| Title: | SWAZILAND-HANDLOOMED AGOA ELIG |
|---|---|
| Date: | 2003-04-05 |
| To: | abi |
| Links: | previous, next |
TO : ALL ABI BROKERS.
FROM : SUSAN S ZZ-THOMAS
SUBJECT : SWAZILAND-HANDLOOMED AGOA ELIG
DATE : 04/04/2003
APRIL 3, 2003
CMP-11 FO:TCF:TEO:TO SST
TO: INTERIM DIRECTORS, FIELD OPERATIONS
FROM: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TRADE COMPLIANCE AND FACILITATION
OFFICE OF FIELD OPERATIONS
SUBJECT: TBT-03-009 HANDLOOMED FABRIC AND HANDMADE ARTICLES
FROM SUCH HANDLOOMED FABRIC PRODUCED IN SWAZILAND
ELIGIBLE FOR PREFERENTIAL TARIFF TREATMENT UNDER
THE AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT (AGOA)
REF: TBT-01-008 AGOA IMPLEMENTATION INSTRUCTIONS
TBT-01-035 SWAZILAND VISA ARRANGEMENT
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 ACT PROVIDES FOR 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
COMPETENT AUTHORITIES OF THE BENEFICIARY COUNTRY. EXECUTIVE
ORDER 13191 DATED JANUARY 17, 2001 AUTHORIZED THE COMMITTEE FOR
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS (CITA) TO CONSULT WITH
BENEFICIARY COUNTRIES AND TO DETERMINE WHICH PARTICULAR TEXTILE
AND APPAREL GOODS SHALL BE TREATED AS HANDLOOMED, HANDMADE, OR
FOLKLORE ARTICLES.
PER A JANUARY 25, 2001 FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE (66 FR 7837), THE
PRESIDENT DELEGATED THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE
REPRESENTATIVE (USTR) THE AUTHORITY TO DIRECT CUSTOMS TO ENSURE
THAT TEXTILE AND APPAREL ARTICLES DESCRIBED IN SECTION 112 OF
THE ACT ARE ENTERED, OR WITHDRAWN FROM WAREHOUSE, FOR
CONSUMPTION ACCOMPANIED BY AN APPROPRIATE EXPORT VISA WHEN
PREFERENTIAL TARIFF TREATMENT IS CLAIMED WITH RESPECT TO SUCH
ARTICLES. GROUPING 9 OF THIS VISA ARRANGEMENT IS FOR HANDMADE,
HANDLOOMED, OR FOLKLORE ARTICLES. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE QUANTITY
SHOWN ON THE VISA FOR GROUPING 9 WILL BE THE NORMAL REPORTING
QUANTITY FOR THE TYPE OF IMPORTED MERCHANDISE. FOR EXAMPLE, IF
RUGS OR HANDLOOMED FABRIC ARE 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.
ON MARCH 5, 2003, CITA HELD CONSULTATIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF
SWAZILAND. IN A MARCH 31, 2003 FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE (68 FR
15438), CITA HAS DETERMINED THAT HANDLOOMED FABRICS AND HANDMADE
ARTICLES MADE FROM SUCH HANDLOOMED FABRICS PRODUCED IN AND
1EXPORTED FROM SWAZILAND 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
SWAZILAND. AN AGOA CLAIM MAY BE FILED FOR SUCH ARTICLES UNDER
HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE (HTS) PROVISION 9819.11.27 WHEN
ACCOMPANIED BY AN APPROPRIATE EXPORT VISA.
PLEASE NOTE THAT NO FOLKLORE ITEMS HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED AT THIS
TIME. CITA MAY EXTEND THIS PREFERENTIAL TARIFF TREATMENT TO
ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS FOLLOWING FUTURE CONSULTATIONS WITH THE
GOVERNMENT OF SWAZILAND.
ACTION:
EFFECTIVE APRIL 14, 2003, HANDLOOMED FABRICS AND HANDMADE
ARTICLES MADE FROM SUCH HANDLOOMED FABRICS PRODUCED IN AND
EXPORTED FROM SWAZILAND 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
SWAZILAND. SUCH PRODUCTS ARE CLASSIFIABLE UNDER HTS PROVISION
9819.11.27 WHEN ACCOMPANIED BY AN APPROPRIATE EXPORT VISA.
PLEASE PASS THIS MEMORANDUM TO PORT DIRECTORS, ASSISTANT PORT
DIRECTORS, IMPORT SPECIALISTS, INSPECTORS, ENTRY SPECIALISTS,
BROKERS, IMPORTERS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES.
INFORMATION:
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT MS. SUSAN THOMAS, AT
(202) 927-3719 OR MR. ROBERT ABELS, AT (202) 927-1959.
(SIGNED JANET L. LABUDA)
FOR ELIZABETH G. DURANT