Announcement of Import Restraint Limits for Certain Cotton, Wool, Man-Made Fiber, Silk Blend and Other Vegetable Fiber Textile Products Produced or Manufactured in Bahrain

Authority: Section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1854); Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended.

The import restraint limits for textile products, produced or manufactured in Bahrain and exported during the period January 1, 1999 through December 31, 1999 are based on limits notified to the Textiles Monitoring Body pursuant to the Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC). Effective on January 1, 1999, a visa will no longer be required for products integrated in the second stage of the integration of textiles and clothing into GATT 1994 from WTO member countries (see 63 FR 53881, published on October 7, 1998). A visa will continue to be required for non-integrated products. For quota purposes only, products remaining in categories partially integrated will continue to be designated by the designator ``pt.'' In the letter published below, the Chairman of CITA directs the Commissioner of Customs to establish the limits for the 1999 period. A description of the textile and apparel categories in terms of HTS numbers is available in the CORRELATION: Textile and Apparel Categories with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (see Federal Register notice 62 FR 66057, published on December 17, 1997). Also see 62 FR 51832, published on October 3, 1997. Information regarding the 1999 CORRELATION will be published in the Federal Register at a later date. D. Michael Hutchinson, Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements November 4, 1998.

Commissioner of Customs, Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC 20229.

Dear Commissioner: Pursuant to section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1854); Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended; and the Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC), you are directed to prohibit, effective on January 1, 1999, entry into the United States for consumption and withdrawal from warehouse for consumption of cotton, wool, man-made fiber, silk blend and other vegetable fiber textile products in the following categories, produced or manufactured in Bahrain and exported during the twelve-month period beginning on January 1, 1999 and extending through December 31, 1999, in excess of the following levels of restraint:

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Category Twelve-month restraint limit ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Group I 237, 239pt. \1\, 331-336, 338, 339, 340- 47,389,134 square meters 342, 345, 347, 348, 350-352, 359pt. \2\, equivalent. 431, 433-436, 438, 440, 442-448, 459pt. \3\, 631, 633-636, 638, 639, 640-647, 648, 649, 650-652, 659pt. \4\, 831, 833- 836, 838, 840, 842-847, 850-852, 858 and 859pt. \5\, as a group. Sublevels in Group I 338/339................................... 658,482 dozen. 340/640................................... 315,928 dozen of which not more than 236,945 dozen shall be in Categories 340- Y/640-Y \6\. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ \1\ Category 239pt.: only HTS number 6209.20.5040 (diapers). \2\ Category 359pt.: all HTS numbers except 6406.99.1550. \3\ Category 459pt.: all HTS numbers except 6405.20.6030, 6405.20.6060, 6405.20.6090, 6406.99.1505 and 6406.99.1560. \4\ Category 659pt.: all HTS numbers except 6406.99.1510 and 6406.99.1540. \5\ Category 859pt.: only HTS numbers 6115.19.8040, 6117.10.6020, 6212.10.5030, 6212.10.9040, 6212.20.0030, 6212.30.0030, 6212.90.0090, 6214.10.2000 and 6214.90.0090. \6\ Category 340-Y: only HTS numbers 6205.20.2015, 6205.20.2020, 6205.20.2046, 6205.20.2050 and 6205.20.2060; Category 640-Y: only HTS numbers 6205.30.2010, 6205.30.2020, 6205.30.2050 and 6205.30.2060.

The limits set forth above are subject to adjustment pursuant to the provisions of the ATC and administrative arrangements notified to the Textiles Monitoring Body. Products in the above categories exported during 1998 shall be charged to the applicable category limits for that year (see directive dated December 19, 1997) to the extent of any unfilled balances. In the event the limits established for that period have been exhausted by previous entries, such products shall be charged to the limits set forth in this directive. Effective on January 1, 1999, a visa will no longer be required for products integrated in the second stage of the integration of textiles and clothing into GATT 1994 from WTO member countries (see directive dated September 30, 1998). A visa will continue to be required for non-integrated products. For quota purposes only, products remaining in categories partially integrated will continue to be designated by the designator ``pt.'' In carrying out the above directions, the Commissioner of Customs should construe entry into the United States for consumption to include entry for consumption into the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has determined that these actions fall within the foreign affairs exception to the rulemaking provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1). Sincerely, D. Michael Hutchinson, Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. [FR Doc. 98-30133 Filed 11-9-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F