Announcement of Import Restraint Limits for Certain Cotton and Man-Made Fiber Textile Products Produced or Manufactured in Nepal

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 Bilateral Textile Agreement, effected by exchange of notes dated May 30 and June 1, 1986, as amended and extended, and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) dated November 6, 1996 and June 20, 1997, between the Governments of the United States and Nepal establish limits for the period January 1, 1999 through December 31, 1999. These limits may be revised if Nepal becomes a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United States applies the WTO agreement to Nepal. 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; the Bilateral Textile Agreement, effected by exchange of notes dated May 30 and June 1, 1986, as amended and extended; and Memoranda of Understanding dated November 6, 1996 and June 20, 1997 between the Governments of the United States and Nepal, 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 and man-made fiber textile products in the following categories, produced or manufactured in Nepal 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 336/636................................... 248,267 dozen. 340....................................... 358,576 dozen. 341....................................... 1,151,784 dozen. 342/642................................... 312,957 dozen. 347/348................................... 807,673 dozen. 363....................................... 7,303,400 numbers. 369-S \1\................................. 954,810 kilograms. 640....................................... 180,469 dozen. 641....................................... 406,913 dozen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ \1\ Category 369-S: only HTS number 6307.10.2005.

The limits set forth above are subject to adjustment pursuant to the provisions of the current bilateral agreement between the Governments of the United States and Nepal. Products in the above categories exported during 1998 shall be charged to the applicable category limits for that year (see directive dated November 6, 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. These limits may be revised if Nepal becomes a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United States applies the WTO agreement to Nepal. 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. 98-30799 Filed 11-17-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F