IMPORTERS

SUBJECT: TBT-01-049 AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT
(AGOA) UPDATE

REF: TBT-01-008, TBT-01-009, TBT-01-010, TBT-01-017,
TBT-01-018, TBT-01-028, TBT-01-034, TBT-01-035,
TBT-01-039, TBT-01-043

BACKGROUND:

THE TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2000 ("THE ACT"), WHICH WAS SIGNED
INTO LAW ON MAY 18, 2000, AUTHORIZED A NEW TRADE AND INVESTMENT
POLICY FOR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. THE PRESIDENT IS AUTHORIZED TO
DESIGNATE A SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRY AS AN ELIGIBLE BENEFICIARY
COUNTRY BASED ON SEVERAL CRITERIA ESTABLISHED IN THE ACT. THE
CRITERIA INCLUDES THAT THE SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRY HAS ADOPTED
AN EFFECTIVE VISA SYSTEM AND HAS IMPLEMENTED AND FOLLOWS, OR IS
MAKING SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS TOWARD IMPLEMENTING AND FOLLOWING,
CERTAIN CUSTOMS PROCEDURES THAT ASSIST THE U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE
IN VERIFYING THE ORIGIN OF THE PRODUCTS.

THIS NOTICE SERVES TO PROVIDE A LIST OF ALL BENEFICIARY
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES THAT HAVE AN EFFECTIVE VISA SYSTEM
AND THE QUANTITY REPORTING METHOD THAT IS REQUIRED.

INFORMATION:

THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES HAVE AN EFFECTIVE VISA SYSTEM AND CLAIMS
FOR QUALIFYING MERCHANDISE ARE ACCEPTED UNDER THE AGOA:

BOTSWANA*** ETHIOPIA
KENYA LESOTHO
MADAGASCAR MALAWI
MAURITIUS*** SOUTH AFRICA***
SWAZILAND

*** THESE COUNTRIES ARE NOT LESSER-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES AND
CANNOT UTILIZE GROUPING 5.

FOR GROUPINGS 1 TO 8, THE QUANTITY SHOWN ON THE AGOA VISA FOR
ALL WEARING APPAREL WILL BE REPORTED IN DOZENS, EXCEPT FOR:

1. MEN'S, BOY'S, WOMEN'S OR GIRL'S SUITS,
WHICH WILL BE REPORTED IN NUMBER

2. PANTY HOSE, TIGHTS, STOCKINGS, SOCKS, OTHER
HOSIERY, GLOVES, MITTENS AND MITTS WILL BE
REPORTED IN DOZEN PAIRS

IF THERE ARE ITEMS IN THE SAME GROUPING THAT ARE MIXED SUCH AS
SUITS (WHICH REQUIRE NUMBER) AND PANTS (WHICH REQUIRE DOZEN) OR
SHIRTS AND PANTS (WHICH BOTH REQUIRE DOZEN), THEN A SEPARATE
QUANTITY WILL BE SHOWN FOR EACH OF THE ITEMS. FOR EXAMPLE, A
VISA FOR GROUPING 1 COULD INDICATE 105 SUITS WITH
10 DOZEN SHIRTS OR 10 DOZEN SHIRTS AND 12 DOZEN PANTS.

FOR GROUPING 9, THE QUANTITY SHOWN ON THE VISA WILL BE THE
NORMAL REPORTING QUANTITY FOR THE TYPE OF IMPORTED MERCHANDISE.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF RUGS OR HAND LOOMED FABRIC WERE IMPORTED, THE
REPORTED QUANTITY WILL BE IN SQUARE METERS; IF BEDSPREADS,
TOWELS OR OTHER HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS ARE IMPORTED, THE REPORTED
QUANTITY WILL BE IN KILOS; AND IF IT IS WEARING APPAREL, IT WILL
BE REPORTED AS IN GROUPINGS 1 TO 8.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE AGOA VISA ARRANGEMENTS,
PLEASE CALL SUSAN THOMAS, AT (202) 927-3719 OR ROBERT ABELS, AT
(202) 927-1959.

/SIGNED JANET L. LABUDA/
FOR ELIZABETH G. DURANT

CC: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FIELD OPERATIONS