THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
TO IMPLEMENT TITLE V OF THE TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2000 AND TO MODIFY THE GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES - - - - - - - BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION
NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the United States of America, acting under the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, title V of the Act, and sections 501, 502, and 604 of the 1974 Act, do proclaim that:
(1) In order to provide separate tariff treatment for the articles specified in section 503(a) of the Act, the HTS is modified as provided in section A of the Annex to this proclamation.
(2) In order to make conforming changes to take into account the new permanent tariff categories established in section A of the Annex to this proclamation, the HTS is further modified as provided in section B of the Annex to this proclamation.
(3) The Secretary is authorized to exercise the authority set forth in section 501(e) of the Act to allocate the quantity of imports of worsted wool fabrics under headings 9902.51.11 and 9902.51.12. Any determination by the Secretary under this paragraph shall be set forth in a notice or notices that the Secretary shall cause to be published in the Federal Register.
(4) The Secretary is authorized to monitor the most favored nation rate of duty applicable to imports into Canada of worsted wool fabrics of the kind classified under heading 9902.51.12 of the HTS and shall notify the President of any reduction, effective on or after May 18, 2000, in the Canadian most favored nation rate of duty on such imports. The Secretary shall cause to be published in the Federal Register a notice describing any such reduction.
(5) The Secretary is authorized to exercise the authority set forth in section 504(b)(1) of the Act to consider, on an annual basis, requests from domestic manufacturers of apparel products made of worsted wool fabrics described in section 504(a) to modify the limitation on the quantity of imports of worsted wool fabrics under headings 9902.51.11 and 9902.51.12 of the HTS.
(6) The Secretary is authorized to determine, under section 504(b)(3) of the Act, whether the limitation on the quantity of imports of worsted wool fabrics under headings 9902.51.11 and 9902.51.12 of the HTS should be modified and to recommend to the President that appropriate modifications be made.
(7) The Secretary is authorized to issue regulations to implement the provisions of sections 501 and 504(b) of the Act, the implementation of which have been delegated to the Secretary pursuant to paragraphs 3, 4, 5, and 6 of this proclamation.
(8) The USTR is authorized to exercise the authority set forth in section 504(a) of the Act to monitor market conditions in the United States for the worsted wool articles specified in that section.
(9) In order to reflect a change in the name of a designated beneficiary developing country for purposes of the GSP, general note 4(a) to the HTS is modified by striking "Western Samoa" and by inserting in alphabetical sequence in lieu thereof "Samoa" in the enumeration of independent beneficiary developing countries.
(10) Samoa is designated as a least-developed beneficiary developing country for purposes of the GSP and title V of the 1974 Act. In order to reflect such designation, general note 4(b)(i) to the HTS, enumerating those countries designated as least-developed beneficiary developing countries for purposes of the GSP, is modified by inserting in alphabetical sequence "Samoa."
(11) In order to provide that India is again treated as a beneficiary developing country with respect to certain certified handloomed cotton fabrics for purposes of the GSP program, the HTS is modified as provided in section C of the Annex to this proclamation.
(12) Any provisions of previous proclamations and Executive Orders that are inconsistent with the actions taken in this proclamation are superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.
(13) This proclamation is effective on the date of signature of this proclamation, except that the designation of Samoa as a least-developed beneficiary developing country shall be effective with respect to articles entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the date that is 60 days from the date of publication of this proclamation in the Federal Register.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
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ANNEX
Section A. Effective with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the date of signature of this proclamation, the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) is modified as set forth herein, with the language inserted in the columns entitled "Heading/Subheading", "Article Description", "Rates of Duty 1-General", "Rates of Duty 1-Special" and "Rates of Duty 2", respectively:
(1) Chapter 51 of the HTS is modified--
(a) by striking subheadings 5107.10.00 and 5107.20.00 and by inserting in lieu thereof the following new provisions, with the new superior text at the same level of indentation as the article description of subheading 5106.20.00:
[5107 : Yarn...(con.):] : : : "5107.10 : Containing 85 percent or more by weight of wool: : : : 5107.10.30 : Of wool fiber with an average fiber diameter : : :
: of 18.5 microns or less......................... : 7.2% : Free (CA,IL,MX) : 55.5% : : : : 5107.10.60 : Other........................................... : 7.2% : Free (CA,IL,MX) : 55.5%
5107.20 : Containing less than 85 percent by weight of wool: : : : 5107.20.30 : Of wool fiber with an average fiber diameter : : :
: of 18.5 microns or less......................... : 7.2% : Free (CA,IL,MX) : 55.5% : : : : 5107.20.60 : Other........................................... : 7.2% : Free (CA,IL,MX) : 55.5%"
Conforming changes: Subheadings 5107.10.30 and 5107.10.60 shall each be accorded the same staged reductions in General rates of duty as were previously proclaimed for subheading 5107.10.00, and subheadings 5107.20.30 and 5107.20.60 shall each be accorded the same staged reductions in General rates of duty as were previously proclaimed for subheading 5107.20.00.
