[Federal Register: September 2, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 169)]
[Notices]               
[Page 52185-52186]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02se03-56]                         

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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

 
Denying Entry to Textiles and Textile Products Allegedly 
Manufactured by a Certain Company in Botswana

August 26, 2003.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner, Bureau of Customs and 
Border Protection to deny entry to shipments allegedly manufactured by 
a certain company in Botswana.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: September 2, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Heinzen, International Trade 
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, (202) 482-3400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as 
amended (7 U.S.C. 1854); Executive Order 12475 of May 9, 1984, as 
amended.
    The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection has conducted on-site 
verification of textile and apparel production in a number of foreign 
countries. Based on information obtained through on-site verifications 
and from other sources, the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection has 
informed CITA that certain companies were illegally transshipping, were 
closed, or were unable to produce records to verify production. The 
Chairman of CITA has directed the Bureau of Customs and Border 
Protection to issue regulations regarding the denial of entry of 
shipments from such companies. (See Federal Register notice 64 FR 
41395, published on July 30, 1999). In order to secure compliance with 
U.S. law, including Section 204 and Bureau of Customs and Border 
Protection law, to carry out textile and textile product agreements, 
and to avoid circumvention of textile agreements, the Chairman of CITA 
is directing the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection to deny entry 
to textile and textile products allegedly manufactured by Uni-Oriental 
(Pty) Ltd. of Botswana for two years. The Bureau of Customs and Border 
Protection has informed CITA that this company was found to have been 
illegally transhipping, closed, or unable to produce records to verify 
production.
    Should CITA determine that this decision should be amended, such 
amendment will be published in the Federal Register.

D. Michael Hutchinson,
Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

August 26, 2003.

Commissioner,
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Washington, DC 20229.
    Dear Commissioner: The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection 
has conducted on-site verification of textile and textile product 
production in a number of foreign countries. Based on information 
obtained through on-site verifications and from other sources, the 
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection has informed CITA that 
certain companies were illegally transshipping, were closed, or were 
unable to produce records to verify production. The Chairman of CITA 
has directed the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection to issue 
regulations regarding the denial of entry of shipments from such 
companies (see directive dated July 27, 1999 (64 FR 41395), 
published on July 30, 1999). In order to secure compliance with U.S. 
law, including Section 204 and Bureau of Customs and Border 
Protection law, to carry out textile and textile product agreements, 
and to avoid circumvention of textile agreements, the Chairman of 
CITA directs the Commissioner, Bureau of Customs and Border 
Protection, effective for goods exported on and after September 2, 
2003 and extending through September 1, 2005, to deny entry to 
textiles and textile products allegedly manufactured by the company 
Uni-Oriental (Pty) Ltd. of Botswana. The Bureau of Customs and 
Border Protection has informed CITA that this company was found to 
have been

[[Page 52186]]

illegally transshipping, closed, or unable to produce records to 
verify production.
    The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has 
determined that this action falls 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.03-22202 Filed 8-29-03; 8:45 am]