Announcement of Import Restraint Limits for Certain Cotton, Wool and Man-Made Fiber Textile Products Produced or Manufactured in the Federative Republic of Brazil

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 Brazil 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 1999 limits. 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). 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 12, 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 and man- made fiber textile products in the following categories, produced or manufactured in Brazil 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Aggregate Limit 200-227, 237, 239pt. \1\, 300-326, 331- 544,207,428 square meters 348, 350-352, 359pt. \2\, 360-363, 369-D equivalent. \3\, 369pt. \4\, 400-431, 433-438, 440- 448, 459pt. \5\, 464, 469pt. \6\, 600- 629, 631, 633-652, 659pt. \7\, 666, 669-P \8\, 669pt. \9\ and 670, as a group. Sublevels within the aggregate 218....................................... 6,762,406 square meters. 219....................................... 24,688,791 square meters. 225....................................... 11,834,212 square meters. 300/301................................... 9,171,379 kilograms. 313....................................... 56,792,206 square meters. 314....................................... 9,298,311 square meters. 315....................................... 27,894,932 square meters. 317/326................................... 25,359,027 square meters. 334/335................................... 181,974 dozen. 336....................................... 101,098 dozen. 338/339/638/639........................... 1,819,750 dozen. 342/642................................... 535,814 dozen. 347/348................................... 1,314,263 dozen. 350....................................... 203,896 dozen. 361....................................... 1,374,921 numbers. 363....................................... 29,344,134 numbers. 369-D..................................... 655,395 kilograms. 410/624................................... 13,524,815 square meters of which not more than 2,735,601 square meters shall be in Category 410. 433....................................... 18,990 dozen. 445/446................................... 74,391 dozen. 604....................................... 641,996 kilograms of which not more than 490,670 kilograms shall be in Category 604-A \10\. 607....................................... 5,961,398 kilograms. 647/648................................... 606,584 dozen. 669-P..................................... 2,184,653 kilograms. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ \1\ Category 239pt.: only HTS number 6209.20.5040 (diapers). \2\ Category 359pt.: all HTS numbers except 6406.99.1550. \3\ Category 369-D: only HTS numbers 6302.60.0010, 6302.91.0005 and 6302.91.0045. \4\ Category 369pt.: all HTS numbers except 6302.60.0010, 6302.91.0005, 6302.91.0045 (Category 369-D); 5601.10.1000, 5601.21.0090, 5701.90.1020, 5701.90.2020, 5702.10.9020, 5702.39.2010, 5702.49.1020, 5702.49.1080, 5702.59.1000, 5702.99.1010, 5702.99.1090, 5705.00.2020 and 6406.10.7700. \5\ Category 459pt.: all HTS numbers except 6405.20.6030, 6405.20.6060, 6405.20.6090, 6406.99.1505 and 6406.99.1560. \6\ Category 469pt.: all HTS numbers except 5601.29.0020, 5603.94.1010 and 6406.10.9020. \7\ Category 659pt.: all HTS numbers except 6406.99.1510 and 6406.99.1540. \8\ Category 669-P: only HTS numbers 6305.32.0010, 6305.32.0020, 6305.33.0010, 6305.33.0020 and 6305.39.0000. \9\ Category 669pt.: all HTS numbers except 6305.32.0010, 6305.32.0020, 6305.33.0010, 6305.33.0020, 6305.39.0000 (Category 669-P); 5601.10.2000, 5601.22.0090, 5607.49.3000, 5607.50.4000 and 6406.10.9040. \10\ Category 604-A: only HTS number 5509.32.0000.

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. The conversion factor for merged Categories 338/339/638/639 is 10 (square meters equivalent/category unit). 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 of 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. 98-30797 Filed 11-17-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F