(b) by striking subheadings 5109.10.60 and 5109.90.60 and by inserting in lieu thereof the following new provisions, with each new superior text at the same level of indentation as the article description of subheading 5109.10.40:
[5109 : Yarn...(con.):] : : : [5109.10 : Containing...(con.):] : : : : [Other:] : : : : "Other: : : : 5109.10.80 : Of wool fiber with an average fiber : : : : diameter of 18.5 microns or less................. : 7.2% : Free (CA,IL,MX) : 55.5% : : : : 5109.10.90 : Other............................................ : 7.2% : Free (CA,IL,MX) : 55.5%" [5109.90 : Other:] : : : : [Other:] : : : : "Other: : : : 5109.90.80 : Of wool fiber with an average fiber : : : : diameter of 18.5 microns or less......... : 7.2% : Free (CA,IL,MX) : 55.5% : : : : 5109.90.90 : Other....................................... : 7.2% : Free (CA,IL,MX) : 55.5%"
Conforming changes: Subheadings 5109.10.80 and 5109.10.90 shall each be accorded the same staged reductions in General rates of duty as were previously proclaimed for subheading 5109.10.60, and subheadings 5109.90.80 and 5109.90.90 shall each be accorded the same staged reductions in General rates of duty as were previously proclaimed for subheading 5109.90.60.
(c) by striking subheading 5112.11.20 and by inserting in lieu thereof the following new provisions, with the new superior text at the same level of indentation as the article description of subheading 5112.11.10:
[5112 : Woven...(con.):] : : : : [Containing...(con.):] : : : [5112.11 : Of...(con.):] : : : : "Other: : : : 5112.11.30 : Of wool yarns with an average : : : : fiber diameter of 18.5 microns or : : : : less........................................ : 29.4% : Free (CA,IL,MX) : 68.5% : : : : 5112.11.60 : Other....................................... : 29.4% : Free (CA,IL,MX) : 68.5%"
Conforming changes: Subheadings 5112.11.30 and 5112.11.60 shall each be accorded the same staged reductions in General rates of duty as were previously proclaimed for subheading 5112.11.20.
(d) by striking subheading 5112.19.90 and by inserting in lieu thereof the following new provisions, with the new superior text at the same level of indentation as the article description of subheading 5112.19.20:
[5112 : Woven...(con.):] : : : : [Containing...(con.):] : : : [5112.19 : Other:] : : : : "Other: : : : 5112.19.60 : Of wool yarns with an average : : : : fiber diameter of 18.5 microns or : : : : less........................................ : 29.4% : Free (CA,IL,MX) : 68.5% : : : : 5112.19.95 : Other....................................... : 29.4% : Free (CA,IL,MX) : 68.5%"
Conforming changes: Subheadings 5112.19.60 and 5112.19.95 shall each be accorded the same staged reductions in General rates of duty as were previously proclaimed for subheading 5112.19.90.
(2) Chapter 62 of the HTS is modified--
(a) by striking subheadings 6203.11.10 and 6203.11.20 and by inserting in lieu thereof the following new provisions, with each new superior text inserted at the same level of indentation as the article description of subheading 6203.12.10:
[6203 : Men's...(con.):] : : : : [Suits (con.):] : : : [6203.11 : Of...(con.):] : : : : "Containing 30 percent or more by weight : : : : of silk or silk waste: : : : 6203.11.15 : Of worsted wool fabric, made of : : : : wool yarn having an average fiber : : : : diameter of 18.5 microns or less......... : 7.5% : Free (CA,IL,MX) : 65% : : : : 6203.11.30 : Other....................................... : 7.5% : Free (CA,IL,MX) : 65% : Other: : : : 6203.11.60 : Of worsted wool fabric, made of : : : : wool yarn having an average fiber : : : : diameter of 18.5 microns or less......... : 21.2?/kg + : Free (CA,IL,MX) : 52.9?/kg + : : 18.9% : : 58.5% 6203.11.90 : Other....................................... : 21.2?/kg + : Free (CA,IL,MX) : 52.9?/kg + : : 18.9% : : 58.5%"
Conforming changes: (i) Subheading 9906.98.02 is modified by striking "6203.11.10, 6203.11.20,," and by inserting in lieu thereof "6203.11.15, 6203.11.30, 6203.11.60, 6203.11.90,"; and (ii) subheadings 6203.11.60 and 6203.11.90 shall each be accorded the same staged reductions in General rates of duty as were previously proclaimed for subheading 6203.11.20.
