[Federal Register: August 7, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 153)]
[Notices]               
[Page 46057-46058]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07au08-102]                         

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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

 
Notice of Effective Dates

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice of effective dates for CAFTA-DR amendment and rule of 
origin for woven apparel.

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SUMMARY: In Proclamation 8213 of December 20, 2007, as modified by 
Proclamation 8272 of June 30, 2008, the President modified the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (the ``HTS'') to 
implement (1) an amendment to the Dominican Republic-Central America-
United States Free Trade Agreement (``CAFTA-DR'') and (2) a rule of 
origin under the CAFTA-DR with respect to certain woven apparel. The 
proclamations provide for each set of modifications to enter into 
effect on a date that the United States Trade Representative (the 
``USTR'') announces in the Federal Register and to apply to goods that 
are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 
that date. This Notice announces that the effective date for both sets 
of modifications is August 15, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, please 
contact Rachel Alarid, Special Trade Assistant, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508, fax number, (202) 395-5639.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Amendment to CAFTA-DR

    The CAFTA-DR parties signed an amendment of the CAFTA-DR on July 
27, August 6, and August 14, 2007 (the ``Amendment''). The terms of the 
Amendment are contained in letters of understanding between the United 
States and the CAFTA-DR signatories described in sections 1634(a)(2) 
and 1634(b)(2) of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (Pub. L. 109-280). 
In

[[Page 46058]]

Proclamation 8213, as modified by Proclamation 8272, the President 
modified the HTS to implement the Amendment with respect to the CAFTA-
DR parties. These modifications are set forth in sections A, B, and C 
of the Annex to Proclamation 8213, as modified by paragraph 2 of Annex 
VI to Proclamation 8272.
    Proclamations 8213 and 8272 provide for these modifications to 
enter into effect on the date, as announced by the USTR in the Federal 
Register, that the Amendment enters into force, and to be effective 
with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for 
consumption, on or after that date. I anticipate that the Amendment 
will enter into force on August 15, 2008. Accordingly, I announce that 
these modifications to the HTS shall enter into effect on August 15, 
2008.

2. Rule of Origin for Woven Apparel

    Section 203(o) of the CAFTA-DR Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 
4033(o)) authorizes the President to proclaim, as part of the HTS, the 
provisions set out in Annex 4.1 of the CAFTA-DR. Among these provisions 
is a rule of origin set out in Appendix 4.1-B of the CAFTA-DR that 
provides, subject to certain conditions, for Mexican and Canadian 
inputs to be treated as though they originated in a CAFTA-DR country 
for purposes of determining whether certain woven apparel imported into 
the United States qualifies for duty-free treatment under the 
agreement. In Proclamation 8213, as modified by Proclamation 8272, the 
President modified the HTS to implement this rule of origin. These 
modifications are set forth in section D of the Annex to Proclamation 
8213, as modified by paragraph 1 of Annex VI to Proclamation 8272.
    Proclamations 8213 and 8272 provide for these modifications to the 
HTS to enter into effect on the date, as announced by the USTR in the 
Federal Register, that the Amendment enters into force and the 
conditions set forth in paragraph (a), paragraph (b), or both, of 
footnote 1 to Appendix 4.1-B of the CAFTA-DR have been fulfilled, and 
to be effective with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse for consumption, on or after that date. I anticipate that the 
Amendment will enter into force on August 15, 2008. In addition, all of 
the conditions set forth in paragraph (a) of footnote 1 to Appendix 
4.1-B of the CAFTA-DR have been fulfilled and therefore the rule of 
origin may enter into force with respect to woven apparel containing 
materials produced in Mexico. Accordingly, I announce that these 
modifications to the HTS shall enter into effect on August 15, 2008, 
with respect to materials produced in Mexico.

Susan C. Schwab,
U.S. Trade Representative.
 [FR Doc. E8-18216 Filed 8-6-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3190-W8-P