(b) by striking subheading 6203.21.00 and by inserting in lieu thereof the following new provisions, with the new superior text inserted at the same level of indentation as the superior text designated as 6203.19:
[6203 : Men's...(con.):] : : : : [Ensembles:] : : : "6203.21 : Of wool or fine animal hair: : : : 6203.21.30 : Suits, suit-type jackets and trousers, the : : : : foregoing of worsted wool fabric, made : : : : of wool yarn having an average fiber : : : : diameter of 18.5 microns or less............... : The rate ap- : Free (CA,IL) : The rate ap- : : plicable to : The rate applic- : plicable to : : each garment : able to each gar- : each garment : : in the ensemble : ment in the en- : in the ensem- : : if separately : semble if separ- : ble if separ- : : entered : ately entered : ately entered : : : (MX) : 6203.21.90 : Other.......................................... : The rate ap- : Free (CA,IL) : The rate ap- : : plicable to : The rate applic- : plicable to : : each garment : able to each gar- : each garment : : in the ensemble : ment in the en- : in the ensem- : : if separately : semble if separ- : ble if separ- : : entered : ately entered : ately entered" : : : (MX) :
Conforming changes: (i) subheading 9906.98.02 is modified by striking " 6203.21.00," and by inserting in lieu thereof "6203.21.30, 6203.21.90," ; and (ii) effective with respect to goods of Mexico under the terms of general note 12 that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 2003, subheadings 6203.21.30 and 6203.21.90 are each amended by striking "The rate applicable to each garment in the ensemble if separately entered (MX)" and by inserting in the Special subcolumn in alphabetical sequence in the parenthetical expression for each such subheading ",MX".
(c) by striking subheading 6203.31.00 and by inserting in lieu thereof the following new provisions, with the new superior text inserted at the same level of indentation as the superior text designated as 6203.32:
[6203 : Men's...(con.):] : : : : [Suit-type...(con.):] : : : "6203.31 : Of wool or fine animal hair: : : : 6203.31.50 : Of worsted wool fabric, made of wool : : : : yarn having an average fiber diameter of : : : : 18.5 microns or less........................... : 19.3% : Free (CA,IL) : 59.5% : : : 6.6% (MX) : 6203.31.90 : Other.......................................... : 19.3% : Free (CA,IL) : 59.5%" : : : 6.6% (MX) :
Conforming changes: (i) subheading 9906.98.02 is modified by striking "6203.31.00," and by inserting in lieu thereof "6203.31.50, 6203.31.90,"; and (ii) subheadings 6203.31.50 and 6203.31.90 shall each be accorded the same staged reductions in General rates of duty and in the Special rates of duty accorded to goods of Mexico under the terms of general note 12 to the tariff schedule as were previously proclaimed for subheading 6203.31.00.
(d) by striking subheading 6203.41.15 and by inserting in lieu thereof the following new provisions, with the new superior text inserted at the same level of indentation as the article 6203.41.05:
[6203 : Men's...(con.): : : : : [Trousers,...(con.):] : : : [6203.41 : Of...(con.):] : : : : [Trousers,...(con.):] : : : : "Other: : : : 6203.41.12 : Trousers of worsted wool : : : : fabric, made of wool yarn : : : : having an average fiber diam- : : : : eter of 18.5 microns or less........ : 46.3?/kg + : Free (CA,IL,MX) : 52.9?/kg + : : 18.2% : : 58.5% 6203.41.18 : Other......................................... : 46.3?/kg + : Free (CA,IL,MX) : 52.9?/kg + : : 18.2% : : 58.5%"
Conforming change: Subheadings 6203.41.12 and 6203.41.18 shall each be accorded the same staged reductions in General rates of duty as were previously proclaimed for subheading 6203.41.15.
Section B. Effective with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 2001, the headings in the first column set forth below are each modified by striking from the parenthetical references in the article descriptions the provisions in the second column set forth below, and by inserting in lieu thereof in numerical sequence the provisions in the third column set forth below:
9902.51.11 "5112.11.20, or 5112.19.90" "5112.11.60 or 5112.19.95" 9902.51.12 "5112.11.20, or 5112.19.90" "5112.11.30, 5112.11.60, 5112.19.60 or 5112.19.95" 9902.51.13 "5107.10.00" "5107.10.30"
Section C. Effective with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the date of signature of this proclamation, the HTS is further modified as follows:
(1) General note 4(d) to the HTS is modified by striking the following HTS subheadings and the country listed opposite them:
"5208.31.20.............India 5208.52.10.............India 5208.32.10.............India 5209.31.30.............India 5208.41.20.............India 5209.41.30.............India 5208.42.10.............India 5310.90.00.............India" 5208.51.20.............India
(2) Each of the following HTS subheadings is modified by striking, from the parenthetical expression in the Rates of Duty 1-Special subcolumn, the symbol "A*," and by inserting in lieu thereof "A,":
5208.31.20 5208.42.10 5209.31.30 5208.32.10 5208.51.20 5209.41.30 5208.41.20 5208.52.10 5310.90.00 ###